The Best Cafes With Outdoor Play Areas in Melbourne

When the weather is lovely enough to fully enjoy being outside, and when your kids have been cooped up inside or outdoors in chunky layers, they'll have a blast playing in these fun play areas when you go out to eat! And who knows, you may even end up eating your whole meal or drink your whole coffee while it's still hot!

Melbourne has a ton of great kid-friendly cafes, and if you're looking for one with a fantastic play space open to the elements, then why not pay a visit to one of these fun spots?

Farm Cafe

If you're looking for outdoor space to run around in, you'd have to be pleased with an entire farm to do so! The Farm Cafe at Collingwood Children's Farm is a great spot to breathe in the fresh country air (albeit in the middle of the city), eat hearty food and let the kids stretch their legs among a proper menagerie of animals.

On the menu, you'll find breakfasts, salads, hot and cold drinks, and they've just begun selling delicious homemade cakes.

Find it: 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford VIC 3067

Opening Hours: 9.30 am - 3 pm weekdays, 9 am - 4 pm weekends.

The Boathouse

The Boathouse in Moonee Ponds is a favourite spot for lunchers who require a whole playground with which to send the kids in to play! Right outside you'll find a huge play area with multiple types of equipment suitable for children of all ages - we love the big ship, in keeping with the maritime theme! 

It's also great to be able to grab a coffee and pastry and sit outside and watch the little ones play in the sunshine.

If you're there for lunch, get the pizza. It's incredible.

Find it: 7 The Blvd, Moonee Ponds

Opening Hours: 9 am - 10 pm weekdays, 8.30 am - 10 pm weekends.

Duchess of Spotswood

A cute cubby house awaits at the Duchess of Spotswood, complete with mini tables and chairs, books, toys, and rideable toys in the concrete courtyard. You can choose to dine out here, or inside, and on the menu contains a delicious array of fun British-themed treats (the "Prince of Wales" gets you a char-grilled salmon with hummus, poached eggs, and a chickpea, coriander and chilli salad, while the "Duchess of Pork" is crispy pig’s jowl, fried eggs, truffle & Madeira sauce with Zeally Bay toast) and great kids' choices.

Find it: 87 Hudsons Rd, Spotswood

Opening Hours: 7 am - 3 pm weekdays, 8 am - 3 pm weekends

Nature Boy

Pancakes, chips and toasties grace the kids' menu at Nature Boy Cafe in Murrumbeena, while you can dine on all-day breakfasts, salads, burges and chicken schnitzels. The outdoor play area also boasts a cute cubby house with ride-on toys under a shade sail at the rear of the second dining room. We love the option of an enclosed dining area with a full view of the play space, or the outdoor seating.

Find it: 486 Neerim Rd, Murrumbeena

Opening Hours: 7.30 am - 4.30 pm weekdays, 8 am - 4.30 pm weekends.

Leroy's

One of the most fabulous outdoor play areas in a Melbourne cafe with a menu to match, it's no wonder Leroy's is a popular spot with families.

The burgers are big and juicy, and the play area size is hefty, which is a godsend on busy days - plenty of room for everyone! The kids' menu runs from Coco Pops and cute Baby bears porridge, to poached fruits, toasties, eggs, pancakes, nuggets and chips. Yummo!

Find it: 5 Mason St, Newport

Opening Hours: 7 am - 4 pm 7 days

Backyard Est 2016

Speaking of giant play areas, clap your eyes upon the 'backyard' at Backyard Est 2016, which is truly fantastic. You almost want to run across it yourself and start playing with all the goodies!

If you can drag yourself away from the fun, you'll find omelettes with caramelised leeks and gorgonzola, soft-shell crab buns with pickled veg, cheesy chips, mushrooms on toast and fresh fruit salad are some of the delights awaiting you.

Find it: 19 Mason St, Newport 

Opening Hours: 7 am - 4 pm weekdays, 8 am - 4 pm weekends

Other Melbourne Hotspots

The Best Baby & Toddler Activities In Melbourne
Waterfalls Worth Visiting
Melbourne's Most Creative Playgrounds

 

Have you signed up to our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!