Baby & Toddler Friendly Cafes

When I first began to venture out in public with Freya I remember panicking; what if she cries/pukes/has a poonami? If I had listened to that little voice in my head I’d never have left the house. The truth is that it can be unpredictable, and it’s inevitable that one day your plans for a lovely afternoon will be thwarted by the chef’s decision to (shock horror!) grate rather than slice the cheese on your little one’s toastie.

Stepping into a café which does more than just tolerate mini customers, but rather actively embraces them, is a breath of fresh air. Never underestimate how welcome a friendly waiter appearing with crayons can be, or a toy basket brimming with undiscovered treasure. There’s nothing nicer than staff taking the initiative to hurry along your kids meal, or provide a cool plate for molten macaroni.

GALLERY

These days I’m pretty confident taking Freya anywhere, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of factors to consider. Time and time again I’m part of conversations where parents of young children ask; where’s a good café we can go to with kids? Below is my #RhonaRecommends shortlist of the best places in Perthshire we’ve found who always go that extra mile for babies & toddlers…

Our Daily Bread Cafe, Bankfoot

On weekdays the bright, modern, Bankfoot Church centre houses this café, run by a band of volunteers. It’s increasingly popular for those with young children as customers using the café can also enjoy the rather brilliant soft play area for free! Once you’ve had your cuppa, bowl of soup or a scone you can let loose in the ball pit, clamber up through the tiers of fun and whoosh down the slides till your heart’s content. The cafe is open Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm (last orders 1.15pm) & Fridays 9-30am to 1pm (last orders 12-45pm)

The Tea Garden, Comrie Croft

This place is a favourite of Freya’s wee pal Elsie; she recommends dunking a slab of local ciabatta into the homemade soup (pumpkin & ginger on her last visit), while her mum Jemma sips on rhubarb tea served in the cutest little duck tea cosy I’ve ever seen.  There’s a Welsh dresser full of toys, an eclectic mix of furniture (everything from Chesterfield sofas to beanbags) and blankets for your knee should you choose to sit outside. On your way out you can also pick up some of their home grown produce to take home with you – think fruit, veg and beautiful local flowers.

Birnam Arts Centre Cafe>

This is a beautiful little café set in the main foyer of Birnam Arts Centre. They serve great freshly made food (with lots of gluten free options) as well as a super kids menu. Parking is right outside and there’s plenty of room for a pram as well as more private tables which are ideal for breastfeeding. There’s an interactive Beatrix Potter Exhibition, kiddies play area, outdoor garden and a brilliant gift shop which I don’t think I’ve ever managed to leave without buying a pressie for someone. It doesn’t hurt that they serve Perthshire favourite Stewart Tower ice- cream!

Loch Leven’s Larder, near Kinross>

Come rain or shine this place is always busy! We regularly visit ‘the larder’ as those in the know call it after a wee walk down at the loch. On warmer days you can sit on picnic benches outside where they also have a great kids play area.

The good reputation for their food is well deserved, and it includes plenty of healthy options for kids. The staff are great at making sure you have everything you need and are quite happy for us to rearrange the furniture to suit. Great changing facilities and lots of free parking to boot!

Glendoick Garden Centre>

We love it here. Staff can’t do enough for you when you’ve got kids in tow – they always offer to carry our tray to a table for me, and there’s plenty of places to sit including a small family area full of toys.  The Kids pick ‘n’ mx meal boxes are always a hit, and all children are offered a FREE bowl of soup, can't say fairer than that!  We’ve had lots of playdates at Glendoick over the summer thanks to their newly opened playground (read more about that here>), and on rainy days it’s the perfect place to go with a grumpy toddler on the brink of cabin fever. Many a meltdown (Freya’s and mine) has been headed off at the pass here by a game of peek-a-boo with a quick thinking waitress!

Brig Farm Shop>

Freya’s daddy works in Bridge of Earn, so Brig Farm has become a handy stop off for us to have a catch up with friends. The café is open all year round and there’s loads of room for prams, high chairs etc. There’s loads of parking and if it’s dry a wee play area with a slide just outside the café – Freya has taken to insisting on a seat which allows her a birds eye view of everyone in the café whilst also monitoring the play area and cake display (I’ve no idea where she gets that talent from!). The food is great, especially the macaroni cheese, and kids are offered colouring in sheets & crayons.

Sub Rosa, Perth>

Probably the place I recommend the most in Perth city centre, Sub Rosa is the go-to for lots of parents and babies. They have good high chairs (with trays), and lots of room for buggies without feeling like you’re getting in anyone’s way. They have a small kiddie corner with a blackboard, noughts & crosses, books and building blocks to keep toddlers entertained. 

I’m also delighted to say that they now have loyalty cards!  Everything is made fresh on the premises; the milk bread rolls are to die for, and Freya’s auntie Amanda swears they do the best soup in town!

Scone Palace Coffee Shop>

In the ‘off season’ of Nov-Mar (excluding Jan), access to Scone Palace grounds and the coffee shop is completely FREE Fri, Sat & Sun! This means you can park up, have a wander through the woods, explore the maze, burn off some energy at the brilliant playpark and then head straight to the café to warm up! We’ve been so many times over the summer I’m in real danger of Freya beginning to think Scone Palace is her gaff – she knows the halls like the back of her hand, and pulls a face if someone is sitting at ‘our’ table. 

They do kids meal boxes but if like Freya, your baby/toddler occasionally suffers from acute ‘fussy bugger syndrome’ staff are very happy to provide you with whatever you need; dry toast? A borderline unripe banana? Yep – all requests that have been met. It’s no surprise that the changing facilities are also top notch – well…it is a Palace!

Macmillan Coffee Shop, Quarrymill

This lovely café is open from April until the end of October each year Mon-Sat, and we usually combine our visit with a walk around the beautiful (buggy friendly!) woodland paths. It’s run almost entirely by volunteers, who between them manage to produce an amazing array of cakes, soups and light lunches. We went along recently with another mum & toddler and sat outside on the covered veranda where the girls tucked into leek & potato soup, before helping themselves to some cake – orange & almond being the favourite. There’s a great wee gift shop, run by Ann, and I always manage to pick up something like bulbs or tablet at the till. Maggie, who helps run the café, also told me that they’re on the look-out for new volunteers so if you know someone who could spare a few hours next year keep them in mind!

Café Culture, AK Bell Library>

Libraries used to be formidable places, but thankfully times have changed, and Perth’s AK Bell library is a cheerful and welcoming hub situated handily in the centre of the city.  What’s more, since Culture Perth and Kinross took over the delivery of our library services in 2016, AK Bell has become even more enticing.  The old library café has been modernised and transformed into the new Café Culture – a bright and airy space where you can take a break, enjoy some tempting refreshments, and even indulge in a little shopping.

The menu choices have been improved and extended, with healthy salads, fresh soups, tasty sandwiches and home-baking all on offer at reasonable prices. Bread is sourced from local artisan bakery Casella & Polegato, and the kids lunch boxes include a choice of a ham or cheese sandwich, different flavoured yoghurts, apple or orange juice, an assortment of crisps, and a piece of fruit.

Spill The Beans, Dunkeld

Upon entering this place you’re greeted by lots of happy, smiley staff and one of the biggest and best cake displays you’ll find; everything from lemon drizzle to apple & cinnamon cake or freshly baked scones. We usually sit along the wall in a little booth where Freya likes to eat her lunch before we share a slice of cake. I’m not really a coffee drinker but I do love it here. The staff all have a great sense of humour (I love the sign behind the till!) and always remember us which is lovely, they’re very happy to have families with young children pop in for a pit stop. Once you’ve fuelled up it’s also perfectly placed for a walk around Dunkeld Cathedral or down to the river. 

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