Last updated: August 2026
When I first started looking for animal cafes in Taiwan, I expected to find fifteen slightly different versions of a cat café.
Taiwan had other ideas.
The list soon grew to include chinchillas in a temperature-controlled room, capybaras inside a renovated Hsinchu house, rescue animals waiting for new families, enormous dogs wandering around a Taoyuan restaurant, call ducks in Kaohsiung and black-faced sheep beside the rice fields of Yilan.
Some of these places are traditional cafés. Others are full restaurants, hotpot venues or pet-friendly spaces with resident animals. What they have in common is that the animals are the reason most people remember the visit.
I have arranged these 15 Taiwan animal cafés by region—northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan—so you can add one naturally to your travel route instead of crossing the island just for a cup of coffee.
For families or travelers who would rather not organize transportation between cities, we can also include an animal café in a custom private Taiwan itinerary or a relaxed Taiwan family tour
Which Taiwan Animal Café Should You Choose?
| What you want to see | My recommendation | Why I would choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Chinchillas | UU Chinchilla Café | A focused, supervised chinchilla experience |
| Capybaras and cats | Success Cafe | Two very different animal areas in one Hsinchu house |
| Several animal species | Paws Forest | Cats, meerkats and a toucan in central Taipei |
| Rescue cats and dogs | Lang Lang Don’t Cry | A café connected with animal fostering and adoption |
| Adoptable cats | NUKU NUKU CATCAFE | A larger cat space near Ximending |
| Large dogs | Food Machine 2.0 | Samoyed, St. Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog and more |
| Call ducks | CODA coffee | One of the most distinctive animal cafés in southern Taiwan |
| A countryside experience | Black RURU CAFE | Blacknose sheep and the open landscape of Yilan |
Table of Contents
Animal Cafes in Northern Taiwan
Northern Taiwan has the greatest concentration of animal cafés on this list. Six are in Taipei, followed by options in New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Hsinchu.
Several Taipei cafés can be reached by MRT, but the suburban locations are much easier to combine with a private vehicle. Visitors using public transportation may find our guide to using the Taipei MRT helpful.
1. UU Chinchilla Café 悠悠龍貓咖啡 — Taipei
UU Chinchilla Café was one of the places that immediately made this list feel different. In Taiwan, the Chinese name “龍貓” can make people think of the Studio Ghibli character, but the stars here are real chinchillas.
The experience is more structured than simply entering a room and picking up an animal. Interactions are supervised, which I appreciate because chinchillas are delicate animals that should not be passed around continuously.
The first thing I would tell another visitor is to bring a light jacket. The room is kept cool for the chinchillas, and what feels comfortable for them can feel surprisingly chilly after sitting inside for a while.
Best for: Chinchilla lovers and travelers looking for an unusual Taipei café
Address: 2F, No. 29, Section 1, Yanjiuyuan Road, Nangang District, Taipei City
Transportation: Approximately three minutes on foot from Nangang Exhibition Center MRT Station, Exit 5
My honest tip: Reserve before going and follow the staff’s handling instructions rather than expecting unrestricted animal contact.
2. Meerkat75 Café 75度獴 — Taipei
Meerkats have a way of looking permanently alert, as though they are responsible for monitoring everything happening in the room. That watchful personality is what makes Meerkat75 such a popular stop.
This is not a place where I would arrive in a hurry, order a takeaway coffee and leave. The main attraction is the scheduled interaction experience, so it makes more sense to reserve enough time to sit down, follow the staff’s introduction and let the animals approach in a controlled environment.
The café is in Da’an District, making it relatively easy to combine with shopping, restaurants and an afternoon around Taipei’s eastern neighborhoods. Our Taipei East District guide has more ideas for the surrounding area.
Best for: Travelers who specifically want to meet meerkats
Address: No. 32, Lane 295, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Transportation: Around seven to eight minutes on foot from Xinyi Anhe MRT Station
My honest tip: Check the latest age restrictions before bringing young children, and reserve your interaction period rather than relying on a walk-in table.
3. Paws Forest 肉球森林 — Taipei
Paws Forest is the place I would choose when a group cannot agree on a favorite animal. One person may come for the cats, another for the meerkats and someone else may spend most of the visit watching the resident toucan.
Despite the variety, this is not meant to feel like a miniature zoo. The café uses timed sessions and has clear rules about handling the animals. Visitors should not pick up or restrain an animal unless the staff specifically allows it.
Its location near Dongmen MRT Station also makes it one of the easiest choices for travelers staying in central Taipei. You can visit the café and continue to Yongkang Street, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall or another city attraction without losing half the day in transportation.
Best for: First-time visitors who want more than one animal species
Address: 1F, No. 22-1, Lane 160, Section 1, Xinsheng South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Transportation: Approximately four minutes from Dongmen MRT Station, Exit 6
My honest tip: Book ahead on weekends. Come for the complete experience rather than expecting every animal to interact with every guest.
4. Lang Lang Don’t Cry Café 浪浪別哭 — Taipei
Lang Lang Don’t Cry feels different from an attraction built around an exotic animal. Its residents are rescued cats and dogs waiting for permanent homes, and the café is connected with fostering and adoption.
That changes the mood of the visit. The animals are not props placed there only for photographs. They have individual backgrounds, personalities and comfort levels, and some may eventually leave the café when they are adopted.
I would choose this café for travelers who care as much about the purpose behind the space as the animal interaction itself. It is also a meaningful alternative for someone who has already visited several conventional cat cafés.
Best for: Rescue-animal supporters and potential adopters
Address: 1F, No. 13, Lane 9, Linsen North Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Transportation: Around six minutes on foot from Shandao Temple MRT Station, Exit 6
My honest tip: Let the cats and dogs decide whether they want contact. A quiet visit is often more comfortable for both the animals and the people around them.
5. NUKU NUKU CATCAFE — Taipei
NUKU NUKU is a particularly convenient choice for travelers who already plan to visit Ximending. It occupies several levels, giving the cats more space to separate themselves according to their personalities instead of placing every animal in one crowded room.
Some of the cats are waiting for adoption, so the café is more than an indoor place to pet cats. Guests interested in adopting can ask about the formal process, while short-term visitors can simply enjoy a slower break from the busy streets outside.
I would pick NUKU NUKU over a smaller cat café when I wanted enough time and space to settle in without constantly moving around other customers.
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Best for: Cat lovers, potential adopters and visitors staying near Ximending
Address: 2F, No. 5, Lane 20, Section 2, Hankou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Transportation: A short walk from Ximen MRT Station, Exit 6
My honest tip: Do not assume that every cat wants to be held. Sit down, wait and let the more social cats make the first move.
If you want an outdoor cat experience can also consider a trip to Houtong Cat Village. For more indoor options, see our separate guide to cat cafés in Taipei.
6. CapybaraHouse 水豚屋 — Taipei
CapybaraHouse needs one clarification: it is closer to a Japanese hotpot restaurant than a traditional coffee-and-cake café.
Once I understood that, the concept made more sense. This is somewhere to schedule as a full meal, with the capybara interaction as part of the restaurant experience. It is a better choice for hungry travelers than for someone searching for a quick afternoon latte.
Its Xinyi District location also makes it possible to combine the meal with Taipei 101, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park or the surrounding shopping areas.
Best for: Capybara fans who also want a complete meal
Address: No. 21-1, Alley 16, Lane 559, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
My honest tip: Reserve it as lunch or dinner rather than squeezing it between two other meals. Interaction periods and restaurant rules may change, so confirm them when booking.
A visit here can be incorporated into a custom Taipei private tour when travelers prefer a flexible city itinerary.
7. Red Brick eatery_red brick 紅磚園邸 — New Taipei City
Red Brick is located inside a renovated old red-brick residence in Shulin. It feels more like a destination restaurant than a small urban café, with Italian-style food and resident animals that may include capybaras and meerkats.
This is one of the northern options I would recommend more readily to a family with a vehicle. The environment is roomier than many Taipei cafés, and the combination of a proper meal, an old-house setting and animal interaction gives the visit more substance.
The trade-off is location. It is not as convenient as walking out of an MRT station in central Taipei, so it works best when it is part of a wider New Taipei City route.
Best for: Families, couples and travelers with private transportation
Address: No. 9, Lane 247, Taiping Road, Shulin District, New Taipei City
My honest tip: Do not bring your own pet without checking first. Despite the animal theme, the restaurant has maintained separate rules concerning outside animals.
8. Food Machine 2.0 食。光機2.0 — Taoyuan
Food Machine 2.0 is for people who prefer dogs with a little more physical presence.
Its resident dogs have included breeds such as Samoyeds, Border Collies, St. Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, a Standard Poodle and a Dalmatian. In a world of tiny animal cafés, being surrounded by several large dogs makes this place memorable before the food even reaches the table.
What I like about the idea is that the dogs have enough room to move away and rest. You still need to control their excitement, especially around dogs that may be less comfortable with children or sudden movement.
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Best for: Large-dog lovers and pet-friendly family outings
Address: No. 93, Dahua Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City
My honest tip: Parents should keep children from running, shouting or approaching a resting dog. Let the dogs choose when to participate.
9. Han’s Café 寒咖啡 — Taoyuan
Han’s Café is much quieter and smaller in scale than Food Machine. Instead of a room full of large dogs, its best-known animal resident is a hedgehog.
That makes it a good choice for travelers who enjoy independent coffee shops and do not need constant animal activity. The hedgehog may not always be available, and that is precisely why I would contact the café before making a special trip.
This is less of a “must photograph everything” attraction and more of a neighborhood café with an unusual little resident.
Best for: Hedgehog fans, coffee drinkers and quieter visits
Address: No. 6, Lane 124, Cihui 1st Street, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City
My honest tip: Ask in advance whether the hedgehog will be present. Never wake or handle a resting hedgehog merely for a photograph.
10. Success Cafe 招財咖啡 — Hsinchu
Success Cafe is hidden inside a renovated white house in central Hsinchu. The layout is part of what makes it interesting: capybaras occupy an area downstairs, while cats have their own space on another floor.
I would choose this over a single-animal café when traveling with companions who have different preferences. One person can watch the capybaras chewing slowly downstairs while another spends more time with the cats.
The café is also within walking distance of Hsinchu Railway Station and the City God Temple area, making it practical even without a private vehicle.
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Best for: Capybara fans, cat lovers and a Hsinchu afternoon stop
Address: No. 6-1, Yingming Street, North District, Hsinchu City
Transportation: Approximately ten minutes on foot from Hsinchu Railway Station
My honest tip: Wear socks. The cat area requires visitors to remove their shoes, and weekends can fill quickly.
Afterward, you can continue exploring the old city and try one of Hsinchu’s best-known local foods using our Hsinchu rice vermicelli guide.
11. 昭日咖啡 — Hsinchu
昭日咖啡 is another Hsinchu option, but the experience is more compact. Its best-known residents are cats and a meerkat, creating an interesting combination without the scale of a large animal restaurant.
The location near Big City shopping mall makes it convenient for an unhurried city afternoon. I would choose it when I wanted a smaller neighborhood café rather than making the animals the only event of the day.
You are generally expected to follow hygiene procedures before entering the animal space. As with any meerkat café, interaction should happen according to staff guidance rather than on demand.
Best for: Cats, meerkats and a relaxed Hsinchu city break
Correct current address: No. 13, Lane 170, Minsheng Road, East District, Hsinchu City
My honest tip: The address is Lane 170, not Lane 180 as shown in some older material. Check the café’s latest social media information before visiting.
Animal Cafes in Central Taiwan
12. No. 56 Blue Highway Café 56號藍色公路咖啡 — Yunlin
No. 56 Blue Highway is not somewhere I would recommend visiting by public transportation alone. It makes far more sense as part of a Yunlin or Gukeng road trip.
The blue-and-white Mediterranean-style building gives it the feeling of a countryside leisure stop rather than a city café. The animal area has included alpacas, horses, sheep, tortoises and fish, making this one of the more spacious family-oriented choices on the list.
I would come here for the setting and the slower pace rather than expecting an intimate one-to-one interaction with every animal. It is a place to eat, walk around and let children spend time outdoors.
Best for: Family road trips and travelers visiting Gukeng
Address: No. 1-13, Taoyuan Road, Gukeng Township, Yunlin County
My honest tip: Come by car and check the weather. The outdoor areas are a major part of the experience, so heavy rain can change the visit considerably.
Travelers crossing central Taiwan can include Yunlin in a longer route using one of our Taiwan multi-day tours
Animal Cafes in Southern Taiwan
13. CODA coffee 柯爾鴨寵物友善咖啡 — Kaohsiung
CODA coffee has one of the most cheerful animal combinations on this list. Its main attraction is a group of call ducks, but visitors may also see chinchillas, guinea pigs, parrots and chickens.
The space is relatively compact, so I would not arrive expecting a large farm. The appeal is being close to the animals while taking a break from Kaohsiung’s heat.
Its current location in Yancheng District is also convenient for combining with Hamasen, the harbor and Pier-2. That makes CODA one of the easiest animal cafés to fit into an existing southern Taiwan sightseeing day.
Best for: Call ducks, small animals and a Kaohsiung city itinerary
Current address: No. 42, Jianguo 4th Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City
My honest tip: Come primarily for the animals rather than an enormous menu, and reserve during weekends or school holidays.
Continue the day with our Pier-2 Art Center guide or include the café in a private Kaohsiung tour.
14. Corner Cat Coffee 角落．有貓 — Tainan
After cafés filled with capybaras, meerkats and ducks, Corner Cat Coffee feels refreshingly simple. This is a place for people who genuinely want to spend time around cats.
Its location near the historic center of Tainan makes it easy to pair with Chikan Tower, old lanes and local food. I would use the café as a slow afternoon break between heritage sites rather than treating it as an isolated destination.
The interior includes cat-friendly spaces where the animals can move above or away from guests. That matters to me because a good cat café should allow the cats to opt out whenever they have had enough attention.
Best for: Cat lovers exploring central Tainan
Address: No. 2, Lane 233, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City
My honest tip: Avoid blocking cat walkways or reaching into a sleeping area. The visit is better when you wait for a curious cat to approach naturally.
The café can fit naturally into our Tainan historical and cultural tour.
Animal Cafes in Eastern Taiwan
15. Black RURU CAFE 黑RURU CAFE — Yilan
Black RURU CAFE is the eastern Taiwan entry I would be most excited to build into a full day trip.
Its signature animals are Valais Blacknose sheep, often nicknamed “panda sheep” or “smiling sheep” in Taiwan because of their black faces and white wool. Combined with the fields and open landscape of Wujie, the experience feels completely different from sitting inside a compact Taipei café.
This is not just about seeing an unusual breed. The countryside setting is a major part of the appeal, particularly on a clear day when the surrounding landscape is visible.
Best for: Families, photographers and travelers already visiting Yilan
Address: No. 365, Dazhong 6th Road, Wujie Township, Yilan County
My honest tip: Check the sheep’s rest and interaction periods before choosing your arrival time. Weather also makes a noticeable difference to the outdoor experience.
It can be combined with a private Yilan day tour or other attractions in our Yilan and Jiaoxi travel guide.
What to Know Before Visiting an Animal Café in Taiwan
Reserve before making a special journey
Many popular animal cafés use scheduled dining or interaction periods. A café may still be open but have no remaining space in the animal area.
I always recommend checking the café’s latest Facebook, Instagram or booking page on the day of the visit. Opening hours, animal rest periods and reservation systems change more frequently than ordinary sightseeing attractions.
Check the minimum age
Not every café accepts very young children, particularly when the resident animals are easily startled. Even family-friendly venues may require parents to stay beside their children throughout the interaction.
Do not assume “pet-friendly” means unrestricted access
Some cafés allow outside pets only in carriers or strollers. Others have resident animals but do not allow guests to bring pets at all. Confirm the exact policy before arriving.
Let the animal end the interaction
I use one simple rule: if the animal walks away, the interaction is over.
Do not chase it, block its path, wake it, use flash photography or pick it up without permission. An animal café is much more enjoyable when the animals have resting spaces and the freedom to avoid people.
Do not try to visit all fifteen in one trip
This list is a planning guide, not a checklist.
For most visitors, one well-chosen animal café is enough. In Taipei, two could fit into the same day, but rushing between timed sessions would make the experience feel more like work than a holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Cafes in Taiwan
Do I need to reserve animal cafés in Taiwan?
Reservations are strongly recommended for cafés offering scheduled animal interactions, especially on weekends, public holidays and school vacations. Some smaller cafés may accept walk-ins, but the animal area can still be fully booked.
Are animal cafés in Taiwan suitable for children?
Some are very family-friendly, while others have minimum-age rules or stricter behavior requirements. Check the individual café’s current policy before bringing infants or young children.
Which animal café in Taipei is best for first-time visitors?
Paws Forest is a convenient first choice because it is close to Dongmen MRT Station and has several different resident animals. UU Chinchilla Café is better for someone specifically interested in chinchillas, while NUKU NUKU is a stronger choice for cat lovers.
Where can I see capybaras in a Taiwan café?
Success Cafe in Hsinchu combines capybaras and cats. CapybaraHouse in Taipei offers capybara interaction alongside a hotpot meal, while Red Brick in New Taipei City is a family restaurant in a renovated red-brick building.
Are there animal cafés outside Taipei?
Yes. This list includes cafés in New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Yunlin, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Yilan. Travelers with private transportation will find it much easier to reach the suburban and countryside locations.
Can I bring my own dog or cat?
It depends on the venue. Some are pet-friendly, some require carriers or strollers, and others do not permit outside animals because they could disturb the resident animals. Contact the café directly before visiting.
Which Taiwan Animal Café Would I Choose Again?
For a first visit in Taipei, I would start with Paws Forest because of its central location and variety of animals.
For something I could not easily experience elsewhere, I would choose UU Chinchilla Café, Success Cafe or CODA coffee. For families traveling by car, No. 56 Blue Highway and Black RURU CAFE offer more room and a stronger sense of getting away from the city.
The best animal cafés in Taiwan are not necessarily the ones with the largest number of animals. They are the places where the visit feels organized, the staff explain the rules clearly and the animals are free to rest when they have had enough attention.
Need help adding one of these stops to your Taiwan trip? Explore our private one-day tours or tell us about your interests through our custom Taiwan travel service.