Here the children forget their parents
MADRID
1. CUPS & KIDS _(Alameda, 16) _
"Don't worry, dad, they can touch everything here." That is one of the messages transmitted to us by Cups & Kids, a charming cafe located behind the Caixa Forum, in the middle of Neighborhood of the letters . An enormous urban mural of Vireta welcomes us as soon as we enter. The wooden houses with cushions are the cutest . A couple of iPads play the latest song from the sing-alongs, while a carpeted area full of toys is every child's dream.
With a design that evokes a New York loft , the atmosphere that we find in this place is modern and welcoming. Children soon forget about their parents to do what they like best: play. They also have a patio with Nordic decoration to enjoy in good weather and an irresistible offer of homemade cakes and cookies. They all look so good that you don't know which one to choose. The catering is in charge of La Mojigata and all the products are ecological and natural. The little ones also have a choice: smoothies, yogurts, baby food or even follow-on milk . Cups & Kids is also a multi-space where they organize free concerts, storytelling, art workshops and reading sessions.
games that make friends
two. LITTLE KINGDOM _(Paseo de las Acacias, 67) _
Another place designed for all members of the family to enjoy a good afternoon of leisure is Little Kingdom. If there is something that drives children crazy, it is ball parks . And in this cafeteria there is, and in a big way. It is a multi-storey medieval ball castle full of labyrinths where children have fun doing gymkhanas and messing around. But not only that. In this cafe there is also a large mural on the wall in the shape of a cloud where they can paint and capture all their art, as well as a play area with slides and seesaws.
Costumes, face painting, workshops, crafts and many toys are other incentives so that the little ones in the house never want to leave here. And for parents, a spacious room with comfortable armchairs and plenty of natural light offers a haven of peace. where to have an exquisite coffee or read a book without much concern.
A paradise for the little ones (and for the parents)
3. BABY DELI _(Alcalá, 91) _
Four enterprising mothers gave birth in 2008 to a business that has become a phenomenon in cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. We are talking about Baby Deli. With the motto “Good for your children, good for the world”, This three-dimensional space is at the same time a shop, a course workshop and a cafeteria. Upon entering, the site hooks. Its decoration is very careful. We love the little wooden train that greets us at the door, its huge blackboards announcing the schedules of the workshops and the framed alphabet cards that decorate the wall.
At Baby Deli we can buy organic purees, educational games, stories and cotton clothes (also organic). And of course, have a good coffee. Its cafeteria offers delicious breakfasts and snacks while children spend time playing with all the toys and books prepared for them. A magical place where the whole family is welcome.
Organic games and purees
BARCELONA
Four. IN CONTACTCACAU _(London, 70) _
There are places that are made with adults in mind first and then adding a space for children. In Contacacau it happens the other way around. Here the children have been thought of first and then the parents. Mónica Borrás, mother of a small child, launched this new Family Concept Store almost a year ago, causing a furor in Barcelona. It is a local of 150 square meters where fashion meets restoration and where the 'tribes of mothers' who need a place to chat quietly they can do it while their children enjoy.
Contacacau, whose name comes from a character in a story, brings together under one roof a children's clothing store, a play area with blackboards, books, toys and workshops; Y a gastronomic space with seasonal Catalan food and kilometer zero . They offer rich breakfasts and snacks with a wide variety of sweets and a children's menu.
A place for 'tribes of mothers
5. PUDDING _(Pau Claris 90) _
Talking about the Pudding cafeteria in Barcelona is synonymous with creativity. Visiting this ‘Teen´s Coffee Place’ is like enter a contemporary fairy tale full of velvety armchairs where they serve aromatic coffees, authentic French croissants and natural products. The entire space is designed for let the imagination of children (and not so children) fly and encourage their creativity.
Here the kids can watch projections, experiment with the iPad, paint on a giant blackboard or enjoy a children's reading area. Another very innovative service offered by this cafeteria for the busiest parents is the possibility of taking the children to school after breakfast. “ The creative adult is the child who has survived ”, recalls the American writer Ursula K. LeGuin. Here the grown-ups can become children again.
Imagination to the power
6. PAPAS & THE MAMAS _(Rambla Poblenou, 129) _
Another family-oriented coffee shop is Papas & The Mamas. His name is his best presentation (and has nothing to do with the musical group of the 60). Spacious, bright and very pleasant, this totally diaphanous wooden premises offers a world of illusion and games for the little ones in the house. Here the parents will not have to balance between the tables to move with the cart . There is room to spare.
Their menu is one of the best: they offer fresh and very healthy products, 100% kids friendly. They even have ecological sweets! The kitchen area is open, so that we can see how they prepare the food at the moment behind some glass. Everything is very eco, very bio and very natural . The pastries are made with organic flour at the nearby Xacolata pastry shop. In addition to being a cafeteria, this multi-space is a organic products and toys store . Everything very well placed in its place.
A 100% kids-friendly cafe
VALENCIA
7. MY LITTLE REPUBLIC _(Cirilo Amorós, 76) _
With a chic decoration, My Little Republic is one of the favorite cafeterias for Valencian families. Here the children are the protagonists, not the company. A nice place with Parisian details that avoids ball parks and fast food (preferred by children) to offer a pleasant and very cool environment. Its vintage furniture is reminiscent of a doll's house.
Children have an exhibitor with cloth fruits and vegetables and a selection of stories to let their imagination fly. As they dance, jump, paint and experiment, parents can order a coffee with sponge cake or homemade carrot or pumpkin cake. They also organize cooking courses and workshops for parents and children and have a small fashion showroom and educational toys. Skateboards are what kids like the most.
Children's little Paris
8. THE WOLF IS COMING! _(Scratch, 26) _
The wolf is coming! With this original name, this family friendly place was born. It is as if we entered the story of little red riding hood. Its cafeteria-restaurant service is "Grandma's kitchen" , its reading and Wi-Fi area is "Wi-fi wolf", the library is known as "Loboteca" and the children's playroom is "Auuu-las". Its walls are covered in murals and its tables are actually reused pallets.
Located ten minutes from the Turia River Gardens, this cafeteria-workshop is very spacious. In its 350 square meters the little ones roam freely while the parents chat while having an appetizer. And most importantly: here children not only play, but also learn. Music, literature and the plastic arts play a fundamental role in all the workshops that are organized. And another detail: this place is multigenerational and invites the whole family (especially grandparents) to be part of the fun.
When playing is learning
VIGO
9. THE MONA CHITA _(Velazquez Moreno, 5) _
Paula, Patricia and Ana are three Galician designers who have returned to their childhood with their project La Mona Chita. Inspired by places for children in the main European capitals, these three friends have recreated a cafeteria with a toy library where there is no room for boredom. As soon as you enter you feel the positive energy that the little ones give off.
The place has two floors. The one upstairs is quieter, while downstairs is the real revolution, the great game for the little ones. All the walls are carefully decorated with cheerful vinyl, children's motifs and lifelong games . This place is fantastic. Each of its corners invites you to not stop playing. And the good thing is that children obey. They also organize cooking and craft workshops for all ages.
A designer café-playroom
OVIEDO
10. MINANU COFFEE _(Francisco Bances Candamo, 25) _
Minanú Café is a cafeteria where children will find custom-made furniture, kitchenettes to play in and a blackboard wall to draw with chalk. With a decoration where blue and green are the colors that rule , this café is a good place in Oviedo where the children's snack will become a great game.
Here they understand them and everything is designed for them. Although also for parents, who will not have to worry about where to leave the baby stroller or if the children get bored. **The menu is full of healthy and organic food (also for celiacs) **. In one corner, there is a small store selling baby items, such as shoes and toys. All very cute.
An eco cafe for kids