Love cats? Adore tea? Say no more! Aristocat Cafe is where your dreams come to life. This modern cat café and tea house isn’t just any cafe. It’s a sanctuary for both tea lovers and feline friends. Sip a lapsang souchong or a turmeric ginger latte and relax in feline nirvana. If you’re visiting Harrisonburg VA, plan a short visit to this fun cat cafe!
Originating in Taiwan in the late ’90s, cat cafes took off in Tokyo with “Neko no Jikan.” Now, they’ve pounced across the globe, from Europe to North America. Aristocat Cafe carries on this delightful tradition right on North Liberty Street in Harrisonburg VA.
Looking for other fun things to see and do in Harrisonburg? Check out The Virginia Quilt Museum!
Here, you can sip on premium tea or espresso. Or munch on local, house-made snacks. All while adorable, adoptable cats laze around, waiting to meet their forever families. It’s relaxation meets adoption – a win-win! Since the cafe has opened, more than 110 cats have found their furever homes!
When we visited, we played with Laurel, Skater and Madrid, black kittens who had energy to spare until they would suddenly sit still. Seconds later, we realized they’d fallen asleep! Pudding watched from afar, not quite ready to give up her warm spot in the window. Squirrel eyed us warily from her perch high up on the wall. Her tail twitched at the smaller kitten’s crazy antics.
It all started with a dream. A visit to a cat cafe in Québec led to a journey across America visiting cat cafes. Thanks to a partnership with the Humane Society of Shenandoah County and overwhelming community support, began this cozy cat-centered cafe in 2023.
Know Before You Go
Although I’m allergic to cats, I was able to tolerate visiting with them for the 45 minutes or so that we were in with the cats: the cats do not roam free throughout the cafe. There is a place to wash your hands after visiting with the cats. If you are very allergic, you can enjoy their antics while enjoying your tea in the cafe, watching them through windows in the adjacent room.
Aristocat Cafe fosters the cats. The cats are typically active early in the day, then sleep on and off the rest of the day, then perk up again early evening. Some visits with the cats may be different than others, and of course, there are new cats added as others are adopted. However, you can expect that at least a few of the cats will be ready to play. If you are able to visit on a Thursday you will get a quieter room with a better ‘cats to human’ ratio, as weekdays tend to be slower than weekends.
Reserve a 60-minute visit in the Cat Lounge for a small fee. A booked reservation guarantees your spot when you arrive. Children 7-12+ years old are allowed in the Cat Lounge during regular business hours. Ages 7-12 must be supervised by an adult, two children per adult maximum.
Getting there: 111 N Liberty Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed Mondays through Wednesdays.
Website: Aristocat Cafe
