All the Fun of the Fair

Carousel
22 Aughtie Drive
Albert Park Lake, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
+613 846 6000
open: 7 days 8am-4pm (ish)

SUMMARY RATING
highchair: Y
change table: N
friendly enough?4/5
fast enough? 4/5
pram friendly? Y

Does it show my age to mention that I remember Carousel as the nightclub? There were a few less than wholesome nights hanging over Albert Park Lake in those days ... My how we've changed.

Now, I spend the morning's breakfast desperately trying to prevent my mobile little man from also hanging over the Lake. I have never been more wholesome as I order chai lattes and chat about sleep patterns.

What a treat it is when a place grows up with you!

We spent a delightful breakfast with friends - all of us with mobile men (and the babies!). We needed a lot of space, flexibility and quick service as we are all on the mid morning nap routine. Carousel delivered it without a fuss.

The food was great - perfect sizing and did those boys demolish the mushrooms and avocado! Hubby was 'not in love' with the coffee but because everything else was easy, he forgave them.

We took it in gender teams to run with the little ones outside, skipping over dog poo and cigarette butts, so there was as much time as you could hope for to have extra coffee and a good gossip. I understand that to mention staff is always precarious in case they leave, but in this case, the staff really made it one of the easiest breakfasts we have had in a group.

While it is not really a child-friendly park at this end (or rather not an early-toddler friendly park), the outside certainly buys you some extra brekkie time and little man fell straight to sleep for his nap once we were home. Dreaming no doubt about those swans and dipping into that lake while holding on a babychino and a crust of banana bread!