A giant plastic play tower and a ball pit might be the gold standard in child-friendly restaurants but there are other options for dining out with little ones. Whether it’s play areas, kid’s menus or a primo babycino, some venues have put thought into making it appealing for them without sacrificing it for you. Here’s our pick of the places that will pinch cheeks and welcome prams.
Dust the sand off your feet and shuffle into Merivale’s beachside jewel for $6 schooners, house wines and spirits on the expansive ground level of the Coogee Pavilion, Monday to Friday from 5-7pm. If you’re not in the area for this oceanic hour, Merivale also has this ultra-handy happy hour finder on their website so you can be confident you’ll grab a deal just about anywhere in town.
What child doesn’t love pizza? And if they already have a taste for the good life, they’ll appreciate Matteo – this pizza is double proved for a lighter, more easily digestible style. They’ve even got every parents failsafe on the menu – penne burro (penne with butter) – for any ankle biter that’s close to chucking a wobbly. Prams are more than welcome, but it’s best to go for a long lunch instead of an early dinner when the restaurant gets loud. 29 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028 http://matteosydney.com/double-bay/
Start with an early lap around the park with the pram and reward yourself after with hotcakes. They come with vanilla creme fraiche for the big kids and ice cream for the small ones. A trip to the duck pond on the way home is another good incentive for the well behaved. 1 Grand Dr, Centennial Park NSW 2021 http://www.centennialhomestead.com.au/menu
This retro Australian milk bar is pure fun. Along with classic malt milkshakes and desserts such as the Jamington sundae (with lamington and strawberry jam ice cream, coconut, fudge sauce and berry coulis) there’s also board games, high chairs, plaster painting and the friendliest service in the inner west. 340 Stanmore Rd, Petersham NSW 2049 https://daisysmilkbar.com/
Although it’s a stone’s throw from Parramatta Road, Acre is perfect for when you need an escape from the bustle of the city. The indoor/outdoor restaurant has a garden terrace on the grass with plenty of room for prams. Bonus points go to the kid’s menu that sticks to the philosophy of farm to table with a mixed veggie wrap with seasonal produce and a frozen banana pop to finish it off. 31A Mallett St, Camperdown NSW 2050 https://www.acreeatery.com.au/
If your child is a little unruly when sitting still for long periods, Din Tai Fung at Chatswood is your best bet. It offers melamine plates and cups, the food comes out fast and it’s so noisy that no one will hear them bickering over the last pork bun. 3 Westfield Chatswood, 1 Anderson St, Chatswood NSW 2067 https://www.dintaifung.com.au/stores/westfield-chatswood
Is there anything Merivale can’t do well? Vinnie’s Pizza, one of the food posts within the expansive The Newport on the northern beaches, remains one of the best pizza joints in the city. A thin smear of San Marzano tomatoes is topped with fior di latte, then pulled out of the woodfired oven in mere minutes and topped with wild rocket, San Daniele prosciutto and parmesan. The pizzas are thin, the minute bubbles in the crust slightly charred. It’s chewy, excellent pizza made for alfresco dining surrounded by bushland. 2 Kalinya St, Newport; merivale.com/venues/thenewport.
Tennyson Hotel is Merivale’s playground – an ex-drive through pub in Mascot that is now home to a six-month pop-up focusing on Khmer cuisine. With Mitch Orr overseeing it, it’ll likely attract Sydney’s cool crowd, but the kid’s menu is a clear message families are more than welcome. With items like sach chrouk ung (caramelised pork skewers) and lort cha (rice drop noodles with bean sprouts and a fried egg, you’ll be tempted to steal a taste when they’re not looking. 952 Botany Rd, Mascot NSW 2020 https://merivale.com/venues/kingdom-of-rice
