THE CAFE HAS CLOSED DOWN
It’s not often you find a relaxed child friendly cafe that’s just as inviting for parents as it is for children but the Watercolour Arts & Play Cafe in Henley-On-Thames ticks all the boxes.
The Watercolour Arts & Play cafe would be the perfect place to meet friends with babies and toddlers. It has a wonderfully grown up feel just as you enter with decor I’d love in my own house! Set up by Esther Payne, a local Henley mum of 5 children, she’s created the perfect place to meet and socialise with young children and actually feel relaxed. I don’t know about you but I often feel frazzled by the end of a trip to a cafe trying to keep fidgety kids in their seats!
Sumptious velvet sofas and low tables with accessible toys and light streaming through the front windows mean you could easily tuck yourself away in this corner for a good old chat. In fact I’d be quite happy to chill out here without kids in tow!
There are also bistro style tables and each has a black board on the walk and chalks for kids who’d like a little scribble while keeping close to you.
However, as I was out and about exploring with my little one, it was the the small soft play area that was the big draw for us. Tables run down the side of the cafe and then they have a created a lovely area at the far end with wooden houses to explore and plenty of toys.
The small size means it’s easy to see your child if they’ll let you stay seated while you enjoy a coffee. There are two little wooden forts to explore which are ideally suited to toddlers and crawlers, with slides and tunnels and a window to peak out of. There’s a small charge of £2.60 for children to use the play area.
Little ones will love the mini ball pit and there are sensory boards around the walls too. Dotted around are the most gorgeous wooden toys to explore. My son was very taken with the little ice cream stall as well as an IKEA kitchen.
While your little one is playing you can enjoy a proper coffee, not like the ones you’d usually get at a soft play and there are lots of treats as well as lunch too. I enjoyed having a proper big pot of tea and my son wolfed down his animal pancakes. The animal pancakes come with a wide range of toppings from fruit to Nutella. I usually make crepes so this was his first time having thicker pancakes and he said they were the best ever.
I wouldn’t usually include a photo of the toilets in a review but even the little child friendly details have been thought through here too. There’s a little toilet next to the adult one and an accessible low sink too for independent kids.
The Watercolour Arts & Play cafe also run regular classes. There are toddler classes for 15 months to 4 years where you stay to supervise and after school classes for 4 to 8 year olds where you can relax with a coffee while they get stuck in. Classes vary from arts & crafts to sensory music and dance.
There’s no parking at the cafe but there is a pay and display only a couple of minutes walk away which is 60p for 1 hour and £1.20 for 2 hours. I’d also recommend booking at table in advance so you’re not disappointed. They have an easy online booking system where you can select your time and how long you want to stay for.
Henley on Thames is a wonderful place to explore with kids with the River & Rowing Museum, walks along the Thames, a great play park at Mill Meadow and now the perfect place to go for lunch or a treat.
