Pingo Kids Club is an indoor play cafe in Docklands for kids aged 0 to 6. It has a play shop, a soft play slide and a pamper room, while parents sit back with a coffee.
From the street, Pingo Kids Club looks like a small coffee shop. Walk through to the back and it opens into a big, pastel-coloured play space built around pretend play.
My kids are captivated by the pamper room, with its makeup stations, mirrors and dress-up wardrobe. Meanwhile, we get a seat with a clear view of everything.
Pingo Kids Club used to trade as Teeny Tiny Cafe at the same Collins Street address, so the play space looks familiar if you’ve visited before. This guide covers what kids can do, opening hours, party packages and the practical bits to know before you book.
Pingo Kids Club Cafe, Docklands Melbourne
Cost: entry is paid, so it costs more than a free playground
Ages: 0 to 6, with toddlers and preschoolers getting the most out of it
Time needed: around 90 minutes to two hours (ask about session length when you book)
Open: Monday and Wednesday to Friday 9:30am to 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm, closed Tuesday
Booking: message 0470 426 386
Worth knowing: the play is aimed at under sixes, so school-age siblings may find it a bit young
What to Expect at Pingo Kids Club
The space is soft, bright and easy on little bodies. Padded flooring and cushioned equipment run throughout, which I love for kids who aren’t yet steady on their feet.
The pastel colour theme keeps the room calm rather than loud. Each zone is built around pretend play, so kids move from the shop to the kitchen to the dress-ups and make up their own stories as they go.
Parents get cafe tables with a good view of the play area. We sit with a coffee and keep watch without hovering.
Highlights for Kids
The play shop
Kids fill their baskets with pretend groceries. The shelves hold eggplant, cos lettuce and even a whole crab.
The play kitchen
The kitchen has a stovetop, sink, crockery, coffee machine, microwave and fridge. Kids cook up a feast, then pretend to eat it.
Soft play tunnel and slide
Little legs get a proper workout on the tunnel and slide circuit. It’s the best spot for burning off energy.
Ride-on cars
Small cars drive around the room, and petrol bowsers let kids fill up before the next lap.
The Duplo wall
A wall of rainbow Duplo invites kids to build whatever they like. Kids who love building can happily stay here a while.
The pamper room
This room has makeup stations, beanbags, mirrors and a dress-up wardrobe. Kids pretend to powder their noses before suiting up for the rest of their day of play.
Food and Coffee
Pingo’s menu includes meals and treats for kids and parents, plus coffee for the grown-ups. Check the menu before you visit, especially if anyone has allergies or fussy eating habits.
The website also lists a shop with baby and kids products and party goodie bags.
What Parents Need to Know
- Address: Shop 3/860 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008
- Opening hours: Monday 9:30am to 2:30pm, closed Tuesday, Wednesday to Friday 9:30am to 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm
- Booking: message 0470 426 386 to book your spot
- Cost: check the price page on the Pingo website for current entry prices, as they can change
- Facilities: high chairs and baby change facilities are available
- Getting there: take a tram along Collins Street, walk from Southern Cross station, or look for street parking nearby and check the signs for time limits
- Nearby: Library at the Dock and Buluk Park playground are a short walk away, so they work well before or after your session
Birthday Parties at Pingo Kids Club
Pingo runs birthday parties with three packages, all for two hours. Email pingokidsclub@gmail.com to request a booking.
All-Inclusive Exclusive Party: $1,299
You get the whole venue to yourselves for up to 20 children and 30 adults. The package covers 20 kids’ meals, 10 adult party food options, four drink jugs, 20 party bags and balloon decorations.
The birthday child also gets two return passes, and Pingo handles the food prep and clean-up. If you have fewer than 20 children, every three unused kids’ meals and party bags swaps for one extra adult food option.
DIY Exclusive Party: $699
This one also gives you the whole venue, for up to 50 guests including adults. You bring your own food, drinks, cake, party bags, tableware and decorations.
Your guests clear their own rubbish at the end. Pingo cleans the venue, play areas and toys.
Party Room Package: from $499
This is the simplest option, with a party room plus playland access for eight children and ten adults. It includes kids’ food for every child, two adult party food options, one kids’ drink jug and two adult drink jugs.
Extra children are $19.99 each and extra adults are $5 each, up to a maximum of 10 children and 12 adults. Pingo prepares the food and cleans up.
Our Experience
We love how easy it is to relax here. The kids move from zone to zone, and we stay put with a coffee and a clear view.
The padded floors are a big plus when we visit with a younger one who’s still learning to walk. The role-play areas keep older preschoolers busy too, because they invent whole games around the shop and kitchen.
Pingo Kids Club FAQs
What age is Pingo Kids Club for?
Pingo designs the play space for children aged 0 to 6. Toddlers and preschoolers get the most from the role-play areas, and the padded flooring suits young walkers.
Is Pingo Kids Club the same as Teeny Tiny Cafe?
Teeny Tiny Cafe used to run from the same shop at 860 Collins Street, Docklands. That space now trades as Pingo Kids Club.
What are the opening hours?
Pingo Kids Club is open Monday and Wednesday to Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It’s closed on Tuesdays.
Do I need to book?
Pingo’s website asks visitors to message 0470 426 386 to book. We suggest booking ahead rather than turning up, especially on weekends and school holidays.
How much does it cost?
Entry prices are listed on the price page of the Pingo website, and they can change. Birthday party packages start from $499 for two hours.
Can you have a birthday party at Pingo Kids Club?
Yes. There are three packages: an all-inclusive party at $1,299, a DIY party at $699 and a party room package from $499. Email pingokidsclub@gmail.com to request one.
How do you get to Pingo Kids Club?
It’s at Shop 3/860 Collins Street, Docklands. You can take a tram along Collins Street, walk from Southern Cross station or find street parking nearby.
Who Pingo Kids Club Suits Best
Pingo Kids Club works best for families with kids aged 0 to 6 who love pretend play, and for parents who want to sit down with a coffee while the kids burn off energy. It’s also a handy option for a birthday party if you want the venue and the clean-up taken care of.
Before you go:
- Message 0470 426 386 to book
- Check the menu and price page on the Pingo website
- Remember it’s closed on Tuesdays
- Add Library at the Dock and Buluk Park playground for a bigger outing
Pingo Kids Club , Shop 3/860 Collins St, Docklands VIC 3008, pingokidsclub@gmail.com, 0470 426 386
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