Cleocatra Café - Portage

Cleocatra Café's Portage Avenue location in Winnipeg operates as the vintage-focused counterpart to its larger Osborne sibling, offering an intimate, warm coffee-shop experience paired with rescue cat companionship. Located at 859 Portage Ave, the Portage location houses 12-15 adoptable rescue cats in a more compact setting, maintaining the same core mission of providing abandoned and mistreated cats a second chance at life while offering visitors a unique, relaxing space for feline connection. The cafe features extensive rustic charm and vintage touches throughout, deliberately designed to create a home-like atmosphere that helps both cats and guests feel at ease. With a full coffee bar staffed by skilled baristas, Portage emphasizes the quality beverage experience alongside cat companionship, making it an ideal destination for those seeking premium coffee and genuine animal interaction. The cafe remains connected to Cleocatra's network of non-profit rescue partners across Canada and shares the organization-wide achievement of facilitating 650 adoptions since inception.

Google reviews of the Portage location emphasize the stunning aesthetic and welcoming atmosphere, with visitors describing the space as "like stepping into a cozy video game in real life" with "gorgeous" decor and design. Reviewers consistently highlight the affectionate, adorable, and silly nature of the resident cats, noting they are clearly well-cared-for and healthy. One guest appreciated the thoughtful "cat visiting rules and guest limits" that ensure "we can spend time with the cats comfortably and quietly," demonstrating how the cafe prioritizes feline wellbeing over maximizing visitor volume. Another reviewer praised the attention to design details, noting "antiques, old pictures and stain glass all worked together somehow," creating an atmosphere described as "quaint and relaxing" perfect for romantic dates or family outings. Visitors rave about the beverage and food offerings—a strawberry watermelon soda was "pleasantly surprised" to contain "real fruit" and felt "very refreshing," while Vietnamese coffee and matcha drinks earned specific praise. One guest noted "amazing" desserts and particularly highlighted a "really good" cheesecake. The spacious cat visiting area includes private hideaways where more reserved cats can retreat if overwhelmed, allowing for varied feline personalities to coexist comfortably. Staff earn consistent compliments for being "very friendly and polite."

Operating Monday and Thursday-Friday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday-Sunday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays), Cleocatra Portage welcomes visitors by reservation, though walk-ins are accommodated if space allows. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. The cafe serves specialty coffees, desserts, and beverages crafted by skilled baristas at the full coffee bar. Drinks are served fresh and can be customized; visitors highlight Vietnamese coffee, matcha, and fruit-forward sodas as standout offerings alongside excellent cheesecake and other desserts. The location features vintage decor with rustic charm and warm wooden details throughout. Cats range in temperament from social and playful to more reserved, each with individual personalities that staff can help guests understand. Adoption inquiries follow Cleocatra's standard process: meet-and-greet during a visit, completion of adoption application, interview with adoption team, and approval based on best cat-family match. The cafe maintains an online shop featuring Cleocatra-branded merchandise with proceeds supporting cat care. Parking in the Portage area requires attention to signage and meter payment; paid lots are available nearby. Contact: (204) 284-8168 or info@cleocatracafe.ca