Aristocat Cafe + Tea House — Restaurant in Harrisonburg

If you're a cat lover, Aristocat Café is an absolute dream! From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by an immaculately clean, beautifully decorated space that feels cozy and inviting. The attention to detail in the décor and cleanliness is awe-inspiring, making it a comfortable place to relax and enjoy time with the adorable resident cats.

The tea selection is fantastic, offering a large variety of teas and hot and iced coffee that are thoughtfully brewed and full of flavor. Whether you're in the mood for a soothing tea blend or a refreshing iced coffee, there's something for everyone.

What truly sets this place apart is the staff—they're incredibly knowledgeable about the cats, their personalities, and their care. They ensure a positive and safe experience for visitors and the cats, ensuring everyone (furry friends included!) is comfortable and happy.

Even better, all the cats here are available for adoption through The Humane Society of Shenandoah County! If you fall in love with one of these sweet felines (which is very likely!), you can give them a loving forever home. It's wonderful to see a business that provides an excellent atmosphere for guests and meaningfully supports animal welfare.

If you're looking for a peaceful, charming spot to unwind with a delicious tea and some feline companionship—or maybe even find your new best friend—this is the place to be....

For my first visit, I brought my six family members visiting Harrisonburg for the first time (Four adults, two young children). We were excited to check out the teas/see if there were any bakery items available, but the most prominent attraction was the cats, especially for the younger two. They were both eager and excited to see cats in a cafe as they had never been to one before, and they loved cats. When we walked in, we were not greeted with a hello or recognition. There was no one in the cafe on either side other than the cats and the employees. My niece was stopped by an employee, asking if we had an appointment. It almost felt like we weren't welcome there and we had done something wrong. We were unaware we had to make an appointment at this cafe and how the employee came off felt very unwelcoming. It was unfortunate my niece and nephew couldn't say hi to the cats, especially since it appeared no other customers were there at the time. The unwelcoming energy from the interaction with the employee, unfortunately, changed our minds about visiting, and we decided to leave. I'm sad to say we won't be returning...

I can count on one hand the number of places that 1. know how to brew tea at the right temperature, 2. have a menu of teas that actually contains the good stuff, 3. know the difference between tea and tisane, 4. do not pretend tea should be a fruit-flavored candy. When Starbucks bought Teavana and promptly ruined it, the number of places brewing good tea dropped to almost nothing. So, imagine my surprise when I find Aristocat Cafe makes tea right!

There’s coffee here too. But, there’s lots of good coffee in Harrisonburg. So, I was not surprised to see people fresh grinding beans and making espresso from a regular machine (instead of some impersonal automatic).

There are cats. I am allergic to cats. But, the cats are a safe distance away from me in their own room behind glass. The cafe space is spotlessly clean, so I can sit and watch. People and cats seem to be enjoying themselves.

5 stars: amazing tea; cuddly things are far away from my allergy;...