With constant tantrums and meltdowns and endless piles of laundry, the cabin fever bug is imminent. Living in a city where the weather is completely unpredictable doesn’t help matters too much, either.
As a Toledo native and mom, I have kept my eye out for great places to go when the weather isn’t ideal. Sure, there are some really great places to let your kiddo play, like Sylvania Playland or any of the libraries around us. But every so often, I just want a place where I can sit and relax and not worry too much about what my daughter is doing.
Toledo has tons of coffee shops that are extremely welcoming to families, and most of the coffee shops around here host great programs for kids.
Below are some of my absolute favorite places to go when I need a break but can’t find a last-minute sitter.
Black Kite Coffee and Pies
Address: 2499 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo, OH 43620
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Open seven days a week, Black Kite is one of the most popular local hangouts in the area.
Toledo is undergoing a massive revitalization process, and Black Kite Coffee and Pies has helped aid toward that goal by providing a safe place for friends and family to spend quality time. Families can enjoy several different events, such as writing workshops and family storytimes.
If you’re a family of early birds, I recommend heading over there at 9:30 a.m. for storytime. While your little ones enjoy a fun storytime program, you can fuel up for a long day of “mom-ing” with a nice cup of coffee.
Glass City Roasters
Address: 1240 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH 43612
Hours: Monday, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Glass City Roasters is one of my personal favorites in terms of family-friendly coffee shops. Although they’re only open Monday and Saturday, their beverages make it worth the wait.
Glass City Roasters offers a family storytime program at 11:30 a.m. and provides an excellent, comfortable space to relax and enjoy a coffee brew. I recommend the iced smokey bourbon caramel vanilla latte.
Plate 21
Address: 3664 Rugby Drive, Toledo, OH 43614
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Plate 21 is open seven days a week and hosts several different community events throughout the week.
I recommend coming here at 2 p.m. on Saturdays so your munchkins can hang out while you enjoy some coffee and yummy treats with other mom friends.
Plate 21 also offers open mic nights and live music.
Kathy’s Confections
Address: 2746 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH 43613
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kathy’s Confections offers a slew of sweet treats and coffee.
On Saturdays, Kathy’s Confections hosts a storytime program at 10 a.m. followed by a children’s music circle. Each week features a different storyteller, ranging from teachers and dentists to local politicians.
Run by Rob Bane, the music circle is meant to help kids develop an early appreciation of music by singing interactive songs together.
Both the storytime and music circle programs are open to children of all ages.
BREW Coffee Bar
Address: 2903 Dorr St., Toledo, OH 43607
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
BREW is open pretty late, which is a major plus for me.
As a freelance writer and blogger, I can only get work done while my daughter is sleeping. That means a lot of late nights. So, having a place to get a good coffee buzz other than my closest gas station is a godsend.
BREW offers live music and holds an open mic every Wednesday.
This cafe is very family-friendly. In fact, you can usually find a group of moms and their little ones meeting for a play date.
