Take your brood for a brew at a child-friendly cafe in Northeast Ohio.
Caffeine and carbs are the antidote to long days and sleepless nights, and when parents, babysitters, and nannies in Cleveland need to recharge, many seek refuge in the vast selection of kid-friendly coffee shops around the city.
The addictive elixir abounds at charming venues, ofttimes served by baristas who truly respect their role in your refueling ritual, alongside artisan eats that beat the pants off those factory-churned foods served at mediocre corporate cafes. The next time you need a java jolt, skip that disappointing drive-thru drip and treat yourself to a locally crafted cuppa instead.
Address: 2366 W. 11th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Friday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 216-621-3838
This quaint cafe inside a restored 19th-century building overlooks Lincoln Park, an expansive green space at the center of Tremont that’s complete with a jungle gym for your little ones to burn off steam while you enjoy a freshly steamed latte. Check out the Tremont West Development Corporation website, where you may be able to plan a visit that coincides with a cool outing to the neighborhood’s farmers market, a gallery hop, or a cultural event. Feeling hungry? Fill up on the customer favorite: warm, stuffed croissants. Have a dietary restriction? No worries! You’ll find a selection of gluten-free foods and drinks made with dairy-free milks.
Blackbird Baking Company
Address: 1391 Sloane Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 216-712-6599
You can’t help but feel energized with the electric-hued walls and an airy atmosphere at Blackbird Baking Company. You’ll experience coffee drinks crafted using the special Blackbird Blend from Rising Star Roasters then embellished with care, and hearth-baked goodies, including savory focaccia, fruit-slathered shortbreads, and gooey sticky buns, made the same day using European butter and eggs from Amish Country. The cafe is conveniently located near the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation and Emerald Necklace Marina, where you can visit playgrounds, take a scenic hike, or do some fishing.
Erie Island Coffee
Address: 19300 Detroit Road, Rocky River, OH 44116
Hours: Monday – Friday, 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 440-333-1510
Erie Island Coffee is a little slice of Zen wedged between the Heinen’s and Whole Foods supermarkets inside Beachcliff Market Square. Offering four seasons of comfort, the shop features a fireplace to chase away the chill of winter and floor-to-ceiling windows that get retracted when those long-awaited warm breezes drift in. Make a detour here during an errand-filled day for power smoothies, panini, and bagels with schmears from the Cleveland Bagel Co. A sensible snack pack for less than $5 will satisfy tiny tummies with familiar ingredients: a pair of Babybel cheese rounds, a bunch of grapes, sliced apples, and a tangerine. And while you may need to perfect your hand at latte art, you can take the cafe experience home with whole-bean or ground coffee, or single-serve pods.
Gypsy Beans & Baking Co.
Address: 6425 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 216-939-9009
There are few better places to perch for people-watching in the Gordon Square Arts District than on a window seat at Gypsy Beans & Baking Co. Locally roasted beans by Red Cedar Coffee in Berea are the base of the shop’s popular “Passport Lattes” mixed with ingredients inspired by international locales and popular U.S. destinations. The menu is composed using carefully selected products from local purveyors and Ohio farmers. House-made confections will satisfy every sweet tooth, while sandwiches and salads satiate cravings for savory fare. While you’re in the area, don’t miss an opportunity to walk across the street to the kitschy Superelectric Pinball Parlor, where you’ll find a menagerie of plastic animals and ride-on toys for toddlers to tinker with as the older set enjoys a nostalgic trip with vintage arcade equipment.
Passengers Cafe
Address: 2090 W. 25th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 216-394-0616
Rev up for an adventure at the historic West Side Market with a stop at this charming cafe, located in the lobby of the Cleveland Hostel. As you fall into a bottomless mug of hot, fresh, batch-brewed coffee sourced from specialty roasters around the world, you’ll be enveloped in the cozy space basked in light and decorated with globes and a vintage telephone booth. Weather-permitting, enjoy your beverage on the rooftop for a panoramic view of the city. A small menu includes enticing items for kids of all ages, like homemade “Pop-Tarts.” Look for family-friendly community events, including rooftop yoga, curbside live music, and the Global Table potluck dinner. Passengers Cafe is one of six coffee shops participating in the #CLECOFFEE Disloyalty Card program, which rewards guests for patronage within the Cleveland coffee community.
Phoenix Coffee
Address: Multiple locations
Hours: Hours vary by location. Click the link above for details.
Phoenix Coffee is one of Northeast Ohio’s more seasoned local roasters, in business more than 25 years. The homegrown micro chain has multiple locations around Cleveland, my favorite of which is on Bridge Avenue, less than a football field away from the birthplace of John W. Heisman. Your entire family is welcome there, too. In fact, on a typical day, it’s not uncommon to see patrons’ pets lounging on the spacious, breezy patio. In addition to small-batch coffees curated from the world over and roasted to order downtown, there’s an awesome selection of assorted teas, breakfast pastries, and vegan items. While you’re waiting for your beverage, peruse the library of vinyl records and show Junior how you got down before the digital era.
Rising Star Coffee Roasters
Address: Multiple locations
Hours: Hours vary by location. Click the link above for details.
The historic Ohio City Firehouse is home base for the charter location of Rising Star Coffee Roasters, a local franchise that has grown to six sites across the city. After enjoying a cuppa joe, take a stroll through the neighborhood to capture some exceptional selfie opportunities set against a collection of #CreativeFusionCLE murals, a perfect backdrop for a fun family photo.
Sabor Miami Cafe and Gallery
Address: 4848 Broadview Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 440-712-0404
Before embarking on a family trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, take a detour for a taste of South Beach at Sabor Miami Cafe and Gallery. It’s adorned with original artwork by Honduras-born owner and chef Mariela Paz, and will make you feel like you’ve traveled miles beyond Old Brooklyn to a tropical oasis. Paz takes her “coffee therapy” to the next level, experimenting with infusions of anti-inflammatory turmeric and Latin staples like cafe con leche and Cubano sandwiches. You can browse the boutique while enjoying your beverage for unique antiques, artwork, collectibles, and jewelry, but consider bringing distractions like toys or a tablet if you have a tot in tow. The bounty of breakables can be enticing for tiny explorers.
Six Shooter Coffee Waterloo Cafe
Address: 16201 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Phone: 216-672-1180
The bustling Waterloo Arts District is home to a budget-friendly beanery that brews its beverages using small-batch micro-roasted coffee. There’s ample seating available indoors and out for enjoying artisan beverages, including nitro iced coffee and locally brewed Bearded Buch Kombucha on tap. Nosh on a curated selection of locally made eats both savory and sweet from Poison Berry Bakery Vegan Treats, Sweet Teeth Confections Baked Goods, Cleveland Bagel Co., and Lucy’s Sweet Surrender Bakery.
Play Grounds Family Cafe
Address: 15715 Madison Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Thursday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 216-202-5110
No matter how kid-friendly the coffee shop is, there’s a certain level of decorum expected from fellow customers in a shared space. Catching shade while wrangling toddlers, nursing infants, and corralling all the accoutrements of your tiny army can quickly drain the therapeutic effects of your cuppa. Wouldn’t it be great to unwind in a place where you could truly relax? The creator of Play Grounds Family Cafe realized that beyond a good beverage, many families would benefit from building a village around their coffee shop. “The Bar” offers hot and cold drinks and serves packaged and fresh snacks adjacent to “the Fort,” where kids can read, create art, and engage in imaginative play.
