11 Family-Friendly Restaurants That'll Keep Everyone Happy
Looking for a dinner venue to leave both the kids and grown-ups satisfied? We’ve got you covered with this list of local restaurants that serve fresh food for all ages.
Published 8 December 2021
Written by Nicola Clark
Photography by Morgan Smith
Choosing the perfect venue for family birthday celebrations, baby showers, or a weekend brunch venue can be tricky. You’ll want a spot where the kids get a decent meal they’ll actually eat, while the parents can also dine in style. But lucky for us, there’s a handful of places downtown that have the whole family accounted for.
Urban Grounds
There’s plenty of options for the kids at Urban Grounds, and it doesn’t stop at chicken nuggets and chips. Let them choose from bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast or a kid-sized steak for dinner. And with the café being right across from Laurel Bank Park, it’s the perfect chance for lunch followed by a sunny afternoon on the playground.
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Phat Burgers
Phat Burgers is a cheeky, retro diner that serves up over 15 different burgers - and with each one on the menu available in a mini size, your little one will be spoilt for choice to match their tastes. There’s also games like Connect Four and Jenga to play at your table for an easy game night, sorted.
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Amalfi
Treat the kids to buttery pasta or a cheesy pizza at charming Italian restaurant, Amalfi, while you dig into arancini-of-the-day and king prawn linguine paired with a limoncello martini.
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Kingfishers Café & Restaurant
There’s plenty of space in the garden of Kingfishers for the kids to run around, and the garden also serves as a gorgeous backdrop for birthday parties, baby showers, and engagement parties.
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Betty’s Burgers
This casual dining restaurant, located on Level 1 of Grand Central, is a great spot for a Friday night out with the family. Grab some juicy burgers and French fries, then make the most of your trip and pop around the corner to iPlay for your arcade fix, or catch a blockbuster upstairs at Event Cinemas.
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Park House Café
Situated across from picturesque Queens Park, this café makes for a great brekkie spot to kick off the weekend before heading across to play on the playground or kick a footy around. The menu and baked goods cabinet are huge, with something to keep everyone happy.
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Piccolo Papa
For the little ones, all kids pizzas here are hand-shaped to an adorable animal face - maybe the one time it’s acceptable to play with your food. Parents will love a serve of fresh pasta served straight from the cheese wheel and a glass of wine.
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Fitzy’s
Great for weekday dinner out or celebrating mum or dad’s birthday, kids meals at Fitzy’s include an activity pack, soft drink, and ice cream sundae.
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City Golf Club
The City Golf Club serves lunch and dinner from an impressive menu of outlets, from the clubhouse bistro to the in-house Asian restaurant. Overlook the lush course with a hearty lunch, before playing a competitive round of 18-hole mini-golf or hitting the driving range.
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Vapiano
Two pastas and two pizzas to choose from, made for little bellies. This fresh and vibrant restaurant calls for a monthly tradition of family Italian dinner night. And for the grown-ups? Enjoy Happy Hour from 4.00-6.00pm daily with a $5 glass of house wine or beer on tap.
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Hello Harry
This hip, casual joint found downtown at Walton Stores has something for the entire family to munch on, and specialises in hearty Americana-style burgers, onion rings, mozzarella sticks and more.
Did we miss your favourite family lunch spot? Let us know!
