US’s First Cat Café Opens in NYC’s Chinatown for 4 Days

If you’ve ever wished you could sip coffee while cuddling a cat—but can’t have pets where you live—New York City is about to offer a temporary solution. For coffee-loving cat enthusiasts, a unique pop-up experience is coming to Manhattan’s Chinatown, combining two beloved pastimes: coffee and kittens.

The US’s very first cat café will open on April 27 at 168 Bowery in New York’s Chinatown and will run for just four days, giving locals a chance to enjoy specialty coffee in the company of adoptable cats.

What Is a Cat Café?

A cat café is a café where visitors can enjoy drinks and food while interacting with cats. The concept originated in Taiwan in 1998 and has since spread to cities like London, Madrid, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and now New York. These cafés typically combine a relaxed café atmosphere with the presence of friendly cats, creating a stress-relieving social space.

Why New Yorkers Are Excited

Although the cat café is only a short-term pop-up, it has already generated significant interest. New Yorkers who can’t have pets—such as NYU student Deng Wenhui, who lives in a dorm—are especially enthusiastic. “I love cats, but I can’t have one in my dorm. I’m really excited to get to play with them,” Deng said. Similarly, local workers like Liu and Emily, who also can’t have pets, look forward to decompressing with the cats or meeting fellow cat lovers.

What to Expect at the Pop-Up

The New York cat café pop-up will be held from April 24 to 27 at 168 Bowery. In addition to enjoying coffee in a cozy, cat-filled environment, visitors may also have the opportunity to adopt one of the resident cats. The exact coffee menu hasn’t been detailed, but the focus will clearly be on creating a relaxed, pet-friendly social space where people can unwind among felines.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the cat café in NYC opening?

The cat café opens on April 27, 2024, though the full pop-up event runs from April 24 to 27 at 168 Bowery in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

How long will the cat café be open?

The cat café pop-up will be open for four days only, from April 24 to April 27, 2024.

Where is the cat café located?

The pop-up cat café will be located at 168 Bowery, in New York City’s Chinatown.

Can I adopt a cat from the café?

Yes, according to the report, visitors may have the opportunity to adopt one of the cats during the pop-up event.

Do I need to bring my own cat?

No—you go to a cat café to hang out with the cats that are already there. You don’t need to bring your own.

Is this the first cat café in the United States?

Yes, this is reported to be the first cat café in the United States, though the concept has been popular internationally since 1998.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans That Pair Well With Cats

While sipping coffee with cats, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui for bright citrus and floral notes, or their Yirgacheffe for juicy berries and soft stone fruit—both single origins shine in a relaxed setting. For something richer, their Black Cocoa Blend offers deep chocolate and caramel tones, perfect for pairing with feline companionship. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.