Cat cafés originated in Taiwan, but truly took off in Japan because pets are generally not allowed in apartments. Ever since then, they’ve been slowly opening throughout the rest of Asia, parts of Europe, and even North America. In fact, a few are scheduled to open (or may have already opened) in the San Francisco Bay Area before the end of this year. I visited Purr Cat Cafe Club in Bangkok to see what the hype was all about.
Upon entering, you’re greeted by a ton of cats just lounging around, playing, and sleeping. You have the choice of sitting on the floor or at one of the benches against the side wall. However, it doesn’t really matter where you sit since you’ll probably be all around the room playing with the cats or taking pictures.
Unlike many other cat cafes in Asia, Purr Club does not charge a cover fee, and food costs are reasonable. My meal consisted of spaghetti and meatballs, a shake, and a mini strawberry cheesecake for about $14.
Only employees are allowed to pick up the cats.
You’re not allowed to feed the cats human food, but you can buy them a bowl of milk for about $1.
A lot of the cats are generally in a pretty sleepy mood. Such is the result of a sedentary, pampered life.
Some of the cats are jumping, sitting, or playing with patrons or other cats.
There are kittens too, but they’re kept in a box with their mother and unfortunately you cannot play with them.
All photos were of course taken with my trusty Sony RX100 III. A fantastic camera! I definitely recommend going (as long as you don’t hate cats), and the best time to go is early in the morning before the afternoon rush. It’s the purrfect way to start your day!
Information
- Address: 63 Soi Sukhumvit 53,Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
- Nearest BTS Station: Thong Lo
- Directions: Exit BTS Thong Lo from exit 1, walk 600m north on Sukhumvit 53; it’s on the left
- Hours: M-Th 11am-8pm, F-Su 11am-9pm
- Valet parking: Yes, 12pm-8pm daily