The Unfurgettable Cat Cafes of New York
Nothing beats the feeling of becoming friends with a cat. Photo: Nicole Zhang
By DAISY DENG and WILLIAM ZHANG
In the city that never sleeps, there’s no shortage of new experiences. There’s something for everyone, from architecture fans to sports nuts to (thankfully) cat lovers. In fact, feline aficionados have their choice of three cat cafes that allow you to visit, play with, and even adopt one of many rescued fluff balls, all while enjoying a coffee or macaron. We took a trip to all three to see how they stack up.
Koneko (★★★★★), 26 Clinton St, Manhattan
This little guy found a comfy spot on the Koneko logo. Photo: Nicole Zhang
Located on the Lower East Side, Koneko takes reservations for an hour at $20 per person. The cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except for Monday and Tuesday. Checking into the cafe is a breeze, and you even get a cute cat stamp! You can then stay around the cafe area to wait until you are called to enter. Before entering the “cattery,” you’ll have to take off your shoes and coat and sanitize your hands. Cafe goods are allowed into the cattery, as well as phones and photos without flash.
Koneko has three areas for you and the cats to go around: the main floor, basement, and back patio. There is a clean and minimalistic feel to the place, with a separate area for the cafe. Goods range from $3.50 for a croissant to $43 for a bottle of wine (for those over 21, obviously). The cafe offers freshly-made Japanese snacks, along with some mediocre pre-made goods. The cats roam free throughout the area with a connecting ramp between floors. A variety of toys across the venue are provided for visitors to have a cat-tastic time.
The kitties we met at Koneko all had playful personalities. However, depending on the hour, they can be more active or tired. Most of the cats housed there are older, as they are strays. The staff is also really friendly and knowledgeable about their feline residents, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Overall, Koneko offers a comfortable environment for visitors to spend some time with a few furry friends and catch up with others over a cup of coffee.
Meow Parlour (★★★★☆), 46 Hester St, Manhattan
Right next to Seward Park, also on the Lower East Side, is Meow Parlour, open every day except for Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meow Parlour partners with their sister company Macaron Parlour to provide guests with drinks and cat-ified baked goods. There are four types of reservations, for only vaccinated guests, only kids, everyone else, and yoga with cats. Each costs $16 per person for 50 minutes, except for yoga with cats which is $32 per person for one and a half hours.
From cat-related board games and infurmational books to cat toys, the cafe is an ideal place for you to learn about and play with some new best friends. Meow Parlour has a modern feel to it, with hip wood furniture. The cafe is home to many different breeds and ages, all of which are available for adoption. Some cats chose to sleep, others strolled around, and the kittens were highly playful. Many loved to climb the cat towers or chase a toy. If you’re sitting, there’s even a chance that one could end up on your lap, a purr-fect chance for a petting session.
Plus, for some of the best macarons, Meow Parlour is just the place. Its partnership with Macaron Parlour provides visitors with a wide selection of flavors and even some vegan and character-based options at $3 each. Also on the menu are croissants, cookies, and other treats ranging from $4-$5. Hot and cold drinks that are typical of a cafe range from $3.00 to $5.50.
The only downside is the cafe’s size—it’s much smaller than the other two situated in the city. It is only one floor, so there is not much space for visitors to play with the cats, and there is no separate area where cafe goods and merchandise is sold. But overall, Meow Parlour offers a unique experience, as many of the cats had playful and curious personalities.
Brooklyn Cat Cafe (★★★★☆), 76 Montague St, Brooklyn
Dim lighting, worn-in wood floors, and even a bar for cat treats? Located in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Cat Cafe has sop-hiss-ticated style. Reservations can be made from Friday through Monday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., at $10 per person for 30 minutes of play, though the staff are flexible with entry times. There is a separate area for you to check in, purchase merchandise, and hang up your jacket before entering the cats' domain.
Brooklyn Cat Cafe provides visitors with cat toys and treats for $5. There is also a live-streamed terrarium on their website with kitten families who are too young to be vaccinated. Other than that, there are velvet chairs you can stretch out onto with toys to play with the feline residents, and turtles and rats featured in their own enclosures. This cafe features cats from all types of backgrounds with different collar colors indicating the level of closeness you should give to them (a red collar means “Pet me at your own risk!”). The cats at Brooklyn Cat Cafe were by far the most playful and active of the three locations we visited.
Now, the cats here are rowdy and love a good toy to chase. Many of them will hang out at the bar since they know the treats are there and are not so interested in interacting with the visitors. So, if you really love cats and have some extra cash to spend, it is totally worth it to splurge on a few goodies to get more intimate with the cats.
Still, what’s our final verdict? Koneko! If you’re looking for a comfortable environment at a good value with a Japanese vibe, then Koneko is the purr-fect place for you to interact with a cuddly four-legged companion. But all of these cafes are excellent ways to spend some time in the city, potentially adopt a rescued kitty, and enjoy some memorable meow-ments.