The Playplace

We love playplace! My daughter loves the warm environment, live music, events, and Allison the owner! The Halloween party this year was the absolute best, pumpkin decorating, live music, and toddlers/​babies all in costume. We bought a package and it’s well worth it.

The Playplace is a warm, welcoming and bright spot to hold a birthday party for a child between the ages of 1 and 5: we’ve booked it for our son’s three-​year-​old and four-​year-​old parties, and will likely be back next year to make it a hat trick. Alison, the owner, worked closely with us but was never overbearing: while she had many fantastic ideas she listened carefully to ours as well. There is an amazing array of well-​maintained toys, lots of comfortable places for adults to collapse and the kitchen facilities are immaculate. The support Alison offers really hits a sweet spot for us. Lots of communication, she always answers the phone and responds to email, and she even sent me a list of brilliant reminders, like candles for the birthday cake. In the last half hour of the party, as we were all sugar-​crashing and negotiating exits and goodbyes, Alison quietly put away uneaten food and assembled our avalanche of gifts for a seamless departure. We were really just there for the party and didn’t do much besides enjoy ourselves. Perfect.

The Playplace is a fantastic location with great clientele. The owner, Alison Hook, is a wonderful, warm and creative individual who brings warmth and color to every nook and cranny of the space. Great place for kids!

Great space for younger kids. Space is tight, but full of toys. Organized and clean.

Small daycare size facility. Had lots of great toys and activities for my toddler to keep him busy

The Playplace is a cozy spot to come inside and play. It is a small space, but the owner transformed the space beautifully. The small space is really a plus because I can keep an eye on the kids, even if they want to play on opposite sides of the space. Alison, the owner, is so talented and creative. The space is packed full of engaging activities. My kids are never bored, even after many hours of play. Some activities include: doll houses, dolls and accessories, costumes, supermarket, play kitchen, climbing structure, ball pit, work table, train table, reading area, sand table, arts and crafts, and more. My one «complaint» is that my kids don’t want to leave when it is time to go.

My 23 mo son and I had a fun time here. I wish I lived closer, we’d probably be here alot. I was expecting it to be more like an indoor play ground. While there are many things to climb on, it is not an indoor play ground. It was clean and well-​organized. There are several different areas of play and we both enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere. Free coffe and tea for the adults is a plus. There is a separate arts and crafts area, too. My son LOVED playing with all the trucks and trains. I think the entry way needs a barrier and a gate to prevent little ones from wandering to the door. I would reccommend it to a friend.

Super spot for a kid party. We just had our 3 year olds birthday here and it couldn’t have been better. The owner went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of and that everything was perfect. I’ve hosted a lot of birthday parties and this may have been the easiest and most personalized all at the same time!
This is a great spot for drop in playtime on the weekday or special event hosting. I highly recommend it.

I’m a nanny and care for a little girl who just turned 16 months old… We’ve been coming to the PlayPlace since she could crawl! I don’t know what we would have done all winter with out this perfect little indoor play spot. I love that it is geared towards children under 5 and that I have the opportunity to meet other caregivers/​parents in the area. The owner is so sweet and always happy to help with anything anyone needs in her establishment. Definitely our favorite baby hangout!

This place is fun. My 16 month old had fun and there was lots to play with. We were there on a Friday so got to hear the music which she liked. The only reason for 4 stars is that the place is kind of small for an indoor playroom.

I heard so many great things about this place and finally brought my son in today. He loved it. There is a great selection of different toys and areas. The owner is also very nice and answered any questions I had. She also has a nice space set up in back with arts and crafts & complementary coffee or tea. Another great thing is once you pay, youre welcome back later that day even if you leave and come back.
I will be bringing my son back soon.

So I walked by this at least 10 times on my way to the gym with my little munchkin and thought, wow, finally a play space near my house and I should really go in there.
Today I finally went and boy was it terrific. Alison, the owner, was soooooo nice, helpful and engaging to my son. She immediately showed me around, helped watch him while I got settled and made me feel so comfortable and welcomed.
I will be sure to go back again and again, bc the space is clean, organized, bright and cheery. There is an area for breast feeding, changing, arts and crafts for the older kiddos and soon to be a back room for moms groups. She also offers coffee, tea and light snacks (for purchase) for the kids if you forget yours. We had a ton of fun on this soggy day!

Am I really the first one to review this place? It’s been open for months. This leads me to believe that which perhaps I already knew. I am like the Mother Goose of the Unilocalers. All of you young whippersnappers are off galavanting around Union Square, enjoying all of the ultracool things Somerville has to offer to you, as I did when I was your age, while I am engaged in a constant search to find entertaining locales for my goslings. I’m not bitter. Just surprised that I’m apparently the lone remaining Unilocaler of my kind. And seeing as I haven’t written a review in, cough, months (don’t strip me of my Elite badge, please!) I’m obviously not thriving in this habitat. Forgive me.
But there *are* lots of parents in Somerville! And lots of them *do* take their kids here! So you don’t have to just take my word for it. Stop by on any day, and you’ll see what many others have already discovered — the Playplace is a lovely spot to bring the kids. Here is a smattering of what you, too, can find beyond that door: dress up clothes of all kinds, including princess heels fancy enough to make any mom feel underdressed, dolls, dolls, more dolls, doll accessories, doll clothes, doll strollers and high chairs, play kitchens, play food, a play grocery store complete with cash register, couches for grown ups to melt into, bean bag chairs, trains, musical instruments, infant toys, books, a small indoor climbing structure, a ball pit, a tent, an area for painting, water, and sensory play, occasional arts & crafts and singalongs. Bet you didn’t think all of that could be hiding behind this door! But it is. An enchanted world that your children will never want to leave.
The Playplace is clean, fresh, and happy, and it’s a fabulous place to bring children on hot days, cold days, rainy days, days when you just need to get out of the house — any day, really! The more frequently you go, the more you save on entrance fees, so just buy the pass, because you’ll certainly use it once you realize how much better this place is than any other place of its kind.
Someone please write another review so I can stop feeling like the lame-​o old person who clearly doesn’t belong at the party.