When crazy cat ladies go to heaven, we imagine they arrive in somewhere like More Than Meow. Unlike other animal-themed cafes in town, which simply plaster on the animal-patterned wallpaper or use cleverly shaped tableware, More Than Meow adds real felines to the mix. That’s right — at More Then Meow, you can share your cake or coffee with dozens of fluffy four-legged friends.
A 100 percent cat person, the founder of the joint also owns a cattery. Whether Persian or exotic shorthairs, all cats in the cafe have obtained certificates issued from The Cat Fanciers’ Association, the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats. Phew, that’s a lot of cat love.
Contrary to what most may expect, the cafe is surprisingly clean and free of any unpleasant bestial smells. Currently, there are 48 kitties strolling around, sleeping or playing with balls of wool in this two-story spot, located in the Jiangnan Xi area. They are clean, quiet, docile and, most importantly, willing to accept plenty of attention. “We want everyone who dines here to ease up a bit from their daily pressures,” says the owner.
In addition to the lovely kittens, food and drink sold at More Than Meow earn an equally flawless reputation. There is no actual menu in the shop. Instead, diners scan the QR code provided on each table to see a selection of dishes. It takes some time for drinks and snacks to arrive, since they are made fresh upon ordering.
The Summer Cat Fun (RMB30) is a glass filled with ice shavings of Vietnam dragon fruit and Australian mango. Combining a pleasant color mix of purple and yellow, the snow-like shaving ice contains no added sugars or syrups. It is healthy and refreshing — a perfect drink for a hot summer’s day.
The best afternoon tea breaks include not only a relaxed environment and fresh beverage, but also decent snacks. There is not a huge variety of eats available at More Than Meow, but the Cat’s Lucky Bag (RMB32/three pieces) is worth a bite, wrapping a mixture of crab and fish roe inside a thin bean curd sheet. Deep-fried, the appetizer is crisp on the outside but soft on the inside. The Strawberry Cat Waffle (RMB45) is also divine. Though it looks like an ordinary waffle, one bite into the tender dough with its subtle hints of egg will change your mind. Combined with the medium-sweet, foamy whipped cream and the bright red strawberries, it’s a sweet surprise.
Cat Snow Mountain (RMB48) gets its name from its pinkish cream crest, which is piled high atop roasted green tea and red bean bread and finished off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. When eaten from the top down, this mountain of a snack transitions from icy cold to room temperature to hot.
Though Guangzhou has loads of other themed cafes, few of them present their concept so vividly. At More Than Meow, get ready to be cat-apulted into a purrty amazing experience!
Price: Approx RMB65 per person
Who’s going: Cat people, those looking to de-stress
Good for: Weekend hangout, afternoon tea
// Photos by Claire Zheng. Listing.
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