Whiskers & Cream - Archway
This little cat cafe has just celebrated it's one year anniversary, and I've only recently found out about it! It is between relatively quiet Upper Holloway and Archway, is low key and whilst it has customers regularly coming in, it has the feel of still getting established, which is great because you're more likely to get the cats to yourselves!
Vegans offer up mixed opinions about whether cat cafes are a good or bad idea for the cats. I can see both sides, but went in and liked it. The cats are well looked after, well stimulated, with plenty of high spaces and strict rules about what you are and not allowed to do with them. They are all adopted cats, the staff love them, and it's really warming to watch them interact and talk about them.
As far as the decor is concerned, it's pretty simple and plain looking if you're a human and a 3D playground if you're a cat, with plenty of high shelves, toys and platforms. It's small, but perfectly formed in cat world!
In terms of food, they do have vegan options but they are limited. The only thing on their menu that was a 'main', was a cream cheese sandwich in a choice of 3 types of breads. Vegan cakes and coffee are also available.
This was very simple but super tasty open sandwich, with fresh ingredients, drizzled in oil and with pepper spinkled on top, and really delicious vegan cream cheese. However, the size for a lunch was so small! I didn't even get two pieces of bread, and I was still really hungry after it which is disappointing. Don't be fooled by the baguette on offer either, it's also tiny, and they also cut it in half!
Because I was really hungry still I also had a vegan blondie. The blondie was delicious, the perfect blend of peanuts, perfect softness and the perfect crunch on top. It's incredibly sweet (as all blondies are) and had chocolate chips throughout, delicious!
Staff were really sweet, wanted to talk to customers and interact with the cats, the decor wasn't pretty but super cat friendly, in terms of price, I paid £18 in total, but £10 of that was for the entry fee to play with the cats, which everyone must pay to get in, this will buy you 90 minutes of kitty play time! It's expensive, but it's all about the experience and I'm happy to pay that for an activity place.
Overall Ratings:
Staff: 5/5
Setting: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Food Presentation: 2/5
Value for Money: 2/5 (in relation to portion size)
Would return? Yes, but not for food
Number off vegan mains: 1
Best for: Meeting friends/a quiet day date
Negatives: Tiny portions
Address: 593 Holloway Road, London, N19 4DJ
Opening Hours: Monday - Tuesday 1000 - 1700; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday - Sunday 1000 - 1700
As always, these posts are based on places I've visited on www.myveganradar.com - the London Vegan Food Map, based on tube stop, and are my own opinion.