The Brickery Cafe & Play is the first LEGO cafe of it’s kind in the US, located in the Cincinnati area in Northern Kentucky.
You don’t have to be an extreme fanatic of LEGO to enjoy the fully immersive concept.
Who Founded The Brickery Cafe & Play?
The Brickery Cafe & Play was founded by Cincinnati native Daniel Johnson and his wife Serenity.
Daniel is also a certified trainer in LEGO’s corporate training program called “Serious Play” which can be used for corporate trainings and team building.
What Age Range is The Brickery Cafe & Play For?
The Brickery Cafe & Play is for ALL ages. There is an obvious appeal for 5-12 year olds but there were plenty of LEGO fans of all ages including adults during our visit too.
I brought my older son who is in college and we had a great time reminiscing about his love of the brand and LEGO themed events we attended over the years.
This is also a fun idea if you’re trying to mix up your date nights or want to try a social setting similar to a board game cafe with friends.
It’s a great opportunity to tap into your creative side whether you’ve recently been inspired by an episode of LEGO Masters, have grown up with the toy, or just need a creative outlet.
You Can Build Your Own LEGO Creation
Each table has loose LEGO bricks where adults and kids can play and create.
If you have younger kids there is also a Duplo table with trains and animals available for free play.
*There isn’t a fee to play with the LEGO bricks on the tables BUT this is a small local business that we want to see stay open for years to come! You can show your support with a brick set rental, purchases at the cafe and the retail shop.
Rent a Build at The Brickery Cafe and Play
Guests can choose from an assortment of builds that are categorized by the estimated time of how long they take to build.
What Are the LEGO Set Rent-A-Build Option Sizes?
There are several themed sets to choose from in each size category.
- $3 -Small LEGO build – Estimated completion time 15-30 minutes
- $5 -Medium LEGO build – Estimated completion time 30- 60 minutes
- $7 -Large LEGO build – Estimated completion time 60-120 minutes
The rental sets are to be built in the cafe during your visit at your own pace.
Be on the lookout for monthly entry passes in the future.
Why Would You Rent a Build if You Have LEGO Sets at Home?
As a parent who has purchased MANY LEGO sets for my kids over the years I get that it might seem odd to rent a build.
I have storage containers filled with LEGO bricks…but the pieces aren’t organized by the builds with the booklets.
If you have yours organized like that at home, kudos to you!
My previous relationship with the toy brand was typically buying them for my kids or stepping on them. When my kids were little I would randomly create something with them but I never tried to create a build from start to finish.
I liked that this one-of-a-kind experience was intentional without the distraction of being at home.
Each build comes with a tray, a container with the bricks, and a visual instruction book.
This also gives you an opportunity to try and build a more expensive LEGO set that you may have been considering purchasing.
Do You Need to Book a Session at The Brickery Cafe & Play?
You don’t need to book a session ahead of time. The tables and builds are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you visit at a popular time there may be a waiting list that you can put your name on and receive a text when a table is available.
Drinks & Light Snacks at The Brickery Cafe & Play
Guests can purchase from the cafe serving light refreshments, coffee, juice, and specialty sodas.
The drink names were inspired by the Lego Movie. My son ordered the “Wildstyle” made with Sprite, green apple syrup, and blueberry puree.
I ordered the “Double Door” made with Coke, hazelnut syrup and half and half and I swapped out Coke for Mr. Pibb.
You can build a drink starting with a soft drink base and then choose add-ins from an assortment of flavors that also include sugar-free options.
Tips for Before You Go to The Brickery Cafe & Play
I’m sharing these tips as a parent and a LEGO build novice.
Ask An Employee for Help If You Need It
Tell an employee if you discover that one of the pieces in your instruction book for your build isn’t in your container.
They can get you a replacement and this also applies if you have the right brick (LEGO piece) but the wrong color.
Sometimes other guests accidentally put a piece in the table for open play vs. back in the correct container.
Look at the Picture For Which Bricks You Need First For Each Step
The build process goes faster if you start with finding the bricks you need for each section first and then do the step.
Go Back and Start A Step Over If You Need to
I had one section of my build that didn’t look like the picture which was super frustrating.
I finally decided to take a breath and start that specific section over. It’s easier to go back a few pages of instructions and start rebuilding it again.
Eat a Meal Before You Go
It’s nice that The Brickery sells snacks and drinks but don’t count on it filling you up as a meal replacement. There are plenty of options at Newport on the Levee for all price points and cuisine preferences.
I find it harder to concentrate if I’m hungry and you don’t want your experience to be negatively impacted if someone in your party is “hangry.”
Eat Your Snack at the Cafe Before You Start
I personally didn’t want to touch a lot of the bricks in between bites of my Sunchips. You may not care and that’s ok too.
Bring Hand Sanitizer
It’s always a good idea to have hand sanitizer on hand when touching items and surfaces used by a lot of people.
Have a Plan Ahead of Time for the Retail Area
If you’re there just for a build session and have younger kids it may help to set expectations on the retail area ahead of time.
You can let them know if you have a specific budget in mind or if you don’t plan on making a retail purchase that day.
Start Small
If you’re new to making LEGO builds, start small and you can always work your way up to harder builds each visit.
It’s a lot easier to start small and have a quicker win than to be frustrated by a longer project.
Actively Engage and Have an Open Mind
If you have younger kids they may need your help for a build.
If your visiting with older kids I’d encourage you to also do a build vs. watching them or scrolling on your phone. And I totally understand that sometimes you just want to sit one out and veg.
As an adult it’s nice to have some screen-free tactile escapism even if LEGO isn’t typically your kind of thing.
The Brickery Cafe & Play also provides a great opportunity to overcome a challenge and make a memory together.
Celebrate Your Build With a Picture
Don’t forget to snap a picture of your accomplishment.
The Retail Space at The Brickery Cafe & Play
The retail section of The Brickery Cafe & Play has new and used available for purchase.
Popular themed LEGO sets at the retail store include:
- Harry Potter
- Super Mario
- Star Wars
- Marvel
LEGO fans will feel like a kid in a candy store during the retail experience.
The Brickery Cafe & Play also buys LEGO bricks and minifigs (mini figures.)
Private Event Space at The Brickery Cafe & Play
The private event space will be available in the future for birthday parties, company meetings, and private events.
Share Where You’re From in the United States
Guests can share where they’re from on one of the maps made with LEGO.
There is a world map, map of the Cincinnati metro and a map of the United States made from LEGO for guests to engage with.
Where is The Brickery Cafe & Play Located?
The Brickery Cafe & Play is located at Newport on the Levee, Levee Way, Newport, KY. (Near Velocity Esports)
When is The Brickery Cafe & Play Open?
The Brickery Cafe & Play is open Monday- Sunday, 7 days a week.
- Monday – Thursday from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Friday – Saturday from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Sunday from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Stay Connected With The Brickery Cafe & Play
You can find more information about upcoming events on The Brickery Cafe & Play website, Facebook fan page, and Instagram.
Inquiries can be made at info@thebrickerycafe.com.
Where Do You Park for The Brickery Cafe and Play?
The easiest and closest place to park for The Brickery Cafe & Play is at the Newport on the Levee Parking Garage at 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY.
Newport on the Levee Parking Garage Rates:
Garage Hours & Rates:
- 0 to 1 hour – Free
- 1 to 3 hours – $6
- 3 to 5 hours – $10
- 5 to 24 hours – $12
- Lost ticket – $15
Valet Parking at Newport on the Levee
Valet Parking: $12 per car
There is valet parking available at the East Third Street entrance behind Brio Tuscan Grille, Monday – Sunday, 11AM to 11PM.
