The bad date with a mouth breather. The awkward co-worker “happy” hour. The neverending coffee break with a one-upper. There are countless social occasions that remind me how much I would rather hang out with a pet than a human — animals are just all-around good “people.” You don’t have to worry about maneuvering around sticky subjects, like politics and money, because they just don’t care. And now social dining experiences are becoming more fun … with more fur … as cat cafés and dog-friendly establishments sweep through Atlanta.
Cat cafes originated in Asia a few years ago and became super popular with humans — as they enjoyed their cups of joe they got to watch Joe … and Tiger, Puss and other cats roam the restaurant. And since there is no shortage of feline friends and cat ladies here in the states, the trend spread (the first official dog café in the United States opened in Los Angeles). Cat cafés offer the chance to temporarily nuzzle with a four-legged pal, if your living arrangements don’t allow you to have a pet, or you can adopt one of the homeless cats curled around your coffee. Disclaimer: I am a MAJOR dog person (golden retrievers are my jam), so I had to include a few dog-friendly spots for those of us obsessed with doga, dog carrier backpacks and Starbucks’ secret puppuccinos.
So grab a tennis ball, rub up against the couch and hear a tail of great places to hang with the coolest non-humans in Atlanta.
Java Cats
415 Memorial Drive SE C, Atlanta, GA 30312 • (470) 305-7575
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Closed Monday
85 Atlanta St SE, Marietta, GA 30060 • (770) 635-8403
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Closed Monday
That’s right. Java Cats has TWO locations to satisfy cat fans from across the Metro Atlanta region! The mission of the business is to bring joy through the love of an adoptable cat and food and coffee provided by homeless locals in the process of getting back on their feet. Java Cats has found permanent homes for hundreds of cats, and the Marietta cafe opening last summer has surely helped the cause.
Java Cats Atlanta charges $10 for adults and $7 for children under 12; walk-ins welcome on a first come, first served basis. We recommend making a reservation online because space is limited due to the health, safety and comfort of the cats. All reservations include a complimentary drip coffee or loose leaf tea for everyone in the party, and crafted beverages are available as a reservation upgrade for an added $2.50.
Java Cats Atlanta partners with PAWS Atlanta and Java Cats Marietta teams up with Humane Society of Cobb County — each café serves as a foster for up to 20 cats at a time in their cat rooms, and every cat is adoptable through the respective shelters.
Happy Tabby Cat Café & Cocktail Lounge
529 Irwin St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30312 • (678) 640-4404
Hours: Wednesday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday
If you’re in need of a cat — whether to watch, play with or adopt — Happy Tabby is the place to visit. If you’re in need of some cat-related puns, Happy Tabby is also the place to visit. This Old Fourth Ward cat café and cocktail lounge offer Caturday Yoga (stretching while ensconced in mildly interested felines), Happy (Tabby) Hour and lots of other feline-themed events.
Happy Tabby has two areas: play and stay. Pay $8 per hour and play in the “cat room” with up to 25 curious adoptable cats looking to pounce, purr and pamper (themselves). The room is like one of those indoor gyms for kids, except the complete chaos is replaced with cat trees, hammocks, bridges and every type of cat toy imaginable. Those looking to enjoy a chai tea latte or espresso without a nosy cat in their biz can watch the playful creatures from behind a glass partition. Besides the warm brews, Happy Tabby serves food, like açaí bowls and baked treats, from local suppliers. The cats are up for adoption through FurKids animal rescue organization.
Perk-N-Pooch
6690 Roswell Road #360, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 • (678) 500-9237
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The only things that truly wake some of us up are barking pups and perking brews. Good thing Perk-N-Pooch recognizes this fact, but with a twist (a clean, sparkling twist) — DIY dog wash and professional grooming. Perk-N-Pooch customers — of the two-legged variety — choose their dog’s service (price depends on weight and breed) and then relax with a delish coffee or tea. Services include the Express Wash (wash, condition, clean eyes and ears and a towel dry), Fluff-n-Buff (for those breeds who need a deep brush for their dense coats), Brush-n-Buff (a quick brush for short- and thin-hair coats) and the Do-It-Yourself (for a flat fee of $17, the shop provides you with everything needed to scrub your pooch). There’s also a professional grooming session and nail trims and puppy baths you can book. So now, instead of that awful wet-dog smell, your pooch can smell like a lovely combo of soap and fresh coffee.
Park Grounds
142 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 • (678) 528-9901
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Park Grounds is part dog park, part café and bar … all awesomeness. This beloved Reynoldstown establishment has entertained people and their four-legged besties for years. Here’s the best way to handle your pooch during a visit to Park Grounds: 1. Bring Fido outside in the park and let him do his business. 2. Order something tasty from the menu (extensive offerings of hot and cold foods include the hash brown bowl, fantastic sandwiches, an espresso bar and fab cocktails). 3. Return outside and devour that tasty meal and drink as you watch the pups feel the sun on their faces and freedom under their paws.
Publico Kitchen & Tap
1104 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 • (678) 745-5230
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
When it comes to Latin-Asian fusion fare, I’ll go anywhere to chow down — and Publico Kitchen & Tap is the perfect example. However, add the fact that this dog-friendly restaurant has an entire menu reserved for its furrier customers, and it seals the deal as a must-visit Atlanta spot.
Because this is a story about man’s best friend … ok, and cats … we’re going to skip the human dishes and jump right into the VIP (Very Important Puppy) Menu. Little Spot can enjoy the peanut butter bacon biscuit for his starter, followed by the choice of two mains: tempting turkey (ground turkey, sweet potato, bok choy, red pepper and strawberries) and seafood casserole (shrimp, grouper, sweet potato, carrots and apple). These puppy plates are served in three different sizes: taco (dogs under 25 lbs.), burrito (dogs 25-50 lbs.) and whole enchilada (dogs over 50 lbs.). The feather (or perhaps the flea) in Publico’s dog-loving cap is that all the sales of the VIP menu go to the Atlanta Humane Society.
Fetch Park & Ice House
520 Daniel St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
As the Girl Scouts sing, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” Keep the friendship bonds strong with your pooch by taking him to Fetch Park & Ice House. Located in Old Fourth Ward, this membership-based spot brings out the best in dogs and drinking. Your pooch will get to run around off-leash in a dog park that includes cooling and dog wash stations; humans will enjoy outdoor TVs and a 1976 Airstream converted into a full-service bar. And you can have peace of mind since all memberships ($23-$30/month; day passes $10) require current vaccinations, spay/neuter, friendly/social temperament and no ticks or fleas. The restaurant part of Fetch, The Shipping Yard, features a large dog-friendly patio and shipping container bar with rooftop seating and views of the whole park.
If you don’t yet have a dog, here’s something to wag your tail: You can still hang out with all the other Fetch dogs, grab a cold drink and don’t have to worry about an entrance fee.
Whether you’re a cat person, a dog person or even a hedgehog person, there are plenty of fun things you can do with your current four-legged bestie … or perhaps add a new bestie to the mix.
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