A guide to child-friendly cafes in Melbourne’s north
FROM Brunswick to Broadmeadows, Coburg to Yarrambat, here are 27 child-approved brunch spots in the north to take your little ones to this Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
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LONG weekends are all about lazy brunches, park play dates and confetti-topped babycinos. So, if you’re looking for a great place to stop in for a coffee (and, if they’ve been on their best behaviour, maybe some cake), here are 27 child-friendly cafes in Melbourne’s north to add to the brunch bucket list.
CHILD-FRIENDLY CAFES IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH
ABBOTSFORD
15 Acacia Place, Abbotsford
Sprawling brunch spot overlooking the Yarra with plenty of pram access, high chairs and a kids menu featuring Nutella toast teddy bears. Stop in for breakfast then go for a stroll along the Main Yarra walking trail.
BROADMEADOWS
Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows | Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre, 60 Central Park Avenue, Craigieburn
Where else can you get avo on sourdough toast for $5, fruit toast for $4.50 and low-fat muffins and cookies for $3.50? With a great range of wholesome foods for kids as well as gluten and dairy-free hot chocolates and Five Senses coffee for adults — it’s a win-win for little kids and big kids alike.
BRUNSWICK
126 Union Street, Brunswick
With easy pram access, highchairs, a kids’ menu with plenty of healthy options and a lovely kids’ play area — this cafe ticks all the brunch-with-kids boxes. Or, if you’re more of an afternoons kind of cafe-goer, their homemade, allergen-friendly cakes are a real treat.
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CARLTON NORTH
815 Nicholson St, Carlton North
When you can get matching big kid and little kid crumpets, you know you’re onto a good thing. There’s also plenty of pram access and a newly built kids’ playground right out front.
COBURG
15 Urquhart Street, Coburg
Sundays (or, in our case, any days) are for treating yourself. And what better way than by taking your kids out for a decadent bubble waffle cone sprinkled with coffee soil, salted-caramel pearls, Oreos, Maltesers, coffee meringue, caramel ganache and topped with toffee ice cream. The cafe is pram-friendly, has plenty of high chairs, a delicious kids’ menu and babycinos in every colour of the rainbow. A hit with parents, mother’s club meetings and littlies.
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COOLAROO
Unit 8, 1640 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo
This indoor play centre caters to kids aged up to 11 years old. There is a baby zone (for kids under 2) with rockers, interactive play building blocks and a ball pool, a toddler zone with a climbing structure, revolving chairs and a slide, and then the main play area, which is for kids aged 5-11, featuring an obstacle course-style climbing structure, ball pit, ramps, bridges, slides and more ball pits. Once they’re all played out, treat them to a hot meal, sandwich or some fairy bread at the cafe.
CRAIGIEBURN
1 Northshore Drive Craigieburn
Sunny side up eggs and Vegemite and cheese soldiers make for happy little Vegemites. This laid-back, lakeside cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, and there’s a park and playground right over the road so you can load ‘em up with energy then let them run amok outside.
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ESSENDON
305 Wirraway Road, Essendon Fields, Essendon
Fresh off the success of their in-store cafe, Essendon Fields supermarket LaManna last month expanded its operations to include a dedicated brunchery. The child-friendly (there’s a playground outside for the kids) cafe’s Italian-Asian inspired breakfast fare includes hearty options including poached pear and chia pudding, figs on toast, cheddar scones with bacon butter and berry handsome acai bowls.
87 Rose Street, Essendon
This light-filled cafe boasts a cosy, enclosed courtyard complete with a kids’ play area that even has slides and a trampoline. The Byron Bay cookies and babycinos are also a big hit.
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FAIRFIELD
FIFTEEN POUNDS
21 Railway Pl, Fairfield
Although there’s a lovely kids’s menu (with healthier options like mini omelets and porridge), we recommend tricking them into eating their veg by letting them share your beet porridge. Yep, you read right. Beetroot and chia porridge topped with strawberry gel, granola, strawberries and vegan lemon curd. It looks so pretty they’ll hardly know it’s good for them. There’s also easy pram access, highchairs, crayons and colouring books.
GLENROY
10 Post Office Place, Glenroy
This recently refurbished cafe is nailed the child-friendly breakfast vibe. With $1.50 babycinos, choc-caramel chai lattes, milkshakes and a kids menu that includes pikelets with strawberry jam and cream, fairy bread, french toast and ham and cheese toasties — little ones will never want to leave.
SOMALI STREET FOOD CAFE
84 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy
For a no-frills, yummy start to the day, look no further than Somali Street Food Cafe. Kids will be all over the malawax — Somali pancakes (a cross between a crepe and a pancake) with banana (or strawberry) and ice cream.
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HADFIELD
142 Middle Street, Hadfield
If you haven’t yet tried a toasted superfood scone, dragonfruit pancakes or an Amazonian acai bowl — here’s your chance. This is a great place to go for allergy-friendly options and even friendlier service. Once you have finished your meal, Reddish Reserve is not far up the road and has a nice little park for the little ones.
MERNDA
10 Hathfelde Blvd, Mernda
A cafe housed in the rustic bluestone Carome homestead dating back to the 1860s. Two Beans is situated on acres of land, with established gardens and views, and is just a short stroll to the Plenty River gorge. The venue is fully licensed and the menu is chockers with homemade pies and tarts as well as slow-cooked dishes that will warm the soul. Kids can enjoy eggs with soldiers or even a ham and cheese croissant, if they’re lucky.
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MOONEE PONDS
678/680 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds
The District Kids blackboard wall is pretty epic, but it’s their freakshakes that bring all the kids to the yard. Plus, parents will love the kids’ breakfast menu, which even has on-trend items like kids’ health bowls. There’s plenty of pram space, high chairs and even colouring-in books and pencil cases.
28 Hall St, Moonee Ponds
A low-FODMAP, gluten-free and allergy-friendly doughnut shop in the heart of Moonee Ponds? That’s basically every kids’ dream, right? Plus, parents can relax knowing the baked treats are actually not too bad for them. With flavours including creme brulee, salted caramel Nutella, chocolate freckle, cinnamon and The Homer (a vegan, strawberry glazed), there’s something for everyone.
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778 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds
A sprawling cafe in a converted 1800s lakeside cottage in the middle of Queens Park Gardens. Dine in by the logwood fire or takeaway — weather permitting — and enjoy a picnic in the park. If you’re stopping by for lunch, the burgers are pretty hard to beat. They also offer house-made sausage rolls, nuggets and chips and toasties for little ones.
146 Athol St, Moonee Ponds
Puppy-friendly and child-friendly cafe housed in a converted corner store. The heated courtyard is a lovely spot for relaxing with four-legged friends and four-wheelers (prams). Grab a hot choc and brekky board.
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PASCOE VALE
152 Cumberland Rd, Pascoe Vale
This friendly Pascoe Vale local has the kids market cornered with an extensive kids’ menu as well as high chairs, change tables and plenty of pram space. Choose from kids pancakes, avo toast, egg and soldiers, croissants or even toast with grilled cheese. It’s also licensed. Just sayin’.
PRESTON
611 Gilbert Rd, Preston
As well as a dedicated kids menu, if you feel like treating your little treasures to a sugar high, the brioche French toast with Nutella, oreo, ice cream and berries is next level indulgence.
218 High St, Preston
What kid doesn’t love a good jaffle? At Moon Rabbit, they’ve got Little Bunny Foo Foo (Vegemite and cheese) jaffles as well as Bunnycinos for $1.
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RESERVOIR
1A Marchant Ave, Reservoir
Kids will be in their foodie element at Lady Bower, where you can treat them to a Yogo-inspired breakfast of banana, raw cacao and yoghurt custard with choc-chip sprinkles. They can also have a soft-boiled egg and soldiers, toasties or any of the delicious house-baked goodies. There are also colouring-in activities, books and games for kids, so they’ll feel right at home.
ROSANNA
31 Davies St, Rosanna
Hands down, this is one of the freshest openings to hit the north side. Axil specialty coffee is on rotation (or grab a beetroot latte if you’re feeling adventurous on a Sunday morning) and goes down a treat with the seasonal, produce-driven menu. Little ones will love the bright and cheerful interior, and adults will love kids’ options including egg and bacon toast, waffles, junior shakes and $1.50 babycinos.
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ROXBURGH PARK
1 Thomas Brunton Parade, Roxburgh Park
It’s almost impossible not to love this all-day Roxburgh Park eatery. From the creative food and strong coffee to the bubbly atmosphere, this place ticks all the boxes.
TRAVANCORE
208 Mt Alexander Rd, Travancore
Conveniently located right outside Flemington Primary School, this cafe is the ideal post-drop off coffee stop. Out the back is an undercover play area with a sandpit, well-loved tricycles and even a pretend coffee machine for the budding barista.
YARRAMBAT
28 Kurrak Rd, Yarrambat
Lunch and golden lattes overlooking the lake makes this the ideal spot for an easy Sunday. Kids will love the breakfast pack that comes with a ham and cheese toastie, a box of sultanas, fresh fruit, a small apple juice and some food for feeding the resident ducks.
461 Ironbark Rd, Yarrambat
A cafe and homewares boutique in one with Allpress Coffee and plenty of options for little humans. We’re talking Dr Marty’s Crumpets with butter and jam (or Vegemite if they’d prefer), mini waffles and even a brekkie basket with bacon, cheesy melt and fresh fruit.
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