newcastle coffee

The Autumn Rooms - What to do when you get a moment of kid free time

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We love our children don't get us wrong, we would lay our bodies on the line for them, in fact most of us like the little ones wreak havoc on theirs. I know 6 months after having my last baby I still look kinda pregnant without wearing sucky in clothing. Those few dates with our Mum friends or partner are so precious and I have found the perfect place for your next one!

The Autumn Rooms are located on Darby Street in Cooks hill and up stairs is the blissful Tea Collective. The collaboration is the brainchild of Becci Fowler and Ben Richardson. When these two found each other they not only found love but they forged a formidable business partnership. They're both highly experienced in the industry and Becci has an undeniable fair for creating incredible spaces. Sitting upstairs with her before my lunch date with a friend she was pretty coy about creating what I had called an incredible space. The downstairs is like an enchanted garden, and the Tea Collective upstairs looks like something you would imagine a cool Royal like Meghan Markle would design.

Now to the food. Well that's the best coffee on Darby St I've had for a while, I also like Goldbergs and Core but this coffee was seriously good! And the food was also amazing, really ample servings and delicious. We had the Vegan Buddha Bowl with quinoa, sweet potato, black beans, avocado, baby spinach, cheery tomatoes, black rice and cashew dressing and the Warm Veggie Salad with cauliflower rice, broccolini, field mushrooms, lentils, garlic silverbeet, roast beetroot, pepitas, pesto and pumpkin puree. WOW, that's about all I have to say. Congratulations Ben and Becci. 

TOP 5 KID FRIENDLY CAFES IN NEWCASTLE

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Mum said today 'back in my day you couldn't leave the house when you had kids. No one would let you into a cafe they just turned you away'. WOW I thought, that's super mean. Having said that, to go to a cafe with the kids isn't often enjoyable, you just have to woof down what you're eating and skull your coffee as fast as you can while you direct them around like a neurotic actor on the set of an epic drama. Enter 'kid friendly cafes', my main problem with them is the coffee tends to be rather crap - well not always here are a few cafes that offer a kid friendly experience and a good brew. 

1. Kids of Thunder - 114 Maitland Rd, Mayfield. New on the scene they offer elaborate play areas and great coffee. NHM hasn't tried it yet, the only thing we're not sure on is they said they only do sweets and we love us some smashed avo. 

2. Habitat Cafe - 513 Glebe Rd, Adamsown. This place is seriously great, its pretty secure with a great play area. I used to meet with my first ever and only Mum's group here and we always had a great brew and a blissful time. Fun fact, Sonya Cameron who initiated the group was also the midwife at the JHH who delivered my second baby Lilly. I am a huge fan of the JHH and their Drs and nurses how blessed we are to have them. 

3. Goodness Me Organics 617 Glebe Rd, Adamstown. I've had good coffee from these guys before their organic eats are also really good. It has a lovely vibe and Mums with kids are welcome, it's also rather secure. 

4. The Secret Garden Charlestown Square. Nice coffee but a limited menu. Having said that the play equipment here is ample so the mums that I see there often look pretty stoked for some time out. I've also seen mums sort of 'settle in' there, bringing out snacks for their kids that they've packed. The vibe I get from here is that it's much loved by Newie Mummas. 

5. Black Circle Cafe, 12 Alma Rd, New Lambton. My friends have recommend you go to Black Circle because there's a great kid friendly area, the Peaberry's brew is good as is the food, they have an 'all day breakfast menu' and they do free baby chinos.