London's Mouse Café Lets You Drink Coffee With Rodents

If you’ve ever wanted your morning coffee to come with an uninvited furry companion, London now has a café where that’s not just allowed — it’s the whole point. Forget cats or dogs. This spot brings you face-to-face with 18 live mice while you drink your espresso. But this isn’t your average petting zoo with lattes. It’s part of a deliberate effort to reshape public perception of an animal many people fear or dislike.

The answer is simple: yes, you can drink coffee in London while 18 mice climb over you, nibble your snacks, or steal sips from your cup. The café houses the rodents inside a space designed for interaction, and bold visitors can even try petting them.

What Is a Mouse Café?

A mouse café is a type of animal café — like cat or rabbit cafés — where the main attraction isn’t furniture or pastries, but small rodents. In this case, the London Mouse Café offers visitors the chance to share a table with 18 mice while enjoying coffee. These mice are free to move around the seating area, climb onto patrons, or help themselves to dropped crumbs and drinks.

Where Is This Café and Who Runs It?

The café is located within the London Dungeon, a well-known London tourist attraction that focuses on the city’s darker historical tales through immersive, horror-themed experiences. While the Dungeon normally trades in fear and gore, the mouse café takes a surprising turn toward cuteness — or at least, curiosity. It’s based on the Japanese concept of animal cafés, particularly those centred on cats.

Why a Mouse Café? The Concept Behind It

The mouse café was inspired by Japan’s popular cat cafés, but with a twist: instead of creating a cozy space with purring felines, it aims to rehabilitate the image of mice. Often seen as pests or disease carriers, mice are commonly feared. The café’s creators want to show that mice can be friendly, social, and even endearing when given the chance to interact in a controlled environment.

What Can You Expect Inside?

Visitors to the London Mouse Café can sit and enjoy their beverages while up to 18 mice roam the seating area. The mice may climb onto chairs, tables, or even customers. They might try to sneak a drink from your cup or nibble leftover food. Brave guests are encouraged to interact further by gently touching or petting the mice. There are no cages — the rodents are free to explore the space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink coffee with mice nearby?

Yes, the café is designed to allow safe human-mouse interaction. The mice are not contained in cages and may come close to your food or drink, but there are no reports of health risks. Staff likely maintain cleanliness standards appropriate for a public food-serving space.

How many mice are in the café at once?

The café houses exactly 18 mice during operating hours. These mice are free to move about the customer area and interact with visitors.

Can you touch or pet the mice?

Yes, bold visitors are encouraged to gently touch or pet the mice. The animals are accustomed to human interaction and often climb onto laps or tables.

What is the goal of the mouse café?

The primary aim is to change public perception of mice, showing they can be friendly and engaging rather than just pests. It’s part of a broader trend of animal cafés that promote animal interaction.

Where is the London Mouse Café located?

It’s located inside the London Dungeon, a tourist attraction known for its horror-themed historical exhibits. The café offers a surprising contrast to the Dungeon’s usual scary fare.

What inspired the creation of this café?

The concept was inspired by Japan’s cat cafés, but adapted to feature mice instead, aiming to challenge negative stereotypes about the rodents.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Mouse Café Sipping

If you’re sipping coffee in a room full of mice, you’ll want something that holds its own. Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright citrus, floral notes, and a tea-like body — perfect when you need a clean, lively cup. For something richer, their Guatemala Antigua offers deep chocolate, spice, and a heavier mouthfeel. Or go light and sweet with Kenya AB, bursting with red berries and crisp acidity. All three handle quirky environments — and quirky rodent company — with flavour to spare. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.