Becoming a parent doesn’t suddenly take away your need to socialise and get out of the house, but navigating leisure activities with a kid can be a bit of a challenge at times! The answer to this is finding a balance between your needs and the needs of your child, which is tricky but still manageable if you think smart. A good compromise for your sanity and your kids’ enjoyment are finding cafes that include playgrounds and fun activities for your kids at the same time. Fortunately for parents on the East of Melbourne, there are quite a few options here. In this article, we’ll take you through some of our favourite cafes with playgrounds. There are some top playground cafés in Melbourne’s East listed. Don’t miss out!
Montrose
Posie Project and Montrose Community Playground
Address: Shop 12/926-930 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Montrose VIC 3765
The Montrose Community Playground is a really cute animal-themed playground, set in picturesque parklands. There are barbeque facilities on-site, but Posie Project next door is also a perfect place to visit for some cafe food or even a little gift for a loved one – there’s a built-in gift shop along with the coffee and cakes.
Warrandyte
Arthurs Creek Coffee Co and Wonguim Wilam
Address: 272 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113
If your kids have designs on being a pirate, this might just be the playground for you! Rounding out our playground/cafe combo suggestions, this entire place is full of natural wooden cubbies and climbing ropes, and is only a shirt walk from the Yarra River. Grab yourself a takeaway coffee from Arthurs Creek Coffee Co and head on over.
Bayswater & Bayswater North
The Coffee Pot Play Cafe and Orchard Church of Christ
Address: 643 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater VIC 3153
Located in The Orchard Church of Christ, this cafe has a joint outdoor/indoor play area for your little ones, including toys, slides, and shaded seating, perfect for any weather, which makes it super versatile, even in inclement weather conditions. It’s kinda cute too.
Dröm, Bayswater and Marie Wallace Train Park
Address:1/19 Scoresby Rd, Bayswater VIC 3153
The Knox City Council really outdid themselves when they upgraded the iconic Marie Wallace Train Park recently. This is an expansive outdoor play area with all sorts of options supporting imaginative play. Once you’re done there, head over to Dröm for a cuppa and a bite to eat; it’s only a five minute walk away.
Glen Park Playground and Cafe on the Park
Address: 30 Glen Park Rd, Bayswater North VIC 3153
Adjacent to Glen Park Playground, this community-focused café offers coffee and snacks with direct access to an inclusive playground for kids of all developmental stages.
Boronia
The Hub Play Cafe
Address: 59 Boronia Rd, Boronia VIC 3155
The Hub Play Cafe in Boronia is such a cozy little place. If the weather is nice, there’s a great big play area outside with a fire truck and a sandpit, with more toys inside for those rainy days.
Milki and Miller
Address: 24 Alchester Cres, Boronia VIC 3155
A local gem tucked beside Alchester Village with outdoor access to a small playground—great for brunch and quiet coffee dates with young children in tow.
Gembrook
Spencer’s Store and Gembrook Leisure Park
Address: 97 Main St, Gembrook VIC 3783
Another great cafe right next to a playground here. Gembrook Leisure Park is an urban gem that has something for any little one, and with the cafe right across from it, it provides some welcome downtime for parents too.
Kew
Briquettes Coffee Shop and Victoria Park
Address: 6 Harp Rd, Kew VIC 3101
Briquettes has got to be one of the cutest little coffee shops ever! It’s a teeny tiny little place right across from the Victoria Park Playground.
Balwyn
Dancing Dandelion
Address: 323 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn VIC 3103
All we can say is “wow!” when it comes to Dancing Dandelion. This place is a dedicated kids playspace, with multiple play areas and everything a kid could ever want. Along with the cafe, they also cater to parties here. We’re pretty sure this would be a wonderful place for a kids birthday party, on top of being a great local place to pop in for a cuppa with the little ones in-tow.
Mont Albert North
Matilda Mont Albert and Mont Albert North Reserve
Address: 15 Arcade Rd, Mont Albert North VIC 3129
This reserve is fantastic for all those high energy families, it even has a running track and oval in addition to play equipment! Once you’ve burnt off a bit of energy, there’s a laneway just past the oval that will take you to Matilda’s Cafe for a cuppa and a cool-down.
Lilydale
Harrow and Harvest Cafe and Melba Park
Address: 42-44 Castella St, Lilydale VIC 3140
Harrow and Harvest is an extremely cool cafe, situated in a retired church. They are really heavy on supporting women in local business, and are just down the road from the very lovely Melba Park. Great food, and a great way to support your locals while you hang out with the kids.
Warragul
King’s Cafe
Address: Cnr King &, Wills St, Warragul VIC 3820
What a perfect place for you and your little ones. King’s Cafe has their very own outdoor playground that’s safely fenced and right next to the outdoor seating at their cafe. They even have shade sails up over the play equipment, to help keep your kids safe from the sun while you enjoy your morning latte.
Croydon
The Local Umbrella
Address: 70 Main St, Croydon VIC 3136
We absolutely love the inclusiveness at this gem of a cafe. The Local Umbrella prides itself on being inclusive to all, be it race, gender, sexuality, or neurodiversity. There are plenty of activities for kids right in-store too.
The Conservatory Cafe and Wyreena Playspace
Address: 13-23 Hull Rd, Croydon VIC 3136
The Wyreena Playspace is a council-operated play area with a cafe built right on top within the community centre. There’s also really nice parkland nearby in the reserve, and a nearby art gallery too.
Berwick
Primary @ Pioneers Park
Address: 1-11 Peel St, Berwick VIC 3806
Primary@Pioneers is a modern cafe and event centre with a really cool history – it was opened in 2005 at the site of the old Berwick Primary school! Naturally, they have one hell of a playground, along with some really top chefs.
Blackburn & Blackburn North
NewHope Playspace
Address: 3 Springfield Rd, Blackburn North VIC 3130
NewHope PlaySpace in Blackburn North is a perfect place if you’re looking for a more baby and toddler-friendly play area with a cafe. Let’s be honest – it can be really difficult to find safe spaces to play for your much littler ones, a lot of the playgrounds are aimed at kids aged 5 and above. This place is the exception, with a wonderful soft play area indoors for the little ones, heaps of toys, and another playground outside for the bigger kids. Everybody wins here.
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary and Miss Lucy
Address: 133 Central Rd, Nunawading VIC 3131
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is a gorgeous place to visit if you’re a fan of natural spaces. There’s a lovely pond and walking tracks integrated with the playground, and Miss Lucy cafe is right there where you need it too. You could easily lose a few hours relaxing here and talking to the kids about all of the wildlife you can see, after a good play on the slides.
Armadale
Cubbyhouse Canteen and Union Street Playground
Address: 43A Union St, Armadale VIC 3143
The Cubbyhouse Canteen is a perfect fit if you’re after a cuppa with friends, as it’s right next to the Union Street Playground.
Ferntree Gully
Rapture Café and Batterham Reserve Playground
Address: Unit 1/41 Forest Rd, Ferntree Gully VIC 3156
Just a short walk from Batterham Reserve playground, this café is a relaxed choice for parents looking to enjoy coffee while kids let off steam at a nearby play space.
Templestowe
Switch & Sip Cafe
Address: 2-6 Swilk St, Templestowe VIC 3106
This cafe is specially aimed at being kid-friendly, and as a bonus, there are heaps of undercover kids’ activities within the cafe itself, making it a rain-friendly option too!
Red Gum Cafe
Address: 109 Wood St, Templestowe VIC 3106
Red Gum Cafe in Templestowe is another great choice that doesn’t rely on perfect weather for your kids to access the play area. The cafe has an extensive indoor/outdoor playground, even including a sandpit outside. Indoors, you’ll find dolls, nooks and more for your little ones to enjoy while you enjoy your wind-down.
Mooroolbark
Country Heart Cafe and Hookey Park
Address: 36 Brice Ave, Mooroolbark VIC 3138
This cafe is right by the station for easy access, and you’ve got the option of visiting both the library and nearby Hookey park after your arvo cuppa.
Emerald
Emerald Village Bakery and Cafe and Puffing Billy Park and Playground
Address: Shop 8/8 Kilvington Dr, Emerald VIC 3782
Puffing Billy is quite honestly iconic and you really should have a visit there at least once while your kids are still little. Once you’re done riding the old school steam train with the littlies, drop into the local park and playground with a takeaway cake and cuppa from Emerald Village Bakery and Cafe. The prices are pretty reasonable and it’s the perfect way to wind down after a fun excursion with the kids.
Mulgrave
The Last Piece Eatery and Waverley Park Playground
Address: Shop 7/2 Stadium Cct, Mulgrave VIC 3170
The Waverley Park can be found right next to the community footy oval. Nearby, you’ll find The Last Piece Eatery. It’s a little further away from the park than some of the other options, but we think it’s still worth the trip. Plus, Waverley Park is massive too!
