Whether you are a dog or cat person, we can all agree that life in bustling Beijing is stressful enough to make us hack up a proverbial hairball. So what better way could there be to deal with such stress than petting a fluffy, adorable kitty with one hand while holding a soothing cup of java in the other? Thankfully there's no shortage of such cafes around town, all of which give you the adorable immediate benefits of being around kittens while saving you from the responsibility of being an owner.
Meow Town Café
On the first floor of the Shimao Gongsan Office Building, Meow Town Café is massive and tidy. They separate the dining area and cat area, the latter being home to four felines. Getting into the cat area will set you back an extra RMB 50. The menu has plenty of tempting coffee options, along with desserts and simple western food. “Cats are respected and treated well here, that’s why I like to come often,” one Dianping user said.
Daily 8am-9pm. 1/F, Shimao Gongsan Office Building, 13 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (138 1177 1214)
猫屯咖啡：朝阳区工体北路13号院世茂工三写字楼一楼
Lovely Time
Located on the second floor of Fortune Mall, Lovely Time gives the area's working bees a chance to unwind with plenty of feline affection. The minimum expense to do so is RMB 50 per person. They sell cakes, tea, coffee, and juice. According to Dianping reviews, the food here is tasty, while the cats are active and eager to play with their guests.
Daily 10am-10pm. 2/F, Fortune Mall, Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (186 1145 8117)
猫语时光：朝阳区东三环中路财富购物中心2层
Miaolegemi Cat Bar
There are at least 50 cats (!) of more than 15 different breeds wandering around this Sanlitun Soho café, most of them being American shorthair, along with some ragdoll, Siamese, and a Bengal. The shop sadly bans people from cuddling these kitties for free, which means you have to spend at least RMB 40 per person by ordering coffee, juice, egg tarts, pasta, or cat food (not to eat yourself). There are also kittens for sale here. However, one Dianping user shared concerns about the cafe, writing: “Sometimes I saw that the cats’ eyes are red, it seems they have transmitted an eye disease, hopefully the staff will take care of them.”
Daily 9.30am-12pm. West Entrance, 1/F, Bldg 2, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District (6777 7277)
喵了个咪Bar: 朝阳区三里屯SOHO2号一层西侧
Meow Bar & Coffee
Also in Sanlitun Soho, Meow is located on the second floor of the same building as where the Miaolegemi Cat Bar is. Compared to their popular neighbor, they offer coffee (RMB 20-37), juice (RMB 30-35), sandwiches (RMB 20-45), and dessert (RMB 35) at a slightly cheaper price. The ambiance could use some work, however, seeing as the walls are painted a light puke-green. There are over 20 cats on site, most of them purebreds, and they can often be seen in an adjacent glassed-in room being cared for. If you would like to interact with the adorable furballs, you can enter the room to pet them.
Daily 10am-10pm. 203, Bldg 2, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District (5935 9102)
猫屋主题咖啡厅：朝阳区三里屯SOHO2号商场203
Maoxiaoyuan
Maoxiaoyuan has three locations throughout the city, but we visited the one tucked away in a quiet yard on Beiluogu Xiang. They have 40 cats, 15 of which take turns being “on duty” in shifts. The food here is not bad, and includes waffles, pasta, pizza, cakes, coffee, and milk tea. Their other two locations are nearby, at Houhai and Nanluogu Xiang.
Daily 10am-10pm. 14 Beixia Wazi Hutong, Dongcheng District (5914 6478)
猫小院: 东城区北下洼子胡同14号
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Dianping, youwall
There's also a fairly nice one at Xueyuan Pai, west of Beijing Normal Uni. Being renovated now, but it's supposed to reopen by the end of the month: 咖啡猫 (Cafe More).
They have 5-10 cats and kittens wandering around, and it's a nice neighborhood spot, with kids and grannies stopping in to pet the cats. It's especially nice to watch Chinese kids learn how to interact well with animals.
