Cat Cafes in Zhudong, Hsinchu County

Zhudong, Hsinchu County

街貓喫茶所 is a tiny Japanese-style kissaten in a renovated old house tucked down a narrow lane off Kangning Street in Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County. The owner opened it in a neighbourhood where street cats roam, and a few of those cats have made the cafe their home: around three resident cats doze on chairs, wander between tables and generally set a relaxed pace. Some are shy while others, especially newcomers, are very affectionate. Seating is spread over two floors and includes tatami and Japanese-style rooms, with cat books to browse. The menu centres on matcha drinks, Japanese baked sweets and pudding, including a Showa-style pudding, plus Basque cheesecake, seasonal quiche and matcha ice cream. It opens only on Fridays, weekends and public holidays in the afternoon. There is no parking in the lane, so park on the main street and walk in; payment is mainly cash.

Zhudong, Hsinchu County

RCW Rachel's Catwalk is a Korean restaurant and cat cafe in a renovated old townhouse on Kangning Street in Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County, decorated in warm orange tones with a retro feel and a back garden. The kitchen serves Korean food from brunch to dinner, including stone-pot bibimbap, seafood pancakes, curry and hotpots, plus desserts, waffles and coffee. The cafe's Ragdoll cats live upstairs: on weekdays from 2 PM to 6 PM they are free to wander and keep diners company, and at other times they rest in their own room, where guests can watch them through a viewing window. Cat interaction times can change for private bookings or other reasons, so if you are visiting mainly for the cats it is worth calling ahead to check. The space suits dates, family meals and small parties.