Java Mama Cafe

This place is amazing! It is great for kids and great for parents! Love their coffee and food! My son has a blast here! We come almost everyday just to get out. He loves to play and I love to drink coffee and talk to other moms. I don’t know what we would do without this place. Highly recommend it! Staff is great too!

I previously rated Java Mama 4 stars, but my last couple of visits have been disappointing.
The last time I was there, I was especially disappointed by the «supervision» in the play area. I typically either stay in the play area or at the overlooking bar so I don’t expect much from the attendant beyond watching the door and getting parents’ attention if there is a problem.
Last time, they let my 2 year old wander out of the play area FOUR TIMES in the 2 hours or so we were there — once was while I was in the restroom. I came out to find him opening the door to they outdoor area. Twice I saw him walk out and I retreived him. The last time I was sitting on the floor tying my shoes and the attendant was right there. She let him out and I had to chase him down wearing one shoe and carrying the other and his!
I know that toddlers are quick and occasionally sneak by, which has happened before, but this was rediculous. At least 2 of these times, it was clear that the girl at the door knew he wasn’t with the adults coming/​going, but she didn’t bother to even try to stop him or check if I was aware he was going.
Since you pay more on the days there is an attendant working I would expect that they do something other than just open the door for my child to get out…

Went on a play date with my baby a few weeks ago. Such a great place for mommies and babies! Yummy coffee by the way! :)

I really like this place. I have two toddlers (3 yrs old & 2 yrs old) & they really enjoy coming here. I don’t know why people say this place is tiny, there are 3 areas your kids could play in. I like this place a lot more than the indoor playground in Poway & Java Mama is waaay more affordable.

This place is good enough if you need to get out of the house with your little one and it is too hot to go to a park. There are plenty of toys and books there to keep kids entertained. The cost is pretty reasonable although it keeps going up and I am not sure why because I have not seen any improvements done.
Drinks and food are very basic and just ok. You won’t starve there but food is just not exciting.
The major drawback is the lighting. You get used to it after spending some time there but it is way too dark.
American Express cards are not welcomed so make sure you bring some other methods of payment with you. Took and extra star off for that.

I like Java Mama, the staff is ALWAYS polite & they keep a pretty good eye on the children. I like that I can get things done online while still waving «hello» to my daughter. They have a littlè outdoor playground as well, we didn’t use it today it was over 90!
I wish it were bigger, that’s my only constructive criticism. Other similar establishments are considerably larger & around the same fee.

If you are looking up Java Mama its likely because you are mom and you want to know about how the play area works. I had such a hard time finding this information so I will give ya the scoop.
The play are is open Mon-​Fri from 8 – 2 all day sat with a supervisor from 10 – 2.
Children under 1 are free, from 1 – 6 years of age its $ 4.50 for the first child and $ 3 more for each additional.
For older kids there is a play room with crawl through tubes and a decent outdoor playground. There are shaded tables outside.
If you are judging by the coffee, food or service its a 2 star at best. Everything is just basic and not made with much skill or passion.
However, if you are looking for a place to get out of the house and get some work done, and a safe and entertaining social environment for your little bean then this spot is the best I have found. It is a little dark and other posts are not lying when they describe the wall around the play area as a fortress. Its about 5 ft tall and its solid. That said there is a work bar with chairs and plugs which enable you to be a on your laptop and watch your kiddo just fine.
The supervisors are not at all responsible for your child’s safety or entertainment nor should they be. They do have lots of awesome toys and my 8 mo was able to entertain herself at least long enough to write this review so I’m happy.

This place is great for moms to have a cup of java and let your lil ones go crazy loose! The staff is super friendly, they offer music class and other events. The food is very reasonable priced especially their coffee. I love the fact they are open at 8am because my kiddies are morning peeps (6am ish to be exact) so i let them burn their energy in their play area. They do have a supervisor in the play area at 10am which is great but only down fall is sometimes they get busy and when there are one to many kids in there, the other moms are soo busy chit chatting and gossiping that they don’t lay the smack down with their child esp if their child bullies or make another child cry. Me on the other hand I have NO problem gently telling a child to «Play nice» or «don’t grab that toy from my daughter’s hand she was playing with it first but she can share».

I had seen this place advertised and decided to come here with my baby, a friend and her baby. It looked amazing on the website and I was really excited.
However, my experience was MEH. First of all I think our daughter’s were too tiny so it really defeated the point of going there. Secondly the drink choice was mediocre at best. Thirdly there was no real atmosphere. In addition it was quite dark in there.
When in there my daughter wanted feeding, it didnt feel as comfortable as it should for breastfeeding but I went ahead and did it anyway.
We actually saw one woman leave her baby unattended to go play with her older child in the play area which was a bit off.
We may return when our little ones are a bit older but right now it doesnt suit our purpose. I did see there was some classes for babies 6 months plus so might give them a go.

Well I didn’t think much of the name and I honestly did not think to Unilocal it and read reviews beforehand. It was the only coffee shop in the strip mall near Trader Joe’s…So I was sold.
I went to open the door and saw a small jungle gym with toddlers all over it. hahaha! This is awesome! I walk in and apparently it’s a Mommy coffee shop with 50 rug rats EVERYWHERE. Breastfeeding and all. Besides all that!!! LoL I had some good coffee and got my 10 min kid fix. It wasn’t the usual coffee stop at Starbucks… so I ABSOLUTELY DIG IT!

Came in to use the restroom the other day and found a true gem in the heart of this city. This is a local coffee bar that has both an indoor and outdoor playground. The bar is set up so that it is away from where the kids are. There is a semi closed off circle with a security gate to enclose your kids while they play. The seating goes around the outside of the semi circle facing toward the play area. BAMB! You can have coffee and enjoy adult conversation and have the ability to watch your kids interact and play with others. If I had little kids I would be here all of the time. The place is very clean including the bathroom. Thumbs up for a local Momma and baby/​kids hang out!

This place was just «off» all around for my daughter and I. The whole experience just confused me as to what type of establishment they are trying to be, and I see why people are complaining about the lack of parental supervision… you’re led to believe they’ve got it covered. It seems like they are ENCOURAGING you to kick back and have a drink while they supervise your child, only for them to do anything but that!
First of all, an important side note… they do not have Starbucks coffee and don’t want you bringing in outside food. If you are a Starbucks-​functioning mommy, you know why this is a problem. Nuff said.
My experience…
My friend suggested we try taking our girls (17 and 19 months) to Java Mama… and that’s all I really knew about the place… the name. I walked in and paid the required fee for my toddler to play, and bought some kind of underwhelming drink to sit down and chat with my friend. This was MY mistake… I didn’t really survey or research the place, instead I assumed it was like all of the other play places with a mommy café that I’ve been to. READ: THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL INDOOR PLAYGROUND, rather a café with some designated play areas.
I guess it would have been a comfortable place for me to get out a year ago without everyone giving me the stink eye for feeding my boobie baby in public… but beyond that it’s a poorly executed concept. The play area was tight and kind of dim, and there was a huge wall separating the café from the play area. Not a wall with glass or bars… a solid, like five foot tall wall that you can’t see over at all from the café seating. There was an attendant at the entrance to the play area, but it wasn’t made clear what her role was… it turns out she was more of a gate keeper than any kind of supervisor/​entertainer for the kiddos. If you’re taking my cash to play, and put up a partition… shouldn’t you tell me she’s not going to watch my kid?
It didn’t matter though… My daughter, who is normally OVERLY friendly for her age, stepped one foot into that play area and had a complete meltdown. At the time she was attending daycare twice a week, so I know she wasn’t shocked by the fact that mommy stepped away… she just didn’t like it in there. And, this is a child who is ALL about playtime! She’s no fragile wimpy dainty girl either… can get down with the big kids with NO problem and is usually too curious to be scared of anything.
The attendant didn’t try to play with them to calm things down (sometimes they just need a second of distracting), just screamed out «MOM!» and kicked her out of play land. My friend’s daughter went off the deep end too, and was handed off similarly.
All of this would be fine, had I not PAID extra specifically for her to play and didn’t have the option of a refund (not that I asked) given the circumstances. So if the attendant wasn’t going to keep an eye on her… who was? I get that it’s my responsibility as a parent, but then don’t put up a wall between us and please TELL me you’re taking my money to use the play area, have a separate café where I need to drink my drink, but want me to stay with my child and take no responsibility for what happens on the other side of that wall. The layout is just… confusing, and there is zero conversation about expectations and rules other than no outside food. Maybe I missed a small sign posted in a corner somewhere?
My friend and I ended up moving the girls outside to the playground area, where there was a creepy child-​less man reading his paper in the corner (again, probably because of the confusion as to what type of place this is). At least it was fenced in so we didn’t have to chase them around since we could SEE them. We let our girls play for a while, as we had already paid to get in there, but I could have had a better time with my beloved Starbucks coffee and my daughter in the park. Or, at home… we have a crap-​load of toys and plenty of dark closets to play with them in!
All I know is that they are walking a fine line and ought to be more careful with taking patron’s money without giving a clear understanding of how they operate and what they offer. Had my child not cried, and ended up getting shoved down the stairs while the attendant (gate monitor) carried on a conversation looking in the opposite direction from the children (as she did with my friend later in our visit), I’d at least be exploring my legal rights…
In the end I’m glad she couldn’t play in the play area, as I’m reading reviews that question the cleanliness and safety there. My experience just made me realize that you assume nothing as a parent (thank goodness this wasn’t a lesson learned the hard way). I ended up discovering Kid Ventures, which has a MUCH better overall business plan. I still have to drink my Starbucks in the parking lot, though…

Gave it four stars because their coffee is NOT Starbucks! Ok, so now that I got that off my chest– here’s the review:
Java Mama is an awesome place for moms with young kids (like toddler to preschool age) to enjoy her coffee. There is a small fee to have the young ones play in the indoor playground (not sure about the outdoor playground part, though). My 18 month old did not want to go home after playing here for an hour and he made quite a few friends. The play area has tons of toys and dress up clothes that will surely keep the little ones entertained. Too bad this place does not close later than 5 PM… coz this would be a great place for moms and dads to hang out, revive with some caffeine, and actually have uninterrupted conversation.
Starbucks need to take note and get some pointers from this place if they want to monopolize the coffee industry even more.

I really didn’t know how to rate this place because it is by far the strangest and most uncomfortable café I’ve been in. However, I think if you’re a parent, you might rate this 5-​stars. It’s a great concept for those with children, it makes single people like me that don’t really care for kids nervous.
First, I thought «Java Mama» was just a place with a quirky name… I’ll be honest, it intrigued me and I’ve been wanting to try it. Today I was feeling like a blended coffee drink, so I figured it was the most opportune time to come in. This is where the strange part comes in… I see nothing but children’s jungle gyms and thought I walked into the wrong store. Nope, it was the correct place. Turns out that Java Mama caters to mama’s. Now I feel weird… should I have brought a child with me? There were play dates going on and a random lady sitting at a table with her baby. I felt like I accidentally walked into an exclusive parent-​only establishment.
Second, after the initial awkwardness and thinking that maybe I should walk out, I decided to give them a try. I don’t think they have a huge selection of drinks – for adults anyway. But it’s quite extensive for children. I decided to get the coffee-​toffee javacino. The staff btw, was very friendly. I wait for my drink and go to sit, but the bar near where you wait for your drink is covered with diaper bags from the group having a playdate. Hmmm, okay guess I’ll stand, I had been lazy enough that day anyway. My drink is finished in a timely manner and it’s pretty good! I did like it better than Starbucks, but usually, I like anything better than Starbucks.
Anyhow, glad I gave this place a try since I had been meaning to try it for a while, I did like the drink, but I don’t know if I’ll care to stop by again.

Why is there not a place like this in San Francisco??? My daughter and I used to come here very often when we lived in San Diego. She was under 1 year old at the time and it was perfect for us!
Seating– There’s plenty of seating and it’s never too crowded.
Playtime– There’s a good sized indoor playground that is sectioned off. You are able to supervise your children on your own or you can leave your child in the playground for $ 2 an hour to be supervised by a staff member (this may have changed, I have not been here for 5 years). In the back there is a separate room that holds classes for kids, private parties, mommy group meetings, and when there are no events going on they have the area free for play with mats and other soft equipment.
Service: The service is awesome. The owner (at least I think it was the owner) was there often and would sometimes have her baby with her in the snugly or just hanging out while working, LOVE IT!!! All other staff were very nice and attentive.
The food: I don’t quite remember the food, but they had a good variety of healthy food. Of course they had all the café usuals: coffee, teas, pastries, etc. They had food for the kids and food that was vegan friendly, peanut allergy friendly and so on.
Parking: There is a parking lot in the back and street parking in the front (metered for the street parking). There is, also, a back entrance to the café from the parking lot where you can park your strollers before heading inside. Super convenient!
There are high chairs and boosters if you need them as well. Bathrooms are clean, parent/​kid friendly (changing table, of course). This is the place to be if you are a parent, babysitter, nanny, caregiver, or you’re stuck with the nieces and nephews in San Diego!

@JavaMamaCafe — an interesting concept… one I’m surprised I haven’t seen before. This is primarily a place for parents to drop in and relax or work with the free wifi while the kiddies have a place to play. There is an inside and outside play area, both pretty much contained.
For my purposes (getting caffeinated while reviewing a few reports and popping off a few emails) it served just fine. The wifi worked well, the mocha (easy on the chocolate, extra hot, no whip) was good and the service was friendly.
It might not be my first choice as it was a bit noisy — but I would go here over Chay-​chay chain coffee if I had the choice.

The concept here is pretty cool. It’s not a coffeehouse with a play area, nor is it a playarea with a coffeehouse. It was built as both and the design reflects it. There’s an indoor area and an outdoor area. There’s also an area specifically designated to classes. It’s not a place to study and I don’t know how people can get work done here. It’s meant as a place to chat with your friends, watch your kids play independently or with them, and relax.
Location is great. Easy to find and tons of parking. Plus, there’s a Trader Joe’s right down the strip mall. Yup, perfect.
So, my friend and I met up there today. It was raining. Actually, it was more like a monsoon. We arrived at 9:50 and checked in. The barista was super friendly and the pumpkin caramel latte was good. They had a BOGO free special if you mention their facebook page. Super. Upon check in, you write your child’s name and your name on masking tape and place it on their back. I don’t remember the cost of each individual item, but the total for the coffee and the playpass was 7dollars and change. Maybe the playpass was 3.50? Something like that. They do have a small fee if your purchase is under 5 dollars and you want to use your credit card.
They open at 8, but supervision of the kids starts at 10am. Honestly, that’s exactly what it is. I wasn’t expecting the supervisor to play with my 18 month old. If I wanted someone to PLAY with my child, I would’ve hired a babysitter or I would have played with him myself. The new toys and slide kept him completely entertained. She did exactly what I expected her to– make sure the kids don’t wander out and get me if my son needed me– which she did.
Around 11am, herds of people came in. I mean HERDS of people with multiple children. It became really loud in there. My son is a pretty quiet kid and seems to get flustered with ear piercing screams, which is when the supervisor got me. We stayed until 11:30 and then we left. It a small area (especially when you can’t use the playground outside) and there were just too many kids in one location for my own comfort level.
There are rules here and they should be followed by the parent and the adult. If you can’t bring your child’s food/​drinks into the playarea, don’t bring your HOT coffee. If the kids can’t wear shoes in the playarea, you shouldn’t either. It’s common sense, parents. Lead by example. The rules apply to everyone.
Would I come back? Absolutely. The place markets themselves accurately.

Ambiance:
The concept of this coffee house is for children to play while mom’s get their daily dose of caffeine. Therefore, the crowd was mostly parents and kids. They have an indoor and outdoor play ground with a minimal play fee. There was even an attendant looking over the kids in the playground (she looked quite tired). The kids look like they were having fun running around the play area. The moms’/nannys’ definitely look happy to have a free babysitter while chatting with their friends. I know where to go now when I have kids!
The décor was very warm, with hard wood floors and dark walls.
Service:
Very friendly cashier/​barista. However, I asked her how many espresso shots are in a small/​medium/​large. She said «it depends on what drink, a latte or an americano». That did not make any sense to me. The size of the cup should mean a specific amount of espresso shots with the rest of the cup filled with milk (latte) or water (americano).
Taste:
Dang was really craving coffee so he ordered a drink. He ordered the medium «Coffee Toffee» blended drink (like a frappuccino). The coffee taste was light, but the overall taste was delicious. It was blended very well with no extra chunks of ice. It wasn’t too sweet and highlighted the toffee taste very well.
Price:
The price was great at $ 3.82 for a medium. The medium was a good size. The price of the other goodies look fair as well.
Overall:
I enjoyed my experience here. Next time, I will definitely try out a smoothie and one of their scrumptious looking baked goods. It is a great place for me to grab and go. The atmosphere is way too loud with all the young children running and screaming everywhere. If there weren’t any kids, it would definitely be an amazing place to study with its very nice furnishing.

I wish we had discovered this place three years ago and even the other day, we almost didn’t check it out (we thought it was a normal coffee house).
Although smaller than Kidsville or My Kids clubhouse or similar venues, Java Mama’s is much more adult friendly and allows adults to enjoy themselves almost as much as the kids. At the other places, my husband and I pretty much sat around and watched our son play. Here, we were able to order real coffee drinks sit and talk, while watching our son play. It makes a big difference!
Yes, the same loud noise of screaming kids having fun abounds in Java Mama, but we were still able to sit and enjoy some very decent drinks while our son had a blast. Java Mama’s also serves what looks like decent paninis and other standard coffee shop fare. Much better than what adults can get at the other kid play places.
As for the facilities, there are plenty of things for the kids to play. An indoor fenced off play area with a climbing area and plenty of toys. An outdoor area (fenced in) with a play structure. Perfect for young kids. My son spent a good hour and a half and we still had to drag him away.
Prices are very reasonable. $ 2.50 on a Saturday to let my son play as much as he wanted. Plus the cost of drinks. How awesome is that? Only thing is, it does get very crowded when a birthday party is in session.

We used to go to the original Java Mama Café in La Mesa long ago. And we always thought, it would be great if they opened a location on the I-​15 corridor (Scripps Ranch, PQ, Mira Mesa, Poway, RB, etc.). Now, here it is, but even better than the original location, which closed.
The same great things:
— food menu that can be tweaked to how you ‘d like it. Just ask!
— food and drink for the kids and adults including kid juice
— play area with custom built play structure for kids to run up and down
— dining bar stool along the perimeter of the play area so that moms can look in and chat while eating
–activity room for sign language and baby classes
New additions:
–outdoor play ground
— outdoor seating next to the play area
— lots of parking
The only thing I wish it had was seating on the perimeter that is not bar stools. This would allow parents with other kids to sit safely while looking into the play area. Otherwise, YAY! So glad they opened this location!