Move aside Addison Rae. Capybaras are the moment. The adorable South American mammals have been the internet’s favourite animals of 2025 so far, somehow garnering a cult-like following across social media platforms. They’re known to be extremely friendly and chilled out – exactly the kind of creatures you’d want to come across in your local caff, even if they are technically giant rodents.
The cabybara’s popularity over the past few years has given birth to a number of cabybara petting experiences across the world and in the UK. Now, the UK’s first café dedicated to the creatures is set to open in the Norfolk town of Toftwood.
Aptly named the Cabybara Café, the venue will initially be home to two baby capybaras – Clover and Sweet Pea. Owner Jemma Aldridge hopes that if the café proves popular after six months more will be brought in. It’ll offer ‘spa treatment’ for the animals while customers can enjoy cakes and coffee as an ‘added extra’.
Aldridge has got her hands on a tropical animal licence through the council and is now waiting for the vet’s approval of the capybaras’ enclosure. She told Eastern Daily Press: ‘We want to play on their character and make the space resemble that of their calming, therapeutic outlook.
‘We are very excited to raise them and are hoping there will be a special bond imprinted. The unique and natural friendship they can form with everyone; I can only imagine how much it will help the community.’
If you need any convincing of the strange, uplifting magic of capybaras, take it from Time Out staffer Andrzej Luwoski, who went to visit the UK’s first capybara experience at Hobbledown Heath a few months ago. He said: ‘It was a horribly cold, wet January day when we visited Hobbledown. On the news, the President of the United States was threatening to do mad, horrible things to pretty much everyone. But when Churro the capybara puffed up in happiness, everything seemed briefly alright with the world.’
It’s hoped that the cap caff will open towards the end of the year. A specific location will be revealed closer to the time.
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