Gem City Catfe
Gem City Catfe things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Want to be surrounded by beautiful, well groomed cats whole you work on a project? Want a place to sit and enjoy an almost home-like experience with friends or family? Of all the places I have been to for coffee, I find myself enjoying the atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind coffeeshop the most. It has just the right amount of love, charm, and ambiance to make staying here enjoyable. Now let me explain why it only gets 4 Stars for a rating. First and foremost, the coffee is meh. Kind of burnt, bitter taste that really leaves you wanting more. I had a Cappuccino and a Latte and neither really stood our from each other. Both were steamed very airy and swiss cheese foam plagued both cups after only a few minutes. If the Italian style of a Cappuccino was what they wish to serve, it's accurate, but the latte did not deserve such treatment. Perhaps I am too particular about how milk is steamed, but this is only because a well steamed glass-like foam will always taste better than a dry, burnt, bitter milk foam. Overall, if you're looking for excellent espresso coupled with sweetly steamed milk, then look elsewhere. Now, this is why I will be coming back again and again. This place is like Lego Land for cats. Yes, cats are the main focus for the store, but even a dog lover like myself will enjoy the company of a diverse crowd of felines. Honestly, if I loved cats, I would gladly pay the $10 per hour charge to sit among the animals while I work. It is $10 per person, per hour, so come prepared to spend some money, sign a waiver, and leave quickly if you mean to bring friends into the animal area. I'm sure it's a perfect way to spend an afternoon if one has the time for it! The decor within the shop is quaint with a great amount of charm. From the cat themed mugs they give for your coffee to the entire upstairs lounge showcasing local artwork from local artists within the Dayton Art community. It looks and feels as though you're at home, away from home. Bathrooms are located upstairs and downstairs respectively. There is also a merchandise front near the register that sells a wide variety of gear ranging from coffee equipment to cat-loving swag. Parking is found behind the store, which is great as it doesn't congest traffic. The best place to relax with friends in Dayton, Ohio hands down. Still, if you want really good coffee, try somewhere else.
Sergio OrtizSergio Ortiz
00
If you love coffee, tea and cats, this is the place to go! The chai is exceptionally amazing as are all the baked goods, which are locally made. Most of the cats are adoptable( three of them are the "house cats") and every visit is a new experience. The cat room is separate from the rest of the café, so even if you are allergic, you can still view the cats through the glass windows. An hour visit in the cat room is $10, which might seem steep, but that cost covers all the expenses of taking care of the kitties and their educational programs. It's also not a timed visit; if you're there during a less busy time, you can spend more than an hour inside the cat room. You can also buy a yearly membership for $25 and the cost is cut in half. I did that after my first visit and I've been many times since. Visiting on a weekday morning is the best time to go as you are often alone or only in the cat room with one or two others. The room only allows for 12 people max, so if you plan on a weekend or weeknight visit, I highly suggest reserving your spot online. The café also has an art gallery upstairs and the option to reserve the space for a small party. Parking is a little tricky, being located in an older neighborhood downtown, but there are a few spots in their lot behind the building. You have to drive up a small alley so be aware of that too! But there's plenty of street parking around the block as well. One more thing: if you're an environmentally conscious person, you'll be happy to know they use sustainable, reusable mugs. If you'd like, go one step further and purchase one and get a discount on your drink if you remember to bring it. All in all, it's a wonderful place to visit often and heaven on Earth if you're a cat lover.
Dara S.Dara S.
00
Gem City Catfe is a charming cat cafe that allows customers to enjoy coffee, tea, and light snacks while interacting with adoptable cats. I recently visited Gem City Catfe and had a delightful experience. One thing I appreciated was the parking situation. The cafe has a small lot behind the building, so parking is easy and convenient. The staff at Gem City Catfe was also incredibly friendly. They greeted me warmly when I came in and were happy to answer all my questions about the adoptable cats. It was clear the staff truly cared about the cats and their wellbeing. Speaking of the cats, they were all so sweet and well cared for. The cafe was clean, and the cats had plenty of toys, beds, and other amenities to keep them comfortable and content. It was heartwarming to see how healthy and happy the cats were. Overall, I highly recommend Gem City Catfe if you're looking for a fun, laidback place to enjoy cats while supporting a good cause. The parking, friendly staff, and cared-for cats all make this spot a winner. I'll definitely be coming back soon!
Arkady KhazinArkady Khazin
40
This is really great place! They have very nice coffee and hot drink options as well as a cooler with cold drinks if you prefer. The food options pair nicely: vegan cupcakes, croissants, pretzels, cookies and others. It is pricey for me but no more than other similar places. Of course the real reason we went was to see the cats! The cats are in a separate room accessible through an "airlock" type system to keep the little guys in. The room is surrounded by glass on two sides for people to watch from the cafe area if desired. There are many cat friendly perches, beds and hidey-holes. We loved the small sitting area on the floor with cushions to get a person closer to the fur babies. The atmosphere is cozy and laid back. It was a lot of fun and we will definitely be back! In fact I bought a membership because I knew before we got there it was our kind of place. Check out their website for more info (No link just google it).
Kimberly WheelerKimberly Wheeler
40
My boyfriend and I visited here for the one year anniversary party and we had a purrrfect experience! I have been wanting to come here since they opened, but I moved to Findlay, OH for school and I had to wait for a good time to make the trip. Once I heard the one year anniversary party was this month, I reserved two spots online and made the journey from Columbus with my boyfriend. We began our visit with some earl grey tea and mocha latte and then headed upstairs for some (awesome) catered appetizers and cake. 🤩 Once our reserved time to see the cats started, we were in absolute KITTY HEAVEN. 😻 Each kitty had such a lovely personality and they were scattered around the lounge area either sleeping, playing, or wandering. A man gave us some treats to give out and this definitely attracted a crowd! 😂 Gertrude and Meowrville Wright were my two favorite floofers. Ultimately, my boyfriend and I plan to return in the future.
Lindsey DemareeLindsey Demaree
10
I love this place! I went here for my birthday yesterday and I am so happy I did. It was very cute and relaxing on the inside and they played great music. Their coffee was amazing, I had a white peppermint mocha. If you are eating or drinking there and not to go, they put your drinks in a reusable metal mug and that is so smart and environmentally friendly of them. Inside of the cat area, it was very clean and smelled nice. They even had an area to wash your hands and a lint roller for lingering cat hair. Their cats were very friendly except for one that would rather have their personal space. They had plenty of cat toys and areas for them to lounge. They also had areas for the cats decompress if they were overwhelmed by the humans coming in throughout the day. The workers were extremely nice and anyone who says otherwise might have hit their head on the day they went there. I definitely see myself coming again!!!
Emily Van SchaikEmily Van Schaik
10
Nearby Attractions Of Gem City Catfe
2nd Street Market
Mike's Bike Park - Best of Dayton! - Sales / Service / Indoor Riding
Front Street
Oregon Historic District
AirGarage | Public Parking
El Mercadito
AirGarage | Public Parking
St Anne's Hill
Speakeasy Yoga
The Dirty Gym

2nd Street Market
4.7
(974)Click for details

Mike's Bike Park - Best of Dayton! - Sales / Service / Indoor Riding
4.7
(335)Click for details

Front Street
4.6
(196)Click for details

Oregon Historic District
4.7
(107)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Gem City Catfe
Dublin Pub
Taqueria Mixteca
Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse
Wheat Penny Oven and Bar
Lucky's Taproom & Eatery
Ghostlight Coffee (Historic South Park)
Fifth Street Brewpub
The Trolley Stop
Yellow Cab Tavern
Sueño

Dublin Pub
4.5
(1.8K)Click for details

Taqueria Mixteca
4.6
(1.2K)Click for details

Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse
4.3
(1.1K)Click for details

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar
4.5
(1K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
1513 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45403
Map
Phone
(937) 949-9170
Call
Website
gemcitycatfe.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.8
(578 reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: 2nd Street Market, Mike's Bike Park - Best of Dayton! - Sales / Service / Indoor Riding, Front Street, Oregon Historic District, AirGarage | Public Parking, El Mercadito, AirGarage | Public Parking, St Anne's Hill, Speakeasy Yoga, The Dirty Gym, restaurants: Dublin Pub, Taqueria Mixteca, Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse, Wheat Penny Oven and Bar, Lucky's Taproom & Eatery, Ghostlight Coffee (Historic South Park), Fifth Street Brewpub, The Trolley Stop, Yellow Cab Tavern, Sueño
