Purchase a day pass or annual membership to visit the 2-acre outdoor dog park and 10,000-square-foot indoor dog park. There are three bars, as well as weekly and daily food specials and drink discounts. Bar K is known for its “healthy casual” seasonal menu: The chicken is raised on organic pastures and fed non-GMO local crushed whole grains; the beef comes from cattle that are fed a high-quality corn-based feed. There are also dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options available, as well as Kaldi’s coffee and a specialty dog menu. Ask about the popular “Doggy Flights.” 4565 McRee.
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St. Charles’ first cat café recently opened. Owner Tonya Williams partnered with local bakeries Sugarbot Sweet Shop and Sugar and Slice to offer cookies, and macaroons, as well as warm and cold drinks. There are also kitty pops, kitty chow, and Rice Krispy treats. Prepackaged food is also an option. Cat Zen Café also offers a variety of classes, such as monthly yoga sessions taught in partnership with Yoga Out and About Missouri. The cats even have their own yoga mats. Painting classes with local artists are also offered twice per month, with each session lasting 90 minutes. Reservations for the café are $12.50 per hour or $8 per half hour. 319 N. Main, St. Charles.
The Maplewood gathering place combines cats, coffee, and an in-house kitchen. While customers can’t bring their own cats, inside the cafe they can relax with the cats, which are from local shelters and can be adopted. Reservations are $12 per person (ages 13 and older) and $7 per person for kids (ages 2–12). Sessions are for an hour and include a complimentary drink. The kitchen also offers desserts and seasonal treats, such as pumpkin spice macarons, lattes, and pumpkin bread. 3101 Sutton.
Whisker Station Cat Café and Lounge
A new addition to the cat café scene in Kirkwood and one of the only cat cafés where you are allowed to bring in your own food or drinks. Owner Sara McGinnis renovated a former travel agency in downtown Kirkwood to offer the area a café where you can play with cats from the Heartland Humane Society that are also adoptable. Reservations are $12 an hour and can be booked online. Pre-packaged snacks as well as bottled drinks, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea is available. The staff recommends ordering from close by Pioneer Bakery or Honey Bee’s Biscuits and Good Eats. Pioneer Bakery is known for their array of pastries and moist Sonoma Chicken Salad. If you are in the mood for an adults-only night with alcoholic beverages, they offer “Wild Nights,” where guests can enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and seltzers while listening to music and lounging with the cats. 212 N. Kirkwood.
Located in South City, this cozy coffee shop loves dogs as much as gourmet coffee. Owner Lynn Terry partners with First Crack Coffee for its Rescue Roast, with a portion of proceeds going to local animal rescue organizations. Besides coffee, Zoomies offers a variety of specialty drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries, and desserts. (The egg sandwiches are the most popular.) All of the food items are baked on premise and served fresh daily. There are vegan and healthy options for both dogs and owners. Zoomies has a large back patio and a fenced-in backyard with tables. 5838 Macklind.
Cyndee England is a former television reporter and publicist whose beat was cuisine, celebrities, beauty, fashion and nightlife. Now a marketing and sales executive, she’s immersed in St. Louis’ social and cultural scene and never turns down a good meal.
