Cats' Playground — Restaurant in Seoul

Visited Cat’s Playground twice, with our first experience having been pleasant and good - we had no issues whatsoever. However, upon our second visit, we were served by an employee who attempted to ring up our order. Last time, I paid with my international credit card which I had no problems with my entire trip in Korea as well as our first visit to the Cat Cafe. Despite our card being an INSERT card, the employee swiped aplenty, inserted multiple times half heartedly and explained it wasn’t working. Tried three cards in total, one digital card using Samsung Pay and all she tried while looking confused and uncertain on how to process the transaction.

We didn’t think anything of it and another employee was kind enough to point us to an ATM to withdraw cash. While flustered, we were kind, polite and returned with the cash. Went about playing with the cats and when my friend checked her account and saw she had been charged a total of 57,000 won for our order which the lady had ‘unsuccessfully’ processed. We went to the counter to explain the money had been charged and taken from our account, showed the transaction amount, date and name which matched exactly. They refused to refund the money and put us on the phone to the “owner” who was rude, unprofessional and was telling us that it wasn’t his problem and he wouldn’t do anything to help. We thought to call our bank which he also recommended after being abrasive and uncooperative.

Spoke to a bank representative who explained that the establishment (Cat’s Playground) was holding the money and they needed to refund. An employee came and asked if we were leaving despite still having drinks left and the business at hand unsorted. We remained amicable and respectful and updated her to which she communicated the owner’s earlier sentiments and that they can/will not do anything. Had to tell the bank how they were refusing to help on their end or refund and so we had to file a dispute against the establishment.

We had our flight later that evening and so couldn’t return to see if the money would come out despite it already having been taken out - as they unhelpfully suggested we do in the beginning. Three days later and the money has been charged, taken from our account and so we’re out $67 AUD awaiting for the dispute resolution.

With how uncaring, blunt and rude the owner was, for our next trip we will be avoiding which is a shame as the cats were cute and most of the experience was good. Only afforded Cat’s Playground the stars we did because...

I just would like to share from our side that we had an awkward uncomfortable experience with staff on July 12, 2025.

Before start I would like to say that the place is clean and cats is awesome at their job. But staffs was very cold, not friendly face at all including lacking of empathy.

We walked in around 10.10 PM. the staffs came and we were instructed about the rules and they mentioned we had to leave at 10.40 PM we agreed and understood.

We ordered 3 drinks (at 10.15 pm) which included in a package when you pay for the entry fee which cost 14,000 won per person.

At 10.30 pm people start packing and leaving also we started packing up too.

I have checked the time and we were still have 6 Minutes left. A minute later our drinks which are still kind of full cups (photo attached) had been grabbed and taken without permission???. No questions such as if we would like to keep them or throw them away. We had to tell her we would like to keep them then she put them back.

We kept moving with packing and the staff came to our table to start cleaning and found one of the cat made a long marking wee on the floor near our shopping bags.

Unfortunately my sister was accidentally stepped on it when she came to take her stuffs. I rushed to get her a new clean slippers outside so she wouldn’t have made a mess when she stepping.

After I came back and sorted out about the slippers I noticed my drink that I SAID I wanted to keep had been taken again!!

My sister said one of the staff asked if she would like to throw her drink away and she doesn’t want it anymore so she allowed them to take her drink away but she didn’t mention anything about my drink.

I asked and tried my luck if my drink still over there but no one answered, no one apology, no one taking any action.

We walked out at 10.38 pm changed our shoes with very uncomfortable feeling. Until my sister and my friend told me that they went to another cat cafe on another side of the road but unfortunately the shop closed at 10 PM but one of the staff brought one of their cat outside and let them pet for 30 seconds.

I must admit that their short story made the situation at that time better without saying anything about the recently experienced...

Had an OK experience. It is about average compared to cats cafes I’ve been to in Taiwan and Japan.

The good: The cats are well-socialized and appear healthy. Price is very good. Atmosphere is nice and calm, and there are kids having a great time here with the cats. Many of the cats are incredibly chill and amazingly patient with kids - probably the best I’ve ever seen in a cat cafe.

The not-so-good: The table you get placed at matters A LOT. Get placed near the center? Cats everywhere. Get placed in a remote corner like I did? Zero cats and you can’t move tables (not even the ones where can you sit on the floor with the cats - I thought they were open to anyone but apparently they’re also for the lucky). To make it worse, this place is CROWDED and despite there being a lot of cats, it has the second lowest cat-to-person ratio I’ve ever seen (the lowest being a cat cafe in Washington, DC). By the time I walked out at 3pm, there was a long line of people out the door and down the staircase waiting to come in to play with a bunch of exhausted, treat-stuffed cats.

I’d personally would prefer it if they charged more money but reduced the number of people allowed in...