Little Beans Cafe

We liked little beans. It was our first time there with our 7 month year old. I had made the mistake of not bringing socks because we didn’t know and they provided us with socks because it was our first time. The venue is very clean and spacious, which is good because I can imagine that when it’s crowded, space would be a necessity! We hung out mainly in the crawler area and the baby area which was nice because it was a change in scenery from our home. I don’t know if this was just a fluke, but it was hot in the main area. Like 77 degrees hot, according to their thermostat. But other than that, we had a nice time. Will be back, but will probably wait until William is just a tad more mobile.

I had my daughter and son’s birthday party at Little Bean’s Café this past weekend and it was perfect! The adults had a blast playing basketball. The older kids enjoyed the karaōke room and the ping pong tables and the younger kids had a blast in the ninja warrior room. EVERYONE was entertained! The place was super clean and the staff was extremely helpful. They even offered to clean all my dishes!!! I have never had any other place offer me that! My kids kept saying it was their favorite party ever! I think we’ll stick to Little Beans Café for all their birthday parties. The staff did an amazing job keeping the kids safe and entertained. We were very pleased!

This is a huge play place that my 2yo thoroughly enjoys. It’s a lot closer to me than the Exploritorium, roughly the same price (as we are non-​residents), a whole lot cleaner, and the NATURAL LIGHT is a huge bonus for me. My son absolutely loved the space, especially the open gym area where he could explore/​play with with different sports equipment. There’s also an obstacle course area for children 4+ that looks real fun!
I really like that there is food for purchase, though the options are far from healthy. That’s slightly disappointing, but not a deal breaker.
One thing that I was really miffed about was with some of the parents playing basketball in the gym. While I think it’s totally cool for parents to have fun in the area, I do not think it’s okay to shoot hoops with little ones running around. There was a GRANDMA who continued to shoot hoops despite the fact that my 2yo was right underneath the hoop. Then she gave me attitude (as if my son was intruding upon HER space) when I attempted to shield the ball from hitting my son in the head.
I think there should be some signage to remind some of the parents that this is a children’s play area, and their safety and enjoyment of the space should come first. Otherwise, the space is perfect and super fun for children. Really clean and there are monitors who continually watch over the space and keep it organized. We’ll definitely be back.
Free wi-​fi is a great bonus, as well.

Fun place for kids. Here was my actual interaction with the young man ringing me up at the café:
Me (looking at glass of what appears to be weak iced tea on the counter:) Is this mine? Are you sure this is iced coffee?
Young man: Yes, it might look weak but it tastes right, try it. We use a cold brew concentrate.
Me:(tries it; tastes exactly how it looks) This is mostly water. I think your concentrate ratio might be off or your concentrate isn’t actually concentrated.
YM: no, it’s correct. I measured it out.
me: Okay, I’m just telling you what it tastes like.
yM (reeeaaaal snotty): well, you’re the first person whose ever said that and we’ve been doing this for five days.
Me (in my head, wow, five whole days?!)
YM: (pours a new coffee for me, another employee comes over to see what’s going on, YM tells her I’m complaining) She says it’s too weak.
Other employee: Yeah, I can see that. You can change the ratio to 2-​to-​1.
YM: I already gave her like DOUBLE what she’s supposed to get. (Hands me new drink with slightly more coffee apparent)
As I turn away, YM to coworker: I’m not the best Guinea pig for this since I don’t drink coffee. You try it.
Thanks for making me feel like an asshole with your superior coffee knowledge. Really? Why make snide comments when your coffee is the issue? Just get another coffee and apologize. You’re still working out the kinks of your iced coffee concentrate. It’s okay to say that.
(Second, «double strength» iced coffee in the photos)

Little Beans is a great place to bring my 2 yr old son on any day we need a little variety in toys or if we just need to get out of the house. The Evanston location is super nice: it’s a clean, wide open space where I can watch my son easily as he runs from station to station. I like coming here either with friends or just the two of us.
The only reason I can’t give this place 5 stars is for the cost of their food/​drinks. A medium cup of plain coffee is over $ 3 — the cost of a latte even at a fancy coffee place! I get that it’s refillable, but I’m surprised they charge so much at the café.
Perhaps a frequent buyers program? I know they have discounts at the café if you purchase a VIP membership, but I wouldn’t use all the other amenities that come with that membership.

This is an amazing place to take the kids on a rainy or winter day. The visitors (children and adults) are remarkably well behaved. The play spaces are fantastic: there is a gym with floor hockey equipment and basketball nets, a karaōke room, an «American Ninja Warrior”-like obstacle course, and a wonderful dress-​up/​play area with lots of different «buildings,» slides, etc. There are also a couple of spaces for infants.
Staff seems to have improved the last few times I’ve visited, so I’ve updated my review. One minor note: they don’t re-​brew their stale coffee, so either order espresso-​based drinks or be sure to ask when the coffee was last made. Last time I asked, it was over THREE HOURS! Starbucks tosses theirs after thirty minutes. The only thing worse than stale coffee is being charged for it.

The best indoor play place I have set foot in so far! My 3 year old boy had a blast! At first I thought $ 14 was a bit much, but it definitely worth it at this location. Three hours of non-​stop fun and we still weren’t ready to leave!
They have an area for coats and shoes. They have a café where you can purchase food/​snacks, or bring your own and eat in the designated areas. So perfect! There is an area for younger ones, infants to 4 year olds, and then another area for the older kids! My 3 year old also loved that room though. It has a gym with basketball, soccer and hockey. A room to do karaōke with Disney songs, a foam pit, air hockey, ping pong, and what my son likes to call a «floor tablet» that is just a projection on the floor where you can play games with your body. So cool!
We will definitely be back again and again. It’s clean, everyone is friendly and there’s a private parking lot! Yay!

Busy as heck on a Saturday but they make it work and it isn’t chaotic. There is so much for my 4 year old son to do AND they played Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Dark Side of the Moon front to back. Everybody wins!

I was excited to check out this place with my sister and her 3 year old. I didn’t know you need to wear socks (I was wearing flats) and was surprised and excited to receive a free pair from the front desk! That was really nice!
In couldn’t believe the price… $ 14 for 1 kid?!? Wild! The big kid ninja room looked cool & I think that seems to be worth more $ than the little kid room.
The little kid room is for kids up to age 5, though 5 is way to old to be in there. My sister is a kinder teacher and agrees! There are many tables along the edges of the room and some parents were on their laptops paying no attention to their kids, some of whom were running completely wild. I was surprised the room was set up to allow for parents to visit with friends or be on their laptops. I didn’t see any workers policing the room at all. Bigger kids threw a truck and another big toy down an enclosed tube slide (i.e. No warning when toys are flying down it) and it nearly hit little kids! No one was watching!
There’s a laser going in a dark room and the kids loved running around in there, but again, about half the kids have parents with them and the other half are running free. My sister and I agreed it was a dog eat dog kind of place. If your kid is shy or nervous, this is not their place! This is for alpha kids it seems… Many running around taking things other kids had, being aggressive, etc. and there were no consequences. I bet the owners will soon add attendants to each room to gently enforce rules. The sign on the door to the little kid room doesn’t even stipulate that you need to watch your kid.
I can see the allure to a place like this. Kids can run around and parents can drink coffee… But that doesn’t mean that parents can ignore 2−3−4 year olds!!!

We wanted to give Little Beans another shot from our earlier experiences when they had just opened and maybe staff/​owners were still figuring out the kinks in the business. Sad to say that it was exactly the same as we experienced previously. Big kids running all over the little kids areas, staff that couldnt have cared less and certainly was not enforcing the rules, dirty/​broken toys, and food everywhere. My kids are 3 and under and I was genuinely worried about their safety. Oh and no it wasnt a school holiday or weekend… it was just a random weekday.
As i said in my previous review I completely understand its the parents responsibility to watch their kids but when that is clearly not happening the staff HAS TO STEP IN. Its unfair that all paying customers cant enjoy the spaces safely (not just the ones who choose to ignore their kids and the supposed rules).
But what i think is probably most telling as to why these problems still exist is the attitude of the owner. Just reading his responses to negative critiques shows why the staff doesnt care. Every complaint is met with an– its not their responsibility, this job is hard, «complainers» are lying, or some other defensive response instead of seeing just how many people have the same problems and attempting to fix them. That type of attitude will trickle down to the employees. And the hard truth is that this is NOT the case at other similar establishments.
Ive owned a small business (child related as well) in the past so I know how hard it is and how yes sometimes you get people who complain just for the sake of complaining which is beyond frustrating. But in this case, there are many people who are complaining about the same safety issues over and over again. They arent all fake reviews (just like i assume all positive reviews arent «fake» too?). I even hear this stuff from other moms in moms groups that im in so instead of getting defensive why not listen and try and fix what you can?
Its really too bad because there arent many place spaces around here but personally i’d prefer to spend my time/​money where 1) my child was safe, 2) the place was clean, and 3) the people running/​working at the place actually cared about the customers/​kids.

Best play space. My kids always have a blast. The staff is super friendly and the food good. There is always somebody cleaning around and making sure the kids are safe. Great selection of toys. Highly recommended !!

All I can say is that the owner has said my review was not honest. Instead of addressing the issues I had with his business, he somehow turned it on me. Yet, there are very similar reviews ti mine. Guess they weren’t being honest either.
This was pretty much the same attitude when we approached the staff after my friend’s baby had a wooden train launched into her head from the slide by a child who was not even supposed to be in the younger kids room.
To Rob S
A. No it was not a school holiday or a weekend. The last time was just an ordinary Monday (as you could see in my first review date) and the other times were a Wednesday and Thursday.
B. Yes, I HAVE in fact worked in the environment — I was a teacher as well as associate camp director.
C. I was not in the «Ninja Warrior» room, but you wouldn’t know it because of the number of OLDER children running around acting like ninjas and the smaller kids with warrior wounds.
D. The place was dirty with food all over the floors and there were broken toys. At least I am not paying $ 14 just to get into Chuck E Cheese and my kids haven’t been hurt there. And I have witnessed their staff enforcing rules for the safety of the kids.
E. While I understand that your business is your livelihood, keeping my children safe is not simply my livelihood.
F. You should not expect your customers to accept their children being hurt simply because you run a «difficult» business. Whether I have ever worked in the industry or not, children getting hurt due to lack of supervision by staff is NEVER acceptable for any reason.
I am sorry, but the few times I have been to your establishment, your employees did not do everything possible to keep the kids playing there safe. Let’s just start with the the folded up cafeteria tables against the wall that are in the room with LED lights. That’s a major accident waiting to happen. I’m willing to bet that they are STILL there too. And yes, your employees should enforce the rules that you have established. It should not be the responsibility of paying customers to enforce the rules of your business.
The point in writing reviews is to give other consumers the ability to make educated decisions. I think it is only fair that other parents are made aware of the potential dangers when visiting your establishment.
You need to accept criticism when your business fails to meet standards and not take Unilocal so personally. It is business after all — nothing personal.

Great play café! Super modern, open spaces, awesome décor, great music playing (think classic rock, reggae… music grown ups actually enjoy). The staff is friendly and the front door is secure, so there’s no need to worry about losing sight of your little for a minute– no one is getting out the front doors without the help of a grownup.
Keep in mind, there is a full service café attached, so bringing in your own food is not allowed. On the other hand, I’m not sure what exactly they sell in the café, so be sure to ask if you have a food allergy concern, as food purchased in the café is permitted in the open play area.

My nephew had his birthday party here, turning 9 years old, at the Evanston location. What fun it was! The team did a great job of keeping the kids safe but making it fun. The pizza and party room accommodations were just what we needed. I highly recommend it. You might even get a hankering to try the American Ninja Warrior course yourself!

Great indoor place to take the kids to! It’s clean, organized, and the staff is extra friendly and helpful. The only think that is mediocre is the café part, it’s quite expensive and not that great. I would take a snack with me from home. Other than that it’s great. Fairly large play area for the little ones. One side of the place is geared more to newborns-​maybe 6/​7years old with a nursery type room for infants and a pretend play for kids. the other side is more for 4 and up, they have a gym with basket ball nets, goals for hockey or soccer, a training course which is cool, and a room for karaōke. All ages can be entertained here makes it perfect for those who have kids in different age groups! Oh they also have a coloring room, café, and a an area with a air hockey and table tennis. I love it and so do my kids. Will definitely be going there again!

I was excited to see the sign that they served Intelligentsia coffee; I wanted to try it but never had the chance. I did have the opportunity today to go through their drive-​thru. My friend got a nutella late and I got a simple coffee. On the way home, the cup keep leaking on me with very HOT liquid. Even when I got home and I was walking into my apartment, the cup seemed to explode again, burning my hand. My main complaint here is about the temperature of the coffee and a crappy cup that seems to be too easy to have coffee exit the cup.
My friend got their featured latte, a nutella latte, she was excited and I was excited to get a taste of it. The first taste that each of us took made us recoil a bit because of how bad it was.
I didn’t realize there were a whole bunch of fun stuff for kids. But my experience was using a drive-​thru with gourmet and expensive coffee and having it be subpar. I expected much more for the price and the brand name on their coffee.

My daughter had so much fun here! A Place you can take babies up through probably 10 years old. They have several rooms for the kids to do different activities.
In the main room they have tables off to the side for the parents to sit and relax or work. They offer free wi-​fi. There’s a small café with drinks and food.
Socks are required. If you forget you can purchase a pair for $ 2.

Little Beans has been around less than a year and this is still our ultimate favorite! We’ve done summer camp here (it’s a real steal and the kids have such a blast!!) which is a great deal and it’s flexible with which days you can attend. We have also hosted a child’s birthday party here which was super easy to put together and plan. They offer a completely private party option where the WHOLE Little Beans or Big Beans area is yours. Or you can do a more affordable semi-​private party where you’re sharing the space with the public, but you get a great party room right off the Little Beans area. Did I mention that Little Beans Café has coffee? And even better, they have a DRIVE THROUGH coffee if you’re on the go! See my other review for the hours and the amazing offerings.

If I ask my 2-​year-​old what he’d like to do that day 98% of the time his response is «Little Beans.» And if I ask my 4-​year-​old what she’d like to do that day 98% of the time her response is «Big Beans.» My favorite play space back from my city days has opened an Evanston & (IMO) it’s even better because it entertains kids thru the elementary school years.
I’ve been to Little/​Big Beans several times since it opened. The first was during opening week and my 4 year old didn’t even look at me the entire time except to inform me (9 months in advance) that she’d be celebrating her bday there. She was very entertained by all the toys in the Little Beans area & was even more impressed when she saw the zipline and disco room in Big Beans.
Since that first day with my daughter whenever I find myself needing to find something to entertain my kids so I can catch up on work I take them here. My son hasn’t discovered «big» beans quite yet, but he is very content hanging out all day with the littles (usually at their train table). And based on their long hours you can truly stay all day (and even feed them from the café). The food for adults is just so-​so, but the coffee hits the spot. They are also one of the few kid friendly businesses open on Sundays (til 1pm).
Like all new businesses they’ve had some glitches to work out. In this case it’s taken them a little while to figure out when children under 5 are able to use the Big Beans facilities. It’s now very clearly outlined on their website. If you have a child under 5 who’s obsessed with Big Beans (like my daughter) check their website ahead of time to prepare them.
Of course when I asked my kids where they wanted to have their joint bday bash this year the answer was «Little Beans & Big Beans!» Due to the staggering times of parties they make it a bit difficult to rent out both spaces, but were willing to work with me to figure out a way to make it work for later this year. Looking forward to celebrating their bday and many more years to come there.

Just editing the review I posted earlier…
This is a brand new Little Beans Café with a lot of open space for the little ones to run around. We primarily stayed in the room for Little Beans (0−5÷6) which had no shortage of things for the kids to play with. They had a Clubhouse for them to climb, slide, and crawl under, a costume area, grocery store, RV, Vet clinic, ranger station, foam building blocks, magnetic train/​railroad set, book/​reading area, and so much more. After two hours of running around my nephew still asked why we had to leave as he wanted to stay and play more (and then promptly fell asleep during the 8 minute drive home).
The rate for a daily pass for one child is $ 12 but it gets cheaper with each additional child and also if you purchase multi-​visit passes. It is totally worth it for the multiple hours of entertainment these kids get PLUS the extra nap time they will definitely need afterwards as well.
I can’t wait to bring them back again, especially when they get older for the Big Beans (5 – 12) area which looks like a lot of fun too!