Alley Cat Cafe: A Home Away From Home

With Cornell's iron grip on my social life, finding the time to go to Downtown Ithaca can feel like a feat in itself. Between back-to-back classes, problem sets and fighting for a seat in Temple of Zeus cafe, leaving the borders of campus feels impossible. But when I found out about Ithaca's very own cat cafe, I knew I had to make the time. So, one afternoon between classes, I rallied my friends and made the trek downtown to the wonderful Alley Cat Cafe , which, in my opinion, is peak Ithaca. The moment you walk into the cafe, the atmosphere softens your mood. Cozy, hippy vibes, with mismatched furniture and cute thrifted plates, make the place feel like a home away from home. The cafe even has a small store near the entrance, stocked with cute cat toys and themed products that would fill any cat lover's heart. One detail I found most charming was a small display showcasing the cafe's teas, complete with colorful arrows indicating the caffeine levels to allow customers to understand the tea that they're choosing, while also doubling as a cute display. The cafe is split into two spaces: a cozy seating area with the typical cafe set you'd expect - reasonable prices, good air-conditioning and comfortable seating - and a cat room in the back. Since I wasn't very hungry when I visited, I ordered a grilled cheese from the cafe's menu and whipped out my laptop to catch up on my work. The grilled cheese brought me back home to my family's kitchen, where I often make my own grilled cheese with the presence of my cat. Only this grilled cheese was elevated by the addition of sourdough bread. The sandwich was nothing fancy, but it definitely delivered a kind of comfort Cornell's dining halls never quite can do. What I also really appreciated was the full transparency of the kitchen - you can watch your food being made from start to finish. Coming from a background in food service, I know how disgusting the back of the house can get, and how much restaurants want to hide it. Here, though, it felt like another point of connection with the staff. Another cool touch is that all the food on the menu is vegetarian and can be made vegan upon request - a real win for my vegan and vegetarian friends, who are often limited when it comes to campus food options. The staff matched the warmth of the space effortlessly. The workers treated every customer like a familiar face, sparking casual conversations that made it clear they genuinely cared about the people walking through their doors. The cafe is the kind of place where you can sit down for a relaxed lunch with a friend or actually lock in on the mountain of homework you've accumulated throughout the week. Because I was running short on time during my first visit, I didn't make it to the cat room - but I knew I had to. So a few days later, I made the trip again to the cafe. The process of getting into the cat room is seamless. I made a reservation online just in case, but they absolutely accept walk-ins. You simply go to the front, ask to enter the cat room, pay $5 per person and then voilà - you get to meet a bunch of cute cats. The room is a full-on cat oasis filled with cat trinkets, cozy nooks and plenty of spots to sit back and decompress with the cats. Most of the cats were asleep when I visited, which honestly made them way more endearing. That said, I still managed to sneak in a quick moment with my new bestie, Poe, who was snuggled up on a chair. He reminded me so much of my cat back home that I almost teared up by the window. Safe to say, he will definitely be seeing a lot more of me very soon. While wandering around the cat room, I also stumbled across the sweetest little book filled with polaroids of every cat the cafe has ever housed. After more research, I learned that the cafe partners with a local cat rescue called Browncoat , taking in some of the cats from their shelter temporarily while they wait for their forever homes. As someone who adopted my own cat from a rescue, that detail really hit home. If you're a Cornell student, a cat lover or simply someone in need of a new study spot, Alley Cat Cafe is more than worth the bus ride. Especially with Cornell's busy pace, having a place to sit back, relax and pet a cat is a must. The environment captures the artsy vibe we all know and love about Ithaca, while being far enough from campus to feel like a true retreat. Aariyana Edwards is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at aae49@cornell.edu.