2042 Cafe 403 King Street, Newtown (02) 9550 2500

It was hard not to be drawn in by Café 2042 (although that was our intended destination).  Everyone seated at their tables looked happy.  The entrance was completely open with windows and doors flung wide and lots of white emphasising the space inside.  I am instantly relieved because I know the pram will fit, and my scan of the other café occupants confirms that there are already a lot of children there (a good sign).  

We were welcomed immediately and went to the back of the café where there are couches and a playpen - something not often seen in a Sydney inner city café.  I plonked baby in there immediately.  She was quite content and I tried not to notice how grubby some of the toys appeared.  It was a relief to know that she could not crawl away.  My toddler was rolling around on one of the couches and there was nothing that he could destroy in immediate sight so I could relax on that front too.

If you want to spread out, there are larger tables and there are also kid-size tables and chairs and highchairs for the younger ones.

Lunch and dinner is served (sandwiches, salads, corn fritters @ $12.90) but the focus is on breakfast which is served until 4pm. Irrelevant to the parents amongst us, as lazy weekend sleep ins being a thing of the distant past!  There are kid-specific items for lunch and dinner like chicken schnitzel ($7.90) and ice cream ($1.90).  For breakfast, you can find something plain (if I may use that word) like Sonoma toast ($4.90) or banana bread ($3.90).  I found the charmingly described “fluffy pancakes” ($9.90) to be … well, charming.

Despite the initial acknowledgement, service was a little slow but it was nice not to feel rushed.  The waitress brought us water which my toddler immediately knocked over.  There were no sighs or stern looks - the waitress just smiled, took out a cloth and wiped it dry.  When the coffee arrived I metaphorically clapped with delight, there was a little shortbread on the side - a buttery burst of sweetness - yum.  Such a nice touch and complement to my flat white.  The coffee is by Danes which I am not familiar with but it was certainly good enough.

The kitchen is visible from the couches and other tables and it is nice to see the bustling and cooperation going on.  There are cute little mini chalkboards on the walls with various notes and messages on them such as “menu items” and “kitchen” in case of doubt!  

After we had finished, I lingered by the various shelves along the walls laden with gourmet delights for purchase and was tempted by many of them.  We are all time poor; it’s a boon when you can organise a gift or a treat for back home at the same time.  We’ll be back, not just because we can bring the kids here, but because there is so much more to experience.

The vibe:  Casual, comfortable and intriguing - what is on all of those shelves?
Toilets:  No baby changing facilities.
Getting there:  King Street is easy to find.  Plenty of buses, Newtown train station, parking on the street and level access.
Opening hours:  7.30am-4pm Mon & Tues, 7.30am-10.30pm Wed-Sat, 8am-5pm Sun. The right mix?  Yes, caters for children of all ages.
Kid-friendly score: 7/10.

Caroline Ford
For more Cafe Reviews go www.tribemagazine.com.au

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