Nabi Cat Cafe, located on The Alameda in the space previously occupied by Woof’s Bar, recently opened its doors to cat lovers. The cafe’s signage promises to be “the cat haven of your dreams,” but for this cat enthusiast, the experience fell a bit short.
First, it’s important to note that this is not a walk-in cafe. I made the mistake of walking in, only to be greeted by a drawing of a cat on the wall. To visit the cats, you need to make a reservation in advance, which costs $28. This price covers a one-hour session with the cats and includes one cafe drink. I opted for a Jeju matcha latte, which was refreshing and of high quality.
One issue with the cafe is its size, particularly in the front area. The small counter space feels more like a grab-and-go spot rather than a place to sit and relax. There are no tables available, so it wouldn’t be ideal for those looking to sit down with a coffee and work.
When my appointment time finally arrived, I was eager to meet the cats. However, I wasn’t alone—there were several other visitors with the same time slot, and we gathered in a small room to review some basic rules before heading into the cat room. Once inside, I was pleased to find that the cats had a spacious environment to roam. The room was cozy, with stairs, climbing fixtures, and plenty of toys for the cats to enjoy.
The cats at Nabi come from the Town Cats adoption agency and are available for adoption. The idea of a cat cafe is great for helping people discover adoptable pets, but I was surprised by the ratio of cats to visitors. With only five cats and about ten people in the room, things felt a bit crowded and awkward. Nonetheless, the cats were charming and friendly. Names like Stringbean, Bubbles, and Strudel suited their personalities perfectly. Although I wasn’t looking to adopt, it was hard not to fall in love with these sweet kitties.
Overall, Nabi Cat Cafe is a good idea but could benefit from improvements. The space is small, the one-hour experience feels rushed for the $28 price tag, and the number of cats could be higher. In comparison, other cat cafes, such as KitTea Cat Lounge in San Francisco, offer more resident cats and additional activities. Nabi is still a new establishment, and while it offers a warm and inviting atmosphere for both cats and visitors, there’s room for growth. Hopefully, in the future, they will have more cats to share the love with!
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