Capybara Café in St. Pete — Your Guide to Visiting
Have you ever wanted to sit next to a capybara and hand-feed it a kale leaf? There’s a place in St. Petersburg, Florida where you can do exactly that.
The Capybara Café offers guided animal encounters in a calm, supervised setting. All profits go to Noah’s Ark Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals. It’s a feel-good outing that’s equal parts fun and meaningful.
What Experiences Are Available?
The café offers five different encounters (full details on their site):
| Experience | What You’ll Meet |
|---|---|
| Capybara Lounge | Free-roaming capybaras in a relaxed setting |
| Capybara Encounter Room | A smaller, more private capybara experience |
| Lemur Lounge | Guided encounter with ring-tailed lemurs |
| Mini Safari | Wallaby, coatimundi, and armadillo |
| After Dark | Nocturnal animals — skunk, fennec fox, ringtail cat |
Reservations are strongly recommended — popular time slots fill up fast.
Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–5pm, Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 10am–5pm
What’s It Actually Like?
A visitor report from Westchase WOW gives a great firsthand look at the Capybara Lounge experience. Some highlights:
- You feed the capybaras using tongs (their teeth are no joke!) with kale leaves provided at entry
- The capybaras are friendly but food-motivated — keep the snacks coming and they’ll happily hang out with you
- Blankets are provided to protect your clothes from their sharp nails
- It’s not just capybaras — the lounge also has rabbits, a goat, a lamb, tortoises, and some colorful birds
- Staff are present throughout and keep the space clean and comfortable
The full experience article is worth a read if you want to know exactly what to expect — check it out here.
Tips for Your Visit
- Book ahead. Private encounters sell out quickly. The Capybara Lounge has more availability but still fills up
- Arrive 15 minutes early. You’ll need to check in and go over liability waivers (sent in advance via email)
- Wear clothes you don’t mind getting scratched. Capybaras have sharp nails. Use the blankets provided
- Bring extra budget for kale. You get one leaf included, but you can purchase more — and you’ll probably want to
- Good for kids 8+. According to TripAdvisor reviewers, this is a great experience for older kids
Getting There
Address: 4703 Park St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33709
About 10 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg. The café has its own parking lot.
-> Book your visit at capybaracafestpete.com
Information is current as of March 2026. Check the official site for the latest hours, pricing, and availability.