Best Cat Café
Calling all cat lovers! Whether you're looking for a new friendly feline to join your family or you'd just like to unwind with a drink to the soothing sound of purring fur babies, these cat cafés are the best places to meet new kitties. Many of the locations have special events for adults like yoga, movie nights and painting classes—all while being surrounded by curious cats.
These 10 cat cafés were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.
1. Crooked Tail Cat Cafe |
Greensboro, NC
From the adorable, cat-shaped boba cups to the friendly felines free roaming the lounge, the Crooked Tail Cat Cafe is the perfect spot for cat lovers to spend the morning. Each reserved entry lasts one hour and can accommodate up to 10 people at a time. If you live locally, ask about the membership option, which provides unlimited visits for two people.
2. Buckminster's Cat Cafe | Buffalo, NY
Known for its adorable furry friends and its delicious food options, Buckminster's Cat Cafe is the perfect spot to curl up with a kitty before enjoying lunch on the Catio. Past patrons rave about the veggie-forward paninis and locally roasted coffee options, as well as all the affectionate felines awaiting pets in the Cat Zone, which requires a small fee to visit.
3. Orlando Cat Café | Clermont, FL
If you're in Florida for some theme park fun, use one of your rest days to visit the Orlando Cat Café. This cute spot has surprisingly delicious and reasonably priced pastries that you can enjoy inside the Cat Play Area while you become acquainted with all the adoptable babies. Each booking lasts for one hour, giving the cats plenty of time to warm up to you.
4. Brooklyn Cat Cafe | Brooklyn, NY
Get your kitten cuddles in at the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, the only nonprofit cat café in the city and one of the first in the country. With a focus on rescue, adoption and education, this volunteer-run space is open daily and offers a chance to bond with adult cats, snuggle kittens and attend classes on cat-related topics. Weekends tend to be very busy, so definitely make advance reservations online.
5. Neko: A Cat Cafe | Seattle, WA
When it's raining yet again in Seattle, you can spend your day at the cozy Neko: A Cat Cafe. Stop in for a pale ale infused with catnip and blueberries and watch the kitties roll around through the windows, or book a Cat Room visit for a chance to snuggle with an adorable tabby or tuxedo. Neko even offers private bookings for groups of 10 people.
6. CatCafe Lounge | Los Angeles, CA
Since 2018, the nonprofit CatCafe Lounge has helped over 2,000 kitties find new homes through its humane adoption model. Here, prospective fur parents have the chance to meet and mingle with up to 30 cats to see who might be the best fit for their home. Not looking for a new family member? Feel free to make a reservation just to meet your monthly lap cat quota.
7. Frisky Cat Café | St. Augustine, FL
A foster home for more than 50 kitties, Frisky Cat Café is one of the largest cat cafés in the United States. While you can pop in anytime during business hours, look for special events like Mommy and Me Feline Jamboree! and Happy Meower for even more fun. Animal lovers can also feel good about their visit since the fees provide supplies and medical care for the cats kept here.
8. The Witty Whisker Cat Cafe |
St. Augustine, FL
Have your next cat therapy session at the Witty Whisker Cat Cafe, located right next to the St. Augustine Historic District. Sign up for an hour of purring bellies and kitty head bunting enjoyed alongside a coffee, a glass of wine or a sweet treat. You can take your relaxation up a notch with a Meowssage, which includes a 15-minute chair massage AND 45 minutes of cat playtime.
9. Naughty Cat Cafe | Chattanooga, TN
Low lights, calm music and snuggly cats make the Naughty Cat Cafe a nice spot to unwind after a stressful week. A complimentary non-alcoholic beverage is provided for all visitors, but local ciders, beers and treats are available for purchase as well. On your way out, grab a toy for your fur baby at home or a souvenir shirt for you to remember your time.
10. Denver Cat Company | Denver, CO
Grab one of the teaser wands, and get straight to playing with the curious fluff balls at Denver Cat Company. See if you can tempt one of the more timid felines down from the ceiling-high tracks, designed by a master carpenter, or just nuzzle one of the sleepy kittens in a cubby. Unlike many cat cafés, there is no minimum age requirement, so the whole family can come.
About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com
Our Featured Panelists
Aly Walansky
Aly Walansky writes regularly about food news and trends. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications that include the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn and more. She was ranked among top 10 journalists of 2023 and top 10 freelance journalists in 2024, as well as #1 food journalist of 2022, by Muck Rack. Follow her at alywalansky.substack.com
Jill Robbins
Jill Robbins is an expert writer focusing on family and adventure travel as well as practical tips to help everyone get the most value out of their vacation experience. Jill's work has appeared in AAA Texas, Southern Living, Business Insider, Fodor's Travel and more. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, but she's usually somewhere else. Learn more about her travels at www.jillgoes.com.
Kathleen Walls
Kathleen Walls, former reporter for the Union Sentinel in Blairsville, Georgia, publishes and writes American Roads and Global Highways. When it comes to United States destinations, she quotes the Johnny Cash song, "I've Been Everywhere." She's the author of Georgia's Ghostly Getaways, Finding Florida's Phantoms, Hosts With Ghosts, and the Wild About Florida series. Her articles have appeared in Family RVing Magazine; Food, Wine & Travel; Extended Weekend Getaways; Florida Traveler; Salon; Deep South; World Footprints; Big Blend Magazine; Travel Awaits; SheBuysTravel; Global Travel and others. She's been featured on Big Blend Radio and written content for marketing organizations.
Margot Black
Margot Black is a passionate outdoor travel writer whose love for the natural world is contagious. With decades of experience exploring the great outdoors, she is a respected expert in the field of adventure travel. Margot strongly believes in the transformative power of nature and works tirelessly to encourage families to spend more time outdoors together. Her travel writing blends in-depth research with a personal touch, providing readers with an escape to the world's most breathtaking landscapes. Margot's warm, capable and fun-loving demeanor inspires her readers to embark on their own adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime. Read more about her adventures at blackinktravelwriting.com.
Teresa Bergen
Teresa Bergen is a Portland, Oregon-based travel writer who specializes in the outdoors, eco, vegan and sober travel. She's the author of Easy Portland Outdoors and the Sober Travel Handbook. Learn more about her at teresabergen.com.
Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.