A reptile show one day, a kids’ disco the next, trust Merivale to bring some imagination and joy to the occasion. Coogee Pavilion thrives on being family friendly – because apparently parents and their offspring are people too and might want to have a little fun like the rest of humanity. ‘The Pav’, as locals call it, has a ground floor that’s perfect for family gatherings and casual meals. The menu shouts breezy seaside dining; from sashimi and freshly shucked oysters, to burgers and wood-fired pizzas. The kids’ menu is a delight – there’s chicken schnitzel and veggies, butter chicken and rice, a vegetable plate, wholesome smoothies, and “chips can be substituted for a salad”. It’s a lightbulb moment for any parent who dines here: this is what we’ve been missing. Here’s another rare breed of restaurant putting some care into their under-12s offerings. There’s a certain magic to this place – the way it caters to all ages, all people. It avoids boxing families into noisy-slash-dull stereotypes that are hard to shake elsewhere. But it also caters to people who need the basics when eating out with kids in tow – a baby change table, vegetables, a certain patience from waitstaff, room for the kids to explore, thrive even, and extremely good drinks for the grown ups because they sure do deserve it. Ground Floor, 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW. merivale.com/venues/coogeepavilion

Set in the bushland around Mosman, the historic Burnt Orange feels like getting out of town with the kids, without the hectic road trip. It’s a popular wedding destination, with ample parking just 50 metres walk away (there’s wheelchair access), and it feels like a relaxed place to spend a few hours surrounded by nature, with views to the harbour. We love that a kids’ menu defies the junk-food status quo with the likes of sticky fish with greens, but there’s still gluten-free pasta with butter and parmesan and a mini burger with fried as well. On Fridays and Wednesdays there’s also “high tea” – the modern take on what is traditionally afternoon tea. For kids there’s raspberry macarons, musk sticks, cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and fresh fruit. The adult menu spans slightly more sophisticated chicken and tarragon sandwiches, smoked salmon on homemade brown bread and quiche Lorraine. Add sparkling if liked, after all family friendly includes the whole family. 1109 Middle Head Rd, Mosman NSW. burntorange.com.au

This vintage airstream cafe on Silver Beach in Port Botany brings beachy Aussie charm and a bare-feet aesthetic where families can prop themselves at umbrella-covered tables for cocktails, coldies and classic beach eats. Kids emerge from the ocean and salt-licked families gather around for breakfast burritos with hash browns, decent burgers, or the popular beer-battered fish tacos with citrus slaw, homemade salsa and chipotle mayo in soft tortillas. This place takes relaxed family vibes to a new level, and it borders somewhere between cafe and bar at times, but for summery vibes and beachside eats, this casual place has what we need. 308 Prince Charles Parade, Kurnell, NSW. cookatkurnell.com.au

Families come in different shapes and sizes, and when a furry child is in attendance they can join you tableside on the deck outside and undercover here. There are views across the parklands and to an adjoining children’s playground that is just close enough to trust children over about five years old to play unaccompanied. This light and breezy spot within Centennial Park is open early for breakfast with the usual Sydney classics – a Balance Bowl includes cauliflower rice, broccoli, dukkah, chickpeas, sweet corn, pickled Spanish onions, crushed roasted hazelnut, goat’s curd, poached egg – and for lunch the beer battered market fish with thrice-cooked fries, gribiche sauce and burnt lemon is pleasing. They also do hampers to pre order and pick up, for when the weather picks up as well. 1 Grand Dr, Centennial Park NSW. centennialhomestead.com.au

Hurrah, a kids’ menu that doesn’t read like the rest of them. Sausage and spuds, and there’s pumpkin hummus with crudités. There’s bacon and egg rolls or sausage and housemade Duck’s baked beans for breakfast. With its open kitchen and expansive warehouse-style space, this place feels casual and easy, backed by waitstaff who are sunny and helpful. Triple brownie points for the kids’ outdoor playhouse in the vegetable and herb garden, where imaginations can run wild while parents fuel themselves with caffeine. Also for adults there’s a great drinks menu, oysters, and an inventive and wholesome menu featuring kingfish tostada with charred corn, buttermilk, chilli, lime and toasted buckwheat for lunch. This is a true family crowd-pleaser, it’s no wonder there are queues most weekends. Three Blue Ducks offer similar family-friendly restaurants in other locations across Australia, see their website. 1/85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery NSW. threeblueducks.com

An essential element of any destination designed for both families and the rest of humanity is striking a balance between having a place for kids to be while prohibiting their consequential raucous takeover. The Newport, of Merivale’s immense collection, finds that niche. Most seating is outdoors so the noise level is dampened, there are food-festival type outposts offering different menus spanning excellent pizza, drinks, big salads and seafood – read: everyone is happy – and there’s an expansive games style section featuring giant-sized Scrabble, ping-pong and badminton tables, and even mini wooden bowls. Older kids can venture away from a peaceful lunch to let out energy, and brave adults can take turns with the children there. There’s seating there as well for the unshakeable. A live band often plays overlooking the serene waterside bushland, promising upbeat vibes for adults on top of the joyful theatre of little kids dancing their hearts out. 2 Kalinya St, Newport NSW. merivale.com/venues/thenewport

This should be the new blueprint for any future kids menu being written in Sydney. Balancing nourishing and child-approved, for breakfast and lunch options for kids are delightful – leaving parents feeling they can put off rushing home to give their offspring a bowl of greens, stat. The kids’ breakfast might be house-made baked beans, an omelette with cheese, peas and cherry tomatoes, a mango hedgehog with vanilla yoghurt. And for lunch – and this is just the kids – there’s pasture-fed beef rump with steamed greens, organic beef bolognese, fresh egg pasta with organic tomato ragu, and crumbed, sustainable hoki with sweet potato chips and lemon mayo – three stars for them. But The Grounds’ on-site activities for kids and adults are justifiably legendary. There are occasional kids-eat-for-free days, the Grounds’ roamable and abundant organic garden that’s overflowing with heirloom vegetables, blossoming flowers and herbs, and there’s a small animal enclosure with a pair of goats and some chickens. 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW. thegrounds.com.au

For waterfront dining at its family-friendly best, it’s hard to beat The Boathouse. Walk along the beach promenade to tire out little legs, then take breezy dining to a new level. It’s relaxed here, without being too kid-friendly. The Boathouse offers a kids box, which includes a kids meal, drink, a magnet, colouring pencils, colouring in and activities, for $18. Or bring your own colouring pencils and paper, the tables are usually big enough to spread out and fit the family in. There’s a playground right outside, fit for exhausting the little ones before you turn up, or using it as a bribe for later if they eat their vegetables. The menu is a crowd pleaser – the fish and chips excellent, and the bucket of Queensland tiger prawns with sourdough, lemon and seafood sauce ($43) made for family sharing. 2 The Esplanade, Mosman NSW. theboathousebb.com.au

A sunset stroll along the paved promenade running along one of the prettiest beaches in Sydney is an inevitable precursor to a meal at the Bathers Pavilion Bistro, the casual offering from the Bathers team. Most children will be happy to work their way around the menu here, which is simple and features in-season ingredients done immaculately. Most of the menu is beautifully shareable. Think: Grilled beef sirloin steak, herb butter, eschallots, french fries, or the Amalfi pizza topped with prawn, zucchini, fior di latte, cherry tomato and basil. There’s a vegan menu to suit adults and children, as well. This place is designed for elevated casual meals – from breakfast to dinner – and there’s a wide child-friendly beach right outside when the meal is done. 4 The Esplanade, Mosman NSW. batherspavilion.com.au

You could almost sit down for a breakfast of steel-cut oats with Masala chai, fig, macadamia and poached quince while older children play on the small curved beach out front. This beachfront beauty is open for breakfast and lunch until 3pm, turning out lovely classics like salmon pie with potato mash, bechamel and bonito to diners who can’t help but feel the sunshine, the beachy-vibe styling, the salt air and wonder if they’ve found paradise. A kids menu includes the unimaginative classic trio – burger, pizza, fish and chips – but at least they’re done well. Vegetable options for kids are slim pickings, but there’s a roast pumpkin side with sweet potato hummus and whipped tofu that some might like, perhaps with the dukkah on the side. Or arrived before 11.30am for zucchini fritters with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and cucumber. Kids wandering around is not unheard of on less busy days, but adults seem so content with their jalapeno-infused-vodka Bloody Marys that they don’t mind terribly when they do. 1 Marine Parade, Manly NSW. theboathousesb.com.au

Lunchtime and playtime come together at this recently renovated hotel in Marayong. Children will not be able to sit still until they’ve explored the ins and outs of the interactive indoor play area, which includes slides, tunnels and climbing frames, as well as a role-play kitchen and supermarket for imaginative play. Outside, a trio of courtyard areas provide al fresco seating for a much needed dose of vitamin D. The bistro menu goes beyond the classic counter meals to include fresh salads, pastas and risotto as well as woodfired pizza, with margherita for mum and dad, and ham and cheese for the kids. Keep up the energy levels with a kid’s healthy platter, stocked with ham, cheese, fruit, vegetable sticks and crackers, because they’ll surely want to hit the play equipment one more time before you leave. If you’re looking for another kid-friendly activity to do in the area, Featherdale Wildlife Park is only a 7 minute drive away. 6 Cobham St, Kings Park NSW. marayonghotel.com.au

The drawcard of this Homebush cafe is not only its scenic waterfront location on the Parramatta River, but its proximity to Sydney’s largest playground, Blaxland Riverside Park. Spanning three hectares, this famous play area has a huge range of activities and challenges, from flying foxes to climbing nets, a tree house, and even an outdoor water play area. It’s only a matter of time before your snacks run out, and when they do there’s the Armory Wharf Cafe for much needed refreshments. The kids menu includes small versions of cafe classics like egg solders and a mini avo smash with cherry tomatoes (get your own mum!). Extend the outing with a peaceful riverside stroll, or explore the nearby Newington Armory. If the kids are too tuckered, you can even take the heritage train (Sundays only). Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson St, Sydney Olympic Park NSW. armorywharfcafe.com