The Pottery Cafe, Collaroy

We love the Pottery Cafe. If you follow our Facebook Page or Instagram account  you’ll know how often we go there.  The Pottery Cafe has to be my daughter’s favourite ad hoc activity!

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to put this together. I should have done it ages ago!!

A great indoor activity in a beautifully calm setting that serves food, drinks and incredible babychinos. 

Here’s all the information you need to visit. And, if I was you, I would visit. It’s light and bright, clean and airy all centred around an activity for the little ones.

Where is Pottery Cafe 

Location

The Pottery Cafe is in Collaroy, on the Northern Beaches. Collaroy is the suburb between Dee Why and Narrabeen so almost half way up the Northern Beaches. 

If you know Collaroy, it’s not up at the Plateau but down on Pittwater opposite the beach. 

Despite it being right on the road, it’s quiet inside and you don’t notice the traffic. 

Address and Parking 

The official address is 1129 Pittwater Road, Collaroy NSW 2097. 

It’s actually really well located because it is behind the B1 bus stop. It’s also across the road from the council car park next door to The Collaroy.   

What is the Pottery Cafe all about 

The Pottery Cafe is not about making pottery. It’s about decorating your own piece of pottery and then having it glazed. I’ve detailed the process below with more information. 

1. First you choose

The first step of the process is to choose what you want to paint. There are quiet a few to choose from and it changes pretty regularly. We’ve painted a host of things, including: 

• Christmas decorations 
• A princess 
• Superheroes 
• A giraffe which I’ve lost 
• A pony 
• A mug (I think it’s a mug, it’s currently at the store waiting for collection.) 

2. Then you pay

When you pay the number on your invoice / till slip will be put on the bottom of your item. Either they will do it for you or ask you to write it on the bottom. 

The trick to paying is to remember, REMEMBER your slip. Or at least take a photo of it! You won’t be able to get your glazed item without that special number.

 

You’ll also get given a date for you to return to collect your glazed item. It will be around a 2 week wait.

3. Then you pick up your paints:

 Underneath the pottery items are rows of bags. In each of those bags you’ll find:

• Paint tubes of different colors 
• Paint brushes 
• A plastic paint pallet to put you different colours on, or in our case to mix them all together so you have varying shades of purple that becomes brown. 
• A table cloth 
• A small plastic tub to fill with water. 

When you go fill up your plastic tub with water, grab plenty of paper towel which is located next to the basin because you’re going to need it to dry your brushes after “washing” it. 

A tip from experience:

Make sure your kids know the difference between the paint water and the water to drink. Or put them far apart. I’ve seen a few kids drink the wrong one…   

4. Then you paint: 

If that wasn’t fun enough, now is the time to start the painting. 

I’ve tried so hard to let my kids do it by themselves but often I find myself just filling in those little gaps. 

There are thre tricks with the paining that I’ve worked out. They may seem obvious but in the chaos you may forget. 

Top tips:

1. Do not. I repeat do not. paint over the number on the bottom. 
2. Paint all over otherwise you’ll have boring white weird portions. 
3. If you’re really lucky the may have some glitter paints, ask the staff if they have any. This is my daughter’s favourite. 

5. Lastly, place your precious item to be glazed 

Once you’ve painted and eaten and then painted some more you should probably stop. You’ll only know you’ve added too much paint or detail when you’ve already done it. It’s at this point that my husband tells me to “let go and walk away”.

Now you leave your item up on the shelf near the tap and cleaning up station.

The shiny, chic smooth quality is a great surprise. At first my little one couldn’t believe it was actually hers that she had painted. 

Pottery Cafe Facilities 

Painting supplies 

Everything you need is provided. From the pottery you choose to the paint trays, table clothes and paint smocks. We do however take our own paint smocks. 

The Space 

There is plenty of space inside so you can take a group of little ones without worrying about them knocking into people. 

Food 

This is what complements the whole experience. There is food, wine and coffee!! The babychinos are incredible as they come with chocolate shavings, sprinkles, cream and marshmallows. Or you can just have them really plain and normal. 

I know that the menu has just undergone a change so I can’t attest to all the food just yet. But you can follow their Instagram page for regular photos. 

We’ve even had a very successful playdate at the Pottery Cafe with two of my daughter’s besties and their mums.

Just remember that there is a 2 week wait for your items to be glazed. It may be hard to quell your impatient child but it’s definitely worth it! 

For more pictures of our visits to The Pottery Cafe check out the AllThingsMomSydney Facebook Album or our Instagram Account.