I can’t tell you how devastated I was in September 2025 when I walked past the Edinburgh Chihuahua Cafe and found it permanently closed after 8 years. A new cafe in Edinburgh’s West End just opened, aptly named Cuppapug, with pugs. But I don’t want anyone to forget the Chihuahua Cafe, so here’s my original article about the eight adorable chihuahuas they had, and what it was like to visit.
What is a Dog Cafe
In 1998, the first cat cafe opened up in Taiwan. Its massive success prompted them to open up all over the world. As can be expected, cafes for other animals soon followed. Although there doesn’t seem to be any clear reference where or when the first dog cafe opened, in December 2017, Scotland saw the opening of its first dog cafe. Chihuahua Cafe is aptly named for the eight rambunctious chihuahuas who run around and entertain the patrons.
Cat and dog cafes (not to mention rabbits, ferrets, birds, snakes, and even goats) are usually organized with animals from a single owner. They often have to follow strict animal laws in the country they belong to, and the cafe environment is organized for the best treatment of the animals. After all, they are the pets of the owner, and no one wants their pets to be mistreated.
The Story Behind Chihuahua Cafe
Edinburgh’s Chihuahua Cafe was the brainchild of Tanya. She wanted to share the joy she receives from her eight chihuahuas with the world. Ama was her first dog. After adopting seven more, she conditioned her dogs to be around other humans by bringing them to different social events. Finally, it was time to open the cafe. Securing a space in Edinburgh’s historic New Town, the cafe opened its doors in December 2017, making it the second animal cafe in Edinburgh after the Maison de Moggy Cat Cafe in the Old Town and the first dog cafe in Scotland (second in the UK behind Newcastle).
Tanya had a team of staff, including her mom, who helped with the dogs. Duties included resetting the cafe between each session, serving guests, and walking the dogs in the nearby Princes Street Gardens. The cafe also offered an Airbnb experience to walk the Chihuahuas in the gardens from time to time.
The ABCs of Chihuahua Cafe
All eight chihuahuas at the cafe were girls. Just to make it easy, they were named alphabetically.
Ama
Ama was the founding member of the cafe and the eldest at 5 years old when the cafe opened. I spotted her immediately as I walked in for the first time, with the mini tennis ball in her mouth. She alternated between chasing after her ball and relaxing. She was distinctive with her long black and tan hair. DOB – 04/11/12
Lady Bee
White Bee loved giving kisses and attention. She would jump into any game the other dogs were playing. DOB – 02/11/16
Cleopatra
Perhaps the most independent of the dogs, Cleo didn’t interact with me a lot. The one time I took notice of her was when she was at the bottom of the doggy pile – literally. DOB – 25/11/16
Duchess
Although she was a girl when I first visited, the Duchess seemed to be the alpha. Well, that was probably because I visited on her birthday and she received the royal treatment in her birthday clothes. She certainly got the lion’s share of the doggy birthday cake I purchased to share. DOB – 08/02/17
Elsa
Also known as Sassy Pants and Elsa May, this snow queen was the poser. She was always getting in front of the camera and standing regally. It was easy to identify her lilac coat. DOB – 02/02/17
Faery
When they said that Fae Fae was the diva, they weren’t kidding. Whenever my hand was idle on the ground, she went over to sit on it, expecting another massage. She absolutely loved cuddles and would position herself on everyone’s knee to receive them. DOB – 10/03/17
Gatsby
Her mom often likened this cutie to a Golden Retriever. She loved her toys and sometimes would just sit quietly beside me with one in her mouth. Although she might not be named after a queen, she could pose just as well as Elsa. DOB – 02/03/17
Hepburn
It was almost impossible to pick one dog as cutest above the rest, but if I had to, it would probably have been Hepburn – AKA Red. I think she might also have been the smallest (hard to judge with Chihuahuas). DOB – 14/03/17 (the youngest)
Was Chihuahua Cafe Worth It?
ABSOLUTELY! Excuse me for shouting, but unless you absolutely hate dogs, this cafe was simply awesome. I had the biggest smile on my face every time I was there, and long after I left, too. It was also a great place for a bit of therapy for those who needed it.
The entrance fee to the cafe was £10 per hour, which remained unchanged for eight years. Tickets often sold out days in advance. The cafe even had loyalty cards, and visiting eight times gave you a free visit. I heard that some guests had visited monthly for years for their regular therapy sessions. Only wish I could have gone back one last time before they closed.
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Planning to Visit Scotland?
Looking for other activities in Edinburgh, or perhaps you’re allergic to dogs? Here are some other options, as well as some recommendations on where to eat in Edinburgh.
- 30+ Best Restaurants in Edinburgh for Tourists and Locals
- Best Places to Eat in Edinburgh on a Budget
- How to Find the Best Brazilian Crepes in Edinburgh
- The Village Hotel in Edinburgh is So Much More Than a Hotel
- There’s a Cat Cafe in Edinburgh!
- My First Food Tour in Edinburgh to Discover Scottish Cuisine
- What the Da Vinci Code Didn’t Show You About Rosslyn Chapel
- Camera Obscura in Edinburgh Brings Out the Kid in You
- Experience the Underground Preservation of Mary King’s Close
- Escape Edinburgh: The Most Fun Activity in Edinburgh’s New Town
- Finding the Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh
- Riding the Most Delicious Tour in Edinburgh on the Red Bus Bistro
- 9 Free Attractions to Visit in Edinburgh
- 10 Activities for The Perfect Day Trip from Edinburgh
- A Virtual Tour of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland
Here’s some extra reading to save hundreds on your next vacation or stage of your journey.
- 5 Steps to Book Cheap Flights
- Hostels: To Book or Not to Book
- Is Workaway Worth it for the Traveler?
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21 Comments
Thanks for sharing
This looks SO amazing. I’ve been to a cat cafe in Budapest and wanted to go to one in Tokyo but ran out of time. I haven’t been to a dog cafe though but this looks like a ton of fun. How cute are those dogs?! <3
I hope you can get to one soon. They’re quickly becoming more popular. I’m guessing the Chihuahua Cafe is going to be booked up weeks in advance in the summer.
Oh my gosh YES! I have a chihuahua that I often leave behind for my parents to babysit while traveling. So, this will be the perfect fix when I get to Scotland 3/4 of the way through my 6-month trip starting in March. Duchess is absolutely THE CUTEST. I cannot wait to snuggle her up!
You’re going to love it. Does that mean you’re getting to Edinburgh in August during the Fringe?
Okay, so after a stop at the Boozy Cow I’ll go up to the crazy chihuahuas. I can’t think of anything more guaranteed to make me laugh. What a unique evolution of the cat cafe. Fun!
Hahaha. That’s a great way to put it. Edinburgh sure loves its animals. I certainly have to say that cat cafes doing even compare to dog cafes. At cat cafes, you tend to sip your coffee while you watch the cats sleep. At dog cafes, you don’t even think about food. It’s all about playing and having fun.
What an interesting concept this is! You’re right, unless someone hates dogs, this place can bring a smile on anyone’s face. I would love to go and spend a couple of hours here.
I certainly hope you can make it someday. Best therapy in the world!
Chihuahua Cafe! What a brilliant idea! I’m shocked they are so socialized, the Chihuahua’s I’ve met aren’t so friendly. Gosh they are adorable, especially Ama
I really should get the video produced and uploaded Most of them just wanted to cuddle. It was adorable!
OMG a Chihuahua Café???!! I’ve heard about animal cafes throughout Asia, though didn’t realize that they had made it to the UK. They are all such beautiful dogs – I think Cleo is the cutest. Lol sad that she doesn’t interact that much, btu I love that they don’t force human interaction on them if they’re not feeling it that day. Honestly I think I would go just for the dogs 😀
Thanks! To be honest, I think I was the only one getting food and drinks there, as I had the package. Everyone only came to play with the dogs, and the hour went by way too quickly. We were told that there are days the dogs just want to relax, but it was hard to believe with how much they wanted to interact with us while we were there.
Eeee! This is definitely the cutest cafe in Edinburgh!
Right?! I can’t wait to go back!!!
I love how you can feel the joy in this cafe from the people’s smiles 🙂 I highly doubt that you can visit it and leave with no smiles on your face. I am more of a dog lover than a cat one so for sure I’ll have this one on my list and looking forward to be entertained by eight chihuahuas 🙂
It’s true. Most of the cats in cafes just sleep all day. Dogs just want to play with you (especially chihuahuas). The couple next to me had already been there a dozen times in the couple months since their opening.
I’ve wanted to visit Scotland for a while, but now?! Look at those sweet chihuahua dogs!! I’m a fan of smaller dogs, and these wee pups are beyond adorable. If I had a favorite, I’d have to choose Duchess, she’s gorgeous. This would be such a happy place to visit, and a handy spot to enjoy a coffee too of course. 😉
I always say that Edinburgh is my favorite city in the world, and this cafe is just icing on the cake. I hope to become a regular there, as my budget permits.
We have heard of cat cafes, but never a dog cafe- nevertheless a Chihuahua cafe! Very cool. Love that you went into detail about each dog there too. Very personal and we agree, therapeutic!
Thanks. I think the first dog cafe in the US (Los Angeles, obviously) only opened about two years ago. They are definitely getting popular though, even if they can be more difficult to open than cat cafes.