Columbus' only cat cafe
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Precious, a 2-year-old tabby cat waiting for her fur-ever home. Photos: Alissa Widman Neese/Axios
👋 Alissa here with what's paws-itively the most adorable business I've ever entered.
Driving the news: Kitty Bubble Cafe & Bar, Columbus' only cat cafe, opened to three straight sellout weekends.
Why it matters: The cafe houses adoptable cats from Colony Cats (& dogs), with proceeds benefiting the rescue group. Already, 14 have found homes.
My take: The attention to detail for both cats and humans is what makes the place so special.
- The cafe features cat-shaped chairs, clever drinks like "pawty on the beach" and wall-to-wall paw print decor, because toe beans are a work of art.
- The drink lids — for when a cat inevitably knocks them over — have ears on top.
- The cat lounge is beach-themed with kitty-sized lounge chairs, comfy hiding spots and lots of wall perches for stretching and climbing.
The intrigue: A wall of plastic bubbles separates the two areas and serves as a window.
- That means guests with allergies or who don't pay lounge admission can still enjoy the cafe.
Yes, and: The coffee is so good I'd stop by if that were the only attraction.
On that note: I must confess, I'm headed back today to cowork with Mary Jane.
- 😸 … I should just buy that $150 yearly pass now, huh?
What's next: Owner Ivy Hou tells me the business will eventually offer alcohol but, for now, she's taking some time to settle in after a hectic opening rush.
- "We are slowly finalizing stuff. Just a bit more popular than we expected. I guess [it's] a good problem to have," she said via Facebook.
If you go: 12-9pm Monday, Thursday-Friday. 10am-9pm Saturday-Sunday. Closed Tuesday-Wednesday. 5568 N. High St., just south of Worthington.
- $10 for 30 minutes, $15 for an hour. Reservations recommended.
😴 Pro tip: Go early. At my Saturday evening visit several kitties were tired out from too much play time.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to note that Kitty Bubble Cafe & Bar is Columbus' only cat cafe, not the first.
