baby-friendly cafe Archives - Adventure, baby!

On our first family trip to the Blue Mountains we were looking forward to stopping in at The Gingerbread House which has gained notoriety for its whimsical fairytale setting and its attention to detail in being child-friendly. We chose the Winter Solstice to mark our journey as Katoomba is filled to the brim with people celebrating from all walks of life, a parade down the centre of town and its overall festival vibe.

All I can say is that we are lucky we chose to arrive early at The Gingerbread House because no sooner had we claimed our table in the sunny outdoor courtyard did all other vacant tables evaporate and space was a premium. Jenson and Isla had fun exploring the generous outdoor playground which was exceptionally maintained with a large cubby house and play equipment whilst we waiting for our morning tea.

The Gingerbread House - #kid-friendly #cafes - #Katoomba, #Sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com — *Jenson playing in the cubby house, Photo by Katia Barker*

Our order of scones (choc chip with a hint of ginger with jam and fresh cream $7.50), fresh baked muffin (raspberry and white chocolate $4.50) and kid’s milkshake ($3) arrived quickly and was mouth-wateringly fresh. The food and drink were demolished quickly so Ross and Isla played outdoors whilst Jenson and I went about exploring the magical candy emporium.

Jenson was like, well, a kid in a candy shop, with eyes as big as saucers and was more than happy in helping select a treat for each of us. He proudly carried these off for take-away.

The Gingerbread House is perfectly situated for a long lazy cafe session with plenty of kid-friendly options from toast to sandwiches and those with a sweet tooth are well-catered for with cakes, muffins and ice-creams on offer. We barely took advantage of all the dining options, and skipped coffee this time as we already had our hit but will definitely be back again to sample the delights further.

Last Bite: The Gingerbread House ticks all the boxes for a kid-friendly cafe and should be on everyone’s must do list for a visit to the Blue Mountains.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Gingerbread House
56 Lurline Street (Cnr Lurline & Waratah Streets),
Katoomba NSW
Phone: (02) 4784 2031
Prices: $-$$
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Get Directions

Centennial Parklands is the meeting place of any inner-Sydney or Eastern suburbs localite who crave open spaces but are not afforded one with the cramped city lifestyle. Fortunately for them (and the rest of Sydney-siders) they have got it right when thinking about what families need. There are two parts to the dining options, and on a chilly Sunday morning we chose the more casual affair at the Centennial Parklands Kiosk.

Centennial Parklands Kiosk - #kid-friendly #cafes - #Centennial Park, #Sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com — *Outside the Centennial Parklands Kiosk, Photo by Katia Barker*

The Centennial Parklands Kiosk offers a grab and go style affair with a standard cafe menu, yet tailors to a more delectable pallet with gourmet sandwiches and salads as well. Be prepared to wait for your coffee, but thankfully it is worth it with a hot quality brew served up. We opted for a large coffee ($4.30), toasted banana bread ($5) and a mini carrot cake ($2.60), all were fresh and tasty.

There is plenty of space to park your designer pram, bikes, scooters and other wheeled devices (no pony parking sorry!) and a good amount of tables which turn over pretty quickly. Otherwise there are ample park benches and tables nearby. The Centennial Parklands Kiosk is also located right next to the children’s playground allowing you to sip your coffee in peace whilst the children burn off some steam. A win for all!

Last Bite: Centennial Parklands Kiosk is a great starting point for a day in the park with good fresh food and quality coffee.

Highchairs: No. (There are a lot at the more formal Cafe next door)
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Not dedicated, but kids won’t starve.

Centennial Parklands Kiosk
Grand Drive,
Centennial Park NSW
Phone: (02) 9380 9350
Prices: $$$
Hours: Monday-Friday 7.00am – 4pm, Saturday – Sunday 7.00am – 5.00pm
Get Directions

baby-friendly cafe

The Gingerbread House; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Katoomba, Blue Mountains

Centennial Parklands Kiosk; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Centennial Park, Sydney