100+ kid-friendly places to eat in 2019

Posted on 21 December, 2018

Looking for kid-friendly places to eat in Canberra? We’ve got you covered.

When you’ve got kids, going out to dinner can sometimes resemble a military manoeuvre—a 5:30 pm booking, a massive bag full of pencils and colouring books and iPads and anything else that would keep them remotely quiet, and some post-dinner Valium for the parents.

When you find a place that will happily accommodate kids (and all their noise and ‘selective’ tastes), it’s like uncovering treasure…so we’ve done the digging for you and unearthed the kid-friendliest places around town.

We’ve divided the suggestions by region, so you can find one that’s near you, or maybe you want to venture over ‘the other side’ of town.

If by chance we’ve missed YOUR favourite, leave us a comment and we’ll add it to the next list! Happy eating!

INNER NORTH  

Pick Up Stix at ACT Hockey Centre in Lyneham. Image: Tim Bean Photography.

When it comes to family-friendly spots, it’s hard to top the ACT Hockey Centre. Pick Up Stix is the centre’s dining destination, and has been clearly designed with families in mind. There’s a play corner for littlies, outdoor seating, a pool table, sports screens, a fully stocked bar for the parents, and kid-friendly menu to boot.

Not surprisingly, many of our picks for kid-friendly places to eat in the Inner North are all about Asian cuisine—the food’s tasty, it’s cheap, service is quick and the atmosphere is casual. Faves include: Dumpling House in Dickson, Jimmy’s Place, and Pho Phu Quoc in Dickson, where they love kids, serve in little plastic bowls and are very quick and friendly.

Although ‘pubs’ aren’t a natural choice when it comes to kids, they’re surprisingly family friendly (as long as you leave before the beer-rush!) The Duxton at O’Connor and Edgar’s Inn in Ainslie are two which scored highly on the scale. Mama Dough at Ainslie is also a winner.

Burgers at Edgar’s. Image: Anisa Sabet.

The outdoor tables at Tilley’s Devine Cafe Gallery in Lyneham are perfect for parking prams whilst you enjoy a bite to eat or a cheeky afternoon drink on the weekend accompanied by live music.

Head over to the Lyneham Turkish Pide and Kebabs for dinner—there’s enough room to park a pram if you’d like to eat in, or you can whisk your takeaway home prior to witching hour. Lyneham Turkish Pide and Kebabs do the same style kebabs as the Turkish Halal Pide House in Yarralumla (another great place to take the kids for dinner). The Pide Houses might not be the most glamorous places to eat out—but they are kid friendly and mighty tasty.

If you’re a parent who just needs to get out of the house and grab a coffee (and the possibility of actually enjoying said coffee whilst it is still hot, and then some lunch, and then possibly something sweet or a cold drink), check out The Knox Made in Watson. They’ve thought about what kids want and they have provided it so that parents can enjoy their cafe experience. They have an awesome kids’ corner and plenty of room for parking prams.

Want to escape from the hustle and bustle? Head to Pollen at the National Botanic Gardens. If it’s good weather, the outdoor space at this cafe is a great option—just be sure to note that you need pram room when booking. It’s also perfect for a walk after in the gardens. Or immerse yourself in some history at Poppy’s Café at the National War Memorial.

CITY

Gelato Messina

The city can be a tricky place to find truly kid-friendly places to eat. But we’ve tracked some down!

Civic stalwart, Gus’ Place, has many fans thanks to their great customer service and comprehensive kids’ menu. We’re talking Bacon, Eggs and Toast, Hotcakes with Vanilla Ice Cream, and Chicken Nuggets, plus a whole heap of great toasted sandwiches and breakfast dishes. And you can have your top-notch coffee while you’re there!

Hog’s Breath in Bailey’s Corner (make that all the Hog’s Breath outlets across Canberra) is a no-brainer when it comes to a place that makes all the family happy. Steak, chicken, seafood, sundaes, and plenty of options for ‘the piglets’. Go the surf-n-turf!

And even though Braddon is the hipster hangout in Canberra, there are still some places that you feel quite comfortable taking the kids, like Hopscotch where they have giant sized Connect Four and Jenga which keeps the kids entertained whilst waiting for their food. Elk & Pea is also a great choice, with options like Chargrilled Corn and Chicken Wings going down a treat, and Catch has a great kids menu and can do gluten-free fish bites!

A bit of a surprise package is Marble & Grain in the Avenue Hotel on Mort Street. Cool both literally and figuratively, there’s plenty of room to move in this gastropub, and comfortable sofas to sink into—perfect for people-watching!

There’s also the obvious choice, Gelato Messina, where half the fun for the kids is choosing their flavours.

The Cupping Room might be for ONA Coffee enthusiasts but they have a kid’s menu which is small but ideal for kids under 10 and if the weather is good, you can sit outdoors under a few large trees and the kids can run around on a bit of grass and up and down stairs (which kids find very entertaining!).

In the arty enclave of NewActon you’ll find Italian restaurant Bicicletta in the Peppers Gallery Hotel. If it’s a warm evening, a table in the outdoor courtyard is the perfect spot for a bite to eat (and in winter, they supply blankets!). Enjoy a glass of wine while the kids play in the sheltered garden space.

If you’re looking for a lake-side stop, The Deck at Regatta Point (near Commonwealth Park) has a tub of toys and plenty of room for kids/prams inside. Outside, the big wooden deck gives kids space to move around. The views are fabulous, too, so it’s a favourite for combining kids and out-of-town visitors.

INNER SOUTH 

Trecento.

The inner south is spoilt for choice when it comes for kid-friendly dining, with heaps of great options. The Lawns in Manuka is a brilliant choice on a sunny day, with the raised lawn beds providing instant fun for kids, who love to circumnavigate the perimeters/throw leaves/chase each other around the trees. When it’s time to sit down to eat, ONA does a great bite to eat with a cute little kids’ menu, while Urban Pantry is our pick for a more substantial meal (and it’s very gluten-free friendly).

Around the corner in Franklin Street, Caph’s is always packed, and we love how the waiters always come out with pencils and a menu for the kids to colour in! Down towards Coles, Public is another surprisingly family friendly place, with menu options ranging from simple burgers and fish and chips, to more sophisticated dishes.

Just above Coles, Trecento is the newest pizza place on the Manuka block! With real woodfired Italian pizzas and a relaxed feel, it is perfect for a quick family dinner.

A couple of minutes away in Kingston, there’s an abundance of family-friendly dining, starting with East Hotel’s Agostinis. This buzzy Italian trattoria is hugely popular with diners of all ages, thanks to a menu that caters for little tastebuds as well as more mature palates. They had us at pizza.

Eastlake Football Club is a hit. There’s no playground, but the food is amazing with staff who care—lovely atmosphere and high chairs if required. On Green Square—now regreened and super for kids—is Bittersweet Café. All the owners have children of their own, so they’re very welcoming of ankle biters!

Banana Leaf is an unusual little place, serving traditional Sri Lankan dishes side by side with modern Australian cuisine

Want some culture or shopping with your food? Nip down to Brodburger at the Canberra Glassworks or choose from a huge array of multicultural cuisine at the Sunday Old Bus Depot Markets. While you’re in the neighbourhood, get down to the popular gastropub Walt and Burley.

The Station Stop Cafe at Yarralumla Play Station ‘is one of the best child-friendly cafes in Canberra’—apart from the delicious baked goods, they have the Mini Train, mini Golf and they have a petting zoo too!

For a spot of fish and chips, lunch or a family picnic by the lake The Southern Cross Club’s Yacht Club Restaurant and Snapper by the Lake house a beautiful grassed area shaded by large trees for kids to run around, explore by the water, watch the boats come and go and even kick the ball around.

One spot you may not even think of because it’s an elegant spot that serves Modern Japanese, is Lilotang in the Realm Precinct. This is a great spot when the adults want a beautiful meal but don’t want to organise a babysitter. Order as many Chicken Thigh skewers with Inherited Homemade Yakitori Sauce as the kids can eat and let the experienced wait staff bring you whatever dishes take their fancy. Win-win.

Hitting up Questacon? A good play date is to let the littlies burn off energy with educational play then walk over to Bookplate at the National Library of Australia for a cuppa or a relaxed lunch. The NGA Café is also a beautiful, air-conditioned spot serving up children’s meals, and the perfect spot if you want to wander through its adorned walls, before or after eating.

GUNGAHLIN 

The District at Crace. Image: Tim Bean Photography.

We love Gold Creek, and have a few faves there, like the Gold Creek Café to Café Injoy (where you will find the thickest thick shakes) and T on the Square. The iconic George Harcourt Inn—apart from serving up traditional English Pub food, the play area for kids will satisfy the most active adventurer of your family. Attractions like the National Dinosaur Museum, Canberra Walk- In Aviary and Reptile Zoo are also within arm’s reach.

As for Gungahlin ‘proper’, you’ll find great family-friendly Thai at Little Siam, where the staff will dote over your little one, while Early Doors Café is great for a casual bite to eat.

Frankies at Forde welcomes families (and their pooches) with the popcorn chicken and chips the favourite for kids, while Tinker Tailor has local coffee snobs raving about its delicious brews and pastries alike. The District at Crace is a café/pub known for its hearty meals and friendly atmosphere (along with a pretty irresistible dessert menu).

And don’t forget the clubs! The Gungahlin Lakes Club ‘The Lakes’ has a fantastic play area for the little ones, a video games room for the bigger kids, and the food comes out quickly!

BELCONNEN

Ricardo’s.

In Belconnen Town Centre, Black Pepper Café, serve smaller-sized mains to suit the fussier mini-me, and As Nature Intended at Belconnen Markets has got toys inside and outside and is next to the famous Giant Mushroom playground.

Over West Belconnen way, Ricardo’s is the go-to place for macarons and all things sweet, fancy and so damn pretty…although all the food is great and they have lots of gluten free options! RockSalt in Hawker is a great choice if you feel like something a little more sophisticated but still want options for the kids…plus they do a great coffee! And in Bruce, the ‘Local’ Sports bar  Stanley’s found on the corner of Braybrooke and Battye Street is a relaxed option where your kids under 12 eat free on Sundays, so if you are a Brady Bunch…

InconsPIGuously nestled at the Cook shops, Little Oink has a big reputation for great food in a very family friendly atmosphere. It is decked out with a kids play area and funky decor. Serving Two Before Ten coffee from their very own machine, fondly named Dolly, it’s good enough that you’ll head there without the kids.

Everyone loves Asian food, and Belconnen does it well. Asian Noodle House on Beissel Street is a place for a more low key affair, they have a huge menu and certainly welcome kids. Chong Co at the Mall is a great Thai dinner option—you can go in for an early meal, the staff are delightful with the kids (even when tossing rice and noodles all over the floor) and they provide plastic cutlery, plates and cups. But the real buzz for the kids is being able to keep an eye on the fire engines and ambulances when they take off from the stations across the road. For the family that craves the “best roast duck in town” then you must give 2 Yummy BBQ Noodles on Emu Bank a quack (sorry).

On the club scene, Raiders Belconnen in Kippax, and the Southern Cross Club in Jamison both have great bistro food and lots of room for the kids to play (Jamo has an outdoor play area that’s perfect in the warmer weather!)

PIALLIGO 

Pialligo Estate. Credit: Keepsake Photography. Image supplied.

Pialligo is a favourite of parents with little ones, with lovely nurseries and gift stores for parents to browse, casual cafes which cater to all ages, and play equipment to burn off energy! Tulips Café’s enclosed children’s playground is a hit with kids and parents alike, and there are colouring pictures/pencils and tables for little people. It offers a well-rounded menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads with special kids meals and boasts the added attraction of a resident peacock!

Rodney’s is a sprawling nursery which also boasts a café with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a lovely place to spend a morning indulging in something sweet, or a more substantial lunch. Kids love the play fort and cubby house but little ones will need close supervision. There are worse ways to spend a summer’s day than under the leafy trees… Winter though? Layer up.

For special occasions, the Garden Pavilions at Pialligo Estate offer beautiful paddock-to-plate fare as well as spacious lawns for the kids to run around.

WODEN & WESTON CREEK

A Bite To Eat. Image: Tim Bean Photography.

Yummy food, good coffee, plenty of room and located just near Country Road at Westfield Woden—what more could you want? The Shed is a great, convenient pit stop for when you’re doing a spot of shopping. Love Turkish? Turkish Pide House—also at Westfield Woden on Corinna Street—is also an excellent family-friendly option and has a great outdoor area to boot.

The good old Hellenic Club has a fantastic kids’ play space and great grub. Fillos Taverna and Bar, within the club, has a restaurant atmosphere and is separate from the bistro. It’s open from 6 pm so there’s enough time to eat before bedtime, and it’s noisy enough in that if the baby is crying the other diners can’t really hear. It also has delicious Greek food—trust us, you won’t leave hungry!

You’ll find similarly family-designed menus and activity centres at Woden Central at the Southern Cross Club—both are fantastic options for families who want a relaxed meal and menu options for all ages with kids play areas to keep little ones busy in a safe environment close by.

Woden Central.

Coffee Guru in Mawson has a well-equipped kids play corner with table, paper/crayons, toys etc. And unlike a lot of places, the kids’ area and adjacent tables are in a prime location next to big, sunny windows. The downside is there’s not much to eat if you want a proper lunch—more suitable for coffee and cake.

Fox and Bow in Farrer is the perfect spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch any day of the week. With indoor and outdoor seating this family-friendly spot is a great place to bring four-legged friends with a large community of dog owners settling in for coffee on the weekend. Fox and Bow pride themselves on their bright and colourful mural with kids games such as hopscotch, ring toss, and noughts and crosses on the outside pavement bound to entertain kids for hours while you sit back in the summer sun.

A bite to eat in Chifley always gets raves, too—its retro charm and relaxed vibe are great for little ones with a playground nearby. The Meating Room in Weston Creek is equal parts cafe, grill and bar, this nifty establishment is great if you’re hankering for a side of lunch with your coffee, and it even has a parent’s room.

Head to the National Arboretum if you want some downtime and playtime in one. You can relax at Sprout Café with a snack or a ready-to-eat lunch, head to Pod Playground, or have a picnic in the beautiful surrounds of the Arboretum!

TUGGERANONG

Brick & Basil at Vikings Erindale.

The Vikings Club in Erindale gets a big rap as being welcoming to families, happily adjusting meals for little ones. With a newly refurbished dining area, kids playground, outdoor beer garden and Italian restaurant this local club has something for everyone.

The Eastlake family is the Calwell Club and it shares its Kingston sibling’s reputation for family-friendly fare and play areas. And what kid doesn’t love a rissole? Well, a kofte, really… Little Instanbul on Anketell Street is great for a quick, fresh delicious lunch of Turkish cuisine. The staff are friendly and the food always pleases.

Anketell Street also offers a great family friendly experience with a string of cafes such as Brew Bar, Milligram and Five Senses that all have kids menus and dog-friendly seating—a great option for a coffee if you’re doing Giggle and Wiggle across the road at the Tuggeranong Library beforehand!

For a rainy day or shopping day pit stop the Espresso Room nestled up the back of the South Point Shopping Centre has a kids indoor playground nearby.

The Espresso Room.

For a get-together with friends and their kidlets, Rose Cottage in Gilmore is fantastic—with live bands on Sundays, a huge open space and a mega sandpit for the kidlets to run around, this is a great pick.

Tuggeranong holds a variety of hidden gems in their suburb communities with Common Grounds in Gowrie placed across from the local playground offering great breakfast and cosy indoor seating.

Public Place at the Chisholm Shops has a great kids area with games, books and colouring in to keep them entertained. The kids will have their eyes set on the incredible Cronut French toast boat—you will also want this, but unfortunately, you are not under 12…

Over in Kambah, you can cool off with a dip in the pool located just outside Toots Play Space and Café (which also includes a large play space for older tots!). Fees and conditions apply to use to pool at Aqua Harmony.

Tuggeranong has a tonne of cafes and clubs ready to entertain kids for hours with playgrounds and great food for all ages.

QUEANBEYAN

4th Seed in Queanbeyan.

The Mill House Cafe. We’re talking gorgeous olde world charm, great food, and a kid-sized table with pencils and toys.

4th seed on Crawford Street is the place to go if you want fantastic coffee, restaurant-quality food and a relaxed kid-friendly space. A four-year-old entering the babycino scene rates 4^th Seed as one of her favourites. Bless.

Riverbank of Queanbeyan Café in Ray Morton Park has a simple menu, but the architecturally-designed cafe is right next to Queanbyean’s newest playground, and you can grab a coffee or a milkshake with your little people and wander down to the riverbank and watch the ducks or play in the sand. Your furry family members are welcome too.

‘GET OUTTA TOWN’

Grazing at Gundaroo.

Grazing at Gundaroo has a great reputation for fine dining, but it’s also surprisingly welcoming for little ones. The restaurant has high chairs, a kids menu and a play pack for children, and there’s a low-key wine tasting and tapas area which is more relaxed, and even more kid-friendly.

The Cork Street Café is constantly a winner with the kids (there are a sheep and horses in the paddock next door who sidle up to the fence to say hi, and the original ‘outhouse’ is a novelty) and The Gundaroo Pub has a play area, paper and tins of colouring pencils. Winner!

And if you’re heading north, you can’t go past Poachers Pantry—it’s such a lovely spot to spend a leisurely afternoon, and there’s plenty of room for the kids to roam after they’ve eaten from the special Children’s Menu. Murrumbateman Pub is all about the rustic country feel, great food, and fantastic for kids.

And out Bungendore way, The George is renowned for its weekend sessions—including live music. Perfect for summer evenings or a weekend road trip of a manageable distance for little ones.

So, those are our picks of the best kid-friendly places to eat around town… What are yours?