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Header image courtesy of Jametlene Reskp (via Unsplash)
Originally posted by Sophie Pettit. Last updated by Corrine Cheung.
Lizards, hedgehogs, and shibas, oh my! When it comes to dining out, Hongkongers love nothing more than the novelty factor—and fewer things steal the limelight quite like a cute and furry companion. So get ready to fill your Instagram feeds with the hashtag #cutenessoverload as we check out Hong Kong’s coolest animal-themed cafes.
If you are a fan of poodles then head over to Teddy&Poodle Café for some poodle love! Housed in a home-y apartment with a terrace view in Causeway Bay, there are clouds of tiny poodles you could play and cuddle with while feeding them treats. While food for humans is not on the menu, you can order some drinks as you chill amongst clouds of poodles. If you would like to host events like birthday parties with man’s best friend by your side, this café can be rented for the day. For those who would love to play with these playful balls of fluff, simply reserve your spot by contacting the café through WhatsApp or Instagram. Remember to take your shoes off and wear a pair of socks to keep the area clean!
Teddy&Poodle Café, 1–5 Foo Ming Street, Po Foo Building 2A, Causeway Bay | (+852) 6448 6881
So cute. Much wow. We’ve seen no end to Hong Kong’s infatuation with Shiba Inus, ever since the Doge that launched a thousand memes reared his adorable head back in 2013, and now we have a café to satisfy our cravings. Located in an upstairs venue on Foo Ming Street in Causeway Bay, Mame & Shiba Café is home to nine Shiba Inus and a Mame Shiba Inu (a smaller version of the breed) which have been flown in from Japan for our cuddling pleasure.
Customers can enjoy thirty minutes of snuggle and playtime with any of the adorable pups while attempting to top the famous meme that started the whole craze. While the café’s menu is currently limited to simple carton drinks such as lemon tea and Japanese cup noodles, we’re hoping the addition of five more dogs in the future will convince the owners to expand their offering. In the meantime, you can stock up on all the Shiba merchandise you can handle. Walk-ins are welcome during weekdays, but make sure to book 48 hours in advance if you plan on visiting during the weekend or public holidays.
Mame & Shiba Café, Rm J, 3/F, Po Foo Building, 1–5 Foo Ming Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 5931 8931
Slightly less cuddly, but no less adorable, are the spiky residents of Kuri Café, Hong Kong’s first hedgehog-themed cafe. Housed in TBG Mall in Kowloon Bay, the venue is home to 11 hedgehogs that live in little “rooms” made of wooden boxes with glass doors. Led by a hedgehog expert, the café provides free guided tours for visitors to learn all about the nature and characteristics of these nocturnal creatures, while raising awareness about the problem of Hongkongers impulsively buying them as pets, only to abandon them later once they realise how difficult they are to care for. Although safety regulations prevent visitors from being able to touch the prickly characters, they do have the opportunity to feed them with a handful of delicious worms (yum) and take plenty of adorable pics, before enjoying some tasty desserts and drinks in the café.
Kuri Café, Shop T104A, G/F, TBG Mall, 3 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon Bay | (+852) 9297 9821
Inspired by a trip to Japan’s famous “rabbit island” in Okunoshima, Rabbitland Café in Causeway Bay invites you to slip on your socks and step inside the “bunny den” for a play date with 12 fluffy fellas. Decked with little tables and legless chairs, three rabbit pens, and walls of bunny-themed decor, this is the perfect spot for snapping adorable selfies with your favourite bunnies. We particularly love the fluffy-headed Donkey and the super sociable Orea (pictured above). Although you aren’t permitted to pick the rabbits up, you’ll still have plenty of interaction as you stroke them and watch them hop around greeting customers. One session gets you with one hour in the den and a drink, or you can push the boat out and pay with an extra cost for one drink, a tasty dish, and a rabbit snack for your new buddy. Don’t forget to make a reservation, bring a pair of socks, and your camera to snap some photos!
Rabbitland Café, 3/F, 530 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 5281 0280
If you’re moggie mad, then you’ll feel like the cat that got the cream at Hong Kong’s one and only Cat Island Café. Formerly known as Café Store, it’s tucked away on the third floor of a part residential, part commercial building in Causeway Bay. This quirky spot has 11 resident cats who love to be stroked and groomed. A great solution for animal lovers who miss having their own pet (we’re looking at you, landlords), this kooky café can’t get enough of its furry residents who are the inspiration for its murals, photos, and decorations.
These moggies even inspire the menu, which is filled from front to back with cat-themed desserts, snacks, coffees, and meal sets that feature their adorable faces. Prices are pretty reasonable, meaning you and your kitty (yes, there is an “order for your cat” section) can enjoy several treats without breaking the bank for a cute snap or two. Don’t forget to check out the little cat trinkets for sale on your way out too.
Cat Island Café, 3D Po Ming Building, Foo Ming Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2710 9953
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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