If you’ve successfully rounded up the kids to make it to a cafe, you may as well make the most of the outing and piggyback brunch with a trip to the park. We’ve found some of the best cafes across Melbourne that are conveniently located right next to or around the corner from a spot to tire out the young ones.
Here are 8 of the best cafes close to playgrounds in Melbourne for 2022:
Leroys
NEWPORT
Leroys is a west side brunch staple that caters to the whole family. The grown-ups can look forward to breakfast miso ramen broth, Mexican green chilli chicken waffles and giant ricotta hotcakes. Meanwhile, the little ones can dive into the kids' menu with options like toast soldiers with smashed avo and pancakes topped with fairy floss. Now onto Leroys biggest drawcard, the playgrounds. Not only is the cafe located next door to a park with a playground, its courtyard is also equipped with a private playground.
Serotonin Eatery
RICHMOND
Richmond’s Serotonin Eatery regards itself as a serotonin dealer thanks to its nutrition-packed menu. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly cafe that prioritises health this is the cafe for your family. The Serotonin Eatery has been on its mission to serve Melburnians a holistic plant-based brunch for over a decade. Here you can introduce your kids to plant-based foods like a kids’ acai bowl and kids' serving of their infamous positive pancakes. Post nutritious meal you can visit Golden Square, Bicentennial Park.
Dumbo Cafe
FOOTSCRAY
Dumbo Cafe has a menu that changes with the seasons. Right now Dumbo Cafe is dishing up its take on pan-fried potato gnocchi, sticky bread pudding and Shoyu ramen with egg noodles. The kids' menu is a little more low-key with options like waffles and scrambled eggs. Take advantage of the Dumbo Express Window to grab takeaway for your park adventure at the Shorten Reserve playground.
Square and Compass
EAST MELBOURNE
Square and Compass have a rave-worthy menu featuring dishes like green chilli scrambled eggs, poached salmon poke bowl and laksa fried rice. The drinks menu is also worth an honourable mention with choices that range from cold-pressed juices and coconut water to Kali hot chocolate and Soy Boy soy chai lattes. Square and Compass are in a prime position located on the corner opposite the Fitzroy Gardens. The playground at Fitzroy Gardens is worth the trip just for the dragon slide and giraffe swing set.
Lux Foundry
BRUNSWICK
Melbourne’s north has no shortage of cafes and brunch spots but Lux Foundry has all the right ingredients for a family outing with both the kiddos and dogs. The cafe is located in a heritage-listed warehouse and has been serving up innovative locally sourced dishes for the better part of a decade. Lux Foundry’s all-day breakfast menu has got something for everyone including the vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free inclined. With an entire menu dedicated to the little peeps there is surely a dish that will take their fancy. Now onto the playground, Lux Foundry is conveniently right around the corner from Bulleke-Bek Park Playground.
Curator’s Collective
MOONEE PONDS
Curator’s Collective cafe is in the heart of Queens Park Gardens and specialises in serving up breakfast all day, every day. The lumberjack pancakes are a combo of toasted waffles with crispy double bacon, double fried eggs. maple syrup and cafe de Paris butter. Over on the kids' menu is a french toastie which is a ham and cheese toastie assembled with french toast. You’re already in the gardens so you might as well make the most of it and organise a playdate at the playground.
Wolf On Watton
WERRIBEE
A Werribee neighbourhood fave is Wolf On Watton and its proximity to Wyndham Park Playground makes it only that much better. It is truly the every venue as a cafe by day, restaurant by evening and bar by night. The Wolf on Watton’s cafe offerings is creatively curated with local and fresh market produce. The under twelves menu caters to kids' savoury and sweet taste buds equally with housemade gnocchi and waffles with ice cream.
Lenny
ALBERT PARK
Lenny brings a resort and beach feel to the bustling suburb of Albert Park. Their spicy prawn omelette and Okonomiyaki-inspired pancake are two of the most unique savoury options on the menu for parents. But for the kiddos, there’s pancakes, granola and a vegemite and cheese toastie. Lenny is just up the road from Plum Garland Memorial Playground which sits right next to Middle Park Beach so you can extend your cafe visit into a full-blown family excursion.
Check out the things to do with kids in Melbourne over here.
Image credit: Urban List