Cat Cafes in South Korea

Daejeon

Mione is a rescue cat cafe on the second floor of the Daeheung Building in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, about five minutes on foot from exit 3 of Jungang-ro Station on Daejeon Metro Line 1. It was started by owners who met their cats at an animal shelter and wanted to give them a permanent home, and the resident cats are rescued and formerly abandoned cats that are used to people. Visitors are encouraged to play with the cats rather than just watch them. Entry covers two hours and includes a basic drink, with lower rates for students and children and a discount for weekday reservations made through Naver; cat treats can be bought at the counter. The cafe opens every day from 1 PM to 10 PM, which makes it one of the later-closing cat cafes in central Daejeon.

Daejeon

Nangman Goyangi is a cat cafe in the Dunsan Building in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, about three minutes on foot from the Galleria Timeworld department store, down the side street by the Baskin-Robbins opposite. It describes itself as one of the largest cat cafes in Daejeon and has about 25 cats of various breeds, along with a spacious floor-seating area, cat toys and board games. Entry includes a drink, with separate rates for adults and minors, and babies under 12 months enter free; multi-visit passes and cat treats are sold at the counter. On weekdays there is no time limit, while at weekends and on public holidays the basic stay is two hours. It opens at 1 PM on weekdays and 11 AM at weekends, and closes at 10 PM every day.

Daejeon

Nyangdabang is a long-running cat cafe on the seventh floor of the Starbucks building in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, two to three minutes on foot from the Galleria Timeworld department store. It took over from Eonjena Goyangi, an earlier cat cafe on the same spot, and together the two have operated here for about 15 years. The cafe aims for a calm, homely atmosphere where visitors can spend time with a varied group of cats, and it states that it does not buy or sell cats. Entry is charged per person, with a lower rate for young children, a short 20-minute ticket and ten-visit passes. Group and institutional visits can be arranged through Naver TalkTalk or KakaoTalk. The building has very limited parking. It opens from early afternoon until 9 PM every day.

Daejeon

Mohalgoyang is a cat cafe in the Nine Plaza building on Machi Plaza in Gwanjeo-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, on the fourth floor above a Baskin-Robbins. Before entering, visitors watch a short educational video explaining that cats are living animals rather than toys, and staff then introduce the cats and their personalities. The cafe says the cats receive regular health checks and the space is professionally pest-controlled to keep it clean and odour-free. Entry includes one drink per person and a photo card, with separate rates for adults and minors, and every visitor receives a small souvenir. On weekdays visitors can stay without a time limit, while on weekends and holidays a visit lasts 100 minutes and booking ahead is recommended. Reservations are taken through Naver, by text message or by phone, and Naver bookings come with extra time.

Daejeon

La Bean Cat Cafe is a ground-floor cat cafe in Wonsinheung-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, with its own customer car park nearby. About twenty cats live at the cafe, and once inside there is no time limit and no extra charge for staying longer. The cafe is open every day of the year, from noon on weekdays and from 10 AM at weekends and on public holidays, closing at 9 PM; visitors arriving after 7 PM are asked to phone ahead. Unusually, guests may bring their own cat if they can show a vaccination record. The business also runs a cat hotel, with bookings and consultations available by reservation or in person. Questions can be sent by phone or text message, and the staff reply in turn when they are busy with the cats.

Sejong

13th Cat is a combined cat cafe and kitten sales shop in Boram-dong, Sejong. It runs a paid cafe lounge where anyone can spend time with a group of cats and kittens, and it also sells pedigree kittens, letting prospective owners meet the cats before deciding. Breeds on site have included British Shorthair and British Longhair, American Shorthair, Munchkin, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Siamese, Devon Rex and Sphynx. The lounge has a single entry fee, and the cafe also serves coffee and other drinks and has a photo booth. It opens from 2 PM on weekdays and from 11 AM at weekends, closing at 10 PM, and is closed on Mondays. Visitors who object to cat sales should be aware that selling kittens is a central part of the business.

Sejong

Pink Jelly is a rescue cat cafe in Areum-dong, Sejong, on the fourth floor of a commercial building. The cafe takes in abandoned cats and cats given up by their owners, and these rescued cats make up its resident group. Entry is charged per person with no time limit, with separate rates for primary school children, secondary school students and adults. Visitors can park free of charge in the basement of the Sejong Joy 1 building, but must validate their parking at the cafe. It opens at noon on weekdays and at 10 AM at weekends, closing at 8 PM every day. It is one of a handful of cat cafes in Sejong and is often recommended for families looking for an indoor outing with children.

Sejong

Raon Cat is a cat cafe on the fourth floor of the Sejong Sydney building in Boram-dong, Sejong, opposite a public car park. Visitors spend time in a spacious, clean room with a group of friendly cats that include Maine Coons and Singapuras, and staff explain how to approach and play with them, which helps first-time visitors. Entry is charged per person with a lower rate for minors; on weekdays there is no time limit, while at weekends and on public holidays a visit lasts two hours. Drinks are ordered separately, and simple snacks such as cup noodles, fried rice and ice cream are available. The cafe is open every day of the year and is popular with families with young children and with couples.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do

Nyangi Salon Cheongju is a cat cafe on Seongan-gil, the main shopping street of downtown Cheongju, on the third floor of a building between Artbox and A Twosome Place, opposite the Lotte Cinema building. It is part of the Nyangi Salon group, which also runs cafes in Daejeon and Cheonan. The cafe has a large number of cats with different looks and personalities, and watching them is as much fun as playing with them. Entry is charged per person, with separate rates for adults, school-age children and young children, and the cafe has board games for a longer stay. It is open every day, from 10 AM at weekends and 11 AM on weekdays, until 10 PM, and is a common rainy-day stop for couples and families in Cheongju.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do

Choi Cat is a very large cat cafe occupying a whole five-level building on Jikji-daero in Bongmyeong-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, near the Bongmyeong intersection, with its name in large letters on the facade. Each floor is decorated differently, and the cafe describes itself as a premium multiplex of around 450 pyeong with plenty of space for children to move around, as well as a comic book area. Many adult cats and kittens live there, and the cafe stresses health care for the animals. Tickets are sold by duration, with two-hour, three-hour and all-day passes that each include a coupon for cat treats, plus a cheaper all-day pass after 3 PM. It is closed on Mondays and opens from noon on other weekdays and from 10 AM at weekends.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do

Animal Republic is a cat adoption support centre and rescue cat cafe in Uncheon-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, behind the western branch of the National Health Insurance Service. About 60 cats live here, including cats rescued from the street, abandoned cats and cats taken from situations of abuse or neglect, and all are waiting for permanent homes. Rather than treat-selling programmes, the centre encourages visitors to observe the cats' normal routines and let them approach in their own time. The entry fee covers time with the cats, and drinks such as coffee are sold separately. Adoptions are arranged by the centre, and it also offers cat boarding in standard and premium rooms. It is open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM; visitors can use the public car park behind the health insurance office.

• Adoptable cats

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do

Enthalpy is a small rescue cat cafe on Unridan-gil, a cafe street in Uncheon-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju. The resident cats are former strays and abandoned cats, each with its own story, and the cafe presents itself as a place where people and animals coexist; entry fees go towards supporting the cats. Visitors pay a single entry fee, either with or without a drink. The cats are very sociable and used to being stroked. Opening hours are short on weekdays, from 1 PM to 4 PM from Tuesday to Friday, while on Saturdays and Sundays it is open from 11 AM to 8 PM; it is closed on Mondays. It is a quieter alternative to the larger commercial cat cafes in downtown Cheongju.