Next Stop, Nixi City: Bright Indoor Play Café Welcomes Families

An indoor play café recently opened in Shoreline, and it’s perfect for families who are looking for a bright, welcoming and imaginative space where parents can work and kids can play. 

Nixi Play Café is located in the quaint neighborhood of Richmond Beach, and the founders designed the space for parents just like them. The play space is centered around community and bringing people together. What’s that popular saying? “It takes a village.” Well, consider Nixi City at the heart. 

A community hub

“We saw a need in the community,” says Dominique Elkind, owner of Nixi City. “There aren’t many places like this in North Seattle. We created Nixi City as a second home for families to navigate the challenges of parenthood together.” 

The café offers a play area geared toward little ones ages 0–8, although I think the structures and toys are best suited for kids younger than 5. The Montessori-inspired toys and open play space are wonderful for inspiring little minds and fostering creativity, and many of the sensory toys help teach simple lessons, like basic counting, shapes and colors — just don’t bank on older kids being as enthralled. 

When I had a toddling toddler, I would have loved a space like this to hang out at and meet other parents in my community. Raising kids can feel isolating in those first few years, but places like Nixi City can help bridge the gap, bringing people together and allowing kids to have a fun, safe place to play. 

The owners are both local and have always craved a place where they could get out of the house, relax, have a playdate and or get some work done. That dream became a reality when they rented the open space in the small storefront on Richmond Beach Road. They created what they hope can be a hub for families with small kids. 

The imaginative play area 

The 1,300-square-foot play space was designed by child educators and former Google designers. It’s imaginative and thoughtfully curated with wooden structures for exploring. Children can climb up a wooden ramp with handholds and footholds built in, gallivant across the wooden walkway, and dodge hanging obstacles like an obstacle course. Both sides of the play structure have slides for kids to enjoy. 

Plush blocks and circular lily pads are secured to the floor, perfect for jumping from one to another. My young child loved the squishy seesaw. The walls are lined with trinkets for pushing, counting, bopping, sliding and clinking. It’s simple yet inventive, allowing kids to use their creativity and problem-solving skills. My little one loved playing chef in the kitchenette. He would ask for my order as if he were impersonating a waiter, and then he would scamper back to the kitchen to create a concoction just for me. 

When he was done playing chef, he practiced counting using a wooden left and right hand attached to the wall. The fingers move up and down, allowing kids to count the wooden fingers. He would happily high-five the hands after he got math problems correct. If your kids like gears and widgets, there is a space for that as well — a whole wall of moving, shifting circular mechanisms. (I don’t think my 8-year-old would have been entertained as long as my 5-year-old was, but hot cocoa from the café might have done the trick.) 

Note that when you enter the building, you’ll find cubbies to store kids’ shoes before playtime. You’ll want to bring socks for the play area — but don’t worry if you forget them. You can buy Nixi-themed socks (and before you feel guilty about having to buy another pair of socks, just know we had to buy a pair because we left ours at home). Bare feet are not allowed. To enter the play area, you just need to help your kids through the gate, and then off they go for hours of fun. 

Perks for working parents and caregivers 

In the middle of the café are tables for working, or for mingling with other parents and caregivers. In the corner is a small reading nook with chairs and cushions to snuggle up. Bathrooms are in the back and have changing tables. 

Whether you want to get work done or simply hang out with friends, the space makes both possible. I spent about an hour cleaning out my email inbox and watched as my child squealed with excitement as he ran around the play area and explored every small cranny of the play space. I especially love the bar top that overlooks the play area. I plugged in my laptop and watched my child whizz down the slides. 

Matcha, coffee and treats 

As you enter the building, you’re greeted by a coffee bar with a plethora of drinks and snacks (my kid went straight for the applesauce). Nixi City prides itself on the coffee, so leave your mug at home and order an espresso made with a fancy coffee maker. If you’re like me and you love matcha, they have that too. Strawberry matcha has a special place in my heart, so when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had come to the right place. 

I love the bright atmosphere and the vibrant colors and shapes scattered across the open space. The whimsical character designs make you smile as your eye is drawn around the play area and coffee bar.

Hosting parties at Nixi City 

If you’re looking for a space to host a private party, Nixi City is a great option. They host a variety of events, including birthday parties. The entire space is yours when you rent it out, which is a great perk.