Cat Cafes in South Korea

Incheon

Ragdoll Cafe Nyaong is a cat cafe on the second floor of the Saerom Building in the Asiad Athletes' Village area of Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, diagonally across from Guwol Kindergarten. Its 19 resident cats are Ragdolls and Munchkins. Entry includes a drink and 90 minutes in the cafe, with extra time charged in 30-minute blocks. Visitors are asked to keep children from running or shouting, personal cats cannot be brought in, and outside drinks are allowed if kept in a tumbler so the cats cannot knock them over. Parking is in the basement, reached by a car lift behind the building. The cafe opens at 1 pm on weekdays and noon at weekends, closes at 8 pm, and is closed on Tuesdays.

Ansan, Gyeonggi Do

Zoonimal Ansan is an animal cafe on the second floor of the Lead Smart Square knowledge industry centre in Singil-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, opposite the outdoor car park. Cats are among the main residents, alongside parrots, reptiles and other small animals, and the cafe presents itself as a place to learn slowly how to interact with animals. A per-person entry fee applies, children under 18 months enter free, and animal treats and children's drinks are sold separately; treats can sell out early. The cafe opens at 11 am from Wednesday to Friday and 10 am at weekends, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Goyang, Gyeonggi Do

Nyangtte Mokjang is a cat cafe on the second floor of the Dreamworld building, home to a Daiso, on Jeongbalsan-ro in Janghang-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, about 500 m from exit 1 of Jeongbalsan Station and facing the Western Dome. It is known for a wide range of breeds, from Munchkins to Maine Coons and Ragdolls, and the cats are used to people and readily climb onto laps and shoulders. Entry is charged per person, and bottled drinks, churu and chicken treats are sold separately. The cafe is a convenient stop combined with a meal or a walk around the Western Dome area. It opens at noon and closes at 8 pm, and is closed on Mondays.

Incheon

Mama's Cat Cafe is a small rescue cat cafe on the ground floor of a building in the Angol village area of Cheonghak-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, near the old Songdo resort district. Rather than bringing in purchased pedigree kittens, the owner took in cats with difficult backgrounds, and the cafe grew out of that rescue work; the owner also cares for dogs rescued from abuse. The cats are friendly and come up to visitors readily, and treats can be bought to give them. The space feels more like a home for the cats than a commercial cafe and is popular with couples and families with young children. Parking near the cafe is limited, and opening hours are not published, so it is worth calling ahead.

• Adoptable cats

Incheon

Butacat Alleyway Incheon, signposted as Yaongireul Butakhae, is a cat cafe on the third floor of the Culture building in the Alleyway Incheon complex in Dohwa-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, five to seven minutes on foot from exit 3 of Dohwa Station. It belongs to the Butacat chain, whose cats are socialised by the chain's own staff so that they are relaxed with people and suited to visits with children. Weekday tickets cover four hours and weekend and holiday tickets two hours, both including a drink, and ten-visit passes and cat treats are sold. Visitors interested in giving one of the cats a home can ask the staff. The cafe is open every day, from noon on weekdays and 11 am at weekends, until 9 pm.

Goyang, Gyeonggi Do

Nyangi Noriteo is a cat cafe in unit 207 of La Festa building E on Mugunghwa-ro in Janghang-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, part of the La Festa shopping streets in central Ilsan. About 40 cats of various breeds live here, many with their own backstories, and the cafe says it puts the cats first and is a quiet place to stay for a long time. Entry is charged per person. Staff also give advice to people thinking about getting a cat and help with behaviour problems in cats kept at home. Visitors cannot bring their own cats. The cafe is open every day, from noon on weekdays and 11 am at weekends, until 10 pm, and building E has its own car park.

Paju, Gyeonggi Do

Nolmyeon Myohanyang is a reservation-only cat cafe in Wadong-dong, in the Unjeong new town of Paju, where each party books a private room and has the cats to itself; it describes itself as Korea's first private-room cat cafe. The cats are imported pedigree British Shorthairs and Longhairs in several colours, including short-legged lines, and Devon Rexes. Rooms range from single and kids' rooms to couple rooms and rooms for up to eight people, booked in 60 or 90-minute slots through Naver, KakaoTalk open chat or by phone up to an hour ahead. Seating is on the floor to stay at the cats' eye level, children aged 8 and under must come with a guardian, and outside food, toys and animals are not allowed. The cafe is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• Booking required

Incheon

Catple Heaven Luwon City Incheon is a branch of the Catple cat cafe chain in the Lynn Strauss shopping arcade at Luwon City, Gajeong-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon, about 500 m from exit 1 of Gajeong Jungang Market Station on Incheon Line 2. It sits above the Ashley restaurant at gate 8 of the arcade and can be reached by lift from the second basement car park. Weekday tickets include a drink and three hours, weekend and holiday tickets a drink and two hours, and children under 24 months enter free; children should wear socks. The cat area is separate from a cafe space serving coffee and other drinks, and outside cat treats are not allowed. The cafe is open every day, until 9 pm on weekdays and 9:30 pm at weekends.

Incheon

Cat Bridge is a rescue cat cafe on the third floor of the Baskin Robbins building at Wanjeong Station in Dangha-dong, Geomdan-gu, Incheon. It was set up by volunteers who had been paying out of their own pockets for the treatment and care of cats taken into an animal shelter, and the resident cats are former shelter cats that still enjoy human company. The cafe aims to give the cats attention and visitors a quiet place to spend time with them, and visits help fund the cats' care. Parking is at the Dangha public car park, with two hours free. It is open every day, from 11 am on weekdays and 10 am at weekends, until 8 pm, or 8:30 pm at weekends.

Siheung, Gyeonggi Do

Catple Cozy Nook Sihwa is a branch of the Catple cat cafe chain on the ground floor of Seongdam Square on Jeongwang-daero in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, by the car park entrance and opposite Davich Optical, within reach of Jeongwang Station. Around 60 cats live at this branch. Tickets are sold per person, with separate weekday and weekend prices, and ten-visit passes are available. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult, and no outside food of any kind, including sweets and jelly, may be brought in. The Catple chain also offers adoption and cat care services. The cafe is open every day, from noon on weekdays and 11 am at weekends, until 9 pm.

Incheon

Kkongnyangine is a small cat cafe on the second floor of building A of the Cheongna Lynn Strauss complex on Cheongna Lime-ro, Cheongna-dong, Seohae-gu, Incheon. It calls itself a cafe that also has cats: about six cats, including British Shorthairs, share a calm space with visitors who come for coffee and desserts, and the owners intend to stay a quiet neighbourhood coffee shop rather than keep large numbers of cats. Children below the fourth year of elementary school cannot enter, even with a guardian, for the safety of both children and cats. Parking is on basement level 1 via the rear entrance of the complex. The cafe opens at noon and closes at 9 pm, and is closed on Mondays.

Goyang, Gyeonggi Do

Catple Heaven Ilsan Tanhyeon is a branch of the Catple cat cafe chain on the first basement floor of Zenith Square, the shopping arcade of the Ilsan We've the Zenith complex in Tanhyeon-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang. A footbridge links it to exit 2 of Tanhyeon Station, and drivers can use gate 3 from the second basement car park. Tickets include a drink, with separate weekday and weekend prices, discounts for groups of five or more, weekday student discounts, lower rates for customers of other shops in the building, and ten-visit passes. The Catple chain also offers adoption and cat care services. The cafe is open every day, from 12:30 pm on weekdays and 11 am at weekends, until 9 pm.