As the mom of a 20-month old daughter (and pregnant with our second), I’m constantly seeking out new indoor play spaces in the area for those days when the weather just isn’t conducive to taking a walk to the park. We’ve tried several indoor toddler spaces so far and they’ve all been fun, but our visit to the Playdate Cafe yesterday was by far my favorite, as well as my daughter’s.
From the minute we walked in the door, we were greeted by welcoming staff members who helped us sign the play waiver and gave us a rundown of the rules. In the play area, socks are required, but if you forget to bring some, don’t worry! They sell them at the check-in counter. This will be especially helpful in the summer months when kids are running around in sandals all day. No food is allowed in the play area, but sippy cups with lids are fine. Parents must supervise their children at all times. I love that parents can choose to play alongside their children, or sit at the high tables that surround the wall of the play area and watch. Playdate Cafe also offers Cafe Ladro Espresso and free Wifi so parents can relax or get some work done while their independent children play.
As we were signing in, my daughter got so excited that she took off running towards the toys. That’s always a good sign Once we got her shoes off, she took off into the play space. She’s been in a phase of wanting to play close to Mama, but that wasn’t the case yesterday!
I was surprised at the size and openness of the whole space. The 2,000 square-foot play area is spread out, with plenty of play options. There is a bounce house, ball pit, play cafe space, theater stage, fire station with a firetruck, slide and pole, and a reading corner with a plethora of books to choose from. Play tables with blocks, puzzles, and other toys are spread out around the space, as well as a few slides and other climbing toys. There’s also plenty of cars and other toys for kids to “drive” around the play road that surrounds the young infants’ play area. This area is separated by a white-picket fence and is designed specifically with the youngest Playdate Cafe visitors in mind. It is full of age-appropriate toys and because it is fenced off, allows little ones to play without fear of getting hurt by older kids.
My daughter played independently for about an hour, before I had to ask her if she was ready for lunch. Then she went back to playing again after lunch. No outside food is allowed in Playdate Cafe as they are a licensed restaurant, but no worries, there were plenty of options for even restrictive diets. My daughter chose organic applesauce and a fresh fruit bowl. The fruit bowl was literally fresh, not one of those prepackaged “fresh fruit” bowls you find at some places. It consisted of watermelon, blueberries and honeydew, cut into child-size pieces. We shared a ham and swiss quiche that was quite large and delicious, as well.
Let me tell you, it was hard deciding what to choose at the cafe! There are so many options, including gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and organic choices. I was impressed by the variety and high-quality of options. You can learn more about their menu choices at their website.
When your child takes a snack or lunch break, there are plenty of child-sized picnic tables and other small chairs, as well as high-chairs and adult-sized tables and booths. Again, I was surprised at the size of the seating area. The entire 8,500 square foot space is bright, spacious and clean. I loved not feeling like the space was cramped, like so many other indoor play spaces we have visited.
We had such a great time visiting yesterday! My daughter was able to play independently for a long time, which gave me the opportunity to visit with another Mommy-friend. Playdate Cafe is definitely at the top of our list for indoor play spaces. For those who plan on visiting frequently, investing in one of the play pass options they have available will save you money each visit. I’m definitely considering purchasing one.
Want to check it out? Here is the basic information you need to know about Playdate Cafe so you and your little ones can visit for yourself!
Playdate Cafe is located in Lynnwood, very close to both I-5 and I-405, and is open to children 0-6 years old.
Admission is $8 for the first child, $6 for each sibling or for a crawler.
Admission is good for the whole day, and adults and non-crawling infants are free.
Current hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9am – 4pm
Friday: 9am – 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 2pm
4114 198th Street SW, Suite 3 Lynnwood, Washington 98036 USA (425) 582-7007