Cat lovers and nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Gaehwa-dong cat cafe Cat Lover Garden. It is located on the outskirts of Seoul, close to Gimpo Airport, and is home to over 100 abandoned stray cats.
Cats are free to roam the terrace and adjoining two-tiered outdoor garden, which distinguishes this cafe from others.
Visitors must disinfect their hands when entering Cat Lover Garden so they are clean before petting the cats. You are then free to explore the cafe and play with the cats to your heart’s content. You’ll also be given blankets & boxes to attract cats, who will then “make biscuits” on your lap by rubbing their paws against the blanket. As cat lovers may already be aware, cats enjoy doing this when they feel safe and content.
Cat Lover Garden feeds its cats every day at 4 p.m., so if you happen to be at the cafe at this time, you can observe the resident cats devouring their food.
If you’re interested in giving one of the cafe’s cats a permanent home, you can sign up on the cafe’s website to receive more information about adopting one. To prevent cats from being confined to a single area, the owners constructed a garden that extends from the main structure. This allows the cats to roam safely in the great outdoors.
The garden has two tiers, which are connected by a slope. The park is dotted with tiny cat houses where cats can hide when interacting with humans becomes too stressful. Visitors have noted that the cats at Cat Lover Garden are significantly friendlier than those at other cat cafes in Korea, attributing this to the felines’ freedom here.
Please make a reservation before visiting Cat Lover Garden, as it is widespread and can fill up rapidly. To reserve a table, please click on this link.
Rates:
Admission costs KRW15,000 (USD13.24) for visitors over the age of 14, KRW12,000 (USD10.60) for children aged 8 to 13 years, and KRW10,000 (USD8.83) for children under the age of 8. Students must bring their identification cards to the cafe to verify their age.
Although the admission fee includes one complimentary beverage, food and beverages are not permitted in the cafe for the cats’ safety.
Before leaving, you can claim your beverage at the counter. You can select from various hot and cold drinks, including bottled coffee, water, and beverages like barley tea and fruit juices.
On weekends and holidays, you may only stay in the cafe for two hours, with no time limit during the week. Also, for safety reasons, all toddlers who enter the restaurant must be accompanied by an adult.
How to get there:
Gaehwasan Station is located on Line 5 of the Seoul subway.
Take Exit 2, and you’ll find a crossroads immediately outside the exit. At that intersection, turn left.
Continue along this path and around the bend. Gaehwa Flower Shop () should be found on your right.
Continue walking straight until the next intersection, then turn right into the alley. You are required to pass a fire station ( 119).
Cat Lover Garden is located 50 meters further on your right.
Utilize Naver Maps to avoid getting lost.
Address: 18 Gaehwadong-to 19-Gil, Gaehwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, 10.30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Contact Information: 0507-1404-4575 | Website
