Sometimes it’s hard to get a word in when you’re out at a cafe with small children, let alone being able to eat an actual meal. At Little Teapot Cafe & Play in Lara, there are three separate play areas to keep young kids busy with seating nearby for parents to eat and chat away.

Little Teapot Cafe & Play is more than just a cafe; it’s a community for families.

After a summer break, bookings will be up and running again at the end of January 2025. The first day open will be Monday 3rd Feb!

Little Teapot Cafe: Indoor and Outdoor Play

Two outdoor play areas are large and have undercover areas for shelter from the weather. A beautiful big elm tree out the back provides shade and a welcoming nature feel.

Among the fun things to do, there’s a big cubby, tunnel, chalk board, rubber tires for balancing, cars to drive on a small track, a wooden boat and various other play activities. 

The tables for dining are interspersed throughout the play equipment, so kids can easily come and go while in close range for easy supervision.

There’s also an adorable indoor playroom perfect for toddlers that’s secured with a child gate. This play area has a small train set, table with puzzles and blocks, a play kitchen and shop.

Indoor dining tables are close enough to keep an eye out, and with so many bits and pieces to explore, my toddler certainly could have stayed there all day!

If your child is into drawing, there are crayons and colouring in at every table too.

At Little Teapot Cafe & Play, children are happy, safe and very entertained. And parents can enjoy their coffee and lunch while easily supervising from their seats.

Little Teapot Cafe Menu

The kids menu is really fun! On our recent visit our kids enjoyed a colourful bubbacino, mini cupcake and chicken nuggets with smiley chips.

There are healthy items too, like sandwiches and cheese and crackers with fruit.

Meals for the grown-ups are simple, but done well. We enjoy a homemade sausage roll with salad, and a toasted chicken and avocado focaccia, with a side of onion rings. Try their tasty barista-made coffee, too. 

There’s a counter with baked treats; perfect if you’re just after some coffee and cake. We notice that various dietary requirements can be catered to as well.

The staff are very accommodating and clearly have a passion for what they’re doing.

On our recent visit they let us know upon entry that they were understaffed that day, and while yes, they were very busy, this didn’t hinder our experience at all. We didn’t wait long in line to order our food and we were very happy to have our meals arrive within 15 minutes.

Even with little kids running around, the ambiance is relaxed. We could see it was fully booked however it never felt overcrowded or stuffy.

Little Teapot Cafe & Play is a non-profit business located beside the Lifeway Christian Church in Lara and it began as a dream of the Pastor’s wife there. Sarah, a mum of three, understood the desire of new parents to have a comfortable space to gather, that was fun and safe for their families. It’s become a community cafe providing just that.

This place is full of love. Cafe profits go back into the community; there’s a volunteer program to help people learn new skills and gain work experience; new parent groups; and you can choose to pay it forward to give a coffee to another parent in need. 

This is truly a sanctuary for new parents where you can socialise and enjoy yourself.

If you’re likely to visit more than once, a membership (from $39) will get you 10% off all purchases, 5 free hot drinks, invites to member events including Girls Nights In, and that warm fuzzy feeling of giving back by supporting the various Little Teapot groups and programs.

Teapot Sessions

For extra fun, you can get social and creative with Teapot Sessions, which run twice per week during school term time.

On the undercover deck, the Teapot Family Corner hosts a range of different fun activities to entertain kids such as painting and craft activities. This is normally $5 per child and you must book a table that day.

Hot Tips for visiting Little Teapot Cafe & Play

• Little Teapot Cafe & Play is closed during the school holidays, and opens only on weekdays during term time;
• Free onsite parking, as well as heaps of street parking, is available;
• The entire cafe space is very pram friendly and there are toilets and change facilities onsite. We notice a very large stack of highchairs available;
• The play areas are best suited to preschool aged children;
• It’s very popular, so we definitely recommend you book a table beforehand.

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