The fourth-largest city of France – Toulouse – is known for its churches, pretty river banks, and numerous buildings in pink terracotta bricks. But a trip to Toulouse would never be complete without a visit to its 'bar à chats', Chapristea.
Chapristea is a café filled with a bunch of cats that wander freely, climb the shelves, and nap on the customers' laps. And the best part is, customers can adopt a cat and bring it home.
Chapristea is a café filled with a bunch of cats that wander freely, climb the shelves, and nap on the customers' laps. And the best part is, customers can adopt a cat and bring it home.
The cat café is located in the middle of the center of Toulouse, at only a short walking distance from the shopping streets and the Place du Capitole.
A sign-post at the crossroads between the shopping street Rue Saint-Rome and the tiny Rue Jules Chalandes (where the café is located) indicates that you have arrived at your destination.
Chances are there will be a long line of people waiting outside the cat café, even during weekdays. Don't let this discourage you, because it's worth the wait.
It's possible to reserve a spot in advance, but only for lunch between 12 pm and 2 pm. After that, your only option is to wait until someone leaves the café.
Once inside, a staff member will show you to your place, which will be either on the ground floor near the entrance or on the basement floor.
Lunch options are extensive: brunches, quiches, salads, croques-monsieur...
After 2 pm, you can opt for ice cream or cake, together with a large variety of teas, coffees, juices, smoothies, milkshakes, lemonades, and ice teas.
Chapristea has partnered with the organization Le Chat Libre de Toulouse to make several of their cats available for adoption. The cats that permanently stay at the cat café were chosen based on their ability to live comfortably with large groups of both cats and people.
However, certain rules apply on how to behave with the cats. For example, customers are not allowed to pick up the cats, to wake them up, feed them, or to photograph them using a flashlight.
What's better than curling up with a good cup of coffee and a cuddly cat?
That's wonderful they are helping cats get adopted.
ReplyDeleteI've visited a few cat cafes in the States recently. None of them allow people to eat in the rooms with the cats like cities in Europe and Asia. I think it's a wonderful way to socialize the cats and be potentially adopted.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and I hope the cats are ok given this virus. I hope the cafe is ok too.
ReplyDeleteHello, sounds like a lovely city! The cats are beautiful, the first photo is one of my favorites. It is nice they have these cat cafes! Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Stay safe, healthy and happy! Enjoy your day, happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteCat cafe - what a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos.
This cafe sounds like absolute heaven! #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteThat's cat heaven. When all this is over, my mom is definitely going to check out the cat cafe in nearby city.
ReplyDeleteEmma and Buster
They are so beautiful! Our mom would love to visit there.
ReplyDeleteI love this, I've opened my own cat cafe in the dining room where I take my coffee and laptop each day to break the boredom of isolation. Thanks for linking up with #pocolo hope everyone is well and look forward to seeing you back next week
ReplyDelete