It was Tucson’s first cat lounge but now it’s the city’s first “cat and coffee shop.” El Jefe Cat Lounge, at 3025 N. Campbell Ave. #141, has stretched out its paws and expanded into a coffee and retail shop — El Jefe Cat Café. The coffee and merch store will be located in the next-door suite, #151, while the rambunctious and sleepy cats will remain at #141.
How it works:
On the coffee side of things, you can walk in and order anything from the menu and shop around the gift shop. They have a couple of comfy couches if you want to stick around, too. Next door, there’s a three-story cat lounge if you’d like to sip on your coffee with four-legged friends.
Reservations are required to hang with the cats and there’s a waiver you’ll need to sign before entering (cats tend to have sharp nails).
A few of us paid a visit to the cats of El Jefe Cat Lounge, which is three stories high of rambunctious, sleepy, and curious cats. We were first greeted by a friendly cat that had recently given birth to 11 kittens. Other cats frolicked around as we sipped on our coffees and teas.
On the second floor, more cats awaited our affection — a space that has more couches for lounging and even a giant hamster wheel made for cats.
Then there’s the third floor. Be careful entering this room because you’ll likely fall in love with the kittens that roam the area. Only four people at a time are allowed in this room due to its size and the little critters runnin’ around.
What’s on the Menu?
To get things roasting, the cat lounge has teamed up with Cartel Coffee and have blend for sale right meow online — their very own El Jefe Cat Cafe Coffee. This coffee blend is an Arizona-roasted, single-origin, Colombian “catfee.” In other words, it’s “chocolate and caramel with an attitude.”
El Jefe Cat Café Menu
Hot Drinks
- Coffee (straight-up drip coffee)
- Espresso
- Americano
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Mocha
- White Mocha
- Hot Tea
- Chai Latte
- Hot Chocolate
- White Hot Chocolate
Cold Drinks
- Iced Coffee
- Iced Latte
- Iced Tea
- Iced Chai
- Iced Mocha
Italian Sodas
- Strawberry
- Cherry
- Raspberry
- Peach
- Vanilla
- Sugar-Free Vanilla
- Lavender
Plus, they’re serving coffee flavor additions like vegan chocolate, peppermint, and hazelnut, and you’ve got plenty of milk alternatives like oat, soy, almond, and coconut.
They also sell fun gifts for your feline friends in the cafe — some can be purchased online, too — including a Catt Butt Keychain, Cat Wine, and Colorado Kitty Pot (it’s catnip).
Grand Opening Celebration
El Jefe Cat Café has been opening for a few weeks now but they’re officially hosting the Grand Opening on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
There’s a lot happening at the party including a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and a “Crazy Cat Lady Costume Contest” at noon. From 3 – 5 p.m., they’re hosting a cat painting event, which is $18 per person (reservation required) and includes the 8″ x 8″ canvas.
Then, happening all day, they’ll be offering cat-themed cookies, cat-themed face painting, and free drip coffee.
El Jefe Cat Lounge is located at 3025 N. Campbell Ave. #141. For more information, visit eljefecatlounge.com and follow El Jefe Cat Lounge on Facebook and Instagram.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
