by: Angela Alvis, South of Seoul volunteer
Updated in 2021
About Animal Cafes in South Korea and Pyeongtaek
While this line was never spoken by Dorothy or any of the characters in the Wizard of Oz, you may be signing it after a visit to some of the animal cafes in Pyeongtaek. These pet cafes are all located an easy distance from Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Force Base.
Animal cafes are places where you can interact with animals, typically while enjoying non-alcoholic drinks. Across Korea, there are numerous animal cafes with many different types of critters. In Pyeongtaek there are three types of animal cafes; cat, dog, and bird cafes. Keep in mind, these cafes are all about the animals and not about the coffee or food quality.
Pyeongtaek Cat Cafe Near AK Plaza
Cat Cafe Near AK Plaza
031-658-2517
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 평택로 38-1
Cant have cats at home? This cafe has you covered. Pay to enter, but drinks and biscuits come with the entry fee. This small cat cafe near AK Plaza in Pyeongtaek will help you fill-up on cat snuggles.
Chakan Goyangi is a cat cafe is located in Pyeongtaek-dong not far from Pyeongtaek Station/AK Plaza, follow the yellow signs up to the second floor in the building just right of the Daiso. This is a fun cafe with flexible seating options.
They also have a rather large variety of board games. You will see people there playing games and not interacting with the cats much at all as well as people that are trying to love on the cats as much as possible. There is no time limit, which isn’t true for all animal cafes in Korea.
The cafe is well designed with lots of scratching posts and things for the cats to climb on and play with as well as areas for them to get away to be alone if they desire. Each person entering must purchase one drink (around ₩ 7,000 each), but there is no additional entrance fee as of this writing.
Cat food also available for purchase, which is highly recommended if you want a lot of cat action. It can get quite crowded on the weekends, so while there is no age restriction during the week, they do limit children’s entrance on the weekends due to congestion.
Bird Cafe in Sosabeol
Bird Sori Cafe
031-653-4656
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 비전5로 20-44
Animal lovers will love the chance to get up-close-and-personal with some feathered friends. This is located on the third floor and usually opens later - like around 11. Parking available in the basement.
Get up close and personal with a variety of birds with a cup of coffee or other non-alcoholic drink! I’ll admit that I was skeptical about this concept – I was worried about my own safety as well as the care of the birds. Before even stepping inside Bird Sori in Sosabeol I knew my fears were completely unfounded. The staff is well trained to care for the birds and the birds are very sociable with humans. The cafe is very spacious with panoramic views of the river so even when there are many patrons, it doesn’t feel crowded.
When you arrive, you will order a drink (mandatory for each person over 2 years old) and select a seat. A staff member will bring a couple of birds and a climber and possibly toys to your table. You can ask for different birds at any time. There are also larger parrots flying freely around the cafe for you to enjoy.
There is no time limit, trust me in this as I have definitely overstayed my welcome a time or two. Young children are welcome, and it is normal to see people of all ages.
Dog Cafes Around Pyeongtaek
J. Dog Cafe
031-654-0690
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 구룡길 78-13
Cant think of a better place to spend the day with the dogs. The drinks are pricey but thats because they dont charge per pet as many do. Instead they just require you to buy a drink. Makes it the best deal in town for those with multiple dogs. B
There are many dog cafes in the area that have been tested by South of Seoul volunteers. Unlike the cat and bird cafes I mentioned, most dog cafes are either doggy daycares or places to bring your own dog to play and socialize with other dogs or both. That being said, you definitely can come without a dog as a means to getting your personal doggy fix. Some Dog Cafes charge an entrance fee, others have minimum drink orders. The price for doggy daycare or overnight stay varies.
If you go with children be aware that you may or may not be allowed in on any given day at any given time. Young children may be denied entry depending on the temperament of the dogs in the cafe at the time. The staff may not be able to communicate this to you if you do not speak Korean well. Just know that they have your child’s and the dog’s best interest in mind.
Animal cafes are a unique concept and an experience that everyone should try at least once. Check out the South of Seoul app for more information on these cafes and so much more. After your visit, don’t forget to leave a review on the app and tell us about your experience at Pyeongtaek Food and Fun.
Angela Alvis holds a Master’s in Education and Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. Ms. Alvis specializes in curriculum development and instructional design.
Angela Alvis has a depth and breadth of experience in education and early childhood that has taken her across the world to work in a variety of school settings, from rural programs to large urban districts, and everything from ECSE and DLL classrooms to childcare and university settings.
Prior to her work with South of Seoul, Ms. Alvis spent several years leading the wide-scale implementation of play-based learning and a formative assessment model with over 120 educators in five early childhood schools that served over 15,000 students in Washington D.C.
After transitioning back to the US, Ms. Alvis became the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tools of the Mind, she works on cross-departmental teams as the education and content expert. She is currently co-designing a multi-faceted teacher development model that integrates workshops, video coaching, and professional learning communities.
