Pokemeow Cafe

Pokemeow Cafe in Rosebery opened in late March 2020. For those that aren't good with dates, that was just before the state government imposed strict lockdown measures in relation to COVID-19. Despite opening in one of the toughest periods that Sydney's hospitality scene has ever faced, Pokemeow has proved resilient and captured the hearts of locals, likely thanks to its interesting business model. As Concrete Playground reader @mauricio.f90 explained, "I love having lunch at Pokemeow Cafe, watching their cats. It's so relaxing. Also, great food".

They're hugely popular in Asia (particularly in Japan), but if you've never been to a cat cafe before, here's the deal: like all other cafes, you sit and enjoy a coffee and a meal — but here you do so while watching little kittens play in an adjoining room through a glass wall. For a small fee, you can also enter the cat playground to cuddle and play with some new furry friends. At Pokemeow Cafe, it's $10 for a half-hour session, which needs to be booked in advance. The shop also offers grooming services for both cats and dogs.

In terms of the food offering, it's mostly standard cafe fare — think smashed avo and a poached egg on sourdough, a brekkie burger and an acai bowl — though there are some outliers, like a crab and prawn gribiche croissant.