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we're closing at 5p on tuesday, august 26th, for team training. sorry for any inconvenience!
Tony started Affogatto in 2024 to connect more with the community after working in the User Experience field of the tech industry. He loves coffee and animals, and he noticed that Baltimore didn't have a cat cafe.
Born in Maryland, Tony modeled the cafe after his experiences living with family in Italy, studying in Japan, and adopting his cat Ferdinand (shy, pictured) with his husband when they lived in Kentucky.
He wants to make your day better and has been told he's got a big heart. Tony wrote this himself and feels uncomfortable saying anything else in third person.
what's a cat cafe?
Half of our business is a cafe serving Italian-style espresso, tea, and snacks. We also offer a curated selection of books, local art, merchandise, and cat toys chosen by the pickiest cats.
The other half of our business is a separate and secure lounge where you can book appointments to hang out with adoptable rescue kittens under supervision.
Please note that our space unfortunately isn't ADA accessible. We'd love to offer that to our community once we have the funds to renovate our 105-year-old space!
can i bring my pets?
Please do not bring animals inside Affogatto for the safety, health, and comfort of our animals and guests, and out of fairness to all guests.
Guests with animal companions are welcome to enjoy our seasonal outdoor seating. We appreciate your understanding.
why do you charge a fee to spend time with the cats?
We charge $10 for 25 minutes to help cover essential vet care, pay our staff living wages with benefits, support local artists and businesses, and donate to the shelters and fosters caring for these cats.
While other nearby cat cafes charge $45 for a 60-minute visit, we keep our fee accessible to ensure everyone can enjoy quality time with the cats.
Thank you for supporting our mission to help cats and strengthen our community!
do you have an age limit?
Yes, guests must be at least 3 years old. Please be sure to book an appointment for each person in your group, including one for each child.
Guests under 16 must be accompanied by a legal guardian over 18.
We ask our younger guests to please be extra gentle with the cats and mindful about where they are in the room. Staff are happy to help handle cats and may ask younger guests to not pick them up.
do you do private events?
We appreciate the interest but for now do not have the capacity for private events. Please check back in a few months!
why does affogatto exist?
We aim to provide a safe space where our community can connect with each other, re-energize, and possibly adopt kittens that need forever homes.
Studies show that spending time with animals can help reduce stress, increase seratonin, and provide companionship. Cat cafes are also a great way for humans to experience the joys of cats if their living situation doesn't allow for it. Frankly, we also enjoy spending time around cats and their delightful and occasionally chaotic antics.
On a more serious note, we take kittens from shelters when they're near or over capacity. Our cat lounge gives them space to run and play outside of a kennel and off euthanasia lists. We provide everything we can for the cats and follow our vets' personalized protocols for each animal, and follow the Maryland SPCA adoption application, vetting process, and contract.
what's the story with the name?
Tony's part Sicilian and wanted a playful name that referenced both our traditional Italian cafe menu and our love of cats. Affogatto is an Italian pun on "affogato", an espresso drink with a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of gelato, and "gatto", the Italian word for cat.
And yes, our menu does offer the affogato with your choice of Baltimore-made Taharka Bros. ice cream :3
how can i get involved?
Simply showing up, saying hello, supporting our business, and spending time with us makes our day. Your dollars support programs like donations to our non-profit partners, quarterly employee profit sharing days, free workshops, and community events (including public school visits). We're also saving up to start an annual grant program for our shelter partners in 2026!
We're also always looking for new business partners, employees, and volunteers to join our team. Fill out this form if you're interested in working together more closely.
Artists are also welcome to submit this form to display their art in our store.
our guests are what makes affogatto special — tell us how we can make your next visit even better
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