Perfect place to have your toddler's party! There's a reason Purple Monkey keeps popping up every time I looked up toddler birthday party! I was a bit hesitant for the price of the venue but it was so worth it. First, it's private. Just for your kid(s) and their friends. It's a large room with a section that has tables and a kitchenette for the food and cake part and the rest is for the kiddos. There's a play kitchen, train set, a slide, all the things any toddler would love. Even my 11 year old enjoyed it because it reminded him of his younger years. I love that you get a "helper" with the part packages. Ours was Shannon and she was great. Helped decorate a bit. Cut the cake. All the things you need help with that you may not have time for and feel bad asking someone else to take charge of. Overall we had a great party. Couldn't ask for more. read more

Purple Monkey Playroom - They provided table and even the banner holder. I brought my own decorations but they can decorate for you too. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was great and the helper was very attentive .we will definitely come back for another round!!!

Went here for a birthday party & won't be back. The space is small but functional with standard toys (blocks, a slide, dolls, musical toys that were broken). But my issue was the lack of cleanliness. The toys were visibly dirty with black crud wedged in crevices of blocks and toy cars. I watched as staff put all of the toys back in bins and in their esting spot never to be cleaned. Ready for the next kids slower and sneezes. Staff was ready to go so I get it. But damn, they couldn't even be bothered to lysol spray down the toys after we left either. We saw them lock up as soon as we walked to our car. I worked in a daycare and we would have dirty bins that toys soaked in cleaning solution while we cleaned and would be rinsed off before we left. Just wash your kids hands and probably bathe them after spending time here. read more

Such an easy place to throw a birthday party! No cleanup at your own house - what could be better? We did my 5 year olds party here and it was awesome. Jessica was super helpful and easy to communicate with pre-party helping to plan the perfect schedule and answering all of my questions. Veronica was amazing day of the party - she was so fun, the kids loved her and she was so organized as well. She did glitter tattoos and helped the morning go smoothly. Would definitely recommend. We had about 26 kids and 30ish adults. Felt cozy, but totally fine in the space. No alcohol allowed and parking is a bit tricky, but otherwise perfection. You can bring in any other food or beverages you want though they can also handle everything for you! read more

Purple Monkey Playroom - Party area - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Purple Monkey is a neighborhood gem. I have been taking my kids to play dates here for years and it was the perfect location for my son's first birthday. The owner and staff are warm and professional and both my kids and nanny have made great friends with other guests. We're so thankful for this space! read more

We celebrated our son's first birthday here and everything was wonderful. We had great communication with the owner Jessica before the party and during the party, Veronica took care of everyone and everything. Veronica made sure to keep us on track while still having fun and not feeling rushed. Thank you so much for helping us celebrate our son's birthday worry-free! read more

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The staff was helpful and i loved the decorations for my LO's birthday party. The facility is clean and it was great to offer the kids different toys than we have at home. read more

One of the best play spaces in Chicago (they have a new location). We have been to both locations multiple times for birthday parties (we operate an entertainment company- Happy Kids Chicago, Inc). We have always had really good experiences with the staff. They have been always able to accommodate all of our requests. Space is clean, well maintained and has multiple age appropriate toys for the children. The owner Jessica has great communication skills and is always on top of everything regarding the spaces. I would totally throw my child's party at their location. read more

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I attended my niece bday party here. This is a nice party venue for a kid. I didn't have anything to do with the planning of the party so I can't tell you what all was included in there services but I was a witness to a very professional and helpful staff. Street parking was a little hard to find as well. read more

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waiver process is a huge pain No shoes for adults makes the bathroom usage challenging.

Great space for kids! So much to do and didn't feel cavernous. The owner and her kids were so sweet and kind. It was a great place to have a playdate. We will be back! read more

Yesterday we hosted our twin boys first birthday party at Purple Monkey Playroom. The space and setup was perfect for our event. The boys were thoroughly entertained with the selection of play spaces throughout the venue. We used third party companies to set up the balloons decoration and provide catering. The final result was perfect. Due to COVID we did not visit the space prior to booking; but the virtual tour provided on the website was extremely helpful with helping us decide on this place. The space is absolutely perfect for toddlers!! However; I do feel like the timeframe of the party wasn't completely clear. I was under the impression based on phone conversations we had while booking that we paid for a two hour party block (2pm-4pm). With time given before and after to set up/clean up. I was informed that we actually needed to start cleaning up 30 minutes before the end of our party (3:30pm). I expressed my confusion with the schedule and the staff member's response came off irritable. Which was slightly off-putting. I did arrive earlier than the 1:30pm setup time mainly because I wanted to see the space before the third party vendors arrived to set up; so I'll be able to direct them on proper placements. I noticed that the venue was empty when I arrived besides the one staff member (Jennifer) who opened the door for me around 12:45pm. She explained that she was still cleaning up from their previous party before us. I told her I completely understood and just wanted to see the space beforehand; and if possible, unload our stuff earlier than the scheduled 1:30pm time frame since no one else was there. Initially, she responded that it wasn't an issue. She requested 15 more minutes to finish cleaning up and told me she would come outside and signal to us when she was finished since we were waiting in the park car directly out front. I noticed that 24 minutes went by so I knocked on the door again. She came back to the door and said she couldn't let us in before 1:30pm due to the cameras. At this time; I've already reached out to the vendors and informed them that we had a few extra minutes to set up and were expecting them to start arriving around 1:15pm. I reminded her that she JUST said we could enter earlier 20 minutes prior. She said it's an additional charge to come in early. I told her if she needed to charge me for the extra 15 minutes at this time that would be fine because I already told our vendors to come earlier and just needed to start setting up. She charged me an additional $50 for coming in at 1:11pm. The party went on and midway through at 3pm Jennifer mentioned that it was time for us to sing birthday because we needed to start cleaning up by 3:30pm. It was at this moment that I realized we were expected to be out of the space by 4pm; not that the party needed to end and the guest out by 4pm. I calmly expressed to Jennifer that I wasn't aware we were expected to be out by 4pm, she immediately responded that I needed to speak with her manager, basically cutting me off and calling the manager on the cell phone in front of me; without even attempting to resolve it with me directly. She hands me the phone to discuss the schedule misunderstanding with the manager. The manager was pleasant, confirmed that the space needed to be cleared and cleaned up by 4pm but was understanding of my confusion and didn't want this issue to disturb our son's birthday. She offered us an extra 15 minutes after 4pm to clean up as a solution. Once explained, I wanted to adhere to their set schedule so we had everything cleared and cleaned up by 4pm. (With the exception of the balloon props which had to be picked up by the vendor.) We were out of the space by 4pm sharp. We paid our bill and even with everything considered I still offered Jennifer a $40 tip in cash. She declined to take it. That for me was the cherry on top. I don't believe we were rude or being difficult at all; I was very professional with her when I expressed the two points of confusion I experienced. And the notion in which she declined our tip came off as if we had been problematic and she just wanted to be done with our party. Again, the space turned out to be PERFECT for a kid-toddler party...and the kids LOVED IT!!! Which is why I'm still giving them four out of five stars. I am not encouraging anyone not to book this venue for your future events! I am sharing my experience so others are crystal clear on the strict time frame for setup/cleanup during the two hour window with hopes that no one else has to experience the rudeness or unnecessary upcharges during their event. read more

Purple Monkey Playroom hosted our kids' birthday party and everything was fantastic!! From the communication ahead of time, to the decorations, to the food, to the toys for the kids to play with, we were extremely pleased with everything. I cannot recommend Purple Monkey Playroom enough for parties or open play for little ones. Thank you for making our party easy, memorable, and fun!!! read more

Pictures can be very deceiving. Mak sure to visit playhouse before committing to a party. Make sure you view set up in person. My decor was very tacky looked like decorations were purchased from Amazon overstock. wasn't professional at all. read more

Purple Monkey Playroom staff and toys are amazing!!! I had my son's first birthday party here and it did not disappoint. The children loved it as the adults relaxed and engaged in conversation. If you know of anyone looking for a venue for a child's party please feel free to use my code (SPARKLEHOPE) to save $100 off. For more details see the attached flyer. read more

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I like. It's a great place to set your toddler free for a couple hours while you can kick back and relax and not worry about him/her hurting themselves. My son's favorites are the variety of trucks he can push around and the small slide that seems to entertain him for hours. Highlights: - free coffee and tea. Thanks! - there's a small infant area that is separated from the rest of the playroom by a small wall. That's nice to have for the little guys. - the owner is super nice and friendly. Both times I've been in, her daughter and husband come in and it's nice to know you're supporting their dream of being business owners. - I bought a certificate on one of those millions of deals websites and it was a great purchase, totally worth it. Not so great: - it's small for the regular price. The other playrooms charge as much but this place is significantly smaller. For a toddler, no big deal, but for, say a 3 or 4 year old or so, I think there are better choices out there. - parking sucks. All in all, we'll be back! read more

We had a great time! My daughter loved it and Veronica was amazing! It's great because you can bring your own food and it's enough room for a large party! read more

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This place was amazing. We were visiting from out of town and both of my kids had a blast. The nice woman working that day even helped our stay in Chicago by making great recommendations for food and activities. We will definitely visit again next time we are in town read more

I can't rave enough about Purple Monkey Playroom. I had my twins 2nd birthday there om 5/7/22 and with all the hiccups that come with events the staff took care of everything. I arrived already flustered with packing up 2 kids and getting ready for a party. The 2 staff assigned were AMAZING. They setup the party in literally minutes. They kept all the kids and parents entertained and made everyone feel so comfortable. The facility is very clean and had so many options for toys to play with for all ages. We started on time and ended on time and then the staff cleaned up and packed up all the gifts for us. I will definitely be booking them again for private events and will be coming back for their open play season. read more

Been to a few birthday parties at Purple Monkey Playroom over the last couple of years and my children absoutely love it. The selection of toys and playthings keep them interested. And I can let the kids play without having to "hover" over them. If we lived closer we'd definitely go more. Space is nice, always clean, and they know how to throw a good kids party. The owner/staff clearly get it. I am writing this review today because my daughter just asked me this morning, out of the blue: "When can we go back to Purple Monkey?" - and the last time were there was in the spring. So needless to say, we will be going back quite soon. read more

We go to Purple Monkey at least once a week. My 22 month old LOVES it. I love the free coffee and friendly staff. They keep the playroom clean and tidy. Playing here gives my little guy a chance to interact and play with other kids close to his age. We have also attended a birthday party here and it was fantastic! read more

The space is clean with a good amount of toys for the babies/toddlers/children to play with. It isn't extremely spacious, but it's enough for a good amount of little ones. Staff is very friendly and they serve complimentary coffee with other drinks and snacks to purchase. I think this area would probably be the most entertaining for avid crawlers to those who haven't started pre-K yet, so probably 8 months to 3 years. If you do go here, it's probably best to come with another adult to have conversations with while your little one plays, or better yet another adult with a little one. In my experience, a few of the other SAHMs weren't very warm and kept themselves occupied into a section of the room, making sure their babies stayed away from mine... even though I seriously have the cutest and most beautiful baby (I'm biased, but it's true). I guess in the other places I've gone to, other parents were more friendly with their babies. It got a bit lonely but at least my 8 month old baby had fun! She was crawling everywhere and had fun experiencing new toys. If you call ahead, they give a $5 discount for a first time visit, which is $7 for the first kid. It's a great deal and can't hurt to try! Parking is easy to find in the area as well. Just make sure you have someone else to converse with if you get lonely/bored easily because your kid(s) can easily keep themselves occupied. read more

One of my favorite play spaces in the city. Here's why: - It is small. This seems to be a downside to most people, but I actually enjoy the fact that I can sit down and see my child from nearly every angle of the space. And quickly get to her and interfere if she's terrorizing another child or wants me to play. Also, great if you bring a mom friend to chat, it's quite possible you will make it past two sentences without worrying your kid has disappeared into an open room on the other side of the building. - Free coffee. No brainer. Most of the time we barely make it here and I left my half drunk coffee at home. They fix my problem. Are people really complaining about paying $.25 for creamer? It's liquid gold! #pocketchange - Friendly, direct staff. I never feel like they are over bearing like the place down the street where they pick up the toy as soon as my kid drops it and turns around. And then has object placement confusion when they go looking for it again. But I also feel like the staff is always aware of what's happening and step in if needed. In general, this place does not have huge slides and equipment, thank god cause I avoid the "my kid is going to fall and break their neck" anxiety. They have tons of toys, many we have at home, but here other kids want them too so my toddler suddenly has a renewed love for them. And it's not my living room she's destroying. For the hundredth time. read more

I was invited to this place by my cousin who has two kids - a 3 year old and an 18 month year old. We had been to Little Bean previously and I guess my expectations were higher than what Purple Monkey Playroom provided. The walls were bright and colorful but the toys and stations for children to play/in with were subpar. The other perk was the free coffee for parents/guests. The reasons I would not recommend this place: -I really did not like the play train that was there. Although it looks sturdy, the little 18 month was playing in it and almost fell through the velcro at times. This was a bit of a concern. -Price for kids; I'm not sure of the going rate for these places, but over $25 for a child to play when the array of toys and dress up items is limited? Not worth it! -Unfriendly staff. I understand you're trying to search the internet for whatever or trying to take care of business, but the staff could have been a bit more friendly to children and adults as well. Not even a thank you after spending $4 for a treat for the kids. Rude! -Lack of engaging materials - again, maybe my expectations were too high or it was the wrong time of day, but I was not impressed. Overall, I will not be returning here with children or encouraging anyone else to go. read more

This place is great for kids parties!!! I have a small apartment and with my son's birthday being in January, his birthday always has to be indoors. Our big problem with our son being only 3, is that most of the guests are adults! So we need to have something for the little kidos to do, but we also need to keep our older guests from getting too bored. This place is great because the people with kids could hang out while their little ones got to play and run around. There is so much for the young ones to do, our party was like a baby-pa-looza! We got the add on of the bubble machine, which was $40, but the kids loved it so much it was well worth it. They let us bring our own food and supplies and entertainment, so we were able to keep the costs low. The big plus, was that they allowed us to bring beer and wine for our adult guests. So for those with no kids, they were able to casually have some wine/beer and socialize with the other guests. There was really something for everyone. Just a few notes to consider if you are going to throw a party here: 1. Be sure to scope out the place before hand. We didn't, and we really weren't sure of the counter and table space. If you know what they have, you can better plan on what to bring to accommodate what you have. 2. If you are going to have your own food and you need anything heated, heat it prior to arriving. We brought sternos, but it took a while for the food to head and they did not have a microwave. You only get a half hour to set up, so the more you have done before you get there, the smoother it will be. 3. If you have guests coming from the suburbs, warn them about parking. We are from the city and so are many of our friends. So us city folk found street parking easy. However, suburbians are not as keen on finding street parking, so you may need to give them some pointers prior to. I hope this info helps. We loved it, our son loved it, our guests loved it, we hope you love it too. ps. The owner and staff are really great people! It was a pleasure to work with them! read more

We were invited to a play date at Purple Monkey Playroom on a Sunday and were curious what the space would be like. Very pleased! The room is large enough to provide plenty of space to play but small enough that you can keep an eye on everyone. My three year old had a great time climbing on the padded train, pulling out all of the balls from the bins and playing with the toys. My 7 month old twins also had fun in the baby area. I never thought about bringing babies to a play area but they seemed to enjoy the toys and seeing other little ones their size. It is nice that the infant area is separated from the rest of the space by a low wall so I didn't have to worry about them being stepped on by rambunctious toddlers. All of the toys were well maintained, worked and were clean. There is free coffee and tea and plenty of snacks and beverages for purchase. They also have a water fountain which my three year old thought was the best toy there! The owner was very friendly and I think this would be a nice space for when the weather is too hot or too cold for outdoor play. We had no problem finding free street parking right in front of the door. Easily accessible from the highway which was handy! read more

My kids had a really good time here! The staff was friendly and helpful! We'll definitely go back and recommend to others! read more

Super lovely space, great place for kids to use their imaginations and play games and enjoy some play time in a safe environment. The owner is caring and very helpful and has lots of helpful suggestions to make a party a fun one. Perfect if you want help to throw your little ones a party and not have to clean up at home. read more

Thank you for providing such a safe, fun, clean experiencing during Covid! My daughter and her friend were thrilled to have somewhere exciting to play (masked). Easy booking for hour-long play slots on their website. Prompt responses to questions and organized entrance and exit. read more

I had my son's 3rd birthday party there yesterday and it was excellent. The space is very big. We had 40+ guests and everyone was comfortable. The staff was EXCELLENT and went above and beyond to make sure our party was a success. Strongly recommended. read more

I'm super thankful that there's an alternative to throwing a party at that depressing party room at the movie theater up the street on Western and also away from the chaos that is Chucky E Cheese. It's a clean, safe, enclosed space that is perfect and accessible for friends and family to join you for a birthday party or whatever you want to celebrate. Your kid just ate their first apple without you peeling and cutting it? Let's have a party at Purple Monkey! Finally got through Target without having to fight about not buying something in the toy aisle? Perfect, let's have a party at Purple Monkey! (That one kinda contradicts itself so maybe not that.) There's a parking lot around the corner, but ample free street parking if you're driving over. The staff is very friendly, they have a good selection of toys and games and they know how to get kids involved if for some crazy reason they're standoffish from the rest of the party. (Don't worry parents, if you got dragged to this event for a kid that's not your own and you have someone that doesn't mind... there's a bar a couple doors down.) Actually, Purple Monkey is part of what I've been calling the "Walk Western" path - starting down at Challengers (or coming off of the 606), hitting Margie's/Quesadilla/The Art of Chicken/Paladar for food, grabbing a drink (or two or three) at O's, hunting to get a piece of your childhood back at Toy de Jour, looking for oddities at Sideshow Gallery, and ending up at Logan Arcade. Great date day all in one stretch of Western that most people miss while doing the same old Milwaukee Ave stuff. All this while getting some exercise walking Western! So again, if you're allowed to (don't go leaving your kid with strangers!!) there's a lot to check out in the same stretch of Western. read more

If you are looking for a all in one party spot for a child 0-6yoa, this is the best spot! The scene was cheery and playful for the kids, socially accomodating for the adults and friendly/helpful staff was available from planning start to end. We just had my 1 year old bday party and it was a hit. What we loved most was the flexibility of planning details we were allowed to add to our bday package. This place is a golden gem right in the heart of the city!!! I must add, the spot was super clean and organized-on behalf of a 1st time germifobe mom-lol!!! read more

I had my 3 year old's birthday here. Jeanetta was our staff assistant, and she was awesome!! I had never done a kid's party before, and had no idea what to do. She helped me set up, kept track of the time, and kept the party moving. I would have been totally lost without her!! The space was perfect for our party, we had 9 toddlers, and they had a great time! It's not so huge that the kids are spread out to far for the adults to talk, but there is still plenty of room for the kiddos to play and run around. We even turned their infant area into a balloon pit, which was a huge hit. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! read more

Let me tell you why my 2 year old son and I go to Purple Monkey Play Room weekly: 1. This is a comfortable, clean, adorable space where my son can roam and explore, but at the same time it's not so overwhelming that I can't find him or hear him. 2. Holy crap, they just straight up give you coffee. No one, anywhere just gives you anything anymore. And if coffee isn't fancy enough for you there is Ipsento across the street. That's just adorable on top of awesome. 3. I had a play date today with a mom I initially met at Purple Monkey. 4. Have you met the owner? well you should. She's an awesome lady, very involved in her community, entrepreneurship and creating synergy. I also like the music she plays. (And she has a cute daughter.) 5. I like that we can take the stroller over here from the house, or come straight from xsport, or anywhere. It's close, and there is a ton of parking on Western, as well as other side streets. 6. Unlike other local play spaces, you can bring in your own snacks for your child and eat them at the table (and not secretly like we did at the other places) - however they do sell snacks for very reasonable prices, like granola bars and crusher packs and juice -and I repeat: FREE COFFEE. and I just gotta say ... SERIOUSLY if you think someone walking around constantly "santizing" toys will actually prevent your child from getting sick then you are kidding yourself. That persons job was created to placate you. It's a joke. This is a clean, safe, cute space. My son asks to go to "MONKEY MONKEY!" everyday. We look forward to booking our next birthday party with PMPR! wooo! read more

I was in that place on Monday, the price is $ 18 for an 8 month old baby and I was only 2 hours, they no have safe place for babies. It is a very small place and the price is too high. I'm not recommend. read more

My kids, ages 3.5 and 19 months, played here non-stop for three hours on opening day. In that time, they played with tons of different toys, and had fun with everything. My son (3.5) loved the train, and my daughter played on the slide over and over. I forgot to bring their drinks with me, so we bought stuff there. I was so happy to see health-minded options like organic milk, applesauce, and natural snacks. The prices were good, too. The kids were really sad when we had to leave, but were both asleep within minutes of getting in the car. So I love the place, too! Anyone who is anywhere near Western and Armitage, check it out. We will be back for sure! read more

Earlier this month, we celebrated our daughter's 3rd birthday. Let me tell you --- we weren't disappointed. We went through with PMP solely based on the recommendations found on Yelp and Google. As we were heading to the venue, I was praying the reviews were right LOL. And, Yes. They. Were. The playroom is nice, clean, not too large, and there's plenty to keep the kids busy --- trains, blocks, cars, bouncy things, slides, pretend play areas, costumes. It was beyond what I expected, honestly. Your kids will have a great time. And so will you. And my kid had a friggin blast! As a father, it was a joy to see her absolutely light up and happy. And, with your purchase, you get the entire venue to yourself, which is great. It felt intimate. We purchased the Monkey Package Plus which included 6 pizzas, drinks, decor, games, etc. All you have to do is show up, if you want to. And THAT's what I was looking for. I liked that how Sarah navigated the party to utilize the 2 hours efficiently. I initially thought that 2 hours (2.5 if you include the 30 mins to arrive early) wouldn't be enough. Instead, I felt it was the right amount of time. Of course, who wouldn't want to extend the party for longer, esp. the kids. But, there's always that option for additional cost. With the staff taking care of the kids, you get to mingle with the adults, which can be hard if you host your own party. Bottom line, if you're looking for a playroom to celebrate a toddler's birthday, this place and that package is worth it. I'd do it all over again. I felt the price was reasonable (believe me, I shopped around) and Sarah and staff were professional. If it's in the cards for us, we'll be back next year. read more

Really great space for youngsters in the Wicker Park neighborhood. The owner is super sweet. I went to a meetup there for new moms and had a great time. I'd say good for kids 6months-4 years old. They have all sorts of bouncy chairs and exersaucers for the little ones. Free Coffee and tea and other beverages for purchase. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood. read more

My son had a great time this morning when we spent about 2 hours at the Purple Monkey. I found parking very easily, the rate was great, and the activities for him to enjoy were excellent. Also, I live in the south loop, and exiting Armitage on the Kennedy puts you there in less than 5 mins. There was a real steady flow of kids coming in and playing, so it made for a great atmosphere for the lil guy. Will be back for sure read more

My 1st time here with my 10 month old daughter, we had a great time so many toys, room for her to crawl around and explore. This is a great place for your little one to play and socialize with other kids. I love the free coffee as well much needed with a toddler. read more