Last Updated on 7 February 2026 by Vanessa
If you’re planning a trip to Zurich and looking for something a little different from museums, shopping streets, and lake cruises, Casa del Gato might already be on your radar. Tucked away in the city, this cozy spot has become especially popular with cat lovers, solo travelers, and anyone searching for a relaxing indoor experience in Zurich.
But is Casa del Gato actually worth visiting, especially considering Zurich’s famously high prices?
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know before you go: where Casa del Gato is located, how much it costs, what to expect inside, and who will enjoy it most.
If you’re the kind of traveler who plans ahead and values quality experiences, this article will help you decide whether Casa del Gato belongs in your Zurich itinerary.
Casa del Gato Zurich: Is this cat café worth visiting?
What Is Casa del Gato in Zurich?
The café has five cats, all males. Three of them are Maine Coons, one of the largest and most striking cat breeds in the world. They are not adoptable as they are the primary residents here. We can clearly see that the employees love them very much.
The cats were absolutely adorable during our visit in April. Two cats played with their toys while the others slept in cozy locations. One was also very cheeky, looking for treats and smelling our coats (probably smelling our cats from home).
Unlike casual, drop-in cafés, this space is intentionally designed — quiet, orderly, and focused on the wellbeing of the cats as much as the guests.
Since it was raining, we sat inside a small area of around ten tables. When it’s sunny, they also have outdoor seating.
Rather than being a place to rush through, Casa del Gato is meant to be experienced slowly. You come here to relax, enjoy a drink, and spend time playing with the cats in a calm, respectful environment.
This makes it particularly appealing to:
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Cat lovers
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Solo travelers
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Couples
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Visitors looking for a peaceful indoor activity in Zurich on a rainy day
How to get there?
Casa del Gato is a 26-minute walk from the Zurich Central Station. You can also take bus Line 14 and exit at stop Schmiede Wiedikon and then walk 1 minute. The ride takes around 13 minutes.
Address: Café Casa del Gato, Kehlhofstrasse 4, 8003 Zürich, Switzerland.
📍 Planning tip: If you’re going to travel a lot during your stay in Switzerland, I highly recommend you get a Swiss Travel Pass, which offers unlimited travel on train, bus, and boat.
How much does it cost?
Cost is one of the most common questions, and understandably so.
Unlike many other cat cafés, Casa del Gato does not charge an entrance fee. Instead, you just pay for your food or drinks.
In practice, most visitors spend around CHF 12–20 per person, depending on what they order. Drinks such as coffee or tea are typically in the CHF 6–9 range, while food items like crepes or light meals cost more.
This makes Casa del Gato more expensive than a normal café.
But most of Zurich is expensive. When evaluating the price, it helps to think of Casa del Gato less as a quick coffee stop and more as a curated indoor experience. Compared to other paid indoor activities in the city, the cost is still reasonable.
Also, keep in mind that caring for cats is costly. High-quality food, regular veterinary care, enrichment toys, litter, and a carefully designed space all add ongoing expenses that a standard café simply doesn’t have. Those costs are built into the overall pricing rather than charged as a separate fee.
The number of visitors at any given time is also limited to keep the atmosphere calm and uncrowded for the cats.
The café has a straightforward menu of eggs, small snacks, and pancakes. The pancakes were delicious, with a good choice of toppings – which we recommend with tea or refreshing juice.
Is Casa del Gato worth it? An honest look at the pros and cons
Pros
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Unique experience in Zurich
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Beautiful cats
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Calm, uncrowded setting
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Ideal for rainy days or slow travel
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Feels thoughtfully designed rather than touristy
Cons
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Price may feel high, especially if you want to drop in for a quick coffee
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Not ideal if you have limited time
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Rules may feel restrictive if you expect a playful café atmosphere
Who Casa del Gato is best for (and who should skip it)
Casa del Gato is especially well-suited for:
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Cat lovers who appreciate calm environments
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Solo travelers looking for a peaceful break
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Couples wanting a relaxed indoor activity
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Visitors traveling during colder or rainy seasons
You may want to skip Casa del Gato if:
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You’re traveling with young children
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You prefer fast-paced sightseeing
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You’re on a very tight budget
Opening hours
Casa del Gato is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 am – 08:00 pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Best time to visit
To get the most out of your visit, consider:
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Weekdays over weekends for fewer crowds
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Earlier time slots, when the cats tend to be more active
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Avoiding national holidays
Tips before you visit
Before adding Casa del Gato to your itinerary, keep these tips in mind:
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You should reserve your table in advance. As the only cat café in the city, it’s usually fully booked during opening hours. Their website has an automatic booking system, which is easy to use.
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Plan for a relaxed pace; this isn’t a quick stop
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Follow the house rules closely
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Pair your visit with nearby attractions or cafés
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Many travelers find that Casa del Gato works best as a midday reset rather than a main event.
Other must-see Zurich attractions in the vicinity
Since Casa del Gato likely won’t be your only stop during the day, it’s worth combining with the following Zurich attractions:
- Stretch your legs after coffee with a walk around Bethaus Wiedikon and Kirche Bühl, two churches just minutes from Casa del Gato.
- Shop, eat, or catch a movie at Sihlcity — Wiedikon’s go‑to entertainment hub — and book cinema or dining experiences.
- Explore historic Lindenhof with a guided walking tour of Zurich’s Old Town.
- Take the S‑Bahn a few stops and spend a relaxing afternoon on a scenic Lake Zurich cruise or visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum.
A visit to Café Casa del Gato would also work perfectly in combination with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour through Zurich.
Where to stay
We stayed at Motel One Zürich for the weekend – an excellent choice.
Final Verdict: Should You Visit Casa del Gato in Zurich?
For me, a visit to the Zürich cat café Casa del Gato was one of the highlights of the city. But Casa del Gato isn’t for everyone. However, if you love cats, plan carefully, appreciate calm spaces, and don’t mind paying a little extra for a thoughtfully curated experience, it can be one of your highlights of your Zurich trip as well.
If you’re deciding how to spend your time in one of Europe’s most expensive cities, Casa del Gato offers something increasingly rare: a quiet moment to slow down and enjoy the company of some truly magnificent cats.
Contributed by Zoe from Together In Switzerland.
Want to visit other cat cafés in Switzerland?
Casa del Gato is currently the only cat café in Switzerland. There used to be another one – Katzencafé Hinwil – but that one has been closed for several years now.
One of the main reasons Switzerland has only one cat café comes down to its very high standards for animal welfare. Swiss regulations are among the strictest in the world, with clear expectations around space, enrichment, and species-appropriate living conditions. For cafés, meeting these requirements takes careful planning, ongoing investment, and a strong commitment to doing things properly.
While Switzerland does not have mandatory spaying and neutering laws like some neighboring countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, responsible pet ownership is the norm. Most cats are neutered as a standard practice, which helps keep populations stable and reduces the number of animals needing rehoming.
Switzerland also has an exceptionally efficient rescue and adoption system. Local shelters and animal welfare organizations work closely with communities to rehome stray or abandoned cats, meaning there is far less need for cafés to serve as informal adoption hubs — a role that cat cafés often play elsewhere.
Finally, cat ownership in Switzerland is already very common. Many households share their homes with one or more cats, which naturally lowers demand for cat cafés as a novelty. Taken together, these factors help explain why Casa del Gato is such a rare concept — and why it feels more curated and intentional than similar venues abroad.
Exploring cat cafés beyond Switzerland
If one cat café isn’t enough to satisfy your feline obsession, neighboring countries offer plenty of options. France, Germany, and Italy are filled with cat cafés where you can sip coffee and cuddle with cats.
Whether it’s in Paris, Cologne, or Rome, these cafés provide a cozy haven for cat lovers.
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Curl up with Avalon, a cat’s cozy memoir
While you’re enjoying the cozy vibes and the company of the resident cats of Casa del Gato in Zurich, why not pick up Avalon? It’s the perfect read for cat lovers.
This true story follows Avalon, a super-spoiled Turkish Van cat living the good life as a feline movie star. Avalon’s antics are funny, charming, and relatable, and the book gives you an inside look at the life of a cat who has it all.
It’s a quick, enjoyable read that’ll make you smile while you sip your coffee and cuddle up with a furry friend. Trust us, you’ll love it!
Available in English, Italian, and French.
Further reading
- Interested in opening your own cat café? Check out Drinks & Whiskers: How You Can Open a Successful Cat Café
- The incredible tale of the mountain guide cat who saved a lost hiker in Switzerland
- Gimmelwald, Switzerland – You won’t believe how many cats roam this alpine village!
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