indoor play cafe near myrtle beach:
lemon rose play cafe
The Grand Strand is in desperate need for more indoor play spaces. Thankfully that is starting to happen! A new indoor play cafe near Myrtle Beach opened up late last year. It’s just outside the Grand Strand in Ocean Isle Beach. We checked it out and have more info!
ADDRESS: 6886 Beach Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC (~35 min from central MB)
HOURS: Mon, Thur, Fri: 10a–2p; Sat: 10a–5p; Closed on Sun, Tues, Wed
COST: $15 for 2-hour open play and $12 for siblings
CAFE: Serving coffee, espresso, tea and muffins
MORE INFO: They have weekly, monthly or annual memberships plus host birthday parties and parents night out events.
LEMON ROSE PLAY CAFE DETAILS
THE SPACE: The space is small at 900 square feet but they have maximized it well. There are 4 rooms and here is how they’re laid out:
The entry/cafe/parent space: This area has a couple small sofas and two-seater tables. It also has the main area to check-in and the equipment they need to prepare food and drinks. Shoes do come off for everyone inside so it has racks for shoes also. Your own socks are fine, no need to have special ones. There is also a table outside.
The art/craft/music/sensory space: One room is designated for being creative. It is stocked with drawing supplies, sensory bins, puzzles and other materials for creating. There are two small tables for kids to sit at for this.
This room also has a great little music corner with lots of instruments and a corner with a wood-working and gardening tools. The bathroom is also back here. It has a large garage door that will open up to the outside and in warmer months they plan to offer gardening classes/experiences.
The climbing structure with Nuggets & small ball pit: There is a small wooden play structure kids can climb on. There is a small ball pit in this room along with some soft Nugget-type foam cushions.
The open play room: This room is very open and filled with all kinds of imaginative play items. It has the classics: a kitchen, grocery store, grilling/camp out setup, and a train rug with magnetic trains. There are also some other toys here like the sit-and-spin and a wobble board.
other info & notes
IDEAL AGES: I think the space is best for kids 18 month up to 8 years old. A 2-hour play window is enough to fully enjoy the space.
KEEPING AN EYE ON KIDS: Since it is so small you don’t need to worry about your child wandering very far. But there isn’t 100% visibility from the tables/sofa to all parts of the play space so that is something to keep in mind.
CLEANLINESS: The space is very new and all the toys and decor is in great condition. Everything was working, all toys had their parts, and everything was very clean when we were there. The space is cleaned daily and there is a designated spot for any toys that may have been mouthed or otherwise dirtied.
DON’T RUN PAST IT: It’s not super easy to spot from the road. It’s in a small space right on the road but away from the heart of Ocean Isle Beach (not over the bridge).
WORKING FROM HERE + CAFE: The cafe is small but does have a couple of tables and sofas you can work from or have time with a friend. This would be a good spot to have a playdate. They do have free wi-fi so working from here is possible but you’ll definitely have some distractions as people enter/exit and kids move from room to room (as would be true of any play cafe).
The owners, Ashley and Joshua have two small kids of their own and you’ll often find the whole family at the cafe. They previously lived in Raleigh where play cafes are more prevalent. They’re modeling their vision on some of those wonderful spots and have plans to expand their space and offerings soon!
You can read more about Lemon Rose and their offerings below.