The Jitterbugs

I had not been for a while, but it seemed vastly improved. The children's area was well organised and set up in an interesting way. My 3 and a half year old loved it. The soft toys were a nice touch . Service was lovely friendly staff.

The kids loved playing here, there was a good variety of toys/activities and the food and coffee was great value and quality

Approximate cost: $10

What a shame. So much potential, but total lack of management let it down. Have just returned from a visit after my 4 year-old son begged to be taken and first impressions were good. However, the visit was spoilt by a family with an out of control 7 year-old (too old to be in there in the first place - esp. since all the signs say max. age 6 years). One small child was kicked in the face and given a bloody lip, my son was called 'a baby' and bullied and antagonised. The parents seemed oblivious and as for the owner of Jitterbugs? She was friends with the parents and all 3 sat drinking coffee whilst this went on and the manager didn't say a word and just smiled inanely at me when I asked the parents to please watch what their boy was doing. The family with the injured child left in disgust - I stuck it out longer as, despite the horrendous 7 year-old, my son was actually enjoying himself. Meanwhile, my blood was boiling and we eventually left as I couldn't put up with it a minute longer. What a joke! Would I go again? No. Would I recommend it? No. Unless the management changes, I would never set foot in there again.

We have been coming to Jitterbugs for 2 years. The staff are fantastic. Our grandson loves the fun of it all. I don't think you could find a happier spot anywhere. Great value for money. Coffee good too.

Approximate cost: $10 +

I have been going to Jitterbugs for the last 20 months, and it has bee a great exprience. I have even become their VIP member because of how often my daughter wants to go. She loves one of their staff and if we are ever at Castle Towers the first and only stop must always be Jitterbugs.

I don't have any comparison, but I think it is great for young children. Our granddaughter loved it and we liked the cappuccino

This place is great for toddlers and preschoolers. Some other play cafes can be overwhelming for young ones with a lot of stuff they can't do. This place is great. Entry is reasonable with discounts for more than one sibling and the coffee is impressive. Small cafe area but friendly service and comfortable.

Jitterbugs is a great place to let the kids have a good old play around and stretch their legs in between trying to get the shopping done :)

Great place to take the kids. Can see them from the cafe area. You know they are safe playing in there. Great for both my 3 year old and very active 13 month old.

Approximate cost: $17

Jitterbugs is great for my toddler. There isn't another place around that is so suitable for the little ones!

Approximate cost: $8.00

Great soft play area with little room for injury. Can watch the kids from any angle. Would be great however if there could be a better design for the tables and chairs as I have a newborn and it's always a challenge getting in and out.

Approximate cost: $10

Great little indoor playland for kids under 3.5 years of age. My son loves it and always asks to go. Staff are great and friendly and I always get a great coffee made by the owner. Parents can enjoy there coffee and at the same time watch the kids play.

Approximate cost: $10

I find the staff @ the jitterbugs play land very friendly and actually care about their customers. These days it dosnt happen with many small buisinesses.
With my experiences here I always walk out with a smile no matter what mood I am in before I come. My children are happy when they leave and I have no worries with sitting out at their small but sufficient cafe while my children have the time of their life. I can see my children and they can see me.
I find their play land one of the cleanest around and I know for sure how clean it is as I have whitnessed them doing so on many occasions.
I've have read a couple of these reviews and am disappointed to see people put this small friendly clean cafe and play land down. I have become a regular customer to this play land as I think it is the cleanest and most friendliest okay land I have yet come across and I salute the owner and her staff for all of their hard work. I hope I am not the only one!

Approximate cost: $17 for two children ALL day

We organised a 5th birthday party for my son at the Jitterbugs Castle Hill venue for 11:00am on Sunday 4 December 2011. When we reached the venue we found that nothing had been set up including no sitting arrangements for the parents . When we questioned the staff about this, they said that they are shortstaffed (something that was not revealed to us beforehand).

As per our arrangement Jitterbugs were supposed to prepare their set menu of chicken breast nuggets,fruit platter, hot chips and unlimited supply of fruit juice cordial (Menu 2) for kids and another for the parents as well as wedges. However when we reached the venue there was only cheese and crackers on the table. Upon questioning the staff, they set off to prepared the platters but came out with only one fruit platter for the kids. We had to go back and show them what we had booked and it was only then that they set off to make the second platter for the parents. At this point most of the kids and parents had arrived at the venue (around 11:00am) as per our invitation.

At about 11:20 a.m a staff member came and asked whether they should start preparing the chicken nuggets and wedges. To this we questioned whether this was not already done and were told no.

So for a party booked for 11:00 a.m the food arrived at approximately 12:00 noon already one hour late, after we had to go and ask for these dished at least three times. Also they were two plates short so we had to chase after this as well.

The kids were getting restless and hungry by this time. However, we as well as the other parents there were surprised to see that for $21.95 per child (excluding the cake and lolly bags) that we were being charged for the function the Jitterbugs only served one nugget with some chips for a 5 year olds meal. When we went to question the menu with a staff member we were told that they will give us some more nuggets on the house although we could see that they had prepared another batch of chicken nuggets that they had placed behind the counter and were helping themshelves to it.

As for the catering we had to go and ask for cordial that should come with the meal as well as serviettes.

The Jitterbugs website clearly states that the birthday parties (min 8 kids-we had 11 at this party) there is supposed to be a host either a lady bug or bumble bee for boys who are supposed to provide full party table sevice including organised games but unfortunately neither of these services were extended to us although we were charged for this service. Neither was there a host present for the party nor were any games or entertainment provided for the kids.

There were two staff present on the day out of which only one was dressed as a lady bird while the other was in normal casual clothes. Instead of hosting the party as they are supposed to these staff were busy serving other customers in the ajoining cafe. When questioned about these services that we had paid for, a staff member very rudely told us that they were short staffed and to call her boss. Upon calling the boss to ask her about this inconsistencies we were rudely told that she was busy with another christmas party offsite and did not have time to talk to us.

I feel really sorry for my 5 year old son as nobody from the Jitterbugs even bothered to come out and sing the happy birthday song for him. However, to put icing on the cake, when we went to pay, we were charged for one and half hours instead of one hour service that we had booked even though the Jitterbugs had taken one hour to get the food ready. When we pointed this out to the staff we were told that they have been instructed to do so by their boss.

This whole thing has left us very embarrased infront of all the parents and also guilty that were were not able to provide our son with the birthday that we promised him. He has been looking forward to this for months.

The parents of 11 other kids that witnessed all this and were as equally horrified by all this as us. We got comments that they were never hosting their birthday parties at Jitterbugs.

I called the manager/owner (boss) the next day to complain but she instead tried to shift all the problems on being shortstaffed which just shows that they are unprepared to host our event.

So even if you book the party and pay the money there is no guarenttee that you will get the service that you paid for. On that fact that there was no host for the party or entertainment provided as per the website the (boss) said that there should have been somebody looking after the party and was supposed to talk to the staff and get back to me but I am still waiting.

Having been to several kids parties over the years this was by far the worst experience that I have ever had.

We have written a formal letter of complaint to the Jitterbugs management as well but as usual have not recieved any response.

Approximate cost: $300

My 18mth old loves this place!! Everything is soft so if your young one falls there is less likely to be tears. Its a fantastic place for parents and carers to have a coffee or a bite to eat whilst being able to watch thier children at play. The staff there are super friendly and there is everything here to keep your child busy from a ball pit to a jumping castle.. something for all ages. Ive reccomended Jitterbugs to friends and they think its a wonderful place too. I would highly reccomend bringing your young one here.

The Jitterbugs play land and cafe is a gorgeous place to take the kids. I've been taking my toddler and 3 year old regularly (before or after shopping in the center!) for a few months and they just love the place! I would like to just mention the cafe part of the play land and say that it doesn't compare to other play centers in Sydney - the food is always fresh, well presented & delicious ( the kids get nuggets and chips and I normally get a chicken and salad wrap! ).. not to mention the Lavazza coffee, served to you by their cute lady bug waitresses! Also, the play land itself is always well kept, clean and not too chaotic for the younger kids which is a big plus.

- a real great, affordable treat for the kids, while I sit back and relax, I really recommend a visit to the Jitterbugs play land.

Approximate cost: $8

Its a great place to let the little kids and babies have a play without getting trampled by big kids. Everything is padded and the parents can have a coffee while the kids play or play with them. The food is okay and the coffee is great. Its really safe for the younger ones.

Approximate cost: $30.00approx