Cafes with kid-friendly play spaces pop up around Melbourne
REMEMBER the days when you would take your toddler to tiny, overcrowded, hipster cafe only to bump into tables with your pram sending water carafes flying?
Remember how you would cringe as your busy tot threw their quinoa everywhere and screamed the house down because you wouldn’t let them grab your smoothie jar?
Remember when you were so busy trying to keep your littlies out of trouble that your skinny flat white, which you were completely desperate for, went stone cold?
Well, those days are behind you my friend.
The latest trend in the city’s cafe culture is kid-friendly coffee shops.
These sophisticated spaces feature all manner of fun things for littlies to do — sand pits, playgrounds, craft activities, dress-ups, mini-villages, train sets and, of course, endless rounds of babycinos.
Some even have paid supervisors who will watch the kids play while mum or dad sips a cuppa nearby.
We asked Leader reporters their favourite tot hot spot eateries around town:
North
Birdie Num Nums, 745 Nicholson St, Carlton North
The spacious, enclosed courtyard at the rear of this cafe makes it a popular spot for littlies. The quality cafe fare is a bonus.
Details: birdienumnums.net
Northwest
Miss Marmalade, 126 Union St, Brunswick
This cafe does what many people without children probably wish more inner city cafes did — has a separate space for people with tots. There are toys to keep young children occupied and a small play area. There are even a few spare nappies and wipes if you’re caught short.
Details: missmarmalade.com.au
The Boathouse, 7 The Boulevard, Moonee Ponds
This popular cafe and restaurant, on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, is next to a big playground. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a kiosk where grown ups can grab a takeaway coffee to enjoy while they supervise.
Details: theboat-house.com.au
South
Brighton Schoolhouse, 15 St Andrews St, Brighton
This trendy, popular brunch spot is set in a charming heritage-listed school building. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with room for prams. The small fenced off playground and shaded sand pit add to the appeal. St Ali coffee doesn’t hurt either.
Details: brightonschoolhouse.com.au
Toot Toot Toys and Cafe, 637 Centre Rd, Bentleigh East
Little engine lovers will be in heaven at this Bentleigh toy shop and cafe. A play area features several train sets, including Thomas and Chuggington. There are also Lego sets, toy kitchens and doll houses. It’s a great place to catch up with a friend on a rainy day while your kids have a ball.
Details: toottoottoys.com.au
Habitots, 146 Bridport St, Albert Park
Kids will love a chance to play in the sandpit and cubby house at this bright, friendly cafe. Inside there’s a play area and a selection of kids products and homewares for sale. Classes, including music, art and yoga, are held daily.
Details: habitots.com.au
Southeast
The Hungry Peacock, 16 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Tyabb
This Peninsula cafe, set up by a family day care educator, will keep everyone happy. There’s a playpen and sensory wall for babies, a play cafe and a construction site with foam bricks and a pulley. There are also books, puzzles, games and colouring materials. On sunny days mums can be found sipping their coffees on the deck while their kids go crazy in the sandpit and cubby house. The food is great with plenty of options for little ones.
Details: Facebook
Don’t Tell Daddy, Shop 22, 1880 Ferntree Gully Rd, Ferntree Gully
This colourful cafe and children’s boutique features two play spaces. Inside there’s a drawing table, reading corner, TV and toys. Outside there’s a cubby house and seesaw.
Babycinos are, of course, a specialty. Kids can even decorate their own frothy creations with syrup, sprinkles and marshmallows.
Details: Facebook
East
The Little Village Play Cafe, 33 The Mall, Croydon South
Mum, graphic designer and photographer Jocelyn Bouma opened this cafe because she and her friends were looking for somewhere to sit and chat while their kids played. The gorgeous space includes a mini village complete with a hospital, tool shop, fire station, cake shop, boutique, grocery store and post office.
Details: thelittlevillageplaycafe.com
Cheeky Chinos, Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Rd
For those days when even watching your kids while they play in a playground is too much, there is Cheeky Chinos. Trained supervisors are employed to watch over the fenced play space, which was designed by a psychologist. The cost is $6 per 15 minutes for children aged six months to six years to play. There’s also a range of babycino flavours.
Details: cheekychinos.com.au
West
Breathe Cafe and Play Restaurant, 354-356 High St, Melton
If you don’t remember when you last went out for dinner (maybe sometime before your youngest was born?), this is the place to go. You don’t need a babysitter, take your kids with you and they can play in the supervised play area while waiting for their food. It’s also a great spot for brekky or coffee and there’s an events room which can be booked for meetings or birthday parties.
Details: Facebook
Happy River Cafe, 45 Moreland St, Footscray
The name pretty much sums it up for this cheerful, eclectic cafe on the Maribyrnong River.
It’s perfect for a sunny day as you can choose whether to sit at a table or on a picnic rug in the big lawn area. There are lots of toys for the kids.
Details: Facebook
Leroy’s, 5 Mason St, Newport
Kids can enjoy a game of hopscotch, play in the sandpit or draw on the giant chalkboard in the courtyard at Leroy’s. There’s good coffee and a kids’ menu.
Details: Facebook