The Best Family-friendly Restaurants in Melbourne
Dining out is easy as A-B-C at these kid-friendly restaurants in Melbourne.
With these heaven-sent restaurants scattered throughout the city, being too tired to cook no longer means UberEats or a pleading message to the babysitter. With fuss-free kids menus and activities that’ll keep the little nippers entertained for hours, peace with your pasta and Pinot is never far away. These are the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne, for fun times and relaxed dining in equal measure.
Chocolate Buddha
Chocolate Buddha in Melbourne is a kid-friendly restaurant for several reasons. Just the name will appeal to kids, even if they're still a bit wary of seaweed! Located in the fabulous Federation Square precinct, there's always something happening to keep little ones entertained. Inside the restaurant lives Melbourne's first high-speed shinkansen (sushi train) and the restaurant itself is bustling, communal and family-friendly. Their dedicated kids' menu includes ramen noodles, dumplings, bento boxes, and maki rolls. And it wouldn’t be called Chocolate Buddha without something sweet—the chocolate mousse will definitely put smiles on those dials!
Federation Square, 23 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Grazeland
Grazeland in Spotswood is a haven for families, offering a vibrant and kid-friendly environment. This culinary playground features over 50 food vendors, ensuring there's something to delight every palate (little or big).
The spacious, open-air setting allows kids to roam freely, while live music and entertainment keep them engaged. Grazeland's dedicated play areas (hello, Jungle Hangout!) and family-friendly amenities make it easy for parents to relax and enjoy the diverse gastronomic offerings.
With its lively atmosphere, variety of food, and entertainment options, Grazeland ensures a fun and memorable outing for families with children.
20 Booker Street, Spotswood
Trinity St Kilda
It’s hard to find a family dinner that pleases everyone’s tastebuds – luckily, Trinity's burgers and sides are kid (and parent) approved. The new era of Melbourne’s iconic century-old Holy Trinity Hall, Trinity is an inclusive, fun and familiar bar, beer garden and event space that's perfect for eating, drinking and gathering with whole family. The delicious burgers are being pumped out of the Trinity 1965 Airstream Overlander, and The Wayward Fox is a roving café joining in on the action, dishing out fish and chips, smoothies and churros! A delicious, family-friendly restaurant in Melbourne you'll want to go to time and time again.
2 Brighton Road, St Kilda
Campground Kitchen
Campground Kitchen in Braybrook is a fantastic spot for families, offering a welcoming and kid-friendly atmosphere all parents will appreciate.
The spacious venue is designed to accommodate everyone comfortably, with ample seating and a relaxed vibe that makes it easy to dine with children.
The Italian-style menu features a range of options that cater to young tastes, with everything from cheesy garlic bread, meatballs and crispy calamari through to a mouthwatering array of woodfired pizzas (they've even got the Aussie classics like Hawaiian and BBQ Chicken). Of course, an Italian feast would not be complete without gelato...or perhaps a Nutella pizza is more to your little ones' liking? Yum!
9 Errol Street, Braybrook
Tetsujin
A great sushi train for the whole family, Tetsujin is one of our top picks for kid-friendly restaurants in Melbourne. Located in the Emporium, its serving up a wide range of fresh and tasty sushi amongst their sleek, contemporary fit-out. The restaurant is open lunch through dinner 7-days a week, making it a very convenient option for families. Plus, the inherent charm and fun of a sushi train will keep your kids occupied as you tuck into nigiri, premium wagyu BBQ, and perhaps even a cheeky sake. The little ones will love the gyozas, edamame and Japanese fried chicken on offer.
Emporium Melbourne, 295 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Son in Law
Son In Law is an adorable family-friendly restaurant in Melbourne, serving a selection of equally adorable food in Melbourne Central. Here, you can indulge in sweet and savoury buns shaped like cartoon characters, making it both an Instagrammer's dream and every little persons delight. The cartoon baos are delicious, and can be shaped like a unicorn, to Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, as well as Pikachu and the alien from Toy Story. Cartoon bao fried chicken burgers and a BBQ chicken pizza shaped like, you guessed it, a chicken, are also on the menu, plus they have fairy floss monsters for something sweet to finish. Grab and go all of your favourites and then flock to one of the tables in the food court. There's your weekend with the family, sorted.
Ella Precinct, opposite to Ajisen Ramen, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall
Children and breweries? It might not seem like a natural fit, but Stomping Ground’s more neighbourhood hub than local boozer. There’s egg hunts over Easter and veggie sticks on the kids menu, but the real drawcard is their forest-themed mansion of a cubby house. Boasting chalkboards, bells, pulleys and a mini picnic bench, it’ll become their very own little stomping ground.
100 Gipps Street, Collingwood
Kickin'Inn
While you and your partner tuck into piles of fresh, Cajun-inspired lobster, prawns, mussels and corn, your kids will happily devour Kickin'Inn's fish bites, cheesy broccoli bites, fish and chips, chicken tenders and chips, calamari, garlic bread and even mozzarella sticks. The bounty of tasty eats is endless here, guaranteed to satisfy everyone - and making it one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne.
309 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
1117 Nepean Highway, Highett
China Red
Standing out among the Chinatown dining scene, experience a fusion of fun and mouth-watering flavours at China Red. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or dinner of dumplings, noodles and traditional Chinese fare with your family, China Red delivers. The most kid-friendly part? How fun it is to use the efficient, touch screen ordering technology that sends your order from your fingertips straight to the kitchen. You will have many house made dumplings in your hand before you know it!
206 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Din Tai Fung
If the kids truly can't get enough of dumplings, Din Tai Fung is another family favourite restaurant in Melbourne CBD. They'll also flip with excitement over the fun robot waiters that roll around the restaurant, delivering warm plates of crispy fried dumplings, xiao long bao and oodles of noodles. Bringing the extra little ones? They have high chairs are available, and an obstacle-free ramp leads to an accessible toilet within the restaurant. Dining out with the fam is also made easier with the order and pay via tablet at your table system. It's a no brainer, really.
Emporium, Level 4/287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Easey's
Nothing unites a family quite like a good burger. Easey’s knows how to make a good burger. Go forth and make a booking here, pronto. Serving up crispy tots and fries to accompany their single, double or triple stacked burgers, alongside interiors the kids will actually appreciate, because there's something extra special about sitting in their in-train carriage dining room. This weekend, round up the family and take a trip to up to this rooftop carriage, to dine out on burgers overlooking the city in one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in Melbourne.
3/48 Easey Street, Collingwood
Sebastian Beach Grill
Sebastian Beach Grill perches on Williamstown Beach and is serving up a delightful dining experience the whole family can enjoy. Sebastian's will put together a mind blowing dinner of pintxos, small plates, large plates and sides. The kids menu is equally as pleasing, with manchego mac 'n' cheese, fish bites, steak and chips and a beef burger on offer, plus polvorones and vanilla ice-cream and toffee for dessert. Summer dining with the fam-a-lam is sorted.
26 Esplanade, Williamstown
Stalactites
One of Melbourne's iconic Greek restaurants just so happens to be one of it's most family-friendly. Stalactites is where you can order a family sized banquet of appetizers, platters to share, spit-roasted gyros and seafood for days. It's also fun to let the kids pick a famous Stalactites souvlaki of their choice. This is the best restaurant if you’re looking to introduce your kids to uncomplicated and original Greek food, and is an immediate frontrunner for best kid-friendly restaurant in Melbourne.
177/183 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
+39 Pizzeria
Looking for a family-friendly eatery in the CBD? If your kid loves pizza (and let’s face it, most kids do) then head to +39 Pizzeria. There are numerous high chairs, you can park your pram near the entrance and the food is fast and delicious. Seriously, not a peep will be heard from your little ones as they tuck into a delicious margarita pizza, with chocolate mousse to finish. Bon appetit!
362 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Auction Rooms
With its industrial-chic décor and innovative fusion menu, Auction Rooms is a long-time local favourite. You'll often see the place parked with prams - no surprise given they go all out to accommodate tots, with highchairs, babycinos, dainty cupcakes, stacks of colouring pencils and drawing pads on deck.
103-107 Errol Street, North Melbourne
Cubbyhouse Canteen
At this adorable eatery run by two sisters with backgrounds in childcare, adults can get their smashed avo fix while kids are fed healthy bento lunchboxes and the cutest babycinos in town. Outside there’s a playground with cubbyhouses, swings, seesaws and slides, while inside is all the markers and dinosaur toys bub can dream of.
43A Union Street, Armadale
Republica
Situated right on St Kilda’s waters, Republica is the perfect place to end idyllic family beach days. Whether they’re digging through the bucket of toys, bouncing around the sun-soaked courtyard or swinging on hanging egg chairs, the kids will feel right at home, making this one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne.
10/18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Urban Ground
A kid-friendly restaurant in Melbourne is a win is any time-poor parents eyes. Urban Ground in Mordialloc have taken it to the next level with their fabulous food trucks fit for the whole family. In a quiet back street of Mordialloc, this warehouse space has been converted into the perfect gathering place for families. Urban Ground has so much to offer and you can enjoy it from breakfast time all the way through to late night drinks.
The best part is – they’ve sectioned off the back corner for the kids, with a cute little cubby house and set of swings, plus building blocks and a large turfed area for children to set up their own games.
Kid-friendly and pet-friendly, this open beer garden environment is a true-blue doozy come summertime. We'll see you there.
1 Lamana Road, Mordialloc
Now that you've had your fill of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Melbourne, it's time to adventure out further with your family to the best walks in the Mornington Peninsula and finish with some drinks and hot chips at the best family-friendly pubs in Melbourne.
