Mulberry Lane, an innovative new play café and coworking space in Del Ray, allows kids to play while their parents work, eat, or mingle just steps away.
The business launched in November 2024 as a partnership between co-founder and general manager Stella Borou and the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. Borou, a mother of two, says she saw a need in the community for more kid-friendly spaces.
“We tried to create a space where both adults and children can equally enjoy and spend quality time together,” Borou says.
The next addition will be the upstairs coworking space, Studio Del Ray. There, adults will have access to meeting rooms, Wi-Fi and outlets, and other remote-work essentials. Live-streamed cameras will allow parents to watch their kids while they play downstairs, providing them with the “peace of mind that I always love to have with my own children, to know that they’re having a good time,” Borou says. Studio Del Ray is set to open on February 19.
Downstairs, children ages 1 to 6 can take part in supervised, imaginative play in Mulberry Lane’s Play Lane, which includes arts and crafts stations and role-play areas. Parents can eat, work, or relax in a connected café called Shorty’s. The open layout allows parents to easily keep an eye on their kids while they play.
Or, parents can choose the Dine & Play option, where they drop off their kids and head to a meal at one of Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s eateries on the same block, including Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ, The Front Porch, and The Evening Star. Mulberry Lane also hosts regular events for members, such as build-your-own pizza days for kids.
Several options for memberships and subscriptions are available. Mulberry Lane: 2016 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Just Need a Place to Play?
These play places offer activities for kids of all ages as well as areas for parents to sit and relax.
Scramble
Multiple area locations
Hyper Kidz
21641 Beaumeade Cir., Ste. 311, Ashburn; 7005 Manchester Blvd., Ste. 10B, Franconia
Imagine That Indoor Playground
5101 Waterway Dr., Dumfries
Super Awesome & Amazing
6505 Industrial Rd., Springfield
Just Need a Place to Work?
While these locations don’t provide onsite child care, they do offer remote workers amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, business centers, and mail and package receipt.
WeWork
1201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 901 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington; 1775 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
Carr Workplaces
Multiple area locations
SevaSpaces
2815 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax; 1604 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons
Feature image by John Rorapaugh for Leading DC
This story originally ran in our February Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
