le forêt & lobley park (royal oak burnaby)

If you’re looking for a new playground to explore in Burnaby, add Lobley Park to your list. This newly built neighbourhood park has a surprisingly fun play area, with plenty to keep toddlers moving and climbing.

The best part? You can easily turn it into a coffee + playground outing by starting at La Forêt near Royal Oak Station, then walking over to the park.

option 1: la forêt royal oak for a quick coffee + pastry

For a quick stop for a coffee and treat before playtime, start at La Forêt Royal Oak, which is right behind Royal Oak skytrain station and just a short walk 12 minute walk to Lobley Park.

This smaller La Forêt location is perfect if you want to grab a latte and a pastry without committing to a full sit-down meal or using the facilities.

Their coffee menu includes classics like lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and Americanos, plus more fun seasonal options like the Spanish Latte, Snow Velvet Americano and Banana Velvet Matcha.

play at lobley park

The star of the park is the big slide tower, which has lots of different areas for climbing, sliding and exploring. Other standouts are in-ground trampolines, a large swings area (including a multi-person friendship swing), a spinning orb and plenty of green space to run around in. My son’s favourite was the play fire truck equipped with bells, buttons and a dog house. He would not leave the steering wheel. For the readers, there’s a sign language wall sign to practice your ASL.

To note: there aren’t any bathrooms at the park, so definitely take advantage of the facilities at the café beforehand AND parking is very limited, so I would utilize the skytrain for this outing.

You can also feel good about bringing your little here, as the rubberized ground was created using 2,114 recycled tires. The City of Burnaby received a grant from Tire Stewardship BC to upgrade Lobley Park’s wood fiber ground cover with a durable rubber surface that enhances safety and accessibility.

option 2: la forêt jubilee for a proper sit-down

If you have more time and want to actually sit down for breakfast, head to the larger La Forêt Jubilee instead.

It’s a much bigger space and is better suited to families who want to settle in for a meal. They have highchairs, full bathrooms and changing tables, making it the much more practical option if you’re out with a baby.

The menu is much more extensive, too, with brunch platters, croissant sandwiches, waffles, pasta, burgers and a kids’ menu. Current favourites include the Avocado Croast, KFC Platter, waffles or their Chicken Panini.

For little ones, the kid’s menu offers mac and cheese and tomato pasta.

La Forêt Jubilee is just a tad longer walk from Royal Oak Station but only 10 minutes from Lobley Park, so you can easily make this a walkable outing rather than worrying about parking.

Mom tip: If you’re bringing a baby, I’d lean toward La Forêt Jubilee for the bathrooms and changing tables. If you’re just grabbing a coffee and heading straight to the playground, Royal Oak is the quicker option.

optional: a metrotown shopping stop

If timing and naps allow, Metrotown mall is another short walk away, making this an easy outing to combine with some shopping or errands. And if the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s an easy escape to mosey around.