Lakeview Café at Waldecks Kingsley is a lovely, low‑key spot for families who want to combine a coffee catch‑up with a relaxed play for the kids. Tucked inside the garden centre, it has a calm, leafy feel and works just as well for a quick drink as it does for a longer morning or afternoon with friends.
The café itself offers a range of simple breakfast and lunch options, light snacks, cakes and drinks. Service is casual and friendly, and there’s a steady stream of locals, grandparents with grandkids, and mothers’ groups. Because it’s within the nursery, the atmosphere is quieter than a busy high‑street café, and there’s usually enough space to manoeuvre prams and settle little ones. You can choose to sit indoors, in the alfresco area, or down by the Playground – a favourite spot for families, as it lets adults sit and chat while the children play close by.
The dedicated play area is one of the big drawcards. The compact Playground has a small climbing structure with a slide, fireman’s pole and footbridge, all set on soft artificial turf. The ground is nicely padded, making it comfortable for crawlers and new walkers to explore.
Nearby concrete elephant statues are a huge hit with younger kids, who love climbing up and “riding” them – they’re a bit of a quirky feature that regulars will recognise.
Tables and chairs are positioned around the edge of the play space, with some umbrellas for shade, so you can park yourself within sight of the kids instead of constantly jumping up from the main café area. A few highchairs are kept down by the Playground too, which means you don’t have to drag them through from inside.
Because the play area is small and contained, it’s ideal for toddlers and preschoolers who like to do laps between eating and playing, and for parents who prefer a clear view of where everyone is. Older kids will still enjoy a run around, but the equipment is especially well suited to younger ages. Being surrounded by plants and flowers from the nursery adds to the charm – it feels more like a little garden nook than a standard café corner.
Once you’ve finished eating and the kids have had a solid play, it’s easy to wander through Waldecks itself. The garden centre often has a beautiful display of flowers and greenery outside, plus an indoor section with pots, homewares and gifts. Browsing the plants can turn the outing into more of an experience, and many families like to pick up a small plant or garden treasure while they’re there.
Lakeview Café is open daily, with slightly different hours across summer and winter, which makes it a reliable option for breakfast or a daytime catch‑up almost any day of the week. It’s a particularly good choice if you’re meeting other parents with young children and want somewhere that feels safe, contained and relaxed, without the pressure of a big, noisy play centre.
Lakeview Café, Waldecks Kingsley
Address: 173 Wanneroo Road, Kingsley, WA
Opening hours:
Summer (August – April): 8:30am – 4:00pm, 7 days a week
Winter (May – July): 9:00am – 4:00pm, 7 days a week
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Penny is a stay at home mum and photographer who homeschools her 2 children. She is a self confessed stationary nerd and a bit of a journal junkie. She also enjoys blogging about her homeschooling journey on www.learningthroughlife.com.au
