If you often resort to drive-through coffee stands because it’s the most convenient and least disruptive way to get your coveted cup o’ joe when you’re out and about with your kids, pay a visit to one of our area’s independent, kid-friendly coffee shops. Relax while your children play, connect with friends or fit in some work – most offer free wireless Internet.
“A trip out with friends is more pleasurable when we aren’t stuck at a table with high chairs or running around the café chasing our children instead of socializing,” said Ballard mom Tracy Pitcock, who frequents family-friendly coffeehouses with other moms. “This way, both the mamas and the children can have fellowship in a safe environment. Any place that has a fun space for kids is where I want to spend my money.”
Many Seattle-area cafés offer comfy couches, reading corners or a few toys. Each of the “hot spots” listed below, however, goes above and beyond with sizeable play areas for kids, apt cuisine and, for those who seek it, exceptional coffee.
SEATTLE
Serendipity in Magnolia To stumble upon a coffee shop with fresh-baked goods, weekly story times and a private kids’ area is truly serendipitous. Those in the Magnolia neighborhood and beyond have Nanette Baker’s mom to thank; she treated her young daughter to fresh-baked goodies every day after school. Now Baker, co-owner of Serendipity (3222 W. McGraw St.), is happily busy in the kitchen baking the treats from her childhood to serve in the new coffeehouse, which opened this past July.
In the ample seating across from the children’s area, parents kick back, eat, converse and look after their kids while enjoying a cup of coffee – the tasty Thomas Hammer from Spokane. The play space is sectioned off from the rest of the café and features a chalkboard wall, doll house, train table and a few other toys. Serendipity serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as beer and wine. Their focus is on food using natural ingredients; sandwiches are made with bread from Seattle’s Macrina Bakery & Café, and Baker’s homemade scones are a little slice of heaven. Authentic gelato made by the local Bottega Italiana is also popular.
My Coffeehouse in Madison Valley My Coffeehouse (2818 E. Madison St.) has been pleasing local families for nearly six years. Half of the shop is a dedicated play space, and they serve the sought-after H&H Bagels from New York. A low wall surrounds the toy area, which contains a large train table, Legos, a play kitchen, reading corner, dinosaurs and wire baskets of worn but still-loved toys. There is ample seating within for snack breaks and watchful moms and dads.
In addition to all things bagel, the café serves smooth coffee from Sumner-based Dillanos Coffee Roasters, various loose-leaf teas, Dreyer’s Ice Cream and a kid’s menu with an assortment of dishes. I love that they offer simple treats – fruit leather, gummy bears and goldfish crackers – to keep children happy. Penny-pinching customers get a bit of reprieve on Community Mondays when drip coffee is $1, lattes $2 and bagels $1.50.
Mosaic in Wallingford Mosaic (4401 2nd Ave. N.E.) is one of the best places to settle in with friends and enjoy coffee. Located in the Wallingford neighborhood beneath the Seattle First Church of the Nazarene, this café is home to the “Demitasse,” an entire room for kids. Parents enjoy the ultimate relaxation here, with an enclosed play space to enjoy with their children and peace of mind that their family’s noise isn’t bothering the newspaper reader or laptop worker. Children stay pleasantly distracted with the train table, play house and kitchen, reading corner and active toys like a rocking horse and basketball hoop.
Kid-sized tables in the Demitasse are good for munchies and parents can make themselves at home on the comfortable couches. Mosaic’s menu features Fidalgo Bay Coffee, roasted in the Northwest, and all-natural baked goods from Little Rae’s Bakery in Seattle. This community-minded coffeehouse operates uniquely; customers pay what they like – or what they can afford – for their coffee and fare, and 10 percent of the revenue is donated to other nonprofits.
Vios Café & Marketplace on Capitol Hill Although not just a coffeehouse, Vios Café (903 19th Ave. E.) is worthy of this list; the restaurant serves up tasty and authentic Greek food for lunch and dinner while children make themselves at home in the play pit at the back. Enclosed with a half wall, this cozy space entertains with building blocks, a play kitchen with accoutrements, Legos and books. As well, the café’s European-style, communal seating is welcoming and kids enjoy watching the cooks at work.
Eating “family-style” is fun with a group of more than six. My kids love the flavorful orzo salad, made with seasonal ingredients like roasted pepper, olives, basil or grapes, and the never-ending hummus with warm pita bread. The children’s dinner menu has some classic favorites as well as a grilled chicken skewer option. Be sure to leave room for gelato and Italian coffee.
(A heads-up for those of you who only go to coffee shops if you can hook up your laptop and surf the Web: Vios is the only spot Seattle’s Child reviewed that doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi.)
Coffee to a Tea with Sugar in West Seattle West Seattle’s hot spot for caffeine and family fun is Coffee to a Tea with Sugar (4541 California Ave. S.W.), also home of the Sugar Rush Baking Company. Cupcakes and cakes are their forte, and families happily indulge in the bite-sized variety, with colorful frosting and groovy toppings. Sidle up to the coffee bar for organic, fair-trade coffee and tea from local companies, and a variety of other treats and quiches baked in-house.
The children’s area at the back of the coffeehouse is actually an elevated music stage stocked with bins of toys, rocking horses, oversized pillows and games to amuse pint-sized customers. Reserve a spot at the table for “Afternoon Tea” on the weekends, the child’s version of which includes apricot and marshmallow or bologna and cheese sandwiches with hot chocolate, if preferred over tea.
BEYOND SEATTLE
Kat’s Tot Spot Café in Woodinville Eastside parents are loving the new Tot Spot Café (17802 134th Ave. N.E.), the brainchild of Woodinville mom Kat Stremlau, who devised the idea during the December power outages two years ago. The café is atypical in that it requires a fee for playtime – $6 an hour for one child and $10 for two, with price breaks for additional time – in turn giving parents a supervised, enclosed play area and a chance to socialize or work. High tables and chairs surround the low wall of the spacious playroom, giving a clear view of the kids if you would rather keep an eye on them. There is usually only one playroom attendant, and it can get packed.
A smorgasbord of toys, and happy faces, can be found within. An area specifically for babies has infant toys and soft flooring for “tummy time.” There are climbing toys for toddlers and interactive toys and games for preschoolers; my daughter loves the dress-up clothes. Although there is no age restriction, Tot Spot Café is geared toward children ages 5 and younger. The free Cheerios station and comfortable alcoves for breastfeeding are nice touches. Tot Spot’s menu includes popular breakfast and lunch items such as waffles, grilled cheese and hot dogs and, thankfully, espresso drinks.
Spotted Cow Ice Cream and Coffee Company in Mill Creek The two Mill Creek locations of Spotted Cow Ice Cream and Coffee Company – one at Mill Creek Town Center (15118 Main St.) and the other at Thomas Lake Center (3414 132nd St. S.E.) – are great places to enjoy family time. At the bustling town center, a mix of people can be found at this cozy coffeehouse, which offers a small, enclosed play area for kids, board games, fireplace, live music and open-mic nights.
Children are immediately drawn to the ice cream case, where free tastings help them decide which of the 24 scrumptious flavors of ice cream, gelato or sorbet they would like to eat. These desserts are handcrafted at the store, as is the coffee. If you find it difficult to choose between the two, try a blended drink or the yummy “affogato,” ice cream covered in espresso and caramel. Spotted Cow also offers pastries, tasty sandwiches, beer and wine. When the kids’ tummies are full, the play area entertains with puppet theater, toys and books.
Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes in Renton In South King County, Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes (900 S. Third St.) has local parents buzzing. This inviting coffeehouse offers a friendly staff, locally made Caffé D'arte coffee and delicious cupcakes, regular-size and mini, which are baked on site daily. Various hot drinks, real-fruit smoothies and bubble tea round out the menu. When the cupcakes are demolished, the play area beckons with rocking horses, wooden toys and books.
