Nikki's Little Play Cafe

4 Pope St, Dorchester DT1 1GW, United Kingdom
+44 1305 858405
$$$ Children's cafe
(83 Reviews)
Price Range £1–10

Welcome to Nikki's Little Play Cafe, a delightful children's café nestled in the heart of Dorchester at 4 Pope St, Dorchester DT1 1GW, United Kingdom. More than just a café, it's a wondrous haven for young families looking to combine fun and nourishment in a beautifully designed setting. With a passionate commitment to creating a safe and inviting environment, Nikki's offers a unique experience that both parents and children will cherish.

The moment you step inside, you're greeted by a light and airy atmosphere adorned with soft pastel colors that immediately put you at ease. Unlike typical bustling soft play areas, Nikki's maintains a cap of just 20 children during typical sessions, ensuring that it never feels overcrowded or hectic. This thoughtful approach is echoed in every corner of the café, where you'll find a stunning blend of imaginative play areas, including a spacious climbing frame, sensory room, puppet theatre, and creative role-play spaces.

As shared by Charlotte Morris, "Nikki is truly wonderful with the kids," infusing every activity with infectious energy that keeps little ones giggling and engaged. Regular sessions feature tumbling fun, slide races, and a variety of creative endeavors, making playtime a joyous escape from the ordinary for your children.

Parents will also appreciate the inclusive nature of Nikki's, highlighted by wilson jennifer who noted, "everything is just perfect, and you can tell how much effort has gone into making it such an inclusive and caring space." From thoughtful amenities such as accessible changing facilities stocked with nappies to healthy food options on the menu, every detail is designed with your family's needs in mind.

The café also shines as a party venue, as highlighted in C B’s glowing review, commending Nikki for hosting a "fantastic 4th birthday party." The comprehensive birthday package includes everything from invitations and decorations to cake and entertainment, relieving the stress for parents while ensuring a delightful experience for children.

Whether you're looking for a spot to enjoy a coffee while your little ones play, or seeking a memorable birthday venue, Nikki's Little Play Cafe is a haven of joy, learning, and community spirit. Make sure to call ahead at +44 1305 858405 to check booking availability and join the happy parents raving about this charming gem in Dorchester!

Service options
Dine-in
Delivery
Takeaway
Highlights
Great coffee
Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Coffee
Dining options
Dessert
Amenities
Gender-neutral toilets
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Crowd
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Kids' menu
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

10:00 AM - 03:30 PM

Tuesday

10:00 AM - 03:30 PM

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Thursday

10:00 AM - 03:30 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 01:30 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 01:30 PM

83 Reviews
E

18 Sep 2025

We have just had a lovely morning at nikki's little play cafe with my 3 year old and 11 month old. It is probably the best softplay we have been to in the area. Booking online in advance means it won't ever be too busy. Lovely and big climbing frame but also a decent area for younger children and babies. They also have dressing up and areas for role play including a puppet theatre. And a sensory room too. They also have a small cafe which is always nice. And the toilets are stacked with spares and essentials if you're ever in need. Overall lovely and clean and I highly recommend.

Alison Hennessey

20 Aug 2025

What an absolutely lovely discovery - a perfectly sized, beautifully clean and stylish play cafe with a soft play, but also a lovely sensory room, a play theatre and kitchen, table for Lego, a dressing up box and a therapy dog who called in to say hello plus very warm, cheerful staff (which makes all the difference.) The dream for parents who want to go somewhere fun for their kids, but also nice for them. We liked it so much we went two days in a row with our four year old while on holiday locally! Incredibly good value considering you only pay for the child and not the adults to attend. Wish we had something so nice near us in London!

C B

25 Jul 2025

We can’t thank Nikki enough for hosting such a fantastic 4th birthday party for our little boy! She really went above and beyond to make the day completely stress-free for us and so much fun for all the kids. The party package included everything — invitations, cake, food, decorations, and entertainment which is just amazing and a huge stress off our shoulders. The space itself is thoughtfully set up: calm, not overwhelming, and welcoming for everyone, with great attention to catering for individuals different needs. Thank you, Nikki, for being absolutely wonderful! We couldn’t recommend this place more highly xx

wilson jennifer

14 Jun 2025

Such a wonderful experience thank you. I was so impressed by the whole place. Everything is just perfect and you can tell how much effort has gone into making it such an inclusive and caring space. From the nappies in the toilets, to the healthy options on the menu, it breathes caring. It is so much more than soft play. Dressing up, books, Montessori style activities on the walls. And above all the staff. We came last Saturday, and the person working there was fabulous. I was amazed by the individual attention she gave the children. She is a special person. Another of the children present was having a tough time, and she was amazing with him. I also think she was great with his parents. The world needs more people like her and places like here. Thank you

Charlotte Morris

11 Jun 2025

Nikki’s Little Play Café is an absolute gem for parents with babies and young children. Nikki is truly wonderful with the kids — she brings so much energy and care into every session, from tumbling fun to slide races and other creative activities that keep little ones giggling and engaged. The space itself is spotless and thoughtfully designed with young children in mind — safe, welcoming, and full of things to explore. The food is another standout: perfectly tailored for weaning babies and toddlers, with plenty of healthy and appealing options. It’s hands-down the best place for miles around for little ones to play, learn, and burn off energy while parents relax and connect. Highly, highly recommend!

Katy Edmed

10 Jun 2025

Nikki's Little Play Cafe is gorgeous, that's the main word that comes to mind. It feels light and airy, with soft pastel colours used everywhere, and the cap on numbers (max of 20 children for a typical session) means it doesn't feel overcrowded or too busy. I took my typical 6 year old daughter and my 3 year old son, who has Down Syndrome. Both of them absolutely loved it. They have a sensory room which was just dreamy, if you need a little break from playing. It's open to everyone, but you can also ask staff if you feel your child needs time alone in there. At one point, the assistant manager led the children around with bubbles and kept them engaged for ages. There is a good selection of drinks and snacks available, including homemade cakes which looked to be almost all gluten and/or dairy free. I found the entry price to be competitive (£6.50 for each of mine, for 1.5 hours play), especially considering as accompanying adults are free. (Paying for myself to go into a soft play is a pet peeve!). The staff were all polite and friendly, and engaged with the children, and the whole place was sparkling clean. Nikki and her team really have thought of everything, and we will definitely be back!

Chloe Downing

08 Jun 2025

Such a lovely place for children to play! Its so clean and colourful, my little one loved playing in the small area and the larger soft play area. The sensory room is amazing too! Really happy and friendly staff! Would definitely recommend to anyone with young kids as there is plenty of room to run around and lots of variety of toys and spaces.

Gill

07 Jun 2025

We were visiting friends in Weymouth and due to the awful weather that was due we looked elsewhere for something to do…. What a little gem we found!!! The welcome as we arrived knowing it was our first time…. The decor and soft play was lovely - the pastel made it feel more relaxed than the usual primary colours!! It felt very inclusive for all children which was so lovely to see!! The extra mile with toiletries for all in the toilets was such a lovely touch!! Sensory room was great….. we were so impressed by it all!! A special guest Thumper was very cute for Easter!! Ours boys loved it - especially the bubbles and chocolate eggs as we left!! We will definitely be returning when we visit Weymouth again!!

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