Last Updated on 10 December 2024 by Vanessa
Did you know that there’s a unique establishment in Rome where you can indulge in gourmet dining while enjoying the company of cats?
It’s called Romeow Cat Bistrot, and it offers a remarkable fusion of a cat café experience and a superior vegan menu.
Traveling Cats had a chat with Valentina de Matteis, the creative brain behind Romeow, delving into the philosophy underpinning her venture, the exceptional vegan offerings, and, of course, the charming feline residents.
But brace yourself, because after reading this post, you’ll be tempted to book a trip to Rome immediately.
Romeow Cat Bistrot in Rome, a cat lover’s ultimate dining dream
Interview with Romeow manager Valentina de Matteis
What inspired the idea of opening a cat café?
Romeow Cat Bistrot was born out of a need for change, out of a feeling that something was missing from my life.
At the beginning, my then-boyfriend and I had a thousand inspirations, from a steamed vegan restaurant to a pousada in Brazil. We roamed around looking for inspiration in various fields, from interior design to catering, exploring places in Milan, Turin, Naples, Florence, and even around the world. Both of us knew we wanted to create something, but we didn’t have a clear idea of what it would be. We just knew we wanted to be free from ordinariness.
Then, one day, a lightbulb went off in my head when I read about some cat cafés that had opened around the world.
The concept struck me because, in the meantime, I had become vegan.
So, I thought, “How wonderful, a place where people can eat healthily, respect animals, and at the same time, take a break from the daily grind by having the opportunity to cuddle a cat without owning one.”
I immediately talked to my then-boyfriend about it, and he, just as enthusiastic as I was, started researching how we could make it happen.
When did Romeow Cat Bistrot open its doors?
Our cat café opened its doors in December 2014, at the same spot where the historic restaurant Romeo used to be.
I must confess that initially, we envisioned it as something much more basic, more like a bistro.
But after a few years, I decided to take over the neighboring premises and combine it with what we already had.
This change was meant to strengthen our philosophy, to create cozier and more comfortable corners, and to provide more space for initiatives related to art, music, and culture.
What makes Romeow stand out among other cat cafés?
It’s a restaurant with high-quality vegan cuisine. It wasn’t created for the cats but for love toward every living being and to show how you can eat well without harming anyone.
Our underlying theme is our love for animals, translated into a culinary proposal that does not include them as ingredients.
Because all animals deserve respect, not just cats and dogs.
Why did Romeow Cat Bistrot choose not to implement a time limit on cat interactions, unlike many other cat cafés?
Romeow is not one of those “grab and go” bars where you order a coffee on the fly and then rush away.
At Romeow, you come to slow down, recharge, take your time to converse while looking into each other’s eyes. Our guests choose us because they want to gift themselves a moment of relaxation with the people they love, without constantly watching the clock.
Not everyone shares this approach, and that’s understandable. Some might just want a coffee, a muffin, or a glass of water, or even to sit without ordering anything, just for company. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate these requests because they wouldn’t align with our philosophy or that of our guests.
Are there many guests who come to Romeow primarily for the food rather than the cats? How do they typically react to the presence of the cats?
They are all enthusiastic. They love our food, but they also love our cats.
My greatest joy is receiving feedback from our guests, knowing that they appreciate the world and the philosophy behind the Romeow project, accompanied by the curiosity to discover new things.
Who is responsible for cooking at Romeow, and what are their qualifications and culinary backgrounds?
My team. All of them have a passion for vegan cooking, and they have traveled a lot. I also contribute with my ideas to create delicious and vegan dishes.
When it comes to the menu, which dishes would you suggest people try, and do you have any personal favorites?
We recommend everything. However, what all the dishes have in common is that we start from organic products that entail no form of exploitation, neither human nor animal, to the use of sought-after and expensive ingredients, and ending with raw materials that respect the environment and people’s health. These are options that are complex, inconvenient, costly, and, precisely for this reason, avoided by almost all restaurateurs.
Let’s be clear; it is much cheaper to buy vegetables in bulk from general warehouses than from a small, certified biodynamic farmer, or to buy Coca Cola at Metro rather than Mole Cola Fairtrade with cane sugar. But I knew from the beginning that Romeow would not be a ‘classic’ business-focused activity.
Is the menu subject to frequent changes, or does it remain relatively consistent?
The menu changes with every season.
Do you host special events or create unique menus for occasions such as Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day? Can you provide examples of these events or any other special occasions you celebrate at Romeow?
On Valentine’s day, we organize themed evenings (Mexican, Japanese, etc).
Are the cats located within the restaurant itself?
The cats live in the restaurant and have plenty of space created just for them. You eat in the same room, and the bar is only open from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and from 04:00 pm to 06:30 pm. Then the place is exclusively a restaurant.
Let’s discuss the six resident cats. Could you share some insights into their personalities?
Romeow Cat Bistrot is home to six sweet cats – all adopted from the non-profit organization Luna di Formaggio – who can’t wait to welcome you and make your stay even sweeter.
Their names are Iri, Lamù, Maos, Frida, Romeo, and Nino.
They are wonderful and all different from each other. They have strong personalities, and they’re very sweet. They love interacting with the public.
Since they are the real hosts, it’s important to respect their spaces, their schedules, and, above all, their catnaps. There are house rules on each table to understand how to interact with them better.
What’s the absolute best thing about having a cat café?
Every day, even if you’re nervous and busy, you have a sweet little nose waiting for you.
After someone visits your cat café, what else in Rome would you recommend to cat lovers?
There’s the cat sanctuary at the non-catholic cemetery in Piramide, or the cats at Largo Argentina. Both are beautiful places.
Practical information
Address
You can find Romeow Cat Bistrot at Via Francesco Negri, 15, 00154 Rome RM, Italy.
Best way to reach Romeow?
The closest metro station is Piramide. From there, it’s only a five-minute walk.
To go from Piramide to Romeow…
- Head southwest on Piazzale Ostiense toward Viale di Porta San Paolo.
- Turn right onto Viale di Porta San Paolo.
- Continue walking on Viale di Porta San Paolo for about 350 meters (0.22 miles).
- Turn left onto Via Francesco Negri.
- Walk for approximately 120 meters (0.07 miles) on Via Francesco Negri before reaching Romeow Cat Bistrot.
Opening hours
The cat café of Rome is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Closed on Mondays (This is to allow the cats to rest and reclaim their space. Because, let’s not forget, Romeow is primarily their home, and we are their guests).
From 01:00 pm to 03:45 pm and from 08:00 pm to 11:00 pm, the venue operates exclusively as a restaurant, with mandatory reservations.
Breakfast hours are from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. For afternoon tea, it’s from 04:00 pm to 06:30 pm.
You can enter until 11:30 am for breakfast and until 06:30 pm for afternoon tea.
From 12:30 pm to 01:00 pm and from 07:30 pm to 08:00 pm, Romeow takes a break to sanitize the premises and welcome you in the best possible way for lunch/dinner service.
You are welcome to come and study at Romeow in the afternoon from Tuesday to Friday, but not on Saturdays and Sundays, due to the high volume of visitors.
Romeow Cat Bistrot typically does not offer takeout, given the uniqueness of their cuisine, but if you would like to place an order, please do so by 12:30 pm for lunch and by 07:00 pm for dinner.
Website
For more information, including their menu and reservations, please visit their website at https://www.romeowcatbistrot.com.
Have you had the chance to visit the cat café of Rome, Romeow Cat Bistrot? If you have, we’d love to hear about your visit in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to share this article with your fellow feline enthusiasts and foodies and on social media to help us spread the word about this exceptional cat café.
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One Response
If I ever get back to Rome, I’ll want to go and nail my feet to the floor. What a delightful place.
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