Korea has no shortage of unique cafes in Seoul’s trendy university district, Hongdae. City dwellers can come and enjoy this adorable meerkat cafe in Seoul.
A typical animal cafe in South Korea usually consists of dog cafes or cat cafes. Korean pet cafes are quite popular, which is why the Meerkat and Friends Cafe opened in the Hongdae area.
Now, let’s dig into meeting the real Timon from The Lion King!
Another one of my favorite cafes you should totally visit is the Thanks Nature Cafe, where you can interact with and pet adorable fluffy sheep. This sheep cafe has an adorable sheep-themed interior to match the aesthetic, too!
Pet cafes became popular after the world’s first cat cafe opened in Taiwan. Now, you’ll find the best animal cafes in Asia, including a raccoon cafe like the Blind Alley Cafe!
What is the Meerkat Cafe in Hongdae?
The first cafe to open was in the Hong-ik University area. The business owners also own the Meerkat Cafe in Myeongdong.
The one in Myeongdong does not serve any food or drinks and mostly consists of a play area for the meerkats. Delighted customers can watch the meerkats or the animals roam freely.
Animal Welfare at the Meerkat Cafe in Hongdae
Over the years, there has been growing pushback on my blog and social media about this cafe in Seoul. While I know it is controversial, I am very aware of where I spend my money, and I would never recommend such businesses that hurt animals.
With the rise of the animal cafe, many animal welfare advocates want to ensure that animal abuse does not occur. Patrons are limited in their interaction time with the animals in the meerkat enclosure. There are also specific times you can interact with them.
Many of the cafe’s animals, such as the raccoons, are adopted. TripAdvisor says this establishment meets the animal welfare policy because the animals are treated humanely.
Also, if you’re interested in adopting a dog in Korea, I recommend the Guangdong Reborn Center, a government-run shelter where I adopted my sweet Pomeranian, Honey Bear.
If you would like to interact with the meerkats, you must:
- have your hands sanitized
- sit down immediately
- have a sheet on your lap at all times
- make sure you never pick them up
- make sure to empty your pockets
About the Meerkat Friends Cafe Experience
Meerkat and Friends Cafe has strict rules you must adhere to. All patrons must remove their shoes and purchase a drink.
Guests under the age of 15 are not allowed in for the protection of the animals. The cafe is now two floors and the entry fee is 15,000 won.
Meerkats are sensitive creatures. Any terrible experience can easily traumatize them and ruin the innocence of animals.
About Exotic Animals
In addition to the meerkats in the cafe, they also have Arctic Foxes, raccoons, kittens, wallabies, and a South African Genet. Live wild animals can bite and hurt you by accident.
One time, a fox jumped from its cat tree straight onto me. Let me tell you, it scratched the living daylights out of my arm, and it stung like no one’s business.
I didn’t react because it was not the animal’s fault, and the staff helped tend to the scratches. For the record, the fox was fine, and so was I.
Recommendations
Meerkats love to dig, so I recommend you wear clothes you don’t mind getting wrecked. Digging is an innate instinct that is used to create burrows, get food, or create dust clouds to distract predators.
These adorable creatures are extremely fast and love to play. Sometimes, the staff will give you toys so you and the meerkats can have an enjoyable experience.
If the meerkat allows it, you can pet these furry babies; let me tell you, they are soft.
Cost
Drink prices range from 8,000 to 11,000 won. This extra cost covers the food, staff to handle the animals and veterinary bills. The entrance fee is now 15,000 won.
Is it Gina Bear Approved?
The cafe really does take care of its furry residents. The animals are not neglected and are well-cared for.
In addition, they are caged at different times and allowed to roam freely to prevent the different animal species from fighting. I visited the cafe with my family when they came to Korea. They all had a good time, and so did I.
How To Get There
Take Line 2 (the green line) to Hongik University Station and walk out exit 9. Walk one block until you reach the major intersection, cross the street, and turn left.
Walk down three blocks and turn right when you see the pharmacy after the Lotteria. Go up the alleyway and make a slight left. You’ll see it on your right.
Address: 19-12 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (3rd floor)
마포구 와우산로21길 19-12 (3층)
Phone: 02-333-4683
Hours: 12 pm – 9:45 pm
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28 Comments on Visit This Adorable Hongdae Meerkat Cafe in Seoul
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I have been in love with these creatures since Meerkat Manor was a thing. They are just way too adorable! This cafe looks like it treats its animals well and ethicallly.
I totally remember that show. I always thought they were cool because of the Lion King! The cafe does its best to make sure the animals are comfortable.
Oh this is a very unusual and unique concept. Meerkats are so cute and looks in happy mood. Let them allow the children above 10years as they will also enjoy. A place for animal lovers
No way a Meerkat cafe exists!! My son is 1 and the first animal he ever reacted to was a Meerkat. He fell in love with them. I would love to take him to this place to check them out!! Wow thanks for sharing
Happy to hear that your son likes Meerkats. Unfortunately, children under 15 are not allowed in the cafe.
I’ve never seen the appeal in cat cafes, but this is definitely something I can get on board with! Meerkats are the best. It’s great that they have a ban on under 15s, kids and tiny fluffy animals tend not to be the best mix haha.
Totally. I don’t like children either so I’m glad kids 15 and under are banned. They scream too much and they’re unintentionally rough with animals.
The first picture left us rapt and we started looking for more pictures of those adorable meerkats. We had heard about cat and dog cafes but this is completely new and fascinating. The cafe too looks like a great place to be with the pleasant ambiance.
I LOVE MEERKATS!!! Wow I think I could be crazy enough to travel to Seoul just to enjoy this experience but I feel pretty bad about it. I love animals out in their natural environment. But if the animals are well taken care of and they enjoy frequent human contact there’s something to be said about them living their days in this environment.
The meerkats are really cute, but it makes me sad to see them in a cafe. I’m not even really a big fan of the cat or dog cafes just because it sounds really stressful to be in such a small environment with numerous other animals and humans that keep on coming and going all day long. Do they have a place to go if the meerkats didn’t want human contact?
Wow that’s new! I did not know meetkats can be pets, that too in a restaurant!
Hope they also enjoy being there and don’t miss their homeland.
What an innovative USP of the cafe ! The meerkats look real cute and the fact that one can play with them while dining, is really cool.
The Meerkats look so cute. I am happy that they are taken care of well. But I do hope that they enjoy the experience as much as the visitors to the cafe do.
It’s definitely a unique cafe. Not only has it sheltered the animals but even created an environment with toys and all where they feel comfortable. I will definitely like to visit here once.
The meerkats are cute and neat. I like that the staff has provided a clear set of rules. The cafe looks comfortable and pleasant. I do not think that I would be able to order a cup of coffee here because I will just play with the meerkats. : )
And here I was thinking that us Aussies had cornered the market in ‘weird’ with our cane toad racing and singing, piano playing dingoes! But this cavern of cuteness manages to out-weird us without even trying!!! If I ever make it to Seoul, this’ll go straight to the top of my ‘must do’ list!
It’s definitely super popular and if you ever come up, it’s definitely a must see! 🙂
It is quite unfortunate that these meerkats have to “entertain” people in such an unnatural environment. Can’t imagine how they cope since meerkats would leave their burrows every morning as the sun comes up; they would then face the sun to warm up (their tummies are almost like solar panels) and then go about their day to find food etc.
Just like any wild animal, they are DEFINITELY not pets and should never be domesticated as such.
I would love to know how the cafe owners obtained the meerkats and if they have all the legal paperwork in order; not that it justifies this inhumane situation.
Same goes for the genet; how on earth did a single genet end up in Korea?
I urge you to please read up about the dangers of animal interactions, not for humans, but for the animals. And this goes for anything, from dolphin shows to feeding/petting lion cubs to elephant riding, posing with a tiger, and the list goes on and on.
As a South African (who also lived in Korea for 4 years), I can’t tell how sad this makes me to see such a themed cafe in Korea; they took it too far this time.
Thank you for posting this, it saddens me that yours is the only comment addressing how cruel is to use animals for entertainment.
Exactly, how much I would squeel and love to pet a meerkat, but even just being at the aquarium makes me stop and think how unnatural it is for the animals. But now the meerkat cafe, raccoon cafe and owl cafe, that’s a whole different dimension… hopefully at least there are trained people with them but still. Then to think of an animal like a meerkat who normally hides for everything… a cafe full of people is so unnatural for them, even if you leave the kids at home.
They were INSANELY RUDE to our group while there. The staff didn’t care for foreigners AT ALL.
What is The best time of day to visit for the most interaction as I know cat cafes are recommended as an early morning activity. Thanks
I would say in the early afternoon because that’s when I went and they were pretty active.
Hello, we went to the meerkat cafe in Myeongdong and it was a lovely experience. However we ended up with some scratches on our neck area. Do you know if these animals have been vaccinated ?
I’m not a medical professional. If you feel that there is something wrong, it’s very cheap to go to a doctor here in Korea.
Hi Gina, I brought my family to see the Meerkats at the cafe. As I will not be going into the cafe, I thought I could wait at the entrance shoe area. Apparently l can’t even wait there. Either i pay the money or l wait outside the cafe at the lift landing. By the way it’s winter time.
Maybe there should be a small coffee area for people to buy a drink and where they can wait for the family.