Cafe au Play
5633 SE Division St, Portland, OR, 97206
Cafe au Play Menu
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Address :
5633 SE Division St
Portland, OR, 97206 - Phone
- Website https://www.cafeauplay.org
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 5:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
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L. C.
It's a great space with ample stuff for kiddos to do. The food and coffee are excellent. It is a great place to meet up with friends and actually have time to talk. They have a great train table and sandbox. There are also toys and trikes. My only complaint is the staff is super grumpy. Every single person I've met up with says that the baristas seem like they don't like kids. I concur.
(4)Kelly W.
This place was a complete zoo, horribly understaffed and overpriced. For $5.50 I got a bagel with butter and an 8 ounce latte. I get that it's a training program but there really should be better management. Non-profits are run more like regular businesses nowadays. Shouldn't cafe au play catch up? It took 25 minutes for me to get my bagel. There were two ppl working the bar and at least 50 ppl inside and outside. It was a little dirty as well. I went to meet a friend who is a mom to a four year old and a 3 month old. I would never come here unless I was meeting a friend with kids.
(2)Annie T.
I visited today with my almost-one year old and a friend with a baby the same age. I had high hopes based on the reviews, but after further reading I see most of them are from several years ago when this place was probably awesome. You guys... it was like The Island of Misfit Toys, really, really sad. The train set had about 3 little cars, and was so incredibly dirty. The toy bins are all filled with random, assorted pieces of toys that should be organized together (example: Mr. Potato Head's smile, a train that doesn't fit in the track, a gross Teddy Bear...). Almost every table, and several chairs, had abandoned beverages on them. The floor was covered in food pieces and bits of trash, not so great for a crawler. They need a fence between the parking lot, Division and the outside play area. Obviously parents are watching their kids, but this just seemed negligent for a "kid-friendly" establishment. The playhouse was filled with sand and just felt like an old, abandoned beach house. We had fun with the tricycles outside, but the gravel and cobblestone make it pretty difficult to get around. They had a great book selection and my daughter loved the "sensory" type board under the cash registers. It was obvious that this place was once pretty cool, but it is in really bad shape. I think they should focus on the big aspects (sand box, tricycles, play house, train table) and get rid of all the little, icky toys. There was a box labeled "dirty toys" and I was tempted to just put everything in it. The sandbox was super popular with ages 3 and up. I think kids that can play with an imagination would probably have a lot of fun here. For toddlers, not so much. This was my first "play cafe" experience, and I've heard most of them charge admission. After this experience, I would gladly pay a few bucks for a cleaner environment and better quality toys. And I'm not going to get into the barista experience since I understand it is a training program... Keep practicing ladies.
(2)Lindsey M.
This was my first visit to this place because honestly everything is shutting down for the holiday and I was cooped up in the house with my daughter. It's over in SE which is a little drive but I was interested in the performer and thought my daughter would like it. The place is cute and the menu is good. Coffee was meh but lots of toys to play with although I'd steer clear of any stuffed animals because those were nasty. The outdoor area is neat with a little house, multiple tricycles and a sizable area to play. I like that there seem to be many events here and that they are free. Bottom line I think I might return if it were closer. There are more and more playdate kind of places opening up but this place is free which is an added bonus. Worth a trip if you're on the Eastside.
(3)Maret S.
This is my favorite kid's cafe in Portland. They often have great performers for the kids, the play space is engaging and varied, and their food is pretty great too. I love the outdoor sandbox area with a cute little playhouse and to the side of the cafe is a garden where they grow some of the veggies they use inside. One of the employees was gardening when my kid ran up. She talked to him about the plants and let him pick a cherry tomato to eat. My ONLY complaint is that it's on a busy, busy road and it's not fenced. I can't relax, worried at any moment my child will dart into traffic.
(4)Pedro C.
This place is essentially a preschool that serves decent food and espresso. If you add beer on tap I might be here a lot. My 2.5 year old says 5 stars. I say 4 slowish service and no beer.
(4)Annie B.
I'm at this place so often that it might as well be my living room. It is an amazing resource for families in the community because it is a place to go where your kids can play and you can meet others without worrying about disturbing people. The coffee is great, food has lots of great options and every morning there is entertainment. Yes , it gets crowded so don't go between 9:30-12pm if your kids or you get overwhelmed by that. Cafe au Play also provides a service to the community by providing job skills training for teens and others that want it at no cost.
(5)Jasmin S.
Love this place great for small children. My younger child loves the sandbox and out door toys. My older child enjoyed the entertainment. What a great space for kids to play while moms can just drink coffee and socialize without having to worry too much about the child breaking stuff or hurting themselves.
(5)Elizabeth F.
A good cafe with a no-fee indoor and outdoor kids play space. We stayed outside near the sandbox and playhouse, but glimpsed a train table, books and toys on the way in. The kids ordered a yogurt and granola parfait, a Nutella and banana on wheat bread and a chocolate milk and I got a white mocha. Service was laid back and friendly. Kept my three year old entertained much longer than my five year old. I am glad that places like this exist.
(4)sarah y.
Most indoor play places require an average $5 admission fee. However this is not the case at Café au play! Small, but cozy play area for kids paired with great food choices and coffee that aren't overpriced AND... actually taste good! What a concept ;) Friendly staff, including volunteer baristas are quick and so accommodating. There is a daily "performance" such as a musician or story time clowns. Can't wait to spend more time here as the rainy weather approaches.
(5)Morgan S.
I really liked the atmosphere at Cafe au Play when I visited with my one-year-old last week - and my latte was pretty tasty! I was a little disappointed at how grimy all of the toys were. I get that there is a whole sandbox thing going on outside and that the kids track dirt in, but the toys didn't look like they'd been wiped down in ages. Also, there were some broken toys out in the sandbox (another mom removed them and took them inside). They have a train table, the aforementioned sandbox and many other toys. My son seemed to have fun while we were there and we will certainly go back! If the toys weren't kinda gross, I'd give it 5 stars. :) (Oh, they do accept debit/credit cards but there's a 50 cent service fee if your order is under $5, which I TOTALLY understand for a small business. I just thought I'd warn you so you can be prepared!)
(4)John C.
Terrible if your not a woman with kids don't go. They want a certain clientele and refuse service to all others. My sister and I went here 6 times. they made excuses and refused to serve us every time. I give up.
(1)Devin M.
This coffee shop is right up the road from my house and lately I've been walking my 1 year old daughter here on weekends. The coffee is good, I haven't yet tried the food but I've heard good things. The indoor play area keeps my daughters attention and we've even come in when they have had some live music performances which was pretty awesome. They also have a beautiful, large outdoor patio and a pretty large outdoor play are as well with a sandbox and play house. I would give this place 4 stars based on the longer then usual wait time it takes to get orders out but the fact that they are a nonprofit and have some barista training programs and host events for the high school kids in the area merits the 5 stars. Way to contribute to our community guys!
(5)Serena V.
NOT GOOD! I went at 10 AM and they were out of coffee so I got the bottom of the barrel, and only half a cup filled but charged full price. The barista said "..well, I can, like, put on another pot if you want me to..." (huh!?) Everything seemed unclean and chaotic. I will not go there again.
(1)Josh R.
Amazing place for kids. Good food, good coffee, a train table, great events. We sometimes spend half the day here!
(5)Stephanie A.
The food was good; just a little pricy in my opinion for what it was. The environment was nice if you want to meet up for coffee or breakfast but need to bring the kids. My two-year old enjoyed it. The toys were kind of old and worn though, and the place was extremely packed during the music shows we've been to.
(3)J E.
Great place for kids to play and hang out, solid coffee and food, and I appreciate their mission as a not-for-profit.
(5)Melody J.
Cafe Au Play is a gem! They are passionate about supporting their community. Daytime is great for families, afternoons seem to slow down if you're looking for a nice place to go with free wifi, and now they are beginning evening hours on Thursdays and Fridays with events. It's a superb place to get together with friends and enjoy some excellent food and drinks. I love the atmosphere and their overall ambitions! Thank you for your commitment to the community!!
(5)Nicole M.
This is one of the greatest resources for families to get involved with their kids. I come here with my daughter almost every Wednesday for the 0-5 art class. We also come here for song time on Fridays. The place has toys for kids to play with, kiddy tables, a sand box in the back patio. The food is reasonably priced and fine for a snack. It so impressive is place is run by volunteers! The patio is lovely and they are always working on making this place better for families. Only thing is, it can get very crowded! I plan on taking my daughter here until she starts preschool, and donating some $$$ once a month to help keep this place going!
(5)Jen D.
Cafe Au Play is a great little coffee shop geared towards kids. As a parent of two, I'm always so thankful for other genius parents who make my life as a mom a little easier. The cafe is packed with toys, trains and books. They offer kid friendly and parent friendly foods alike with healthy and gluten-free options. They also have a community board that offers special craft days and kids music events. This place does get pretty packed out on a Saturday afternoon, but if you show up when they open, you can definitely enjoy some quiet coffee and play time.
(4)Andrea F.
It's all volunteer and basically a work study for high school kids. I love the concept of giving moms and kids a place to hang out while teaching older kids some job skills but if you think your going to get your food or drink in a timely manor you are wrong. I go here when I want to have a mocha and chat with girlfriends that don't have kids, so my son is entertained.
(3)Emee P.
A lovely site for coffee and a play date for little ones. A bit cramped in bad weather, but spring-summer-fall access to the extensive outdoor area and cafe patio is great.
(5)John H.
My boys had the Monte Cristo, it came with a salad. They enjoyed both. There was live entertainment for the kids and the performers were great. The coffee was good, service was excellent, and the prices very reasonable. Definitely a hit!
(5)Casey R.
Cafe au Play is what Portland is all about. It's a nonprofit organization whose goal is to open a coffeehouse with play areas for children and activities for children, caregivers, and the community. The place embodies community spirit, and has several partners who donate time and money to make it a great place for parents to get together, have coffee, and make new friends. Not only that, there's a great open atmosphere with a play area for the kiddos. Definitely worth checking out. Right now, their food menu is a little lacking, but they plan on adding to it soon.
(4)Jenny K.
I love the concept of a community coffeehouse for families with children. It has a great kids play area with a pretty nice selection of books. When we went during the week day, there were only about 3-4 families there at any given time. On Saturday, the play area was busy with 8-9 kids. My daughters love going there, and I can enjoy conversations with adults while the kids are busy playing with other children. Their pastry selection is not so great, but since they just opened in the last month or so, they are probably still figuring things out.
(4)G C.
I like this place a lot...great food, good for my kid. However, I wish they had a half door up going into their kitchen. I probably won't care in a few months, but my son (14 months) wants to explore everything, especially places he can't. I am continually trying to redirect him b/c he can not understand why he can not go in their kitchen. This does not allow me to ever relax... Not that parents ever truly relax, but it would help and be much more pleasant if they found a solution to this.
(4)Lizzy B.
love this place and so do the kiddos, there are tons of toys and the food selection is awesome.
(5)Mary G.
We had a friend's baby shower here a little while back, and I loved this place. The atmosphere is great, the coffee is wonderful. Lots of fun toys for kids to play with, super clean. Would visit again for sure!
(5)Emily H.
I have to give Cafe Au Play five stars because it saved my life while I was in school. I could bring my computer and get my homework done, while my 3-year-old was kept busy by all the toys, books, and other kids. It is very clean for a kid-friendly cafe, and the coffee is so tasty. They also have an awesome outdoor patio with a sandbox for the kids to play in. This is my favorite place to take my kid when I need to get stuff done or when I want to relax and gab with fellow moms. They also have tasty vegetarian options, which is always a plus!
(5)Jennie H.
I wish I had a place like this near me in Hawaii. We met a friend here last month while visiting from the islands, and I LOVED that my friend and I sat talking and drinking coffee (and eating bagels) for 2.5 HOURS while our 3 year old boys (who are normally ridiculously high strung) played like champs! It was incredible. In fact, since all the kids are doing what they want--playing--the noise level was quite low! It was fantastic.
(4)Lisa T.
Ellis and I made our first trip to Cafe au Play this morning. We arrived at around 9:30 and there were two dads with boys besides us and we played happily for about half an hour. Then the clock hit ten. By 10:15 there were easily ten moms, fifteen children and stollers, strollers, strollers. I think this really goes to show how much kid-friendly coffee shops/other establishments are needed because there wasn't an inch of space to be had. All this stimulation proved too much for Elli and so we had to leave a little earlier than planned. None of this was Cafe au Play's fault. But the experience was largely uncomfortable and stressful (for Elli mostly) once the hordes hit. The coffee was okay, nothing to write home about and a little on the expensive side, but I tend to be more forgiving since they are community run. The pastry was excellent, but again on the spendy side at 3.50. I competely recommend coming because the play area is really nice and there are lots of books, but choose your time wisely. Right around preschool drop off, not a good time. If you stop by au Play and it is too crowded, I would recommend heading over to Belmont to Taborspace. It isn't far away, they also have a kids area and the coffee is better.
(3)Diane W.
I have two children under 5 and am always searching for new places to hang out with kids, so when a coffee shop catering to small kids and parents opened I was stoked. This is community run, serves organic Nova Bossa, has a better kids play area than almost any other coffee shops ( haven't tried Taborspace yet), has weekly puppet shows, and other events, and a nice patio. Breakfast sandwiches aren't bad either. This really isn't a place to get a quick cup of coffee since there is usually only one or two Baristas working and they get busy. The indoor space can get quite crowded mid morning on the weekdays especially during teeny tiny theater. Parking lot is small also. I do love that on nice days I can walk there and that the cafe is located across from Clinton park/Franklin /Atkinson so it makes for a nice treat after playing at the park.
(4)Amy C.
Not just for kids! The coffee, Stumptown, is excellent as are the pastries, salads, and paninis. (The Waldorf salad is one of my favorites.) Check out the newly covered back yard. There is a lot more room now to stretch out. The gardens around the building are beautiful.
(5)Heather B.
A fun place when the weather is nice but very crowded. Not much fun on the average cool Oregon day. Way small! Coffee isn"t great, staff is not overly friendly and act as if customers interrupt their day.
(2)Brad C.
Interesting concept of coffee shop with emphasis on landscaped outdoor space and totally kid friendly. Inside is small but lots of toys for the young ones.
(3)Unicorn B.
I think these place definitely deserves at least 4 stars if only for the positive community vibe you get when you go here. I've encountered nothing but friendly parents and children who are happy to have a place to go to have fun. Yes, the counter staff seems pretty consistently overwhelmed and behind, but I just relax and enjoy my child being welcomed and occupied for the whole 5 minutes it takes for the homemade kid-friendly snack to materialize. There may be better coffee shops, but I don't know that I've found a better family friendly cafe. The outdoor landscaping is fun and lovely. The sandbox design and spaces for adults is awesome. The table seating indoors and out makes it easy to supervise while enjoying your drink. Good times
(4)James C.
Awesome places to take the kids and have a snack lots of toys, very clean and definitely orientated towards keeping the little guys happy whilst you enjoy a relaxing beverage, it can get a little speedy though
(4)Giggly C.
Cute but small play area. like how the tables are surrounding the play area though, so kids can play and adults can sit and enjoy food. Apple cider wad terrible, but I don't drink coffee so choices were limited.
(4)Justin N.
This place has a lot of potential, but there are a few things I hold against it. First, let's be positive: 1) nice atmosphere: small, but comfortable. There are about 20 places to sit inside. With kids (and bags), perhaps 10 or so could sit. The decor is nice and the colors are warm. 2) good coffee. Quite good, in fact (well, I drink lattes, so I am not sure about the "coffee" per se. 3) The place is nice to bring kids. There are books and toys inside and a nice place to play outside with sand boxes, etc. along with extra chairs if the weather is nice. THE CONS: 1) the employee(s) is/are rude. Ok., I don't know all of them. Let me say this one. On October 8th, 2011 (Saturday), I was there in the morning until about 1pm. There were two employees and a manager. The older/taller/male employee was quite rude. When a customer asked him a question he stopped her, smirked, and then said, "I will get to you when I am done doing three other things". Over 5 minutes later (not an exaggeration) he then said, "ok, what did you want?" I don't think he was vicious in his rudeness, I think it was quite "natural". He seemed a bit annoyed by the people and his job. This was confirmed when he later went up to his manager and said, "I was wondering if I could go home." When she said, "no", he persisted and said he was hungry. Dude: might I note that this is likely the reason why you can only get jobs in coffee shops, and if I was the manager I would fire you immediately. What on earth. So, she let him go, but she was obviously perturbed by him. I would be too, and was, and so were a few other customers. I watched it all from the comfort of their very nice couch. So, recommendation #1: find better employees. The other guy (younger with long hair) was nice, but I was concerned with his food preparation combined with his long hair and lack of any typical cleanliness traits. I didn't see him wash his hands before and after his food preparation, his hair was down and didn't look as if it had been washed recently, and when I was eating my food I was concerned that I might find hair in it. 2) The food was "ok". I had a sesame bagel sandwich. It was sort of bland if you ask me. I was hungry, so that likely made up for it being worse than it actually was. Seemed like it may have needed something else. Just "ok". But, like I said, the coffee was good. IN SUMMARY: I would like to see this place survive and thrive, but the employee thing needs to be taken care of. Employees that piss customers off can ruin a business. A job is a privilege, not a right. If the employees don't act as if they are privileged by working here, they should promptly be fired.
(3)