Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co

Address 
329 Princes St, Dunedin 9016

Opening hours
Monday-Friday : 7.00am-4.30pm
Weekends: 8.00am-5.00pm

Website
http://www.vanguardcoffee.co.nz/

Accessibility 
Paid parking outside cafe and in surrounding areas
Accessible with a pushchair

Features  
Highchairs
Toys basket 
No change table

Cost
Coffee - $4
Cold drip coffee - $5

Hot chocolate - $4.5

Fluffy $1.50
Milk options - Organic milk, Soy extra 50c 

Near by activities 
Chipmunks
Street Art Trail

Review 


Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co is situated on Princes St just up from the exchange. Paid parking is available outside the café as well as in the nearby streets. It’s accessible with a pushchair and has plenty of space.

There is adequate seating situated around the café with the counter centrally placed.


Vanguard is very popular among local workers popping in to grab their caffeine fix or just making any excuse to have a "meeting" in the relaxed and spacious cafe. However, don't let this put you off visiting as this café also caters for children, with a couple of free standing highchairs and a toy basket in one of the corners, ideal to keep the kids entertained.

Vanguard is a Dunedin based specialty coffee company that prides itself on sourcing their coffee from small scale farmers in Columbia or obtaining their coffee from fair trade importers.

Their delicious cabinet and menu food is made with locally sourced produce, organic milk and free range products.

Their coffee beans are available for purchase online or in store and can be ground to your preference. The friendly service and awesome coffee made for an enjoyable café experience with the little ones in tow. Definitely one to add to the list
                    

Master Benji downing his Fluffy.

SO many delicious treats.

Plaza Cafe

  

Address 
University Plaza Building, Anzac Ave, Dunedin 9016

Opening hours
Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm


Website
https://www.facebook.com/otagoplazacafe/

Accessibility 
Paid carpark onsite
Free parking in nearby areas within short walking distance
Indoor and outdoor seating with various table size options.
Accessible with a pushchair

Features  
4x booster seat highchairs

Change table available
Fenced off indoor kids playground
Savoury and sweet cabinet food.

Cost

Coffee - $4.50 

Hot chocolate - $5   

Fluffy -$1.50

Near by activities 
University
Unipol
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Ravensbourne walking/cycling track

Logan Park

Review 

The Plaza cafe is located inside the University Plaza alongside the Forsyth Barr stadium. A spacious area that is accessible by pushchairs has ample seating options. Couches, tables and chairs are plentiful inside and out meaning you never have to worry about finding somewhere to sit with the kids.


Mainly aimed at University staff, students, and nearby workers, the cafe is often filled by patrons having meetings over coffee or students grabbing a bite to eat. However this cafe is also very family friendly and popular among those with kids. Plenty of highchairs are onsite and there is a indoor fenced playground with tables nearby. Ideal for containing the kids while you have a coffee or bite to eat. The coffee is tolerable, and the food is standard with cabinet food and menu food available.


This is the ideal cafe to visit if you are looking for somewhere which is child friendly with the added bonus of active entertainment for the kiddies to burn off some of that extra energy while you relax with a cuppa. 😉

The Kitchen Table Cafe and Bake

Address 
111 Moray Place, Dunedin

Opening hours
Monday - Saturday 8am-3:30pm
Sunday 10am-2.30pm

Accessibility 
Paid street parking or paid car park 
Outdoor and inside seating options
Accessible with a pushchair, some stairs down to lower seating level

Features  

Free standing highchair available.
Toy basket for entertainment
Breakfast and Brunch menu
Cabinet food
Gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian options
Kids menu

Cost
Coffee - $4

Hot chocolate - $4.50

Fluffy - $1

Near by activities 
Public library
Public Art gallery

Review 
We finally made it to 'The Kitchen Table Cafe and Bake'. Tucked away on Moray Place, I have often driven past this cafe and thought i'd like to try it. It was a very sunny Friday when we popped in for a visit and with the large glass street frontage it made for a warm and bright spot to dine - sun glasses were a must!

When we arrived at the cafe, although split over two levels it is pram friendly and with the helpful staff, they made it very easy to accommodate most group arrangements. From small tables, to couch areas to large spacious kitchen tables, 'The Kitchen Table Cafe and Bake' creates an easy going relaxed atmosphere.

We set ourselves up in the couch area and were provided with a toy box and high chair by the cheery welcoming staff. We downed out Common ground coffees  and delicous Fiands greedly (i will be back for more). 
Various cabinet food options as well as menu options made to order, as all food is made on the premises means they can accommodate most dietary requirements. When we headed out the door squeezing past the lunch time rush I noticed they also make Fresh juices, this will also be on my list to try next time! 

The Kitchen Table Cafe and Bake is a favourite with Dunedin and the attentiveness of staff was on point even holding the door open for us while we left with our prams! This cafe is very child friendly 👌🏻

Miss Zoe enjoying her coffee date.

AMAZING Fiands!!!!!

Blueskin Nurseries Cafe

Address 
2 Harvey St, Waitati 9085

Opening hours
Monday - Friday 8.30am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday 8.30am-4.30pm

Website http://www.blueskinnurseries.co.nz/

Accessibility 
Free parking in car park 
Outdoor and inside seating options
Accessible with a pushchair

Features  

Free standing highchair available.
Magazines to read
Breakfast and lunch menu
Gluten free and dairy free options
Kids menu

Cost
Coffee - Small $4.50 Large $5

Hot chocolate Small $4 Large $5     

Fluffy - $1.90
Kids Hot Chocolate - $4

Near by activities 
Blueskin nursery
Estuary and Opeki coastal walk
Doctors Point Beach
Blueskin Lagoon
Warrington beach
Orokonui Ecosanctuary

Review 
Mid week we stopped in at the Blueskin Cafe which is found inside the Blueskin Nurseries in Waitati. The Blueskin Nursery has a reputation for quality plants and trees and they pride themselves on sustainabiltity. The cafe has a large outdoor seating area which flows onto the garden centre. This can be accessed with a pushchair if necessary -Master Benji decided to fall asleep minutes before we arrived so we popped him into the pushchair while Miss Tilly enjoyed walking through the plants to the cafe.

Miss Tilly enjoying her fluffy.

Upon arriving at the cafe with the kiddies, the cafe had an easy going atmosphere and the staff were welcoming. All the food is made onsite with fresh produce they grow themselves or source from local suppliers. Breakfast and Lunch menus are available in addition to cabinet food. 
(Catering is also available for those special occasions).
We enjoyed our well deserved organic Koha Bean coffees after a long night trying to get the kiddies to sleep in the Dunedin heat!
To complete our coffee date the kids loved strolling around the garden centre looking at all the plants and garden ornaments.

The Blueskin cafe definitely ticked the boxes for child friendliness. Just a 20 minute drive from town this would be perfect for the next family outing. With numerous walks nearby, this garden centre/cafe combination is an ideal destination.

Master Benji enjoying the garden.

Plato Cafe

Address 
2 Birch Street, Dunedin 

Opening hours
Lunch Wednesday-Saturday 12pm-2pm
Dinner Monday- Sunday 6pm-Late
Brunch Sunday 11- 2pm

Website http://www.platocafe.co.nz/

Accessibility 
Free parking outside and surrounding areas. 
Limited street parking during work hours. 

Features  

Free standing highchair available.
Accessible with a pushchair (no stairs).
No change table in toilets but plenty of space.

Toys on request.

Dinner, Lunch and Brunch menu. 
Cheese on toast and other options available for kids on request.

Cost

Coffee - $4

Hot Chocolate $4.50      

Fluffy - FREE

Near by activities 
Toitu Early Settlers Muesum
Chinese Gardens
Farmers Market on Saturdays 

Review 

Sick of the rain and wanting a change of scenery we decided to check out Plato cafe and see what they had to offer. Located on Birch St on the harbour front away from the hustle and bustle of town, Plato cafe has a fun and relaxed atmosphere with its cheery, quirky decor. 

Upon arriving we were greeted by a friendly waitress who was very accomodating and assisted with a highchair and some books and toys for master Benji.
With an emphasis on seafood they have a dinner, lunch and brunch menus as well as their own beer "Birch St Brewery". 

Master Benji enjoying the books & toys

We enjoyed our Common Ground coffees and superb lunches. The price of lunches was on the more expensive side but you definitely got value for your money. They use fresh ingredients and try to source local ingredients.

Plato has a bright and peppy atmosphere created by its cheerful staff, collection of outlandish decor which made for a lovely place for lunch on a wet Dunedin day.

We would definitely recommend checking out Plato cafe whether it be for a coffee, lunch with the kids or a nice romantic dinner ;) 

Portobello Mushrooms

Seafood Chowder