Penang’s 6 Best Cat Cafes to Visit for the Best Coffee Break for Cat Lovers!
As someone who loves cats, it fills me with such joy to see tons of cat cafes across Malaysia, from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and now Penang! I mean, what’s not to love about these establishments? Good food? Check! Cute furballs to keep you company? Big check!
However, it pains me to see these establishments flying under the radar of tourists who are creating a list of things to do in Penang. That all changes here, as I’ve gone on a quest to find and showcase the best cat cafes in Penang.
There’s no catch! Just a love letter to those who share the same love for these cute and cuddly felines.
Munchkin & The Gang Cat Cafe
— Media credit: munchkin_andthegang
Address: 64, Lebuh Campbell, George Town
Contact details: +60 18-789 1010
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $$
With a name like Munchkin & The Gang, you know that this cat cafe means business and boy were we not disappointed! Upon entering this converted shophouse, we were greeted by a fun and welcoming ambience and of course, snuggles courtesy of their cute and cuddly munchkins!
You can either enter the cafe and just pet the cat for the fun of it by paying RM25 or spend a minimum of RM25, the latter of which we recommend the most. It’s not hard to spend RM25 here too, as their menu consists of freshly brewed coffee, refreshing fruit drinks and more!
Aside from beverages, you can also help yourself to one of their croffles, which pair perfectly with their milk tea series. These croissant-waffle hybrids come in tasty flavours such as mixed berries, matcha and Biscoff!
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with a big group and you want to order something to share with the whole table, we recommend getting the 10-pc boneless chicken thigh bites. You can either get them in a spicy gochujang or honey soy garlic flavour.
Catonomy
— Media credit: catonomy_pg
Address: 117-A, Annex Building B, Lebuh Victoria
Contact details: +60 17-470 0618
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re like me and you absolutely love Japanese as much as the next person, then Catonomy should be on your radar. They serve a bunch of Japanese classics but they’re bestsellers (understandably) are their rice bowls, which are just packed with flavours.
Of course, the main stars of this cafe are the cute and cuddly resident cats, and there are LOTS of them. These cute felines are so fun to play with and pet because they’re approachable and playful or at least they were during our visit.
The overall ambience of the place is also cool, as it looks like this old-timey shophouse that’s been converted into a somewhat modern cafe. Also, we were impressed that the place didn’t have that funky smell that I’m sure cat owners will know all too well.
Pro tip:
Check out their Instagram page to familiarise yourself with their cat etiquettes such as washing your hands, being gentle, turning off your phone’s flash, etc. While you’re at it, you can also take a look at some of their merch for sale as well as a special seasonal menu!
MagiCat Cafe
— Media credit: kafekaki
Address: 31, Lebuh Nanning, George Town
Contact details: +60 16-489 8079
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
You can count on MagiCat Cafe to deliver healthy and delicious dishes, as they’re the only vegetarian cat cafe in Penang! What’s impressive is that they don’t taste vegetarian at all (no offence to vegetarian food), so you can still satisfy your taste buds here.
A perfect example of this is their plant-based burger, which is just as meaty as the real thing. Plus, it comes with all the fix-ins like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and they even come with a side of fries—yum!
Of course, a visit here wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the upper floor where you’ll find the resident cats living their best lives. They have their own play area here and we could tell that they’re well taken care of based on their soft fur and playful attitude—kudos to the staff!
Pro tip:
If you want to treat your furry pals at home to delicious comfort food, you can bring them here as well since the cafe is pet-friendly! However, do keep in mind that they’re not allowed to come in contact with the cafe’s resident cats.
Pawfect Planet Cafe
— Media credit: pawperfect_planet_cafe
Address: 168, Lebuh Mcnair
Contact details: +60 11-5997 1599
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Technically, Pawfect Planet Cafe isn’t a cat cafe, but with all the friendly felines it sees every day, it might as well be! Tons of cat lovers come into this cafe throughout the day to see some cute and cuddle cats (and dogs) since it’s one of the best pet-friendly establishments in Penang.
There are a lot of reasons why we stand behind this claim, and one of the main ones is its chill ambience, which makes for a great afternoon tea/coffee time. Speaking of which, they also offer a wide array of premium quality coffee and non-coffee drinks made by their expert baristas.
What we love about this place the most, however, is that you can also order a pet-friendly version of what you’re eating. One of the best examples of this is their chicken burger, where instead of a whole chicken chop, the patty takes the form of a chicken nugget—so cute!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on giving your fur baby a special celebration, consider ordering their pet-friendly cake! However, be sure to pre-order in advance to make sure that the cake is ready by yor pet’s special day.
Dreamer Haven Art Cafe
— Media credit: dreamer_haven
Address: 251, Lebuh Kimberley
Contact details: +60 19-919 1912
Operating hours: Daily from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Dreamer Haven Art Cafe insists that they’re not a cat cafe but they do say that cats are part of them. I’m not one to unravel that statement, but whichever way you put it, there’s no denying that there are tons of adorable cats inside this cafe, and they’re being taken care of greatly!
We love the tranquil ambience of this cafe as well as its retro nostalgic decor, which really adds character to the overall place. This makes it a great place to work remotely or to simply gather your thoughts or catch up with your friends.
You can do all of these while enjoying one of their freshly brewed coffee!
Pro tip:
While you’re here, make sure to visit the iconic Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul. This place serves some of the most authentic Malaysian street foods like cendol, char kway teow, rojak and more.
Honorable mention: 3 Leg Cat Cafe
— Media credit: 3legcatcafe
Address: The Golden Triangle, 29-1-62, 11900
Contact details: +60 12-427 3021
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$
3 Leg Cat Cafe doesn’t actually feature cats inside on its premises but is just too good to leave out on this list. If it’s any consolation, some of their dishes and beverages are cat-themed so you can still fulfil the needs of your inner ailurophile while you’re here.
While we’re on the topic of their dishes and beverages, they taste spectacular as well! They offer pasta, sandwiches and delicious homemade cakes that are all homemade and are of premium quality.
The place itself is quite alluring as well, featuring a neat and rustic interior that’s perfect for taking Instagram-worthy photos.
Pro tip:
You can also bring your kids here and enjoy a family-fun bonding experience! The cafe features toys that your kids can play with and even a PS4!