Kid-Friendly Eatery: Cafe McKenzie
Address: Shop 4/162-164 Barker St, Randwick NSW 2031 (Google Maps)
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the world needs more good cafes near playgrounds. Well, my list of kid-friendly eateries was increased by one more with my visit to Cafe McKenzie in Randwick.
In the Newmarket Dining Precinct in Randwick, the cafe is within sight of Inglis Playground. While it’s a little too far for supervising kids playing, it does make a great stop before or after a play date.
There’s plenty to love, from the availability of high chairs (we counted five), to the ample seating both indoors and outdoors, to the provision of blankets to keep warm on cold days.
On the day I was there, there were bananas available for $1.50, as well as baby food pouches for $3 (steeper than the supermarket, but a great option when you’re in a pinch). Although we didn’t order from it on the day, the cafe’s website lists a kids menu with avocado toast at $8 a piece, or the choice of a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets and chips for $14.
To top it off, there’s a stack of books for customers’ use, including a handful of books for primary school aged kids and younger.
There are public toilets available nearby - just ask the cafe staff how to access them (or follow the signs).
Unfortunately, Cafe McKenzie suffers from one serious downside - parking is rather horrendous. The cafe is across the road from the Prince of Wales, Royal Womens and Sydney Childrens’ Hospitals, next to Randwick Girls High, and not too far away from the University of New South Wales. When you put all of that together, there are often more cars than available parking spots.
The streets surrounding the Newmarket Precinct have free, timed parking. There’s a lot of one hour spots, with some two hour availability a little bit of a walk away. This does mean there should be some sort of turnover of available spaces, so it’s definitely worth driving by to see if you can find something.
But if you do manage to find parking, or you catch public transport or are in the area already, keep this one in mind!
