Cafe Windsor

If I’m wanting a decent conversation with my fellow mum friends, this is where we go. With fully fenced surroundings and two separate play areas — the outdoor playground with shade covering — the kids can run free while us mums can actually talk.
The food and service are both relatively good, although fairly standard fare. Of particular interest on our latest visit was an offering of a picnic plate kid’s meal for $ 3.50 — a sandwich, fruit kebab and cheese cubes. It was definitely great to see a cheaper and more well-​rounded option on the menu that standard kid meals of nuggets and chips.
Would I return here without a child? Heck no. It’s never going to be a peaceful way to spend a couple of hours with dozens of children rattling around. But Café Windsor has clearly seen a niche in the market and they have filled it well.

Places like this one are hard to find and every parent of an under 5-​year old child would probably wish more cafes of this kind existed in Auckland. On the other hand, this is probably not a café to come to if you don’t have younger kids to sip on a latte. Be warned, it can be quite loud in here!
I probably come to Café Windsor (part of the Baptist Church next door) at least twice a month with my 1 year old girl and I always end up bumping into other mothers I know from somewhere (not a lot of dads around though). In general, it’s a great place to meet and hang out with your coffee group and the little ones are catered for really well with changing tables, high chairs and a little indoor and outdoor playground.
The whole front of the building can be opened up which is fantastic in good weather. The whole area is fully fenced so escapes won’t happen. They also have a range of parenting books for sale and sometimes special events like clothes and toy markets are organised.
Oh, and try the mixed berry smoothy which is well-​priced for $ 5.50 I think.

Do you have a baby or toddler and want to meet up with a friend or your coffee group without worrying too much — to an extent course. This is the place to come, its dedicated to babies, toddlers and younger kids. It has an indoor and outdoor play area and the best thing of all is that it’s all enclosed by a fence and a gate, so toddlers can’t get out by themselves– but you still need to keep an eye as always as older kids can let them out.
So it really is the perfect place to come and hang out before or after a swim at a nearby beach maybe. They offer all the usual, cakes, muffins, sandwiches, savoury dishes, coffee and cold drinks.