Take a Mom to Play Cafe

What do moms with young kids want?

At the end of the day, it boils down to two things: hot coffee and happy kids. Enter the magical combination of cafes and indoor playhouses. Parents actually get to sit for a moment and sip their latte while their little ones run around exploring in a fun, safe and contained space.

This Mother’s Day, after the macaroni picture frames are unveiled, head over to one of Edmonton’s cafe playhouses for a social catch-up and an opportunity to watch kids shine.

Sweet Pea Café

Playhouse bookings: Playtime can be booked up to two weeks in advance. Walk-ins first come, first served
Age: Best suited for kids under six
Menu: Vegetarian, with accommodations for gluten-free and allergies

Sweat Pea is the original Edmonton location to come up with the concept of combining cafe and play space (as far as our research can tell). One side is a vegetarian cafe that balances tasty treats with health conscious offerings while the other features a series of tiny houses with different themes like fire house, veterinarian’s office, grocery store, and school house.

Samantha Gotlib purchased the business two years ago and brought with her a background as a yoga teacher, health coach and mom of four.

“There’s that whole stage with littles where it can be a bit overwhelming going out to a restaurant,” she says. “Sometimes in that 18-month-old range, kids just pick up food and drop it on the floor. We have a very welcoming space where, on the playhouse side, there’s a whole eating area. So kids can make messes they need to and explore the ways they want to. It just feels like there is a little bit less stress.”

The space also hosts birthday parties and special gatherings.

“For me, when I was a new mom, it was a big deal to have places to go with my kids,” Gotlib says. “And it feels so nice to know that this is a place where families come and kids look forward to going to.”

Sweet Pea Café & Playhouse
Laurier Heights | 14238 85 Ave NW, Edmonton | sweetpeacafeandplayhouse.com

Bok Play Cafe

Playhouse bookings: Online bookings for playhouse, camps and parties
Age: Seven and under, with special sessions for 0 – 3 years old
Menu: Kid-friendly, Mexican

The first thing you might notice about BOK is its colour palette. The space is intentionally awash in muted pastels, with the goal of bringing a calm feeling to kids and parents alike.

“You can have five minutes of peace and just drink your coffee and be calm for a while,” says Andrea Aguilar, administrative supervisor.

BOK only opened last August, but already it’s added camps, parties, and drop-in childcare to its roster.

As for the menu, think kid-friendly and Mexican. (We spy a rainbow-hued grilled cheese that would thrill most four-year-olds.)

“The menu has been growing and we’ve been modifying it, according to the preference of our customers,” Aguilar says. “It’s a Mexican-owned company, so we do have Mexican food.” From ball pits to burritos, what more could you want?

Bok Play Cafe
South Edmonton Common | 1203 Parsons Rd NW, Edmonton | bokplaycafe.com

Utopia Cafe and Play

Playhouse bookings: Online booking, with walk-ins during the week only (first-come, first served).
Age: 0-4
Menu: Breakfast, lunch, coffee and drinks

This cozy spot is designed with an open concept for one reason: you can be at any table and still watch your kid play.

“It’s a mix between child care and being with them,” says owner Ana Salas. “They’re still responsible for their kids and need to supervise them, but they don’t need to be on top of them at all times. It gives kids a chance to play independently or make friends or socialize, but keeps mom in control so she can have peace of mind knowing what’s happening with her kids at all times.”

The cafe, meanwhile, offers a range of high-quality food and drinks — from lattes and matcha to avocado toast and Italian croissant sandwiches.

And for Mother’s Day, especially: mimosas are on the menu.

Utopia Cafe and Play
Ambleside | 16406 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton | utopiacafeplay.ca