Highly recommend visiting Gatos and Beans if you are in the Birmingham area and searching for some kitty love! I was so impressed by the space and staff here. I have been to quite a few cat cafes, and this was probably among one of my favorites. I love how the space is catered to the comfort and safety of the cats- so important in getting them happily socialized and adopted! The staff members were super welcoming and provided ample information about the cats and Kitty Kat Haven. You could tell they really adored these cats and knew all about their little personalities. I connected with Dandelion, a sweet and shy calico cat, and definitely would have taken her home if I could. However, I live in Georgia and adopters have to live within a 100 mile radius (totally understandable and responsible!). Thankfully, I work in Birmingham, so I will definitely be making more visits to Gato and Beans in the future! read more

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I absolutely loved this cat cafe, very clean, friendly and helpful staff that was very knowledgeable and social with customers - Emily was great ! Loved all the decorations and cat vibe look everywhere, will be back to hang out with the kitties again read more

Nice and calm environment and the cats are all rescues that are being socialized. We found several cats here that we REALLY wanted to take home, but sadly were just traveling through the south on a trip right now. Unlike some cat cafes I've known about in some other states, the cats aren't being overwhelmed and have safe places to take breaks from people. They work hard to keep this place nice and quiet. read more

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This is a worthy business--they've successfully adopted out 300+ cats. However, having made a reservation on a Subday afternoon, I was slightly let down about my visit--they allow too many people into the cat room at once, and the cats were all asleep. read more

For my birthday in 2023, I had a theme where I wanted to patronize women owned small businesses. Since I'm an animal lover, Gatos and Beans were on the list. Years ago, while on a business trip to the DC area, I visited a cat cafe and wished that we had one here in Birmingham. I took me a few years to get here but I made it and it didn't disappoint. The resident cats were so playful and mischievous (they're cats after all ) which made my visit that more fun. There were lots of toys to play with to keep the cats entertained. With admission price, I chose a cold beverage (I think it was a canned Coke?) There were books to also look at with info about each cat. The female owner passed away last year but her husband has kept the business open. I would love to go back to visit because I want it to stay open and because I love the concept of the place. read more

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Really nice little cat cafe. The women running it were very friendly. The coffee was good. The cats were very cute. If you like cats, this is a fun place to visit! read more

Gatos and Beans - One of the very cute cats - Cafes Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The older woman with glasses working today was very rude to me and my family. She started to sign us up and told us it would be $15 per person to pet the cats, which we were unaware of, so we asked to have a second to think about if it was worth it to us. There were only 10 cats to pet and many people already inside. When we started to tell her we weren't interested for today, she said "okay I guess I just won't sign you guys in then" in a very rude tone. We didn't get any beverages because it's $15 plus an up charge to get a drink other than a caprisun or kids hot chocolate. There were about 5 options of drinks to get. read more

Great environment. All the workers were helpful and the cats amazing. Went for Cat Yoga, and the instructor greeted us with a warm smile and inviting attitude. Visiting the area and would gladly do this again. Coffee was good too. read more

Gatos and Beans - Cats - Cafes Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Just visited today for the first time. I love cats and have wanted to get one for a while now... thought I'd visit this place for a fun little hour with my family. I must say, this place is awesome!! The ambience is great and a cute little setting with all kinds of cats. Playful, chill, male, female, they have them all!!! The employees are all so sweet and kind and the service was great. The price is eel worth it at fifteen dollars a person for 1 hour with that including most drinks and an awesome trip. I Love Gatos and Beans! read more

My mother and I reserved an hour one afternoon on a Friday and it turned out that we finished our prior appointment early, so Gatos and Beans was kind enough to let us come ahead of our official reservation. When you arrive, you have the option of choosing a drink (coffee or soda), which comes with the $12/hour reservation price. We spent 45 minutes playing with the kitties and it was a great time. I love this idea so much! The cats were typical cats - several were napping, all were friendly, but only on their terms, which always makes me laugh! Selfishly, the only thing that would make this better is having the place to yourself. I think they allow several people at a time per hour and we were in there with 2 other people, then 2 more joined us. They were kind and respectful... it's just that we introverts would always prefer to be alone with animals. :-) Highly recommend this place! read more

I really love the concept of this new place!! Pet a kitty, have a coffee! When you go on, the cafe is separated into 2 sections. The kitties are actually behind glass, in a comfortable area filled with equal amounts of seating and cat toys. Right away, the very friendly people at the counter asked if we had an appointment, and explained that to pet the cats typically people need to make an appointment. On slow days they can usually take walk ins, but in doing this the cats don't get overwhelmed. Makes sense, so we will make an appointment to come back soon! I'll update my review then! read more

Loved the concept. On the outside of this cafe is a cat mural that is just gorgeous. The cafe is located down for 41st street and Cahaba Brewing. The cafe has two rooms. A main cafe area with chairs, couches, and the coffee machines. The other room has cats and every kind of cat tower and toy that can be found in kitty heaven. $10 gets you a free coffee/tea and entrance into the cat room. The cat room is very spacious. Many different ledges and overhead walkways for the cats to lounge on. Most of the cats are adoptable, but there are some permanent residents. The kitties come from Kitty Kat Haven in Hoover and will be on rotation. Loved it. Enjoyed petting the cats while drinking some pretty good coffee. Cats will be cats and sometimes will be out of reach, but this was a fun experience that Bham has been missing. Love the idea that the cats are adoptable and how it really showcases the kitties. The paintings and the cat towers are awesome and the designs are unique and different. I'm sure the cats just love the space and all the different toys and ledges. Will definitely be back when I need some kitty loving. read more

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I was very disappointed by Gatos and Beans. Me and a few of my friends wanted to try it out because we're all huge cat and coffee lovers, but when I arrived (before the rest of my group) I was greeted with a less than welcoming conversation. Apparently you need a reservation to come to the shop, and it's TINY. To know this information you would need to go on the website, but when talking to the staff they seemed judgmental and impatient with my misunderstanding. There were no cats around that i saw. I was truly disappointed and don't see myself returning. Also, reservations cost $12 per person! :( read more

This is an awesome place that appears to still be ironing some kinks out. Fair enough, since they just opened! The shop has an eclectic theme with amazing cat art and murals all over the walls. There is a cafe component where you can purchase a drink and just sit (there are large windows where you can view the cats), and then there is the cat room ($10 entrance fee for one hour, reservations recommended). The cafe area itself is pretty small, and mostly taken up by people waiting to get into the cat room. I was lucky to find a table in the corner where I could study. They do have WiFi. :) The baristas behind the counter seemed a little harried as they struggled to keep up with the influx of customers and make them drinks. The owner Kelli is very friendly and making conversation with customers as they wait on the cat room. Now, for the coffee. Honestly - it is quite weak. I don't really mind, because I'm not a coffee snob, but even I could tell that it seemed pretty watered down. I ordered the caramel "Gato Latte," priced similarly to other coffee shops in the area. I am happy to pay a premium to support the adoption of cats, and I love the quirky vibe of this shop. I hope they continue to stay busy, improve, and find homes for lots of kitties. *EDIT* I was here on a Saturday in the afternoon. I imagine this is why it was so busy. I bet during weekday hours the cafe will be less crowded. read more

I loved my visit to Gatos and Beans! I made my reservation for their cat room online at their website. The ticket was $10 and it included an hour in the cat room, as well as a free beverage (a can of soda or a cup of drip coffee). While the cat room reservation only included those two beverages, there was also an option to upgrade your drink to another one on their menu if you should so desire. I thought it was really cute how all of the names of their drinks were cat related. The general seating area outside of the cat room was well decorated and full of bright colors. The general area also included big windows that looked into the cat room. When talking to the cat room worker, she mentioned that all of their cats have come from Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue, and that the majority of them are up for adoption. They currently have 9 cats, but they're getting a couple more this upcoming week. The cats were all friendly, albeit a bit sleepy, as the majority of them were taking cat naps. The worker mentioned that they're most energetic during the mornings and an hour before they close, so if you're looking to actively play with any of the cats, I'd recommend coming during those times. I loved how bright and open the cat room was, as well as how they softly played classical music in the background. There were also multiple toys that you're able to use to play with the cats. 2 of them loved the laser pointer, and I low key spent a solid 15 minutes playing with them with it. Time flies while you're in the room with them, and it's definitely a cool place for cat lovers to visit. read more

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This place is WONDERFUL! I love the artwork and murals (inside AND out), and the fact that I can love on kitties makes it even better! As a nonprofit, all monies go to care for the feline residents who are up for adoption, too! Go in, relax, get a drink, and maybe even save a kitty!! read more

This was a lot of fun for me and my kids. But make sure you sign up on their website if you want to play with the kitties. It's 12 dollars for an hour. They are very friendly and accommodating. They have some cute souvenirs and some coffee and drink choices too if you want. read more

Gatos and Beans - a cat laying on a glass table - Cafes Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The coffee was delicious and the company can't be beat! We are cat lovers and this was a great date for my husband and I. The decor is fun as well! read more

Friendly knowledgable staff, inviting relaxing atmosphere, very agreeable foods and drinks.

Amazing! We loved gatos and beans. Friendly staff, clean area, and lovable cats. I brought my elderly mother here with my five year old son. Great experience. You can order a latte, sit back, and wait for a new friend to come and rest in your lap. Or, you can grab a toy and play with friendly cats. We will all be back. read more

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Quaint little coffee spot. Tea and soda options, beer/wine and sometimes snacks! Been there twice whenever we're in town and is always a treat to spend some time with the cats. Owners care about the cats and are very mindful of the comfort of the cats. Good place to study or take kids read more

My friend took me to Gatos and Beans for some cat therapy after I had just lost my dog that morning. Obviously, I was devastated as she was my best friend. I didn't have a lot of expectations coming to this place but the staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Playing with the cats unexpectedly brought my spirits up dramatically considering I was at a very low point emotionally prior to arriving. It's true that seeing and playing with animals can help improve mood and release endorphins. I love the concept Gatos and Beans has because they are helping animals get adopted who need homes. They also helped me get some much needed emotional relief! I highly recommend this venue. read more

Gatos and Beans - Cafes Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This a long overdue review as I visited Gatos and Beans about a week in from their opening. I had made an appointment time to be at the cafe for my friend and I. We showed up promptly for our time slot and were told we would have a choice of basic coffee or tea, anything extra would be an upgrade and inquire an extra charge. I understand the need to make this clear however I felt the communication of this was done poorly. I think that other drink options should be included as options when you book your time slot. So if $12 is coffee or tea then it might be $15 for a mocha latte, $16 for a matcha latte, etc. This way customers know going in and prices and aren't being sold on an upgrade (it's feels skeevy). Also it might work better if there is a distinct waiting area for people waiting for their time slot. It was unclear whether people were coming out, chilling out, or waiting around. Mind you, the waiting area is so that people know that they have a designated area to wait around in so it doesn't feel like they are loitering but it should be made clear that they are also free to check out the gift shop, etc. I also think that the website should be made clear that Gatos and Beans does not take walk-ins. A couple walked in after my friend and I did and were confused because the website did not explicitly state that walk-ins were not welcome. read more

Maine coon mocha was good iced and hot! The employees seem to really care about the cats and were very welcoming! I had a noon reservation and the cats were out of their hiding spots and ready to play! Definitely recommend a noon reservation! Overall, gatos and beans is a lovely place for dates or friends and family! read more

Made a trip to Birmingham to go brewery, yet ended up here at the end... and sure glad we did! We saw Gatos and Beans on Yelp before making our trip, but didn't know if we would have time. So when plans changed, we called an audible and made a quick reservation for some coffee and hang time with cats. Such a unique place! Wish we had one near me so I could go there everyday after work to unwind with these sweet things. Very clean environment and does not smell like kitty litter. You can tell the owners truly care about these babies and all of the cats are up for adoption. Worth a visit if you have an hour and enjoy cats. read more

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Three of us stopped by and had a great visit with at least 6-7 furry friends. The visit was so much fun. If a cat did not want to play there is a cat door they can go into a private area. The staff is very professional and explained rules as you go into the area with the cats. I look forward to our next visit Did I mention they serve coffee and food? read more

This is such a sweet and welcoming location. My brother and I walked here from the brewery and the owner(s?) were so warm and patient. The cats were sweet too, but were of course more worried about doing their own thing. The coffee was quite nice and the atmosphere was just what you'd expect to hang out with cats! read more

This was an amazing place to stop and socialize with some cute kitties! We also had a delicious, free coffee while we sat with the cats. The owner (I think) was so sweet and he waited on our arrival and let us stay a few mins past closing time. We were treated so well! You can immediately tell that there is a lot of heart put into this place. 1000/10, definitely recommend stopping by if you love cats and coffee! read more

The coffee is great but, let's face facts, it's all about the cats! We had so much fun drinking our excellent Red Bicycle coffee and playing with the kitties - I highly recommend this place to any cat lover who wants to get to know Kitty Kat Haven and the work they do. Also be sure to reserve your hour with them! You can do it online and it's a must to avoid disappointment!! read more

We are so lucky to have a Cat Cafe in Birmingham! What a nice place to visit especially during these crazy times. It's great to go visit cats and wipe away some of the craziness. I am a tea drinker and I love their selection of teas. I will definitely be back! read more

Gatos and Beans - Fun with cats! - Cafes Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Visited Gatos and Beans for the first time last Sunday. I was excited to check the place out. If you are a cat person, this is a must. Coffee was good and the cats were so much fun to interact with. My 6 year old son loved it, we will definitely be going back. read more

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Delicious coffee and snuggly kitties! What more could you ever want? This place is wonderful and the support for local art is just the cherry on top! read more

The concept is wonderful; I can't hate on anyone or business helping homeless kitties! A lot of cats will get rescued for this and I think a lot of people will just learn to like cats - All the cats here they've selected are extremely well-socialized or friendly! However the concept was not what I expected a cat cafe to be. If you are visiting on a Saturday you need an appointment - definitely understand that- this is Bham's only cat cafe! It was somewhat busy on a Sunday - there was a good stream of people in and out but it wasn't crazy. I was able to walk in just fine and I didn't use up my whole hour because seating was limited. I wish this was more of a sit, hang out with your coffee and pet kitties at the same time kind of cafe. I understand they need to limit weekend visitors but maybe on the weekday I wish there could be some tables where you can do some work with the cats. I thought the coffee/entrance fee was a little high - I definitely respect them needing to take care of the cats which is why it is what it is but I worry it won't be sustainable over the long term because paying $11 to go to the cat cafe isn't something one might do regularly (or maybe it would, who knows...) If I were running a cat cafe I probably would just design it a bit differently and have a lot more seating to accommodate people (the waiting room takes up most of the facility...) The coffee itself is kinda just like homemade watery coffee but again can't really criticize that since any revenue should really go toward the kitties. I would recommend taking visitors here and checking it out at least once! read more

My family and I dropped by Gatos and Beans Friday afternoon for about an hour. I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed our visit. I wanted to take all the kitties home of course. We have one that rules our house now so I couldn't bring one home. We will definitely go back and visit drink coffee and play. I think this is a wonderful thing to do to save kitties. read more

Very VERY crowded. Need a reservation to see cats, which was understandable just needed to know like on their site would have been nice before we made the trip. coffee was a total 1/10. It's drinkable, but not good! I asked for the most popular item and hot. It was a mocha, tasted like hot choc mix with coffee, I didn't ask for no additional flavors. My sisters got an iced latte, absolutely no flavor..and a hot chocolate, tasted old, burnt, and like hot watery choc milk. Coffee prices were low! read more

I really enjoyed my experience at Gatos and Beans! The workers were great, spending time with the cats was so much fun, and the coffee was enjoyable! I'm looking forward to visiting again soon! read more

So happy that Birmingham has a cat cafe now! I went about two weeks ago and loved it, and can't wait to go back. The staff are very friendly and the coffee was okay. Nothing special, but then again, I was mainly in it for the kitties, who were all friendly and seemed very happy and content in the room, which is bright and open and made up perfectly for cats (so many high walkways, ledges, places to sunbathe, etc.) It was nice to see and I'm glad there is a place like this for cats waiting to be adopted. When I went there were only a handful that were active while most were sleeping, but it was still enjoyable. Overall I found the experience to be relaxing, even just sitting there in the room with the cats walking around or sleeping was pleasant, and I definitely recommend it to cat lovers! Will be back ASAP. read more