CK Travels

The Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Ok, let’s get all the cat puns out the way right ‘miaow’ in this introduction. If you are a lover of all things ‘cat’ and you are ‘feline’ like you want to spend time with some cute kitties, then do we have the ‘purr-fect’ place for you (‘fur’ real – we aren’t ‘kitten’ you) – the Cat ‘n’ A Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Having been to only one cat cafe previously in Japan, we purposely chose this one over other ones in Thailand based on the online reviews – we know everyone isn’t a fan of such places and we wanted to ensure that when we did visit one, we’d at least try to go to one where the cats seemed to be treated well.

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

Situated right in the heart of Chang Rai next to the main bus station, Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe differs from the cat cafes in Japan as you actually gain admission by buying food and drink – generally, ones in other countries (we think) charge per time spent with the cats.

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

As you first enter Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe, you are greeted by the counter staff and asked to order your drinks / food first and then pay at the same time. Drink prices start from around 60 Baht (for an espresso) and are very reasonable (pretty much the same as ‘non-cat’ cafes). We opted for an iced cappuccino and iced latte respectively (both 75 Baht). Once ordered, you are given a table number sign and are asked to read the ‘cat cafe rules’, remove your shoes and also wash your hands.

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

As we entered Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe we found a table by the window and had a fun time with all the cats – they appeared to all be in immaculate condition and as our visit was at opening time, some were playful while others just wanted to sleep. As per the cafe rules, you are asked to leave the cats alone if they are sleeping and eating. If you really want to get some attention, we’d recommend spending an extra 40 Baht on a cat treat – as soon as we opened the snack packet, we were swamped with kitties clamouring (and slobbering) to get some of the cat-treat.

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

YOU MIGHT LIKE: 1 or 2 day Chiang Rai itinerary travel guide


The cafe also has lots of spaces for the cats to sleep and also get away from customers if they want, plus continual access to water and food. During our visit, all the cats seemed to be happy and all our fellow customers were respectful of the cats and seemed to adhere to the rules. We were also very impressed by the general cleanliness of the cafe – unlike the one we visited in Japan, there was no lingering cat ‘odour’ or mess anywhere. All in all, it was a very ‘paws-itive’ experience (sorry, that last one slipped in)

Address: 596/7 Phaholyothin Road, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand. Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe is open everyday from 11am-10pm. 

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post
The Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe in Chiang Rai, Thailand blog post

Download the Grab app

Grab is widely used by both tourists and locals, and the fares are really cheap! Download the Grab app here and use the code GRABCKTRAVELS to earn a free ride when you sign up.


Other Thailand blog posts


Chiang Rai accommodation

During our stay in Chiang Rai we stayed at two decent mid range hotels – both of which were in an excellent central location in town (just minutes walk from the night bazaar and many bars and restaurants) and were both clean and comfortable:

Wiang Inn hotel / HI Chiang Rai hotel

On a budget?

Here are some highly rated hostels in a good central location:

Mercy Hostel / Norn Nung Len Cafe and Hostel

Treat yourself!

Got some cash to splash? Treat yourself to one of these lovely hotels:

Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort / The Imperial River House Resort


Blog post written by Neil Hassall. Photography is by Caroline Keyzor and Neil Hassall and is copyrighted. Please do not use without permission.

Did you enjoy our Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe blog post? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.

You can follow CK Travels on FacebookInstagramTwitter and YouTube

Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cat Cafe – add to Pinterest!

You Might Also Like...

No Comments

    Leave a Reply