7 cafés in Moscow & St. Petersburg, where you can mingle with animals (PHOTOS)
Hedwig the Owl, as in ‘Harry Potter’, can be found in the Russian capital. And you should only wear high socks when visiting raccoons!
1 ‘Soviniy Dom’ (‘Owl House’)
Polar and long-eared owls, an eagle owl, a great grey owl and a barn owl reside here. Residents of this ‘anticafé’ (that is, an establishment where you pay only for the time spent there) may not bring you a letter from Hogwarts, but you can learn about owls’ habits and way of life, go on an owl quest, take spectacular photos and even feed owls! The main thing is to follow the rules: do not make noise and do not scare the birds, do not feed them your food and do not violate their personal space, if the birds are not in the mood for contact.
2 ‘Pushistaya Bratva’ (‘Furry brotherhood’)
You should visit this place with empty pockets! Yes, yes, this is not a thing, meeting the raccoons living in this ‘anticafé’ requires a special dress code. Visitors are asked to come without jewelry, in clothes made of thick fabric and without embroidered beads or similar patterns and to wear socks that cover the ankles. Raccoons are very active and curious creatures and they explore the world with their claws and teeth. It’s better not to lead them into temptation!
3 ‘Cafebara’
Imagine that you have an appointment with the CEO. Cafebara's chief employee, a capybara named ‘Funtik’, has a busy work schedule! You can meet him only by appointment. But, you won't regret it. A sea of emotions is guaranteed: these rodent giants are incredibly charming!
4 ‘Ezheminukta’ (Hedgehog Minute’)
Did you know that hedgehogs can harmonize space? The ‘Egeminutka’ cafe website, where “abnormally friendly” African and long-eared hedgehogs live, promises that spending time with them will bring you peace. They also believe that “to see a hedgehog is a dream come true!” It is quite easy to check all this on your own experience: you can pet and scratch their belly, feed them, take pictures with them.
5 ‘Zaikafe’ (‘Rabbit cafe’)
You can come here for an hour or two or spend the whole day in the company of charming rabbits! Play “board games”, arrange a meeting with friends, celebrate a birthday or organize a date.
6 ‘Zhuchki-Pauchiki’ (‘Beetles-Spiders’)
This ‘anticafé’ operates several venues where you can meet snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs, as well as nocturnal and crepuscular animals. Bearded agama, blue-tongued skink, reticulated python, Achatina and Acomis, litoria, eublepharis and Madagascar cockroaches – the list of terrarium inhabitants at ‘Beetles-Spiders’ is quite impressive!
7 ‘Piggy Place’
This St. Petersburg time café is home to adorable miniature pigs. They wear fashionable sweaters and willingly cuddle with visitors. Guests can feed them fruit pieces and, of course, have their pictures taken with the piglets!
