Last Updated on 11 November 2025 by Vanessa
If you’re a cat lover and find yourself in Barcelona, Spain, there’s one place that absolutely must be on your travel itinerary: Espai the Gats.
Barcelona’s first cat café is tucked away off to the busy Passeig de Gràcia. It opened in the summer of 2016 and is now known as an educational center and a place to showcase adoptable cats.
Let’s take a tour!
Welcome to Espai de Gats, the first cat café of Barcelona
Located in the trendy El Born neighborhood, Espai the Gats is a cozy and welcoming haven for cat enthusiasts to indulge in their feline obsession.
Like in most cat cafés, you come in through an entry area that is separated from the main room. You are then led to you table where you can consult a Spanish booklet with the house rules and other café-related information. You also have the choice to sit on a handwoven pouf so you can be closer to the cats.
The place is purr-fectly designed, adorned with cat-themed décor and filled with an inviting ambiance. The café’s walls are lined with shelves of books, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies for the resident cats to curl up and relax.
The main room isn’t large, but the cats have plenty of space to run around.
They have all kinds of amenities, such as water fountains, comfy beds, cat houses, scratching posts, food tree cat toys, and interactive food and treat puzzles, as well as a big window to look out.
They also have a private zone in the back, where they can go if they need a break.
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The cats
The stars of the show at Espai the Gats are undoubtedly the cats themselves.
These furry friends are not just ordinary cats. The café houses about a dozen cats, all of which were previously abandoned and are now adoptable. For this reason, you will most likely not find the same cats there as on the photos. Once a cat has been adopted, another one takes its place, and so on.
The cats come from several associations and shelters with which Espai de Gats collaborates: Gats del Carrer, Proaniplan, Rápita Felina, CAAC Maresme, CAAC Lleida, Rescats, CAAC Tarragona, SPAC,…
All the felines in their temporary care have been tested for health issues, sterilized, dewormed, vaccinated, and microchipped. Information about the animals’ age, behavior, and preferences is available from a booklet inside the cat café, and the staff will be happy to share their experiences with the cats as well.
If you are interested in adopting a cat from Espai de Gats, you will be carefully screened. In case of adoption, they will draw up a contract, and there will be a follow up once the cat has been relocated.
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Can you come to Espai de gats even if you do not want to adopt?
Of course you can.
Thanks to your visit, the cats enjoy your presence and some serious play time.
Your entrance fee (see below), will also help feed and support the felines of the cat café.
In addition, you can have a drink/snack while you work, read a book, and enjoy free wifi in the company of their feline team.
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Food and drinks
The cat café of Barcelona also boasts an extensive menu that caters to every coffee and tea lover’s desires. From classic espressos and aromatic lattes to soothing herbal teas and flavorful infusions.
As far as the food is concerned, the café has a daily changing selection of vegan cookies and pastries to accompany the usual coffee or tea.
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Cozy up with a cat book
Espai de Gats has several of cat books on display. However, the majority of these cat books is in Spanish, though they have a few English ones, like Casper the Commuting Cat.
There’s also free wifi in case you want to get some work done.
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Promoting feline wellfare
The Barcelona cat café is committed to promoting animal welfare and raising awareness about the importance of adopting and caring for rescue cats. They hold several workshops and courses on cat behavior, cat health, communicating with your cat, animal rights, responsible animal ownership, etc.
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Making the most of your visit: booking and etiquette
Booking
It’s best to book in advance through the Espai de Gats website to make sure you secure a spot at the café.
Unfortunately, you won’t have much time to enjoy your treat, let alone read a book, because the Barcelona cat café only allows for half an hour per person.
For 30 minutes in the company of the cats, you pay $2.50. For $3.50 more, you get a drink and a snack. This money goes to the cats’ food and medical expenses. (update: This price has gone up to 9 € per person.)
You can stay longer, but Espai de Gats will be charging you one euro for every 15 minutes extra, regardless of whether you’re consuming more or whether you’re spending time with a certain cat before deciding on adopting it.
Luckily, since Espai de Gats is located in the center of Barcelona there will be plenty of cafés, shops, and attractions to spend the rest of your day.
Also note that in order to guarantee a calm atmosphere, the café generally doesn’t allow groups of more than four people. For the same reason, they don’t admit more than three children per group.
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Etiquette
When visiting a cat café, it’s important to follow proper etiquette to ensure the well-being of the cats and maintain a pleasant environment for everyone. Here are some general etiquette guidelines to keep in mind:
- Respect the cats:
- Approach cats calmly and gently. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that may startle them.
- Allow the cats to approach you first. Don’t force interactions if a cat seems uninterested or withdrawn.
- Avoid picking up the cats unless it’s explicitly permitted by the café staff.
- Observe hygiene:
- Sanitize your hands upon entering the cat café to maintain cleanliness.
- Follow any specific guidelines provided by the café regarding personal hygiene, such as removing shoes or using hand sanitizers.
- Don’t disturb the cats while they eat or use the litter box.
- Use appropriate behavior:
- Don’t chase or intentionally bother the cats.
- Avoid using flash photography or any bright lights that may startle the cats.
- Be mindful of other visitors’ space and give everyone a chance to interact with the feline residents.
- Follow Café Rules:
- Don’t bring in outside food or beverages.
- Respect the café’s time limits or occupancy restrictions to allow for a smooth experience for all visitors.
- Don’t bring your own pets.
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How to get to Espai de Gats?
Address: Espai de Gats, Carrer de Terol, 29, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
The cat café is easily accessible from the city center and within a reasonable distance from major tourist attractions. Here’s how to get there:
From the city center
By metro: The nearest metro station to Espai de Gats is Urquinaona (L1 and L4 lines) or Arc de Triomf (L1 line). From either station, it’s approximately a 15-minute walk to the café.
By bus: Various bus lines, such as H16, V15, or 39, can take you close to Espai de Gats. Check the local bus schedule for the best route.
From important tourist attractions
La Sagrada Familia: Espai de Gats is about a 25-minute walk or a short metro/bus ride from La Sagrada Familia.
Parque Güell: It takes approximately 30 minutes by metro or bus to reach Espai de Gats from Parque Güell.
La Rambla: The café is roughly a 20-minute walk or a short metro/bus ride away from La Rambla.
Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter): It’s about a 15-minute walk or a quick metro/bus ride to reach Espai de Gats from the Gothic Quarter.
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Opening hours
- Monday: 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Tuesday: 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Wednesday: 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Thursday: 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Friday: 10:30 am to 01:30 pm & 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:30 am to 01:30 pm & 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Sunday: 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Read next => Six reasons why you should visit Cine Retiro and its adorable cat colony while in Sitges
Will you be visiting Espai de Gats?
Make sure to snap a few photos to remember your visit by, and share them with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Looking for even more cat-centric places to visit? Then check out this list of all the cat cafés in Spain.
Text and photos by Vanessa Morgan
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