Nabi Cat Cafe is a Korean-inspired cat cafe in Santa Clara, known for its specialty lattes with a Korean twist and a small selection of pastries sourced from Onki Bakery. Since its grand opening in March, the cafe has quickly gained popularity as one of the Bay Area’s few cat cafes, acting as a shelter for the cats, which are all adoptable. While a $28 reservation is required for the cat lounge, the reservation includes a complimentary drink, and drinks and desserts at the coffee bar are available on a walk-in basis.
Stepping inside the store reveals its thoughtfully designed interior, which features a color scheme of white and yellow. Behind the storefront, the cat lounge can be found separated by a pet gate as an extra precaution to prevent the furry felines from running amok. The cats are generally lively, but are occasionally preoccupied with napping or distracted by toys and climbing structures scattered across the room. They are always friendly, but visitors are advised to leave them alone when they are overstimulated.
Upon arrival at the actual lounge, caretakers explain the basic guidelines, providing customers with slippers as they enter and place their orders. In general, the staff were welcoming and the food met — but did not exceed — expectations.
Yakgwa Einspanner ($8.00)
Photo | Maahi Dev
The Yakgwa Einspanner is a creative spin on the traditional Korean yakgwa cookie, replicated with a light and airy cream topping infused with notes of honey, brown sugar and cinnamon, served over cold brew coffee. The cookie cream layer adds a pleasant sweetness that isn’t overpowering, complementing the coffee’s natural bitterness. Satisfying from the first sip, the overall balance of taste and texture is well executed, pairing well with the cozy atmosphere of the cat cafe. However, the drink lacks the depth and intensity expected, as the flavors of the honey, brown sugar and cinnamon come off somewhat muted, causing the drink to lack the uniqueness its ingredients promise. Overall, the flavors may be subtle, but it remains a well-balanced and enjoyable drink.
Rating: 3/5
Chocolate Pistachio Kouign Amann ($7.50)
Photo | Alexandra Qiu
The kouign amann is a buttery and flaky pastry, and the Nabi Cat Cafe’s version is topped with chocolate glaze and pistachio paste. The pastry really hits the spot, with its just-right sweetness allowing the buttery notes to shine through. The pistachio paste and chocolate complement each other well, adding to the cohesive taste of the pastry. However, the texture was a letdown. The pastry was composed of many seemingly crispy layers, but upon digging in, it was chewy and soft, rather than the expected crunchy or flaky texture. Overall, the kouign amann meets most expectations, but its pleasant taste is undermined by its lackluster texture.
Rating: 3.5/5
Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8.00)
Photo | Alexandra Qiu
Advertised as one of the cafe’s specialty drinks, the Strawberry Matcha Latte is visually appealing, composed of a pink strawberry milk base layered with matcha on top and garnished with dried strawberry bits. Although the matcha didn’t taste bitter, so little was used that it made no meaningful contribution to the latte’s flavor profile. The drink’s saving grace was the strawberry milk, which offered a refreshingly natural taste, although at times it overshadowed the matcha. The Strawberry Matcha Latte, while a safe choice, isn’t good enough to justify its price tag or its status as a specialty drink.
Rating: 2.5/5
Matcha Macadamia Cookie ($5.00)
Photo | Maahi Dev
The Matcha Macadamia Cookie has a rich, deep green hue and powdered sugar dusted on top. Each bite has the complementary flavors of umami matcha and creamy white chocolate macadamia, with pieces that melt in your mouth. However, at times, the sweetness of the white chocolate can slightly overpower the matcha flavor. However, the cookie’s texture makes up for this, being the perfect balance of crispy on the outside and soft at the center. Altogether, despite occasionally being inconsistent in flavor, the cookie is a treat that customers shouldn’t miss.
Rating: 4/5
Tiramisu Latte ($8.00)
Photo | Maahi Dev
The visually appealing Tiramisu Latte, with its espresso and mascarpone flavors, is topped with tiramisu drizzle, dusted with cacao powder and finished with a ladyfinger biscuit. The ladyfinger adds a pleasant crunch and a well-balanced sweetness that complements the latte nicely. However, the tiramisu drizzle barely added any flavor to the drink while the espresso and mascarpone flavors were overpowering, making the drink unnecessarily bitter. However, the light, foamy cream top with cacao powder was redeeming and enjoyable even on its own. Overall, the drink impresses with its presentation and textural contrast, but the bitter espresso and mascarpone flavors, as well as its underwhelming tiramisu, drizzle made it challenging to fully enjoy.
Rating: 2.5/5
Overall, Nabi Cat Cafe is a great destination for cat lovers and foodies alike. The food and drinks are quite costly, and not always worth the price, but it’s the aesthetically appealing interior and the kitty companions that truly shine through to make the cafe unique. While a visit to the cat lounge is quite pricey, it proves to be a novel experience for those living in the Bay Area.
A cozy corner inside the cat cafe, with a small wooden bunk bed for cats, warm lighting and boho styled decor. Photo | Alexandra Qiu