Cat Cafes in South Korea

Seoul

Jipsaui Haru Nowon is a rescue cat cafe on the fifth floor of the Daiso building about 60 metres from exit 2 of Nowon Station, close to the Lotte Department Store. It is one of the Jipsaui Haru chain's branches, which operate under the motto 'adopt, don't shop' and fund the care of abandoned cats through admission fees. The cafe covers around 260 square metres, giving the cats plenty of room. Visitors pay an entry fee, with drinks and cat treats available to buy, and staff can discuss adoption of the resident cats. The building has its own car park. The cafe is open every day from noon to 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

Jipsaui Haru Konkuk is a rescue cat cafe on the third floor of a building in Hwayang-dong, in the busy student area around Konkuk University Station. The Jipsaui Haru chain opened its first cafe in 2015 and runs its branches as shelters for abandoned and surrendered cats, paying for food and vet care from admission fees without donations or government support. Visitors pay an entry fee, and drinks and cat treats such as lickable treats, dried pollock and chicken breast are sold separately. The cafe works to place its cats with suitable new owners. It is open every day, from noon on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends, until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

Hihinyangnyang is a cat cafe on the fifth floor of a building on Gangnam-daero 102-gil, on the sloping street of cafes and restaurants between Sinnonhyeon and Gangnam stations, a few minutes on foot from Sinnonhyeon exit 5 or Gangnam exit 11. The resident cats include American Shorthairs, Ragdolls, Korean Shorthairs, Abyssinians, a Sphynx and a number of Scottish Folds. Admission covers 90 minutes, with extra time sold in 30-minute blocks, and buying a drink is optional. The cafe draws couples, families and international visitors and stays open until 11 PM.

Seoul

Camping Cat Yangjae is a cat cafe in a converted house with a yard and terrace in Dogok-dong, Gangnam, near Yangjae Station. The ground floor is a camping-themed zone serving coffee, light meals and alcohol and can be booked for birthday parties and photo shoots, while the upper floor is the cat zone where visitors spend time with the cats. Most of the cats were abandoned or given up by previous owners, and the cafe arranges free adoptions as well as taking in surrendered cats and offering cat boarding. Admission is charged per visit, with a cheaper late-entry ticket and a weekday all-day pass that allows re-entry. Free parking is available for three or four cars. It opens at noon on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends and closes at 9 PM daily.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

Camping Cat Olympic Park is a branch of the Camping Cat chain on the ground floor of a building in Bangi-dong, Songpa, about two minutes on foot from exit 4 of Bangi Station and close to Olympic Park. Cats that were abandoned or surrendered by previous owners roam freely in a camping-themed space, and visitors are asked to keep their voices down so the cats are not startled. Weekday tickets start at 30 minutes and weekend tickets at one hour, with three-hour and all-day weekday passes and extra time sold in 10-minute blocks. Cat treats are sold on site. Children under ten must come with a guardian. The cafe opens at 1 PM on weekdays and noon on weekends and closes at 9 PM. One free parking space is available in front.

Seoul

Stray Cat Town Jamsil (Gilgoyangi Maeul) is a rescue cat cafe and shelter on the fourth floor of a building in Bangi-dong, Songpa, about 460 metres from exit 10 of Jamsil Station and 500 metres from exit 3 of Mongchontoseong Station. It houses abandoned and surrendered cats, as well as street cats that became used to people after being rescued from road accidents or illness and are too trusting to return outdoors after TNR. Visitors buy a one-day guardian ticket, and drinks and wet food for the cats can be bought as donations. Cats are rehomed free of charge after a careful adoption process, with basic vet care through volunteer vets and partner clinics. One hour of parking is free. The cafe opens at 11 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends and closes at 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

Nuzzle is a cat cafe on the fourth floor of a small building on Seoulsup 6-gil in Seongsu-dong, in the shopping streets between Seoul Forest and Ttukseom. The cafe aims to be a calm space where cats and people can be comfortable together, and visitors often note how clean it is and how well the cats are kept. Admission includes a drink, and on weekends and public holidays visits are limited to 90 minutes. There are discounted tickets for middle and high school students on weekdays, for entry after 9 PM, and a 45-minute weekday lunch ticket for local office workers. Only children in fifth grade or above are admitted. Visitors may bring their own drinks, but not food, cat snacks or toys. The cafe is open daily from 11 AM to 10:30 PM.

Seoul

Woozoorocat is a space-themed cat cafe on the third floor of a building at the Konkuk University Station crossroads, about 40 metres from exit 5. Around 20 cats live in the bright white interior, and a board by the entrance introduces each cat by name and personality so visitors can find one that suits them. Admission has no time limit, and cat treats and drinks are sold separately. Staff ask visitors to let the cats approach in their own time and to avoid rough handling, and some cats are marked as not to be touched. Children under 12 must come with a guardian. There is no parking. The cafe is open every day from 1 PM to 9 PM.

• Walk-ins welcome

Seoul

Meerkat Chief is an animal cafe on the third floor of a building in Jayang-dong, near Konkuk University Station, where visitors can meet meerkats, raccoons, cats and dogs in one place. Visitors can feed the cats in the main room, enter a separate meerkat room to hand-feed the meerkats, give treats to the dogs and hold the raccoons, without having to buy extra snacks. The admission fee includes a drink. On weekdays visitors must be at least ten years old (third grade of elementary school or above), and on weekends and public holidays at least 14, and staff ask for proof of birth year. The cafe is open daily until 9:30 PM.

Seoul

Playdogs is a board game cafe with resident dogs and cats in the basement of a building on Neungdong-ro, about two minutes on foot from exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station and eight minutes from Konkuk University Station. Around 20 dogs, including a separate area for large dogs, live alongside a few cats, and visitors can play board games while the animals wander between the tables. Admission has no time limit, with a lower rate for children up to elementary school age, and drinks are sold separately. Outside food is allowed, but treats for the animals must be bought at the counter. The cafe stays open until midnight, closing earlier if no guests are left after 10:30 PM.

Seoul

Nyangnyang House is a cat cafe on the third floor of Gangil Plaza, the building with a Lotteria, in Gangil-dong at the eastern edge of Gangdong-gu near Misa. Visitors usually take a bus from exit 6 of Sangil-dong Station. Around 29 cats live there, including British Shorthairs, Ragdolls and Scottish Straights. The cafe does not take reservations; when it is busy, visitors leave a phone number and are called in order. Admission includes a drink, with unlimited time until 7 PM on weekdays and two hours on weekends. Children under 36 months may not enter the cat area, and older children must be with an adult and follow the cafe's rules. Free basement parking is available. The cafe is closed on Mondays.

Seoul

Kkongnyang Kkongnyang Cat Cafe is on the second floor of a building on Dongil-ro in Gongneung-dong, Nowon, about one minute on foot from exit 2 of Gongneung Station and close to the Gongneung railway park and Dokkaebi Market. Cats include Ragdolls, Munchkins, British Shorthairs and Scottish Folds. Tickets include a drink and are priced separately for adults, school students and preschool children, with weekday early and evening discounts for walk-ins; children up to 24 months enter free with proof of age. Visits last three hours on weekdays and two hours on weekends and holidays. Socks are required and can be bought at the counter, and children under ten must be with a guardian. Bookings can be made through Naver or on arrival. The cafe is open from 11 AM to 9 PM and closed on Mondays.