Natural Nest Play Cafe - Newark — Local services in Newark

I was genuinely excited for Play Nest Café in Newark to open, as it’s much closer to me than the Middletown location. However, after today’s experience, I’d rather make the drive to Middletown, where the new licensed owner provides exceptional customer service. She’s attentive, passionate about her role, and goes above and beyond to ensure all families feel welcomed. Her love for what she does is clear—every child is treated fairly, and every parent feels included. That kind of atmosphere is what makes a business thrive.

Unfortunately, Newark’s location has consistently fallen short of those standards for me. Today marked the third chance I gave this location to change my perspective, but it was yet another disappointing experience. I understand that we all have off days, especially as moms, but the consistent lack of effort to create a welcoming environment here speaks volumes.

When my son and I arrived, the atmosphere was uninviting from the start. My son, full of excitement, was quickly met with situations that felt dismissive and unfair. Another child began snatching toys from him, and while her mother was distracted, the person in charge saw it all unfold yet chose to intervene only in favor of the other child. At one point, when my son happily tried to engage with the person in charge’s child, she physically pulled her child away from him, leaving my son visibly saddened. The lack of acknowledgment or effort to include us left me feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

In contrast, my experience at Middletown’s Play Nest Café has always been positive, thanks to the owner’s genuine care for families and her inclusive approach. Today’s experience reinforced the importance of hiring staff who align with a business’s values and understand how to make families feel valued. Sadly, this hasn’t been my experience at Newark.

As much as I love supporting small businesses, I cannot continue to spend my money at a location where I feel unwelcome and discriminated against, nor will I subject my son to such treatment. While the space is aesthetically pleasing, the experience simply doesn’t reflect the environment it should. If you value fairness, inclusion, and genuine customer service, I cannot recommend the Newark location.

I got there at 12:00 pm exact and i left within 20 minutes due to how uncomfortable, depressing...

I wanted to love this facility, but unfortunately, my experience left a lot to be desired.

We booked a last-minute DIY party, and while I appreciated their flexibility with scheduling, the turnaround time on the details was understandably short. I was asked to provide an estimated number of children, and I was told it didn’t need to be exact—just so they could ensure enough seating.

However, on the day of the party, I was told I had to pay for the number I initially estimated. I explained that I planned to pay at the end, once I had a final headcount. When the party ended, I again explained that fewer children attended than expected. Despite this, I was told the owner insisted I still pay for the original number, which felt unfair and inflexible.

We also paid extra for the bubble machine, which turned out to be a complete nightmare. Within 3–4 minutes, the first child slipped and fell due to the slippery puddles the bubbles created. I asked if the charge could be removed, as it created a safety hazard. The staff member attempted to clean it with a paper towel, which only made the mess worse. She said she would ask about the charge, but I was ultimately told I still had to pay. I then asked if we could at least move the machine to a safer location, since I was being charged for it.

When I asked about resolving the billing issue, I was told to message someone, which I did. Unfortunately, the person who responded directed me back to the same individual at the facility who had already said she couldn’t help me. It felt like I was being passed around without any resolution.

To add to the frustration, our trash can was full, and I had to ask for another bag. While the young lady helping us was friendly and clearly doing her best, I feel that her supervisor failed both her and me.

I really wanted this to be a great experience, but it ended up being more stressful...

We had a great time visiting the Natural Nest in Newark. The facility is well kept and there are plenty of activities to range different ages. AHK has only ever played at one other in-door play park, and this one was unmatched. There are so many toys for her age, and height- she's TINY! Calming music streams through the speakers as you enjoy your play session. I loved that they offered food and beverages in the case you need one. There's an ample amount of room to store your belongings. They even have high chairs if you need to feed your little ones, and shared clogs so you don't have to enter the bathroom in just your socks!

The only negative I have to say about this particular location is the lack of steps on the play gym. There is ramp with grip, but it's pretty steep and tough to climb while guiding a small toddler. The only other option is a climbing wall, which again, not super easy to navigate to the top with your child.

We don't live in DE, but I would definitely recommend Natural Nest to others...