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Kansas City Guide to Coffee + Play

A guide to local roasters, coffee shops, and play cafes in Kansas City

By Brittany Marsh, Assistant Publisher and Melissa Basgall, Editor and Publisher, Macaroni KID KC May 23, 2023

Welcome to the ultimate guide to coffee in Kansas City! While we all know being a mom or caregiver is a fulfilling role fuled by love, we also know the job often requires an extra boost of energy. That's why we've curated this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the vibrant coffee scene right here in KC!

We've scoured the metro, sipped countless brews, and chatted with fellow coffee-loving moms to bring you the ultimate list of coffee shops in the area. From cozy neighborhood cafes to trendy espresso bars, Kansas City has it all. Whether you prefer a velvety latte, a bold pour-over, or a frothy cappuccino, your perfect cup of coffee awaits!

But this guide isn't just about coffee (we are Macaroni KID, after all). We also know that as moms and caregivers, it's important to find a coffee shop that offers a welcoming atmosphere, comfortable seating, and perhaps even a play area for your little ones. That's why we've also gathered a list of coffee spots that have family-friendly aspects. So, while you savor your favorite brew, your children can enjoy their own mini adventures or engage in activities specially designed to keep them entertained. Let's start with a short list of play cafes and kid-friendly coffee spots!



Coffee Club
Join Macaroni KID every Thursday morning for The Coffee Club at Zona Rosa's Central Park.
Thursdays | June 1 – August 17
9am – 11am

Grab your friends and make a playdate! Run and play at Central Park (splash fountain, playground & more!). Head to the Bravo Italian tent for specialty coffees, breakfast burritos and cannolis. The White Farmhouse Flower truck will be parked nearby to snag the freshest summer flowers and arrangements. We will have special performers and activities on select Thursdays. Check back often as we will update this list with more details.

June 1: Beach Towel Giveaway*, My Play Cafe sensory tables & activities + crafts from Macaroni Kid KC
June 8: Funky Mama performs
June 22: KC Bubble Parties, a mobile party will bring bubbles to Central Park
June 29: Story time local author, Katie Marie
July 6: Macaroni Kid KC Special Activity
July 13: Mr. Stinky Feet performs
July 20: Meaning Through Music will provide a 30-minute music enrichment class
August 3: Macaroni Kid KC Special Activity
August 10: Macaroni Kid KC Special Activity
*Beach towels are limited quantity. First-come, first-served!


Inspired Play Cafe
Leawood, KS
Inspired Play Cafe provides one open space where parents and caregivers can come work while being able to see their children play, grab something healthy to eat, watch their children socialize, meet a friend, or just get out of the house and play in a new space. Inspired Play Cafe keeps a jam-packed activity calendar with educational and creative pop-up activities, included with the price of admission.

Foundry Coffeehouse
Lenexa, KS
Foundry's coffee shop has an indoor play area for young children and a gym for littles and bigs alike! You can bring your own indoor ride-on toys and balls to play with in the gymnasium. Playing at Foundry is free for coffee shop patrons.

Kaw Prairie Open Gym
Lenexa, KS
All ages are welcome to enjoy this gymnasium and its small indoor play place. Toys are available in the gym, and visitors are welcome to bring their own.


Mid-Continent Public Libraries
Lees Summit, Liberty, North KC

MCPL partners with local coffee shops to provide customers with the opportunity to purchase drinks and snacks at some of their branches. Another great option for indoor play, storytimes, and books all while enjoy a cuppa.
Colbern Road Library Center with Post Coffee in Lees Summit. Woodneath Library Center with Friendly Bean Coffee Company near Liberty. Green Hills Library Center with Novella Espresso Bar & Baked Goods in the Northland.


MY Play Cafe
Gardner and Lees Summit
This space is ideal for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. It's a place where parents and caregivers can have a cup of coffee, take a break, get some work done, and interact with other adults, or get down and play with their kids in a new and different environment. Admission is sold by the session, and punch cards are available if you plan to visit regularly.


PH Coffeehouse
Pendleton Heights, Kansas City
This cozy neighborhood coffeehouse has a small KidsZone. They host a kids storytime once a week!


Rough and Bumble KC
Bonner Springs
Rough and Bumble has a fun indoor playground for babies through young school age. Parents and caregivers can grab a cup of coffee or something to eat while they watch the kids play, or get a little work done. Admission is by the day, and memberships are available.


Ginna's Cafe at SHEELS
Overland Park

At SHEELS you can get yourself a cup of coffee and a sweet treat, and spend a couple of hours in their indoors play structure. Free to access whether you're drinking a coffee or not!


Sweet Tee's at Olathe Libraries

Olathe

Sweet Tee's has a location in both the Olathe Indian Creek Library and the new Olathe Downtown Library. With play areas both inside and outside each library, there's plenty for the kids to do while you enjoy your specialty brew.


Aside from great coffee spots to take the kids to, here's a giant list of some of our favorite local coffee shops, great for relaxation, conversation, work, or fun! (And most of these are kid-friendly, too!)

Macaroni Kid Kansas City's favorite coffee shops:

  • 7 Brew Coffee | Multiple Locations
  • Anchor Island Coffee
  • Apogee Coffee and Draft | Olathe
  • Bear Necessities
  • Billie's Grocery | Midtown
  • Black Dog Coffeehouse | Lenexa
  • Blip Roasters | West Bottoms
  • Brew Haha
  • Café Equinox | Multiple Locations
  • Café Caphé
  • Comic Coffeehouse
  • Café Corazon
  • Crows Coffee
  • Fat Bee Coffee
  • Fitti's Espresso
  • Filing Station | Midtown & Mission
  • Front Range | Fairway & KCMO
  • Goat Hill | Westside
  • Grounded Sole Coffeehouse | Kansas City, Kansas
  • Groundhouse Coffee
  • Hattie's Fine Coffee | Prairie Village
  • Headrush Roasters Coffee & Tea - Briarcliff & North Kansas City
  • Hi Hat | West Plaza
  • HiTides
  • Jinkie's Coffee & Hangout
  • Made in KC Cafe & Taproom | Multiple Locations
  • Maps Coffee and Chocolate | Lenexa
  • McLain's | Multiple Locations
  • Meriwether's Coffee | Leavenworth
  • Messenger Coffee | Multiple Locations 
  • Mother Earth | Midtown
  • Novella | West Bottoms
  • Oddly Correct | Westport
  • Outta the Blue Cafe | Leawood
  • Parisi Coffee | Multiple Locations
  • Pilgrim Coffee Co.
  • Post Coffee Company | Multiple Locations
  • Pour Coffeehouse
  • PT's Coffee | Crossroads
  • Revocup | Lenexa
  • Rochester KC
  • Second Best Coffee | Waldo
  • Seven Swans Creperié | West Bottoms
  • Splitlog
  • Sweet Tee's Coffee Shop
  • Ten & Two Coffee Bar
  • Three Bees Pottery & Coffee | Kansas City, KS
  • Thou Mayest | Rivermarket
  • Unbakery and Juicery | Brookside
  • Urban Prairie Coffee
  • Vested Coffee | Multiple Locations
  • Water Bird Coffee Co.


Also worthy of a mention are these fabulous on-the-go businesses:

  • Fika Coffee KC | Mobile Coffee Cart
  • The Wild Way | Mobile Coffee Cart


Come share a cup of coffee with us on Thursday mornings all summer long! Click here for more info on The Coffee Club at Zona Rosa!