Newly renovated, Joan’s Pantry is an icon for those who have grown up in the lower foothills around the Blackwood area, with the Hawthorndene cafe serving the community for what seems like forever. Reading through their history and they have indeed been here forever, since the 1920s to be exact!
Located in the ideal spot for families, across the road from the Hawthorndene Oval and right next to Apex Park (Fully fenced slice of paradise right here!), Joan’s offers a beautiful setting for families to grab a coffee as they head to the playground, or to sit in for a meal. Primarily a brunch/lunch cafe, it is also fully licensed and open for dinner on Friday nights and offers relaxing seating options indoors and out. For us, eating out with a toddler, we sat inside and found it to be actually genuinely relaxing, with our boys sitting on the bench looking out at the view through the fabulous new bifold windows and reading the selection of kids books on offer. Spacious and decorated with plenty of nods to the history of the cafe and the area, they have done very well to offer family friendly options to eat inside and out depending on the weather.
And it is outside where Joan’s surprised us! We are certainly no newbies here, having grabbed a coffee and a cookie on many occasions before a spin at the playground, but we had no idea about the incredible garden out the back! ‘Joan’s Patch’ is a community garden that has grown into a wonderful community, with memberships available to join and grow your own fruits, veggies and herbs. For us as visitors, the garden is open to wander and explore and adds a real tranquil vibe to finish off your visit following your meal. It also let our toddler walk off the infinite energy he seems to gain and offered nice distractions for him while the rest of the fam finished off their brunch (in peace!). Don’t forget they have a sandpit with toys and more tables too, with plenty of shade under the trees.
But all this is great, but is the food any good? Well we are pleased to report that everyone was well and truly satisfied with the offerings at Joans. Fabulous coffee for the parents and a good range of kids options at very reasonable prices ($7 is the average price for the kids meals for brunch and very well priced lunch options after 11:30, which we LOVED in these cozzie livs days)
Joan’s website allows online orders, a nice review of their history and is a very well put together resource for locals to engage with their local icon. A stone’s throw from Belair National Park, a trip up the hill is not complete without a pit top at this local icon!
Joan’s Pantry Location: 7 Watahuna Avenue, Hawthorndene Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am – 4:00pm | Fri 8:00am – 8:00pm | Sat – Sun 8:30am – 4:30 pm Find them on Facebook or Instagram or Phone 8278 2091
Green Monkeys is a volunteer run Community Play Café where, for a gold coin donation, you can bring your pre-school age kids along to play on their awesome 2 storey, indoor, netted playground. Open Mondays and Thursdays during the school term from 9:30am - 11:30am, the Green Monkeys program operates similarly to a playgroup. They love to support parents in our community by making a safe place to hang out and drink some delicious coffee while your kids play. Designed to suit children under the age of 6, the playground features two slides, a tunnel, a helicopter cockpit, spinners, punching bags, a swing and more. A toddler play mat and toys are also available for younger kids. Parents do need to bring socks for their children to utilise the play equipment, however they have some available for purchase if needed. Barista made coffee and light snacks are also available for purchase in the cafe at very reasonable prices. To find out more, please visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/greenmonkeysseaview Or online here: Green Monkeys Web Page Mondays & Thursday, 9:30am - 11:30am79 Seacombe Road, Seacombe GardensGold coin donation appreciated.
Light Creatures is back at the Adelaide Zoo as part of Illuminate Adelaide once again. All your fave exhibits from last year are back, including Cahaya, the prowling tiger! It is a not to be missed event on the Illuminate calendar, but book quick as some sessions are already selling out! Keep reading for our review from Opening Night last year 2022. Dates: 29 June – 23 July 2023Thurs, Fri, Sat and SunEntry times: 6:30pm and 7:45pm After a sold out 2022 season, Light Creatures is back to take you behind the gates of Adelaide Zoo after dark! Explore the Adelaide Zoo by night to encounter new up close and immersive experiences from lanterns, to interactive performance and even the newest Light Creature – a larger-than-life roaming tiger as it prowls the zoo grounds. A nocturnal adventure for the whole family and featuring a few appearances from the zoo’s own furry and feathery residents, Light Creatures is back and bigger and even wilder than before. Witness gentle giants that wake up at sunset, gaze up at floating jellyfish in the underwater world, and be swept away by the spectacle of the newest Light Creature – the Falcon! The star of the show last year in 2022 without…
If you like your morning with a side of community, respect and diversity, we have a fantastic little well priced excuse to get you out of the house with your babes and toddlers. Enter The Experience Cafe, Broadview, in Adelaide's North East. You'll not only find your caffeine and food fix in an extremely inclusive and friendly environment, there is fenced outdoor play for the little kids AND you are supporting young people and refugees to gain valuable work experience. Being a community run, not for profit, as you would expect the prices here are very reasonable and its important to note that the opening hours are limited to Wednesdays through Saturdays 9am to 2pm. The kids menu has great simple little options for $5 or make it a combo with a toasted sandwich and milkshake or juice box for just $10. The highlight for us was the perfect tea pots, good coffee, cute babyccino and delicious unexpected international twist, multicultural jaffle style toasties. You'll also find sweet jaffles like peach cobbler or apple and cinnamon. If jaffles are not your thing there is a huge selection of cakes, donuts, muffins and even a bacon and egg breakfast bun that's…
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Want to make a day of it and find more family friendly things to do nearby?
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