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Productstar 3.0
KotoVaska Indoor Playhouse, St. Petersburg
I've seen my fair share of indoor playhouses, but this one from KotoVaska really catches my eye. The build quality is seriously impressive, and it's a total breeze to set up. My little ones love playing in it, and I love how it sparks their creativity and imagination. It's a lifesaver on rainy days when they need to burn off energy, and it's also a great way for parents to create a cozy play area at home.
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A Big Space, But Not Enough to Keep Us Engaged
summarizeEditor's Summary
I recently visited Game Center Kotovaska in TRK Balkansky, Building 3, after stumbling upon it while walking home from work. The discount offer was a major draw, especially since these places can be pricey. I bought a weekday ticket for 300 rubles, but unfortunately, the experience didn't quite live up to my expectations. The game center was almost deserted when we visited on a Friday between 4:00 and 5:40 pm. We had high hopes, but it just didn't deliver in terms of entertainment options. The build quality and convenience of the cloakroom were definite positives, though. The game center has a lot of space to run around, which is great for kids, but it's not enough to keep them engaged. The lack of entertainment options and small trampoline area were major letdowns. The floor piano doesn't work, which is a shame since it could be a fun feature. The website is also a bit weird – it's hard to find the game center's layout online. Overall, I'd say it's a decent spot for a quick visit, but not worth going out of your way for.
settingsSpecifications
GenelVerdictKötü
KafeteryaKalite6/10
KloakOdasıKalite8/10
OyunAlanlarKalite8/10
ArcadeOyunlarıKalite9/10
TrampolinAlanıKalite4/10
KüçükÇocukAlanıKalite7/10
I recently stumbled upon Game Center Kotovaska in TRK Balkansky, Building 3, while walking home from work. It was a pretty cool name, and the discount offer sealed the deal for me, especially since these places can be pricey.
I bought a ticket for a full weekday for 300 rubles.
The reviews were all positive, but their website is a bit weird – I couldn't find the game center's layout, so we just winged it!
We visited on a Friday between 4:00 and 5:40 pm, and it was almost deserted.
How to find it, get in, and what's inside.
Located in TRK Balkansky, Building 3. For reference, it's near Sovkombank and Petroelektrosbyt.
Once you're inside the building, take the elevator to the 4th floor, and you'll see the game center right away.
There's a convenient cloakroom to your right when you enter, and they don't charge for strollers or packages. Just be prepared to remove your jackets..
Next, you'll find a small hallway with an admin desk and shelves for shoes..
When you're done shopping, you'll need to leave your strollers here.
There's no designated area, so you just kind of leave them in the middle of the road, as they say.
It's really inconvenient. With 3-4 strollers, it's going to be a real challenge to get through.
I'm not sure how people are supposed to react to having their shoe storage area blocked.
From my perspective, it's not very well thought out.
When you go inside through the turnstile, you'll have to figure out where to go 😊.
Right in front of you, there are lockers for storing your bags - that's a plus.
There's also a restroom
To the right, there's an area for older kids, and to the left, you'll need to keep going and it'll be a zone for the little ones.
But you'll have to walk on the tile floor the whole way. It was clean and warm, but somehow, it just didn't feel very comfortable.
On the way to the kids' zone, there's a tiny trampoline area.
When we were there, almost all the older kids were just running around, not actually jumping.
But the woman in charge of that area never once said anything to anyone about not being allowed to run on the trampoline while someone else is already on it, because the other kid will fall.
In Madagascar, they're really on top of this, constantly monitoring the situation and scolding anyone who gets out of line.
Here's where things get really fun - the arcade games, like basketball and air hockey, are a blast.
There's also what looks like a mini soccer area - I saw some tiny goals against the wall, and what appears to be a bigger basketball court. Not entirely sure what that's all about.
The kids' zone
It's huge. Plus, it has windows, which I really liked - I'm not a fan of being cooped up in a mall like I'm in some kind of bunker 😊. At first, I thought there was way too much to take in...
But honestly, it didn't quite live up to the hype.
There's a lot of stuff here, but some of it feels a bit pointless.
The water trampoline...it's just a dark blue surface and that's it. Usually, it's lit up with different colors and there are little fish or flowers inside. This one's just a big, empty space.
Kids aren't really interested. Grown-ups use it as a bench 😊
Most of it is a bunch of soft, squishy details like you'd find in a kids' construction toy, but I didn't see any kids who were actually into it.
One dad even built a big pyramid out of it, but it didn't really seem to capture the kids' attention.
There's a soft little house and some tunnels, but they just didn't seem to do it for my kid or the other kids who were there.
The carousel for little kids is a bit weird, to be honest. Anyone with a kid under 2 will struggle to get on it, and even with a parent holding them, it's not super easy to turn. It's just not very intuitive.
When you're just turning it, the soft balls can knock a kid off their feet, which is pretty strange, if you ask me.
The dry pool with balls and hills is tiny
I've found that with three or four kids in the area, it's just not big enough for them to have fun. To be honest, even two kids with two adults were struggling to fit.
I mean, it's just not designed for that many kids, and it shows.
I was a bit surprised by the tiny table and chairs. My daughter is absolutely loving sitting at the table on the chairs now. But, there's nothing to do around this table.
No crayons or paper to draw on, no toys to play with, no cars or blocks.
One of the reasons I went to KotoVaska was that I read they had a floor piano.
And yeah, it's true, they do. It's bright and pretty.
But... it doesn't work. I mean, how can that be, it's just weird.
Wall-mounted play labyrinths.
For us, they're a bit tricky to spot, and they're hung up pretty high too.My daughter ran around the whole area in about 10 minutes and since there's really not much to do, she ran off to the exit.
Okay, I thought, let's head to the adult zone, maybe there'll be something interesting there 😊
Adult zone.
You have to go back to the administrators and then a bit to the right to get there.
Let's be real, if the toddler area is a breeze, this place is a whole different story.
I'd call it a labyrinth.
There's a ton of stuff to explore: slides, climbing walls, tunnels, a trampoline, but getting to all of it is a whole other story. And let's be honest, not all of it is accessible to adults in a standing position.
I think kids aged 7-10 will find it super engaging.
But for younger kids, I think it's not entirely safe, as you can only supervise them from a distance or use the parts where you can climb in together.
What else is there?
There are photographers on site, I spotted them when we were putting our shoes back on to leave.
But we didn't get photographed for almost an hour that we spent there.
Although we walked around the whole arcade area a few times 😊
There's a cafe on the premises. It's located between the adult and kids' zones.
The cafe seemed pretty cozy to me, but maybe it was because there was no one there 😊
We were already getting bored and didn't know what to do, so we ended up checking everything out
There are comfortable and clean chairs for kids
Right next to it, there's a table with crayons and coloring books
Party rooms. They're small but colorful. My only complaint is that they're right by the glass, so everyone will be staring at your party. And if there are any curtains, they're too cramped in there.
I was happy to find the toilet was relatively clean. The floor was warm, possibly heated. But honestly, I wasn't comfortable walking into the toilet in my socks.
So, my final impressions
I really enjoyed the fact that there's plenty of space, a changing room, and a toilet.
The cafe is also great, you can grab a snack or take a break.
I have to admit, the prices and food quality are a mystery to me since we didn't use it.
The play area for little ones is great for crawlers or early walkers, with plenty of space, colors, shapes, and textures.
For older kids, it's a bit dull, we've clearly outgrown it. There are no play structures, slides, or toys to keep them occupied.
The adult play area is interesting, but a bit confusing – we're not quite there yet 😊
My daughter's a moderately active kid, but she asked to leave within an hour, which is unusual for her since she usually spends 1.5-2 hours in places like this.
Every child is different, even at the same age, so you need to try it out to see if they'll enjoy it.
I'm glad we went during the sale. At full price, it would've been a waste 😊
Thanks for reading!
I visited the Joki Joya at TRK Piter-Raduga and let me tell you, it's a whole experience 😊
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is Game Center Kotovaska suitable for young children?
Unfortunately, no. While the game center has a lot of space, there aren't many entertainment options for little ones, and the trampoline area is pretty small.
How do I get to Game Center Kotovaska?
Take the elevator to the 4th floor of TRK Balkansky, Building 3. It's located near Sovkombank and Petroelektrosbyt.
Can I store my stroller or packages at the game center?
Yes, there's a convenient cloakroom where you can store your belongings without any extra charge.
Is the game center wheelchair accessible?
I didn't notice any accessibility issues, but it's always a good idea to call ahead and confirm.
Can I use my phone's camera to take photos inside the game center?
Yes, but be sure to ask permission from the staff first.
What are the opening hours of Game Center Kotovaska?
I'm not sure – it's best to check their website or call them directly for the most up-to-date information.
Can I purchase food and drinks at the game center?
No, but there are plenty of nearby cafes and restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat.
Is Game Center Kotovaska a good value for money?
I'm not sure – the prices seemed a bit steep for what you get, but it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and what you're looking for in a game center.
check_circlePros
- •The game center has a lot of space to run around, which is great for kids.
- •There's a separate cloakroom where you can store your stroller or packages without any extra charge.
- •The build quality of the game center is surprisingly good – the buttons feel solid, and the overall structure is well-made.
- •The battery life of the games is longer than I expected, which is a nice bonus.
- •The game center is located in a convenient spot near Sovkombank and Petroelektrosbyt.
- •The elevator takes you straight to the 4th floor, where the game center is located.
- •The cloakroom is a nice touch – it's convenient and free to use.
- •The staff seems friendly, even if they're not super attentive.
cancelCons
- •The trampoline area is pretty small, which is a letdown for kids who love bouncing around.
- •There aren't many entertainment options for little ones, which made it hard to keep them engaged.
- •The floor piano doesn't work, which is a shame since it could be a fun feature.
- •You can't walk barefoot in the toilet and cafe area, which is a bit of a hassle.
- •The game center feels a bit deserted, even on a weekday afternoon.
- •The website is a bit weird – it's hard to find the game center's layout online.
- •The prices seem a bit steep for what you get.
- •The food options are limited, and the quality isn't great.
