Eight Kid-Friendly Spots to Hit When Everyone's Feeling Hangry
Where you and the little guys can relax, play and have a feed.
Eight Kid-Friendly Spots to Hit When Everyone's Feeling Hangry
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Where you and the little guys can relax, play and have a feed.
Dining out with kids isn't easy, especially when all you want is a nice, relaxing meal and perhaps a lovely view to go along with it. In reality, children don't really do nice or relaxing. Every parent has gotten two bites into that parma they've been dreaming of only to have to pack up and leave with a screaming child in tow.
Luckily, Sydney's many restaurants, pubs and cafes hear your plight, and they want you to know that you shouldn't have to book a babysitter to enjoy a day (or night) out on the town. We've teamed up with American Express to show Sydney parents that you can enjoy a family meal out where everyone will be happy (and well-fed). You won't need to dumb down your palate, either. These spots offer some top eats, all while catering to your little ones with special menus, games rooms and beachside play areas. Need to get out of the house with the kiddies? These venues are here for you.
Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
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Sydney’s Camperdown Commons — which encompasses Pocket City Farms and adjoining restaurant, Acre Eatery — is a go-to site for fresh organic produce and farm-to-table eating for the entire family. Its seasonal, locally sourced fare for adults is accompanied by a high-end and healthy kids menu for $10-$15. Think small plates of nduja, terrine and local mozzarella or bigger serves of burgers, woodfired chicken and wood-roasted salmon for the bigs and baked gnocchi, chicken sliders, mixed veggie wraps and sustainable fish and chips for the littles.
The garden terrace is an oasis in the city where you can relax with a coffee from the Container cafe out front, or if you come by in the evening, you can now enjoy Acre’s new Spritz Bar, too — all while the kids are entertained by a mini library and play area on-site.
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The beer garden at Petersham Public House doesn’t just cater to craft beer lovers — though they have plenty of the good stuff, with locals like Wayward, Batch and Young Henrys all on tap. The pub has also been reworked to be a lot more friendly to families. For kids, there’s burgers, pizza, gnocchi and even parsnip croquettes. For adults, there are specials throughout the weekdays, including a $15 lunch menu from noon–3pm and happy hour from 4–6pm. The covered garden area is equally good for sun-soaked family meals or rainy day sessions with the kids.
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The Beach Club at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has all the makings for a family day out. Beach? Check. Outdoor seating? Check. Family-friendly menu? Check again. The best seats in the house are at the outdoor island bar. Relax under the blue-and-white striped umbrellas and take in an unobstructed view of the bay — all while keeping the kids sun safe. The menu caters to you with fresh seafood platters, pastas and a signature frosé. Plus they’ve got plenty for the little ones any time of the day: brekkie includes pancakes and eggs, while the rest of the day offers pizza, spaghetti, grilled or fried fish and cheeseburgers. Also, kids eat free on Sundays from 5–7pm, perfect for an aperitivo with the whole gang — you really can have the best of both in this city.
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This three-storey seaside venue offers buzzing boardwalk vibes where you can grab a coffee, slurp a superfood smoothie or settle in for a breezy afternoon. If you think this sounds good, now imagine how happy your kids will be when they realise there’s also a huge play area designed with them in mind — think giant Scrabble, table tennis, bowls, colouring tables and arcade games, plus a mini theatre. The food offering easily caters to families, though adults won’t have to sacrifice their palates with elevated dishes of fresh fish, wood-fired pizzas, a raw bar and an entire share plates menu with white bean hummus, chicken liver paté and cuttlefish with garlic and chilli. The venue also boasts one of the city’s more extensive kids menus with classics like fish and chips, cheeseburgers and toasties accompanied by pan-roasted fish and grilled steak.
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The Newport is beloved by Sydneysiders for its sprawling outdoor seating and resort-like feels. These qualities also make it an ideal location for the whole fam; it’s like a family holiday without the stress. Spend the day waterside on the sprawling communal deck where you, the kids and the family pooch can enjoy the views, some sun and the marketplace feel. To eat, you’ll find fresh seafood, meats from a French rotisserie, fresh-baked bread and of course, pub faves like schnitties, burgers, fish and pizza. There’s also an entire gymnasium for the little guys where they can play giant Jenga and Connect Four and go bowling. Also on weekends, there’s face painting and in the evenings live music.
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A longstanding bowls club that has seen a complete revamp, The Greens at North Sydney is a great spot to go for upscale barefoot bowls with the kiddies. Children play for just $10 each and the lawn is yours for two hours. The large menu has plenty on offer for all ages, with refined pub and bistro favourites for adults, like rainbow chard cannelloni, confit duck and roast porchetta, and specialty items for kids, like honey soy chicken skewers, crumbed fish and cheeseburgers. Grab Pimms carafes for the parents and juice boxes for the kids and spend a day on the green.
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This Israeli cafe in Bondi is truly dedicated to accommodating families, having transformed its backyard into a shaded play area with toys and a chalkboard. Plenty of tables also sit within close distance — plus there’s even space to pull up a pram. Come for breakfast, which the cafe is most championed for, and try the tomatoey shakshuka while the kids play nearby. The little ones even have their own dedicated brekkie menu with eggs, granola, avo on toast and Teff pancakes. Shuk is also open during the nighttime on Friday and Saturday, and yes, the backyard benefits still apply. Again the kids have another menu available to them with pizza, pasta and grilled chicken — though they may also want to partake in the ‘grown-up’ menu featuring beef kofta san choy bow, halloumi with figs and chicken, sirloin, lamb, trout and cauliflower steaks with Mediterranean flavours.
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A Bondi staple, this seafood restaurant is located directly off the beach and offers al fresco dining and million-dollar views plus a family-friendly atmosphere. North Bondi Fish’s fresh seafood isn’t just for adults, either. If your little one hasn’t graduated into eating ceviche, sashimi or XO mussels, the kids’ menu offers crab sliders, grilled fish and the classic fish and chips. There’s also steak and pasta on the littles’ menu, too. And, since you’re never far from the beach here, it’s an ideal spot to grab a bite before, during or after a day out at Bondi. For adults, the 20-strong wine list is a welcome end to a day in the sun, and your ravenous kids will be just as content with their eats that you may even get a few quiet moments in there, too.
As you drink and dine with your American Express, reap all the sweet rewards of being a Card Member. Explore the many ways American Express has your back here.
