Cat, dog and rabbit cafes have become commonplace in Bangkok. Enter Little Zoo Cafe, the latest edition, which one-ups its competition with a roster of exotic animals, including caracals, meerkats, fennec foxes, Bengal cats, raccoons and red foxes. It's quite the safari.
Opened on Sep 28, the cafe looks inviting with white walls, a pine wood interior and a barn-style ceiling. There is no discernible odour (from the animals, at least), as the creatures are kept in separate rooms.
There is no fee to play with the animals, so long as you order something from the menu. As a rule, staff accompanies you as you interact with them. The fennec foxes we met were so cute, albeit jittery, but suddenly wanted to get acquainted with us when they realised we had pieces of apple for them. The meerkat who lived with the fox pack squeaked to signal it wanted in on the treat. Earn their trust and you can gently hold them. Two chubby raccoons on the upper were playful after they warmed up to us. One of them was a klepto, so be mindful of your small personal items. Is the whole operation legal? The three co-owners claim to hold proper licences.
The cafe's menu includes a handful of desserts, four savoury dishes and many beverages. Calamari (B215+) offers chewy tentacles with crunchy exterior that goes great with a dip of mayo and dried parsley. For something hearty, try the Waffle with egg and bacon (B235). Its pockets are perfect for carrying lava of yolk and crispy bacon into your mouth. Blue lemon (B125) is refreshing and not too sweet. The cafe probably factors in animal playtime when determine F&B price. It feels a bit pricey in terms of quality.
Couples come to take photos and make cute memories together, and on weekends families flock here. If you live in the area, definitely check it out. Is it worth the effort for non-locals to make the effort? Only if you're an animal-loving Instagrammer.
Little Zoo Cafe is located in Sukhothai Ave 99 community mall on Bond Street in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi. It opens Tue-Sun, from 11am-8pm. Visit http://fb.com/littlezoocafe.
