To my mind, a good kids’ cafe isn’t necessarily one that is loaded to the ceiling with play options and expensive activities.
Instead, as the mother of two young children what I yearn for is a cafe that offers some open space for the kids to play in while I have a decent coffee or pot of tea.
A few reasonably priced options for snacks for myself and my little ones to choose from would be good too. Yet amazingly, in a city as beautiful as Brisbane, it’s frustratingly difficult to find the magic combination of relaxed space and quality food.
But here are a few places that offer a daytime place for you and your child to eat, drink and be merry.
Grange Community Hub cafe
This small cafe run as a community initiative sits behind the Grange Library and next to the outdoor play area, most suitable for younger children. The cafe only has a limited selection of drinks and snacks but it a good spot to let the kids run while you relax.
Avid Reader – Boundary Street, West End
Join the small kids’ storytelling sessions on Wednesdays at 10.30am each week and follow it up with a yummy cup cake and a babychino in the ‘courtyard’ out the back. There’s a pile of kids’ toys and nothing for them to break.
Cafe Mama at Windsor
This place is always surprisingly busy with parents and other diners. It does offer some yummy things for the kids to eat but the play space really isn’t large enough for children over 2. Plus, it can be difficult to manage prams or baby capsules.
Gigglepots Shop at West End
Runs holiday workshops and regular classes but you can just pop in for a coffee and milkshake.
Northey Street Organic Market Cafe
Open each Sunday until 10.30am - it’s a lovely open space with a sandpit and rope swing for the kids. Plus you can buy healthy organic food and drinks.
Saturdays only. Kids can run in the open space and you can enjoy a fine coffee and cooked breakfast under the fig trees, perched on an upturned milk crate. It’s not flash but it’s real, with lots of families.
This is at the Powerhouse. Pretty fancy spot but there’s good open space and the kids can climb on the iconic "flood" sign. The food isn’t cheap though.
Caddyshack Cafe
This is at the Victoria Park Golf Course. The open spaces and provision of playthings is excellent. But it would be great to see a few reasonably priced and realistic kids’ food items on the menu.
Not the greatest places for parents to enjoy some peace and quiet but the kids will definitely be kept active on the indoor play equipment while you buy a snack or drink. The indoor play centres are a good idea when the weather is too hot or rainy.
What's your favourite place to take the kids out to eat? Add your comments below.
