Ikea often offers Kids Eat Free specials (there is one going on through tomorrow, 7/4). In addition to this week’s special, the Ikea Seattle store offers:
- Kids eat Free day each Tuesday
- Free breakfast on Mondays until 11 am
- Hot Dog and Soda for $1 in the Bistro
- $1 Tall Lattes in the Bistro!
(Be sure to check the Ikea website to make sure the specials are still going on during your visit).
I love this deal, because they also offer a great free indoor playroom for kids, right next to the cafe, in addition to all of the food specials!
For those of you who have not taken advantage of this freebie, I highly recommend it, especially for rainy day fun. There is a ball room, theater area, play structures, arts and crafts and more. You get one hour of free play time for your kids (they must be potty trained). If you are a member of Ikea Family then you can get an hour and half (if its not too busy). You can join Ikea Family at a Kiosk between the cafe and play area (just ask the attendants where its at).
We try to go fairly early on the kids eat free days, and don’t usually run into too many crowds (they open at 10am). I have been taking my kids for years (started with my now 14 year old when he was little) and we have never run into any problems. When you check your child in they will give you a beeper to notify you if you’re needed back in the play area before your hour is up.
After dropping your kids off, I recommend you head back outside and then over to the exit door (the Bistro is located in the checkout area of Ikea, and this is the easiest route there from the play area). You can grab a $1 latte there, before wandering the store kid free!
Right next to the play area is the Ikea Cafe. We headed over and the kids got to pick between chicken strips and fries, meatballs and mash potatoes or macaroni and cheese and veggies. My kids picked the fried chicken strips and french fries of course, so I could not refuse them when they each asked for a fruit cup. Those were $.99 each, but since the lunch was free, I could not complain. The kids meals also come with your choice of juice box, milk or fountain drink. There is no purchase necessary for this deal, so you can eat if you want to (there are usually low cost specials for adults too), or just feed your kids.
Here’s a picture from a visit last week with 2 kids meals (Mac & Cheese with veggies) & the Herb Roasted Chicken & Mashed Potatoes entree which was just $2.99.
In the cafeteria, there is a kids area towards the back. My girls got to sit at a kids size table and watch Dora while they enjoyed lunch. They were in heaven. I did notice someone working on their laptop and my phone was getting wireless service…so I am wondering if Ikea offers free wifi? Anyone know the answer to that?
I love to meet up with a girlfriend here, and get our coffees and wander the store for some great deals. We can always find something for just a couple of dollars to get a fix on that shopping urge when we are broke. All in all, its a great way to entertain young kids for an afternoon, and get a few minutes to yourself.
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I love IKEA and my husband says it’s my happy place. (It reminds me of Europe where I had such good times in my youth.) My son (11) calls the ball pit the “Pit of Despair” because when he was little, a kid peed in it and they all had to come out while it was cleaned. He never went back in again. ;-) Luckily, he’s interested in art and design, and big enough to come through the showrooms etc. with me without fussing about it. So we go drive down there and look around and eat marzipan cake. Heavenly. It’s also really great on super hot days, you can walk around for hours and still stay cool.
That is such a funny story Frau :) Thanks for sharing. My kids love the arts and crafts too!