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Child-friendly cafes in Melbourne’s inner south and east, Nature Boy, Hank Marvin Market, Iron Henry and more

SO YOU’VE added a couple of kids to your weekend brunch routine, and now you’re in need of even stronger coffee. Here’s our pick of some of Melbourne’s best kid friendly cafes, complete with cubby houses and sandpits.

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FINDING time to catch up with friends for a coffee is one thing, but finding somewhere with a decent brew, something to meet everyone’s dietary requirements and somewhere for the rug rats to run around is another.

Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite kid friendly cafes in Melbourne’s inner south and east, that are actually kid friendly.

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Genevieve Sagaidoro with Nicholas, Sureka Parag with Zaiden, Catherine Watters with Cara, Emma Parkinson-Mautner with Pia Lyn and Heather Marks with James at Nature Boy Cafe. Picture: Richard Serong
Genevieve Sagaidoro with Nicholas, Sureka Parag with Zaiden, Catherine Watters with Cara, Emma Parkinson-Mautner with Pia Lyn and Heather Marks with James at Nature Boy Cafe. Picture: Richard Serong

NATURE BOY CAFE

486 Neerim Rd, Murrumbeena

Nature Boy Cafe is legit somewhere you can meet your other parent friends and have an actual conversation — I know, so rare. The back of the cafe has been solely designed with small children in mind. The cubby is the perfect place for any kids imagination and there are ride on cars and toys galore, and if that wasn’t enough it’s completely fenced in. The coffee is delicious and often comes with latte art to make you feel that extra bit fancy.

ROYCE AND COLE

471 North Rd, Ormond

It’s the new kid on the block but Royce and Cole can only get bigger, especially as the weather gets warmer. Royce and Cole in Ormond call themselves a “new school institute specialising on coffee and community”. The courtyard for kids is complete with a kitchen, blackboard and sandpit and is sure to keep your kids busy enough for you to enjoy a hot beverage in peace.

Emma Hogarth (3) enjoying a babycino. Picture: Josie Hayden
Emma Hogarth (3) enjoying a babycino. Picture: Josie Hayden

IRON HENRY

480 Neerim Rd, Murrumbeena

The answer to our wet weather dreams is Iron Henry, an upstairs dining room for you and the kids. A space set up with a dedicated children’s corner with a fully stocked range of toys, including a kitchen and table and chairs. The door is kept closed so you don’t have to worry about losing a child or disturbing other guests. The menu has all the favourites and there’s also a fully stocked cabinet for something lighter.

TELL US WHERE YOUR FAVOURITE KID-FRIENDLY CAFE IS BELOW

JIMMI JAMZ

130-132 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Cheap, cheerful and just an all round good time. Jimmi Jamz in Elwood is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is an easy meeting spot whatever the time of day. A big area out the back with a slide and cubby for the kids means meal time is a breeze. And the best part, you can have a wine instead of a coffee. The kids menu has all the favourites and its open every day.

Brighton Schoolhouse Cafe. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Brighton Schoolhouse Cafe. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

BRIGHTON SCHOOLHOUSE

15 St Andrews St, Brighton

The Brighton Schoolhouse is the perfect place for families and kids. There’s loads of space, including its very own playground, making it the perfect place to catch up with larger groups of friends and family. Children are well catered for with their own menu and drinks and there’s always colouring available, including the occasional colouring competition for all ages, with all artwork being displayed in the cafe.

Woodcutters Kitchen, Bentleigh. Picture: Nicole Cleary
Woodcutters Kitchen, Bentleigh. Picture: Nicole Cleary

WOODCUTTERS KITCHEN

69 Mackie Rd, Bentleigh East

Open from Wednesday to Sunday, Woodcutters Kitchen in Bentleigh East has four dining spaces to cater for everyone’s needs. The one you want if you have small friends with you is the courtyard, and outside dining area set among a vegetable garden and with full access to the castle and cubby play space — perfect to young minds active. The menu is also a highlight, wood fired pizza, freshly baked artisan breads and a liquor licence — enough said.

HANK MARVIN MARKET

Alma Park East, St Kilda East

It’s not a cafe as such but Hank Marvin Markets bring together a mix of street food, local produce and fun for the whole family. Stalls filled with pastries, toasties, paella and freshly squeezed juices line the park. But the best part — the children’s activities. A huge communal chalkboard as well as face painting stalls and hula hooping. If you strike it lucky you may get to jam along with the Mexican Music Man, a crowd favourite, and lets not forget the awesome Alma Park playground right next door.

Booran Reserve in Glen Huntly is a playground dreams are made of.
Booran Reserve in Glen Huntly is a playground dreams are made of.

UPSY DAISY

1064 Glen Huntly Rd, Glen Huntly

Upsy Daisy saw an opportunity and seized it. Nestled across the road from one of Melbourne’s best playgrounds, Booran Reserve, is Upsy Daisy — a family friendly cafe offering everything bar the kitchen sink. From Acai bowls to jaffles and a frozen yoghurt bar at the front, it’s got all the bases covered. Once you’ve finished your nourish bowl head across the road to watch the kids frolic in the water play area, or zip along the flying fox.

holly.mckay@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/childfriendly-cafes-in-melbournes-inner-south-and-east-nature-boy-hank-marvin-market-iron-henry-and-more/news-story/0f7386b280a516879497124d3813d812