Quick info
About Monkey Playhouse and Cafe
Monkey Playhouse and Cafe is a cafe in Doncaster, on Branton, built around an indoor play area within the zoo grounds. The play area has slides and frames for toddlers and children up to around 12, and it is included for members. Parents can order at the food bar, which serves burgers, chicken nuggets and coffee. Meal deals are offered, and members get a discount on food. Bottled and canned drinks are not sold. Food orders stop shortly before closing time.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Kids' menu
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burnt burger, indoor play area, fries and meal deal.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burnt burger, indoor play area, fries and meal deal.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers mostly come for the play area, calling it large once inside, with slides and frames for toddlers up to around age twelve, and several describe it as very good or phenomenal. The food is where opinions turn sharply. Burgers draw the most complaints, described as burnt, frozen, supermarket own brand in taste, and served without salad or trimmings, while the fries are called ok by some and potato-free or lukewarm by others. One reviewer says they got their money back, and another says the chicken nuggets and coffee were ok. Waits come up repeatedly, with reviewers describing long queues to order and a long delay for food, and one says they were refused an order shortly before closing. Others call the prices high, with one reviewer saying staff were inflexible about meal deals. On hot days, one parent found only two covered picnic tables and had to leave with a toddler. Another says the disabled toilets were unsuitable for changing an older child. A few reviewers say they brought their own food, and one suggests doing exactly that.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers mostly come for the play area, calling it large once inside, with slides and frames for toddlers up to around age twelve, and several describe it as very good or phenomenal. The food is where opinions turn sharply. Burgers draw the most complaints, described as burnt, frozen, supermarket own brand in taste, and served without salad or trimmings, while the fries are called ok by some and potato-free or lukewarm by others. One reviewer says they got their money back, and another says the chicken nuggets and coffee were ok. Waits come up repeatedly, with reviewers describing long queues to order and a long delay for food, and one says they were refused an order shortly before closing. Others call the prices high, with one reviewer saying staff were inflexible about meal deals. On hot days, one parent found only two covered picnic tables and had to leave with a toddler. Another says the disabled toilets were unsuitable for changing an older child. A few reviewers say they brought their own food, and one suggests doing exactly that.
Featured reviews
- Alan Crowe
“Chicken burgers were not substantial or dressed. Food took 45 minutes to arrive and the chips tasted like they had been sitting out for 45 minutes. Staff were inflexible with meal deals and disabled toilets were unsuitable for changing older children. Not a great experience at all given that we also paid into the park.”
- Abi Hodgkinson
“Not impressed after quing for 35 mins to order then having to wait for food it came wasn't hot bread tasted off and fries had no potatoe in them just thank full for the play area as my son wouldn't eat the food ether”
- Dumitru Nicusor
“Waited in the que for 10 minutes to order then we've been told we can't order food anymore as they close at 16:30 and the time was 16:15. They were probably too lazy to do anything else. We even asked details about the food and no one said nothing about that.”
- DMreviews
“Food and service from staff, apart from the older lady and the tall blonde girl, was absolutely shocking. I swear I wouldnt feed those burgers to my dog. Its shocking that a place like YWP which is amazing, has a place within, selling food so terrible. Seriously needs sorting out. £9!!! for a meal deal I wouldn't feed to any of the animals. And yes, I got my money back. Shocking”
- Shane Smith
“Good sized play area and frames for toddlers and children 👧🧒 up to the age of around 12. When it's really busy it's a bit overwhelming and seating 💺can be a pain, but generally through the winter ❄️ it's pretty relaxed and less busy. We are YWP members so in essence our trip to the monkey play area is included in our membership. We had some fries 🍟a coffee ☕ and some chicken nuggets 🍗 from the food bar. All food was ok, but use your membership discount to get 10% off (still a bit pricey 🤑) There's toilets 🚻 within, disabled toilets same area and baby changes in both the ladies and gents. All in all it's a good place to let the kids let off some steam and have a few minutes to yourself 🙌 Please click the like button ✅👍🤩”
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Popular for lunch
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
- Casual
- Coffee
Show more amenities
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Toilet
- Dining options· 2
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Family-friendly· 1
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near Monkey Playhouse and Cafe
- The Hub Cafe4.42511.3 mi£15–30Outdoor seating
full breakfast, homemade cakes and brownies, lemon drizzle cake
- Sandringham Cafe4.41653.1 mi£1–15Outdoor seating
early starter breakfast, mediterranean breakfast, cheese on toast
- Simo's Cafe4.72223.4 mi£1–15
full English breakfast, bacon and sausage roll, sandwiches
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey Playhouse and Cafe | 3.869 | — | — | burnt burger, indoor play area, fries |
| The Hub CafeOutdoor seating | 4.4251 | 1.3 mi | £15–30 | full breakfast, homemade cakes and brownies, lemon drizzle cake |
| Sandringham CafeOutdoor seating | 4.4165 | 3.1 mi | £1–15 | early starter breakfast, mediterranean breakfast, cheese on toast |
| Simo's Cafe | 4.7222 | 3.4 mi | £1–15 | full English breakfast, bacon and sausage roll, sandwiches |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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