Parents, grab your bestie and load up the kids, because playdates aren’t just for the little ones anymore! Here are some local cafes and play spaces that the grown-ups will like visiting, too.
Bonbonerie | Hyde Park
For a special yet laid-back play date full of pampering and our very best manners, high tea at Bonbonerie is a young gentleman and lady’s dream. Put on your Sunday best and meet in the cafe for a special afternoon tea. With 24 hour advance reservations, three-tiered stands full of beautifully adorned delicacies whisk families away to a land of high society. A children’s menu of turkey and colby, peanut butter and jelly, cutout cookies, brownie and tea cookies keep the kiddos happy while parents enjoy delicate finger sandwiches, macarons, scones and quiche.
Cincinnati Children’s Discovery Center | Liberty Township
Grab your besties for shopping and play at the Cincinnati Children’s Discovery Center in the fabulously designed Liberty Center. This free attraction is a great place for the kids to run off some energy during a long shopping day with mom and friends. The play structure itself is suitable for children to climb and explore or use imaginations to build with giant foam blocks. A wall of tunnels and tubes has fun sensory components or cozy up in the corner with a book from Libby’s Little Library.
Kitty Brew Cafe | Mason
“Cats, coffee and snacks, what could be better?” Exciting news, cat lovers; children of any age are welcome at the Kitty Brew Cafe! With locally roasted organic coffee from Seven Hills Coffee, smoothies and tea, parents can sit back and relax while kids play with the cafe’s free range cat family. Hourly playdate reservations are strongly encouraged and all cats in the cafe are ready for adoption! With approximately 25 kitties ready for some love, children can help socialize the cats with playful toys and reading them books.
Milk and Beans | Crescent Springs
We’ll take a cortado and a juice box, please! Milk and Beans has perfected the play cafe experience. Skip the drive-thru coffee shop and grab a latte with friends while the kiddos dive into their imaginations in the open play space. Designed particularly for parents to relax and have a good time while children play, club sandwiches, paninis, tea and kids toast options like Nutella, peanut butter apple and butter jelly make this a one stop shop for lunch time play.
Skateworld | Kettering
This skating rink has it all! Arcade, 18-hole mini golf, soft play area, roller skating … a playground for both adults and children! Skate-mate trainers are available for rent so parents can zip around the outer rink while kids skate comfortably at their own pace. Quality time comes in the form of lots of fun and laughter with your kids and friends at Skateworld in Kettering.
Timber and Bow Play Studio | Troy
In a nature-themed Sherwood Forest studio, geared towards children ages six and under, there is no play time limit for visitors to explore the large wooden play set, grow pretend vegetables in the garden shed, play with high quality toys, climb a Pikler triangle and adults can grab a coffee from next door’s Midtown coffee kiosk. photo featured
Washington Park | OTR
In the heart of the city, Washington Parks offers unlimited fun for children and adults. With a fully fenced in playground, kids have a blast splashing in the water features, rolling down a big turf hill, swinging on huge webs, making music and climbing the tall castle playset. Steps away, parents can enjoy a drink at the family-focused Porch complete with giant jenga and connect four. The park offers many family-friendly events and playdates year round including movie nights, markets, concerts and Pop Up Play with childrens games, adventures, crafts and more.