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Are you looking to go to Java Whiskers Cat Cafe in London? Eric and I have got you covered! We recently visited Java Whiskers cat cafe London and are now sharing our experience to help you decide if it’s right for you!
As a travel couple, we have explored many cat cafes in several cities including Dublin’s cat cafe, Warsaw’s cat cafe and Porto’s cat cafe! Going to cat cafes for dates is something we love to do as it helps us relax and really connect with each other. Java Whiskers is one of the best cat cafes in the city of London and in the UK.
If you’re looking for a London cat cafe, Java Whiskers might be just what you’re looking for! In this post, we cover:
- why going to Java Whiskers is a good date idea for couples
- our entire experience at Java from the cafe to the interactions with the cats
- our budget
- practical tips
- and more!
Why going to Java Whiskers cat cafe is good for couples
Whether you decide to go to Java Whiskers Marylebone or Java Whiskers Westfield, going to Java Whiskers Cat Cafe in London is an amazing idea for couples and here’s why:
Budget
First, going to Java Whiskers together is pretty affordable. The first packages starts at £14.99 each which is reasonable for an activity in London. For just a bit more, you can get treats and drinks as well.
Quality time
With packages that last from 55 minutes to 1 hour and 55 minutes, the time you spend with your partner at Java Whiskers is definitely of quality. Because of the slots, the Cat and Kitten lounges aren’t crowded which means you won’t have to squid between other couples like you would at any other cafe.
Due to the cafe being the cats’ home, people are also expected to keep the level of noise low. This creates a quiet atmosphere where it’s easier to have conversations together without struggling to hear each other.
Finally, when we go to a cat cafe, we’re quite focused on the cats, together, at the same time. This means we’re both enjoying the present moment which is sometimes hard to do in “real life”. Spending time together at Java Whiskers allowed us to press pause and really be in the moment with each other.
Cuteness overload at java cat cafe London
We had a great time at Java Whiskers and that’s mostly due to how cute the cats were. There were about 6 cats when we went and we got to snuggle them, play with them and feed them together. It was super cute and we were happy to share that together.
Romantic ambiance
Finally, Java Whiskers set up is quite romantic itself. When we went, the fireplace was on which made the room super cozy. The lights were dimmed which created a more intimate atmosphere as well.
The Cafe experience at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
If you’re looking for a cat cafe London marylebone bound, we can highly recommend Java Whiskers. The Java Whiskers cafe experience was great.
The cafe itself is separated into several rooms. The first room is the cafe itself where you can buy treats and drinks. There is a seating area with a couple of tables. If you don’t have a booking and there are no slots available, you can come and order drinks and food and watch the cats through a small window. It’s not quite the same as being in the lounge obviously but it is a cute cafe regardless. The Java Whiskers cat cafe London menu is quite large with a range of drinks from cold to hot (coffee, hot chocolate, etc)and a wide selection of treats from brownies to little tarts.
In our case, we booked the Cat Lounge experience for 55 minutes with a platter of treats and two hot drinks.
Once we got into the Cat Lounge, we only waited a couple of minutes before we were served our food and drinks which was great and we were able to take our time to eat and drink while also enjoying the cats. We were advised not to let the cats eat human food but we weren’t pressured into eating quickly or anything like that.
Our experience with the staff
When we arrived, we got greeted by some of the staff. Since we had a reservation, we were asked what drinks we wanted so they could bring them to us once in the Cat Lounge. It was all very smooth.
Before going in, one of the staff gave us an outlook on what the experience would look like and rules to respect with the cats. Everything was explained clearly and in an educational manner.
Once in the Cat Lounge, members of the staff would come in and out regularly but no-one was micromanaging us or anything.
During the entire experience, we had a great impression of the staff. Everyone seemed well trained and passionate about the cats putting their safety and well-being first which we appreciated. All staff members at this London cat cafe were very polite and kind as well which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Our experience with the cats at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Now that we’ve gone over the cafe experience and the staff experience, it’s time finally talk about our purrrrfect time with the cats at this cat cafe in London.As I noted above, we booked the Cat Lounge experience for 55 minutes with a platter of treats and two hot drinks. Here’s how our experience went.
Arriving and ordering
When we arrived, we were asked about our reservation and what drinks we would like. We both ordered a hot chocolate which was brought to us along with the treats later on in the Cat Lounge.
Introduction and rules at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
After ordering, we were asked to sit down and wait with the rest of the group until it was time to go in. Before going in, one member of the staff explained the rules that apply in the Cat Lounge and gave some backgrounds on the cats.
The cats at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe are rescues. This means they weren’t always treated well by humans. The employee explained that though some are now happy to receive human affection, some are still skittish and that it is not allowed to grab them or force them to play. She also explained that at the end of the day, it is normal for some of the cats to sleep more and that it is okay to gently pet them if that’s the case. A couple of other rules were:
- to not feed them human foods
- to not take flash photography
- to not scream or be really loud
Overall, the rules are common sense when dealing with rescue cats. From our experience, they were similar to other cat cafes we’ve been to.
Transition room at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Before heading to the Cat Lounge, we first stepped into what we’ll call the transition room. There, we were asked to remove our shoes and we could also wash our hands and hang our coats. If you’re going to Java Whiskers, note that you can access this room at any time so you can leave things here and get them later if you need to. In this room, there is also a toilet with a sink.
We highly recommend leaving your coat here, especially if the fireplace is on in the Cat Lounge. You’ll be hot and toasty in there!
Into the Cat Lounge at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Then, it was time to enter the Cat Lounge. The staff had already picked a table for each party so we didn’t get to pick our table. To be honest, it didn’t really matter as the space is not very big. No matter where you sit, you’ll be close to the cats.
After we sat down, we noticed most of the cats were sleeping so we started by observing them and gently petting them rather than playing with them. After a couple of minutes, we were brought our treats and hot drinks. The hot chocolates and treats were good.
For a bit, we went around and started petting the cats. A couple of them were sleeping in nooks and crannies so they weren’t exactly reachable. When all of a sudden…one of the staff brought some cat treats!
We were all given a few treats to give the cats which obviously made the experience a bit more interesting. The cats started waking up and coming down from their prime nap spots. Though one of the cats was pretty skittish, he and his peers all came around and ate from our hands directly. We got many licks too!Obviously, we got a few snuggles at the same time!
We then went to sit back down and finish our treats when all of a sudden, we see Tom the cat, coming towards us. It didn’t take Tom, who is famous for loving human chocolate treats, very long to realise there were a few crumbs on our table. This beautiful black cat quickly stepped on me to investigate our plates which, sadly for him, we pushed away to avoid him getting sick. The legend has it that, once on my lap, Tom was comfortable enough that he decided to stay for the rest of the session. Tom decided that even without the crumbs, the two hand massage he was given for over 20 minutes was worth staying! (Don’t we all want to be like Tom?).
Five minutes before the end of our session, we were told it was almost over. On the time, we (sadly) gave Tom back (who didn’t really want to leave my comfortable lap) and left.
Budget for Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Depending on the experience you select, your budget will vary. The most basic package is 55 minutes in the Cat Lounge which costs £14.99 per person.
For our experience, which included 55 minutes in the Cat Lounge and treats and drinks, we paid £47.97 total.
Our opinion on Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Our opinion on the experience at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
We had a really good experience at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe. The cats were super cute, the ambiance enjoyable and the staff really nice. Having Tom come nap on my lap was definitely the highlight of the experience. We’re both very good with animals and have experience with them so petting cats alone or looking at them isn’t as interesting to us as actually snuggling them. So well-done Tom!
One thing, we’ve noticed with cat cafes is that your experience can greatly differ based on what type of cats you’re meeting.
In certain cat cafes, the cats are residents and come from the owners themselves or donations. In other words, they aren’t rescues. When cats aren’t rescues, they are less scared and a bit more affectionate so they’ll come to you more.
In other cat cafes, cats are rescues. Due to their bad experience with humans, they can be a bit more scared of the guests and therefore don’t care much for strokes and attention.
At Java Whiskers Cat Cafe, it was a bit of a mix. Some of the cats, like Tom, were very affectionate and wanted to snuggle while others would run away as soon as we approached, even when doing so gently. All together, there isn’t much you can do about it as the cats come first (as it should be). But just so you know, it may be that during your visit, none of the cats want to play with you, it just comes with the package.
To get the most out of your experience, we’ll give you some tips below.
Our opinion on the price
We’ve written a full guide on cat cafes in London and cat cafes UK bound (can you tell we love cats and dogs?) and if you read it, you’ll see that prices vary greatly from one to another. Actually some cat cafes only require a £3 entry fee + drinks while others can charge over £20 per person.
Rather than saying one is expensive and the other cheap and comparing them on that basis, we’ve come to realise that going to a cat cafe should be seen more as a donation than anything else. When you go to Java Whiskers Cat Cafe, you donate that money to the cats and contribute to providing them with a safe home where they are fed and well taken care of. That, to us, is what matters.
We also understand that renting a unit in Central London doesn’t come at the same cost as renting a unit somewhere in the middle of Kent. So of course, that comes through the price we pay as well.
All together, we were satisfied with the price and thought it was good value. We got good food, good drinks and spent a lovely hour petting and snuggling cute cats. All worth it to us!
Other available experiences at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Java Whiskers Cat Cafe is one of London cat cafes that offers several other experiences, see below:
Kitten Cafe London
One of the main other experiences at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe is the kitty cafe London style. It’s actually the only Kitten cafe in Europe. The Kitten Lounge is separated from the Cat Lounge and the cats are between the age of 9 months and one year. The booking works the same, you can either book 55 minutes, 1 hour 25 minutes or 1 hour 55 minutes and add treats and drinks as you please.
Afternoon Tea at one of the best cat cafes London has to offer
Every Saturday and Sunday, Java Whiskers invites you for Afternoon Tea between 2pm and 5pm. You’ll be provided with the traditional afternoon tea treats with a mix of sweet pastries and sandwiches. Prices start at £34.99 per person.
Birthdays
Java Whiskers offers Birthday kits if you wish to celebrate your big day with their kitties. You’ll get some cat goodies along with a pastry and a hot drink.
Gift Cards
You can also purchase a gift card if you’d like to give the gift of temporary cat snuggles to one of your loved ones!
You can find more information about your options and pricing here.
Practical information about Java Whiskers Cat Cafe
Java Whiskers Cat Cafe UK locations
Java Whiskers has two locations: one is a cat café in Marylebone and one is a cat cafe in Westfield. If you’re looking for “cat cafe soho” or “cat cafe near me” while in West London, the Marylebone location will be closer. If you’re around Kensington or Notting Hill, the one in Westfield is closer.
Things to know before you come
- Bring socks: You will need to remove your shoes when entering the Cat Lounge. Don’t forget to bring socks to be more comfortable.
- Wear average clothes: Cats have claws and they also sometimes have accidents. WE recommend wearing clothes that are not prone to tearing or hole-poking and that you won’t cry over if a cat pees on them. When visiting Java Whiskers Cat Cafe, Tom came on my lap and got his claws into my corduroy pants. Tom was definitely having his best nap but it did nick a thread in my pants. I was able to fix it but not all materials are as easy to fix as corduroy so just keep that point in mind.
- There are rules, you’re expected to respect them and the staff can request that you leave if you don’t.
- Best time to visit: If you want to get the most out of your experience, we recommend visiting in the first half of the day. That’s because at the end of the day, cats have had a lot of playtime and snuggles and may just want to chill away from anyone.
- Adoption: All cats are up for adoption. If you’re interested you can talk to a member of staff when at the cafe.
- Booking: We highly recommend booking in advance as slots fill up quickly!
- Address: Marylebone – W1W 6QF / Westfield White City – W12 7HB
- Opening hours:
- Marylebone: Sun/Wed: 10am to 8pm Thurs/Sat: 10am to 9pm
- Westfield: Mon/Sun: 10am to 9pm
What can you not do at a cat cafe?
Similarly to any cat cafe London UK offers, there are things you cannot do at Java Whiskers Cat Cafe. These include:
- being loud
- force holding the cats
- picking up the cats from the ground
- feeding cats with human food
- forcing the cats to do anything
- taking flash photography. Don’t forget to use our London captions to illustrate the photos of your experience!
- walking in the Cat Lounge with shoes on
What should I wear to cat cafe?
Java Whiskers is, in our opinion, THE cat cafe London cat lovers should visit. But what to wear you ask? From our experience, wear something comfortable that you don’t mind getting dirty or nicked as cats have claws and some rescue cats might not be super potty trained yet. Don’t forget to bring socks as Java cafe has a no shoe policy in the lounge.
We also found that it was quite warm and cozy in the lounge (and that’s coming from someone who is always cold) so, in the winter, don’t wear to thick of a sweater. Alternatively, we recommend wearing layers.
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