Circus Playcafe

On a rainy, winter Vancouver weekday, Circus Play Cafe is alive with the hum of happy children, the hiss of the coffee machine, and the chatter of parents who are catching up while their little ones play. But this great indoor play space at 12th and Commercial is equally busy no matter what the weather or time of year.

The creation of parents Toby Manson and Anuk Harvey, Circus came into being when they were looking both for ways to keep their own kids engaged and for a business to build together that was outside of the traditional work environment. Play cafés - thoughtfully designed play spaces that charge a small pay-for-play fee in a café environment that appeals to parents - are a growing trend around the world as they make café culture easily accessible to new parents.