What do you get when you combine delicious food and an adorable Corgi?
Barcelona-based brunch spot, Corgi Cafe!
Corgi Cafe is a dog-friendly cafe run by Juice, the chonky CEO, and her human partner, Anton Ustimenko.
It serves delicious breakfasts and lunches, with menu items including shakshuka, french toast, patatas bravas, Caesar salad, and more.
Oh, and we mustn’t forget the mouthwatering desserts, either. There’s hazelnut brownie, cheesecake, and Corgimisu on offer.
I first came across Corgi Cafe on Instagram and immediately fell in love with the content, and of course, Juice.
So I was very excited when the founder, Anton, agreed to answer some questions about how he started the business, the challenges he’s faced, and what his hopes are for the future.
Plus, he reveals all about why he loves Corgis so much.
Let’s go!
Q&A with Corgi Cafe founder, Anton Ustimenko
1. Tell us about Juice—what’s her personality like?
Juice is a very educated and obedient girl.
But like any other Corgi, she is ready to do anything for treats!
2. Why did you decide to get a Corgi?
When I was 16, my neighbors had a Corgi that loved me very much. As a result, I fell in love with the breed, and from that moment on, I always wanted a Corgi!
3. What’s your favorite thing about owning a Corgi?
I love hugging her, spending time with her, and training her because she is very smart
4. What inspired you to start Corgi Cafe?
I moved to Barcelona 3.5 years ago and wanted to open a cafe because I’m very adventurous when it comes to food. Plus, I wanted to create an interesting concept.
5. What’s the best thing about running the cafe?
Owning a cafe is like living in another little world. You have your own family – colleagues, friends, and customers. Of course, it has its difficulties and victories.
6. What’s the worst?
Sometimes you have to spend 12-15 hours there every day to improve processes and you have to understand your business from A to Z.
7. What makes Corgi Cafe different from other cafes?
My goal is to provide great service, create a cool atmosphere and vibes, make delicious food, and sometimes Juice is there to delight the guests who really want to meet a Corgi!
Many people come to us in the hope that we have a lot of Corgis, but (unfortunately!) this is not the case. I only have one Corgi and she’s not always there. First and foremost, we are a brunch cafe and we are committed to this direction. I once visited a cafe where there were 10 Corgis present, and that’s not what I’m aiming for.
8. What’s the furthest someone has traveled to visit the Corgi Cafe?
The furthest was a couple from Australia. They regularly visit brunch spots and really liked our concept and, of course, Juice.
9. Can you share some of the highlights since you opened?
Once we had a full seating and 5 guests came with their 5 Corgis. We allowed them to run around and have fun, of course, each guest took out a phone and started filming.
It was complete chaos and very fun to watch!
10. What are your hopes for Corgi Cafe in the future?
I would like to open several more restaurants under this brand and maintain a consistently high quality across all the restaurants.
