Pet cafes have become a global phenomenon, evolving from their humble beginnings in Taiwan nearly two decades ago. What started as a novel concept – enjoying coffee alongside feline companions – has blossomed into a diverse and widespread trend across Asia and beyond. Cat cafes, once a rarity, are now a familiar sight in many cities, and the United States even embraced the craze with its first dog cafe.
Seoul, South Korea, however, takes the pet cafe experience to a whole new level. Venturing far beyond the typical cats and dogs, Seoul’s unique cafe scene incorporates an astonishing array of exotic animals, offering truly unforgettable dining experiences. Imagine sipping your latte while surrounded by sheep, raccoons, or even meerkats!
Exploring Seoul’s Unusual Pet Cafes
Intrigued by this unique trend, I embarked on a journey to discover three of Seoul’s most extraordinary pet cafes. Each promised a unique encounter, from fluffy sheep to curious raccoons and playful meerkats. My exploration into this vibrant pet cafe culture revealed creatures I had only read about, prompting questions like, “What exactly is a capybara?”
My first stop was Thanks Nature Cafe, affectionately known as the “sheep cafe,” nestled in the vibrant Hongdae district of Seoul. Hongdae is renowned for its indie music scene, quirky coffee shops, and cutting-edge fashion, making it the perfect backdrop for such an unusual cafe. Thankfully, the sheep resided in a separate, dedicated area, distinct from the main dining space where patrons enjoyed coffee, smoothies, juices, and delectable waffles.
Like most pet cafes, gaining access to the animal area required a purchase. Beyond the sheep, Thanks Nature Cafe is famous for its waffles and patbingsu, a beloved Korean dessert. Their patbingsu is a classic rendition of shaved ice milk topped with sweet red bean paste, roasted bean powder, and chewy red bean mochi. The ice’s delicate, snow-like texture provided a welcome respite from Seoul’s humid summer heat.
Upon entering, the barista greeted my girlfriend and me with menus and a flyer outlining essential rules: “Do not lift the raccoon,” and “Do not touch a sleeping raccoon,” were among the directives, hinting at the more adventurous experiences to come.
Sanitation was a primary concern of mine before visiting any pet cafe – the thought of animals near food preparation areas raised questions. However, at Thanks Nature Cafe, the sheep enclosure was surprisingly clean. The owner was diligent in cleaning and disinfecting the area, resulting in an immaculate pen. The sheep themselves, named Anna and Sam, appeared freshly groomed – cleaner and fluffier than the smoggy Seoul clouds.
READ MORE: I Visited the World’s ‘First’ Cat Cafe
Regarding their well-being, Anna and Sam had a spacious pen with a small barn for shelter and rest, allowing them to retreat from visitors if desired. They were remarkably friendly, approaching guests for potential feeding and gentle interaction. Their soft “baa”s offered a soothing contrast to the energetic K-pop music echoing from the streets outside.
My next destination was Blind Alley’s “raccoon cafe,” which initially seemed like the most unusual of the three. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, raccoons were synonymous with mischievous pests, garbage raids, and the potential for rabies – certainly not creatures associated with dining.
Blind Alley Cafe was situated in a quieter part of Seoul, away from the bustling pet cafe hubs. Conversations with baristas and owners at various cafes shed light on the popularity of this trend in Seoul. Seoul’s incredibly high population density, double that of New York City, means many residents live in high-rise apartments that often prohibit pets. Furthermore, South Korean culture emphasizes hard work, resulting in long work hours – Koreans have one of the longest average work weeks globally. This leaves limited time for pet care. Therefore, after navigating stressful city life and demanding work schedules, the appeal of relaxing with gelato and a raccoon becomes understandable.
Despite a comfortable number of empty tables, unlike the packed Thanks Nature Cafe, Blind Alley enjoyed a steady stream of both local and international visitors. The familiar routine of menus and rule flyers greeted us: “Do not lift the raccoon” and “Do not touch a sleeping raccoon” were reiterated, prompting me to imagine the scenarios that necessitated such warnings.
More concerningly, the flyer cautioned that raccoons might attempt to nibble on belongings or even bite. The solution? “Do not be alarmed and firmly say ‘no’ to a raccoon.”
WATCH: A Culinary Trip to Seoul with Parachute
“Good to know. I’ll take an Oreo Bong Bong and a ricotta salad,” I told the barista, proceeding with my order despite the raccoon bite advisory.
Beyond the raccoons, Blind Alley is known for its homemade ricotta cheese and gelato. The ricotta salad featured a generous mound of fresh ricotta topped with tomatoes and raisins. The Oreo ‘Bong Bong’ was a warm brownie infused with Oreo wafers, crowned with homemade vanilla gelato, chocolate sauce, caramel, and almonds. As the chocolate melted and swirled, it began to resemble a raccoon’s face – perhaps unintentionally fitting.
Similar to the sheep cafe, the raccoon area was separate from the dining space. Initially, the absence of visible raccoons created a sense of unease, imagining them lurking menacingly. In reality, all three raccoons were peacefully asleep. Dried squid treats offered by the staff roused them one by one, drawn by the pungent aroma. The most playful and captivating was an albino raccoon, with delicate white paws that gently grasped each piece of squid.
Like other Americans present, I flinched slightly each time its tiny hand brushed mine. The room’s décor, with brick walls and exposed pipes, evoked the image of a city alley, a place where, in my New Jersey upbringing, raccoons were indeed found overturning trash cans. The raccoons climbed wooden boards on the wall and scurried across the overhead pipes, showcasing their agility.
Raccoons are not native to South Korea, so locals, unfamiliar with their less favorable reputation in the US, happily smiled and took selfies, faces inches from the animals. A corgi even joined the raccoon encounter, engaging in playful wrestling with one of them. In an adjacent room, the cafe had recently introduced a capybara – a creature entirely new to me. Native to South America, it’s the world’s largest rodent, resembling a 140-pound groundhog with rabbit-like features and small ears. Sipping an Americano near these wild animals amplified the feeling of experiencing the breadth of Seoul’s unique cafe culture, yet it was merely a prelude to my final destination.
“Speaking from experience, the sensation of meerkats trying to burrow holes in your clothes is… strange.”
The Meerkat Cafe was the final, and arguably most unconventional, stop on my pet cafe tour. Unlike the previous cafes, there was no separate animal enclosure. Animals roamed freely throughout the entire cafe space. Above, the long, spotted tail of a genet, an African mammal resembling a lemur-mongoose hybrid, swayed gently. A wallaby, the cafe’s newest resident, hopped past tables. A playful Arctic fox darted along the window, initiating a mock chase with the wallaby. Meanwhile, cats casually hopped onto tables and laps, welcoming attention and treats.
With no distinct dining area, Meerkat Cafe served only bottled cold drinks like iced coffee and juices. I grabbed an iced coffee and joined the queue to enter the meerkat enclosure – a designated area for ten-minute meerkat encounters. Visitors were provided with blankets, and the friendly, social meerkats readily climbed onto laps.
“Speaking from experience, the sensation of meerkats trying to burrow holes in your clothes is… strange.” Observing these meerkats, attempting to fulfill their natural instincts in a crowded cafe far from their native habitat, raised a significant question: Are these pet cafes truly an ethical environment for these animals? I sought the perspective of Meerkat Cafe’s owner, Natalie, regarding animal treatment in Korean pet cafes.
“Some cafes are bad. They don’t take care of the animals. They don’t clean them or feed them right. They only care about money,” Natalie explained.
“What makes yours different?” I inquired.
“I love these animals. They come home with me sometimes. The meerkats and Arctic fox were my pets before I opened this place. I used to feel bad leaving them alone at home when I went to work so I started this cafe so they can have more attention.”
This personal connection seemed to be a recurring theme. The raccoons at Blind Alley, I learned, were originally rescued by the owner from the fur trade. The capybara came from a closing zoo. While the owner of Thanks Nature Cafe didn’t initially keep the sheep as personal pets, he had raised them from a young age.
Following reports of animal mistreatment at some Seoul dog and cat cafes, these unique animal cafes emphasize their commitment to animal welfare as a distinguishing factor.
Yet, the question of the ethical implications of keeping wild animals in unnatural cafe environments, constantly interacting with strangers, remains. However, for some of these animals, the alternative could be isolation in a small apartment, abandonment, or even the fur industry. And in Natalie’s case, her genuine affection for her animals seemed undeniable.
“I’m an animal lover,” she concluded, “and I just want to share my animals with people, who love them like I do.”
Finding Ethical Pet Cafes Near You
If you’re searching for “pet cafes near me,” it’s important to consider the ethical implications and choose establishments that prioritize animal welfare. While the allure of exotic animal encounters is strong, ensure your visit supports responsible and humane practices. Look for cafes that are transparent about their animal care, provide spacious and clean environments, and prioritize the animals’ well-being over profit. By making informed choices, you can enjoy the unique experience of a pet cafe while contributing to ethical animal tourism.
