NEST

I absolutely loved this place!!! Back story: I have a 2 year old who just turned on the ‘terrible’ on a rather chilly day. So my hubby and I were racking our brains trying to figure out the best alternative to outside. So to the Internet we went… Can I just say every single kids play zone for a toddler in southern new jersey was booked solid with birthday parties! So I gave up. I figured we would just hit our favorite in house play zone you know, ‘grandpa’s house’, until my husband said get dressed and off we went.
15 minutes later we were at NEST. My son loved it. There were so many areas for imagination. Plenty of room to make friends. Hideaway corners, play area for crawlers. There was an area to break and eat. They do offer a few drinks/​snacks for purchase. Along with membership and class packages.
I’m not sure how often I will be going, but I know it’s there for the future. I really like the fact that they had open play in the morning and birthday parties scheduled in the afternoon.

This is a great establishment for city families! Whether it’s raining or snowing or cold or too hot outside (as Philly weather is pretty sucky most of the time), nest provides a safe and fun environment for kids and families! There are so many toys that kids can play with, and there are different areas for bigger kids and smaller babies. There is also a place for parents and caregivers to charge their phones and tables and high chairs to use for snacks and meals! They also collect toys that have been put in kids mouths and sanitize them. It’s an awesome place – wish I had something like this growing up!

Came home to Philadelphia on vacation with my 10 mo. old and my 21 mo. old a couple weeks back at the beginning of a cold snap. After a quick search online my wife and I stumbled on this GEM.
Not only is this the perfect place for any toddler but what really made the Nest so special is my sons seemed to relax and unwind as if they were back in their home like they hadn’t done for most of the trip (meeting extended relative after extended relative and not having the comforts they enjoy back home).
My youngest took to the crawler section like a moth to a flame spending a good chunk of time between the bouncer and the interactive wall games. These wall games are especially great as he is learning to stand on his own so developmentally they were perfect.
My oldest was let loose into their expansive walking section (expansive for the inner city at least) and was stimulated for quite a long time with numerous puzzles, Legos of all sizes, a stationary row boat, their slide, and his favorite — the small shopping carts with plastic fruit and vegetables.
To top it all off the service was informative, helpful, kind, and efficient. From the ladies at the front desk to whomever dreamt this concept up and made it a reality are all top notch and we cannot thank them enough.
If only there was one in Southern California!

Nest is an awesome indoor play space for kids in center city! They offer some amazing classes as well! Both my son & daughter are currently enrolled in an art class lead by Ms. Melissa and they love her! The class is awesome with something extraordinary being done by the kids every week! We all couldn’t be happier! Thank you, Ms Melissa!

Cabin fever lifesaver. This location is great for those parents whose kids need some room to run around and play. The center isn’t as big as I would have hoped, but both the upstairs (for tumbling, classes) and downstairs (the primary play area) provides a much needed alternative to families who have exhausted other interior play options and need a change in scenery.
I have mostly been here for private birthday parties (which have been done very, very well) and the employees are very lovely, patient and energetic. The retail area is varied and nice, although I wish there were more educational toys and a more varied selection of books. This place is ideal for the under 4 set. Little Kid oasis in the middle of center city.

I just wanted to express my appreciation to the Nest on the success of my daughter, Aja Irie’s 1^st birthday. Everything was awesome. My guest thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Nest staff was wonderful. I was most impressed with the owner introduction of himself and the warm welcome.

Nest is an incredible urban oasis.
For the parents of small children this is a great spot anytime– but a saving grace during the rainy, cold days when outdoors isn’t an option.
The downstairs play-​space is perfect for little ones to explore! There is a tree, a fort with a bumpy slide, and tons of great toys for kids to play with.
We recently sat in on a Jamboree class and it was amazing! All the teachers there have a gift! So much goes into make each class thoughtful, and well rounded. The children are engaged and it’s really so much fun for them.
It’s nice to buy a snack on the way out since most kids will have worked up an appetite! So many healthy (organic! Yay!) options are available and thankfully coffee and tea are there for parents– Really fantastic!
Way to go Nest! You guys rock!

We took the boys here on a random Monday and the place seemed a lot smaller than what I remembered. Maybe it’s just the fact that my boys are bigger. I was really looking forward to letting them run around in the play space upstairs, so I as definitely disappointed when I found out it was only open in the mornings between the hours of 8:30 — 9:30am. Had I have known this before we paid $ 20, we probably wouldn’t have gone in. The boys had fun and that’s all that matters, but the space just seemed too small for their age and they are just 2 and 3.

I have mixed feelings about the Nest. From the website, I thought it was a lot bigger than it was; in reality, it’s basically a finished basement with a bunch of different areas for kids to play (basketball hoop, slide, ‘grocery store’, outfits for trying on, a swing, etc). The nice thing about it is that you can sit outside the area and watch your child play since it’s all very open. I also found it to be extremely clean and well maintained. If I lived in the neighborhood, I might be tempted to join because it’s a nice thing for a rainy day (and a $ 30 a month basic membership would pay for itself if you went twice every month). We went right when it opened and it was fairly crowded within an hour even with only like 10 children downstairs because of the small size. It was $ 15, which I’m OK with paying (theoretically) because a) desperate, and b) no other game in town I can get to on Septa, but it’s aimed at young toddlers and even younger and they pitch it as you can go and come back, but in reality, they close at 3 on the weekends and toddlers are usually napping like 1 – 3 at this age. There was also a membership caste system of sorts where if you aren’t a member, you can’t get your parking validated (and I couldn’t find street parking on any of the surrounding streets due to construction and had to park in the lot — hello, this $ 15 trip just became $ 28) or free coffee, which kind of turned me off. But I’ll probably be back, because a) desperate, b) no other game in town I can get to on Septa.

We got some passes for the Nest through Living Social. We figured on a cold and/​or rainy day it would be a good place for our 3 year old.
Since we went on a deal, it was worth it. But I am don’t think I’d spend $ 15 a visit. It’s an alternative to a park and indoors. They have kids and toys to play with, as well as an indoor slide. Our daughter had a good time, but it’s a place for the less money conscious.
If you don’t mind spending the money, it’s a fun place. But for us, we’ll pass.

Each week I look forward to taking my little man to his baby music class — it is such a fun time to spend together. We would sing songs, dance, play with instruments and he would love rolling around with other little ones.
I also really feel good about him playing at Nest — I feel like they take care of their space there & it’s very clean, warm and inviting. In each of the classes it’s socks only {they are more lenient on the babies, since they don’t walk!} — but for older kids and for adults too, its no shoes, only socks — and as a new mom, I really appreciate that!
Check out the rest of my review & more pictures on my blog — And Her Little Dog Too —

NEST is a perfect place to come as a first time mom. I brought my son here from the time he was 6 weeks old and we still go now, 3 and half years later. As a first time mom I was able to take classes and meet other moms, arrange playdates, get questions answered and get out of the house. As my son grew up he would ask to go to Nest all the time It is such a cheerful, welcoming place to go with your babies and toddlers. The teachers are so engaging and nurturing towards the children. My personal favorites are Miss Joanie and Mr. Brett! This place has become like a second home to my family and I am so excited for my next baby (due in early Jan) to have the same enriching experiences at Nest that my son had the first time around.

We had my daughter’s 2^nd birthday party here in March and it was really great. They were in between event planners, so we didn’t get the full benefit of that part, but the owner was really great in working with us with any issues that came up.
It was so wonderful to drop off the cake the day before so that all we had to do the day of the party was show up and have fun. The staff set everything up for us ahead of time, took care of all decorations, tables, etc, and cleaned up everything after. We had it in the downstairs play space. The kids were in heaven running around for 2 hours, and the adults were able to socialize without worrying about the kids since they were in a safe confined space.

After an amazing customer service experience with the staff at The Nest, I am happy to revise my review below and change my rate from 2 to 5 stars. They went out of their way to show me they have an amazing kid-​focused business.
I’m very happy I gave it a second chance!
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This place came highly recommended, but I was disappointed with my son’s first haircut.
I know it’s hard working with toddlers, and we did not expect perfection, but the haircut was much patchier /​choppier than was necessary. The stylist didn’t even ask beforehand how we wanted it — she just sat him down and started chopping.
They give a ‘keepsake’ lock of hair & certificate, but it was a mess. It looked like they taped different clumps of hair to the certificate. It looks awful.
I’m very unlikely to return.

Sooooo… On the recommendation of a friend, we chose to take our 14 month old to Nest to tame his unruly baby tresses. His hair was so long and he was rockin a major baby mullet. I called and spoke with a super friendly person who quickly made us an appointment. While we tried to prepare our little guy for the big event (thanks YouTube) we weren’t quite sure how he would handle the experience and figured going to a kid oriented place would be our best bet. Well, he had something else in mind and despite Carolyn’s (the stylist) awesome efforts (Elmo or Mickey videos, playful interaction, and quick and flawless scissor skills) our little guy was NOT having it.
Nonetheless, this wizard with scissors somehow managed to give him the «faux hawk» we were going for and he looks adorable (I may be slightly biased given he is mine :). She was so kind and made it easy for us and our little guy!
Carolyn made sure to grab some of this hair and sent us on our way with a commemorative certificate and some of his hair for the memory.
We would 1000 percent recommend going to see Carolyn at NEST for baby’s first haircut and we will definitely be going back to play and to keep up with our little guy’s tresses. Thank you again!!!

We had our son Finns first birthday at the NEST yesterday in the downstairs playroom, we loved it!!! the staff was very friendly and the place is super clean.
Sarah and Marisa set up everything which made my life so much easier„ I was actually able to enjoy the party instead of missing half of it. Jessica and Jamie where also very friendly and very helpful in making our sons birthday a memorable one! We give the NEST 6 stars!!!

Fabulously helpful, intensely fun experience for all of the kids in our party – ages 1 – 7! We had the downstairs room for our daughter’s first birthday party, and the staff was extremely accommodating. Kim and Marlena were either very engaging – remembering all of the kids’ names and playing with them – or completely invisible as they set things up, cleaned, organized all of the food, made sure everyone had everything they needed, and packed everything up and took it upstairs for us without our even noticing.
We were a little on the fence as to whether we wanted to host the party at our house, but after our Nest experience, it was clear that having professionals take care of all the details was hugely worth it for busy parents and family. We live way out in the suburbs in Malvern, but came into the city anyway because Nest does such a great job.
I couldn’t recommend Nest enough and look forward to the next time our daughter gets to play in the awesome clubhouse slide!

I really like taking the children I work with to Nest. There is so much to do. It is great for super cold days, yucky rainy days, or boiling hot days where you don’t want to be trapped inside.
There are many different classes the children can take, and there is an EPIC playroom with a play house, obstical course, and what seems like an endless supply of toys. There is even a designated section for the kiddos who may not be walking just yet. All and all, I’m a fan of Nest.
PROS
— really nice staff
— plethora of activities, get– togethers, classes and family programs, even on the weekends!
— cute sales section with adorable clothes, shoes, toys and accessories for the kiddos
— stroller parking (AMEN)
— a kids salon
— cute little café area where snacks and drinks can be purchased
— super clean bathrooms
— free coffee and tea for members
— parking discounts in nearby lots
CONS
— more expensive than the average kids gym in Philly but you have to weigh it out with the amenities
— the occasional unsupervised child (chalk it up to unaware parenting)
TIPS
— this place is definitely geared more for the under 4 years old crowd
— memberships are based on a full calendar year and can only end early if you move more than 30 miles away and send a written letter.
— sometimes there are free/​sample classes. Take your small one to these to test it out before making the financial commitment
— the open free play area closes at 3pm own weekends so this may be a fun morning activity
— nest is a fun place to play with your child and really get to know them, not a spot where you should drop your kid in the playroom and surf your phone or laptop. Be engaged and active with your small one here.

How I miss having a nest membership. The family I previously worked for had a membership, and so we spent many too hot summer afternoons, too cold winter mornings, and rainy days here.
As any caretaker of children knows, getting out of the house is crucial for your sanity. Nest provides a safe and clean environment for this. Parents and nannies can have a little down time, while they drink their free coffee, and the kids can roam the play house and explore the endless toys. Under age 2.5 is probably best, I can see older kids getting bored.
The boutique prices are pretty crazy, but I’m not one to spend even $ 20 on an outfit for a kid that is going to throw up on it in 10 minutes. The front desk girls are great. I’ve never attended any of the classes that meet on a regular basis, however I did take the little one to a few of the drop in art classes. I’d highly recommend them. Kelsey was great at letting the kids lead the pace of the class, and realized that kids get bored quickly and easily, always having several activities prepared for the day.
Why four stars and not five? I’ve had several experiences where nest has turned into a warzone due to parents not properly monitoring or disciplining their children. Specifically, one group of kids would come in, hit each other, steal toys from babies, scream, you name it, as the parents would sit, gossip, and do nothing to deter the behavior. Nest wasn’t so great in fixing this problem.
If you are contemplating a nest membership, take the plunge and do it! Just be prepared to run out the door if that group of kids comes.

A year has gone by since my first review and it was time for an update.
This is the deal with Nest, if you have babies and toddlers 3 and under, great. I jumped the gun with my then 4 year old and while I thought that it would be a good place for her, it wore out its welcome really fast.
She was enrolled in a Pop Hop class which I thought was more of a structured dance class and it was really not a dance class like it was described. The teacher looked like she didn’t even want to be there at times. My daughter had fun, I felt kind of cheated.
One thing you should prepare for is the snooty mommy brigade. I had a confrontation with a mom who felt the need to discipline my child in the play area. Kids will be kids but when someone else tries to do your job, well, thems’ fightin’ words. So unless you like elitist mommies and their pissing matches, be prepared cause not everyone that comes here is nice.
There is no one downstairs to moderate the play area at all. I saw one a many babies shoving toys in their mouths and lots of parents who would put them back on the clean shelf. It becomes a petri dish. Lucky for us we didn’t go enough to merit bringing home a present in illness form.
The bummer was the membership requires a contract for a year… we stopped going months ago and still had to continue paying til our year was up. I had total buyers remorse cause had I known that it was not going to be suitable for a 4 – 5 year old I would never have signed up in the first place. Needless to say I cancelled my membership the minute my 12 months were up.
I wish I had better things to say. The place is pretty, well curated and works well if you have babies or toddlers. 4 and up? I would skip it.