So we hope our guide to where to eat in your city, whether it’s Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney will be of help. Bon appetit!
ADELAIDE
Soul Food Espresso
Tue-Fri 8.30am-4pm, Sat- Sun 8.30am-2pm
This lovely community café has colourful murals on the walls and friendly staff. With a cool kids menu, bargain babycinos (just 75 cents) and a large play area piled with toys, books and a dolls house, your little ones will be very happy. Parents will come for the good coffee, food and excellent facilities including highchairs, change table and plenty of room for prams. Be sure to check out the yummy breakfast buffet on the weekends too.
Utopia Café
170 Waterfall Gully Rd, Waterfall Gully, (08) 8379 2488, waterfallgully.com.au
Wed-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
Get away from it all in just 10 minutes from the CBD. Utopia café is set in the tranquil Cleland National Park and feels a million miles from city life. Open for breakfast and lunch this gorgeous old stone café is roomy enough for prams and gives you the choice of sitting outside on the terrace or to cosy up inside, they even have a fire going in winter. With change facilities and highchairs as well as kid-friendly food options – such as mini pancakes or soft-boiled eggs with toast soldiers for just $8 – make a day of it and take the kids for a bushwalk after.
The Southern Hotel
23 Murray St, Gawler, (08) 8522 1065, thesouthernhotel.com.au
Daily 12pm-2pm, 6 pm-8pm
If you fancy heading out of town, The Southern is really popular with families in Gawler, mostly thanks to the soundproof playroom that allows kids to play and scream to their hearts delight while mum and dad eat in peace. When the kids finally sit down to eat, there is a kid-specific menu, an all-you-can-eat buffet, highchairs and good baby change facilities to complete the picture.
BRISBANE
Breathing Space Café
10 Lambert Rd, Indooroopilly, (07) 3371 0222, Breathingspacecafe.com.au
Daily 8am-3pm (closed Tuesdays)
This unique café means what it says, offering parents a chance to grab a moment of peace and quiet over a coffee or lunch while someone else entertains the kids. With a fully equipped indoor-outdoor playroom (sandpit, crafts, dress-ups) supervised by trained carers (cost is $2-$5 per hour) and a kids menu featuring a healthy lunchbox of sandwich, fruit, yoghurt and a drink for $8.95. The kids can eat and then head off to play, while parents can catch their breath or simply catch up.
Mado Café and Restaurant
Shop 1/3 The Galleria Apartments, South Brisbane, (07) 3844 7111, Madorestaurant.com.au
Daily 11am-till late
If you like the exotic, Mado Turkish café brings it all, Turkish sweets, apple tea, a museum and belly dancers. Not to mention delicious fresh Turkish food from delicate savoury pastries to chicken shish kebabs. Kids will love the Turkish ‘stretchy’ ice-cream that really does need to be eaten with a knife and fork, and the variety of shiny and interesting bits and pieces that decorate the dining room.
Avid Reader Bookshop
193 Boundary St, West End, (07) 3846 3422, avidreader.com.au
Daily 8.30am-4pm
This lovely bookshop also has a café, which is great for a catch up with the kids in tow. Head for the courtyard where the kids can run around or play with the box of toys. Parents will be happy with Toby’s Estate coffee, toasted Turkish sandwiches, winter soups and juices, with nothing on the menu over $12.50. Children will love the Byron Bay cookies, cupcakes and kid-size milkshakes for $4.
CANBERRA
Rodney’s Garden Café
24 Beltana Rd, Pialligo, (02) 6257 5822, rodneys.com.au
Daily 9.30am-4pm
When you think of kids you may not immediately think of a nursery (the plant kind that is) but Rodney’s is a delight. With a small kids menu that has nothing over $8, children can eat and then play in the cubby house and fort while parents can relax with a coffee or tea and something yummy. They even make their own macaroons.
Le Rendevous
Manuka Court, Bougainville St, Manuka, (02) 6295 9763, lerendezvous.com.au
Mon-Sat 9.30am-late
Canberra parents in the know head straight for this family owned Manuka institution. Good traditional Italian fare will please both young and old, kids can entertain themselves between bites of pasta with the pens and pencils provided, sometimes they will even put the art up on the walls afterwards.
Hellenic Club
Matilda St, Woden, (02) 6281 0899, Hellenicclub.com.au
Dining open daily for lunch and dinner
With a choice of four dining options (including a bistro, a trattoria, a café and Chinese) the real highlight of the Hellenic club, if you are with kids, is the playroom. With soft fall flooring, a ball room, jungle gym for the younger ones and Xbox and PlayStation for the older children, your offspring will not want to leave.
DARWIN
Mindil Beach Sunset Market
Maria Liveris Drive, The Gardens, mindil.com.au
Open from last Thursday in April till last Thursday in October, Thurs 5pm-10pm, Sun 4pm-9pm
In the dry season, grab the kids and head to the famous sunset market. One of the market highlights is the wide variety of food that really shows off Darwin’s multicultural colours. From Sri Lankan and Malaysian to Indonesian and Vietnamese and more. Kids can munch on satay sticks, noodles and drink fresh juices. Grab a picnic blanket, sit on the sand and watch the sun set with the family.
Go Sushi
5/28 Mitchell Street, Darwin, (08) 8941 1008
Mon 10 am-3pm, Tues-Fri 10am-3pm, 5.30pm-9pm, Sun 10am-4pm, 5.30pm-9pm
Get on board Darwin’s sushi train. Most kids love sushi and it’s even better when they can pluck it off a conveyor belt of never ending treats. For non-sushi lovers there are soups and noodles too. Located downtown in Darwin’s eat street it’s the perfect cheap and cheerful lunch for the whole family.
Darwin Sailing Club
Atkins Drive, Fannie Bay, (08) 8981 1700,dwnsail.com.au
Daily lunch and dinner
Located on the shores of picturesque Fannie Bay this club will suit everyone in the family. The Waterfront Bistro and bar has a kids menu and there’s a playground to keep them entertained. The grownups will enjoy the water views, fresh seafood and cold beers.
HOBART
Mure’s Lower Deck
Victoria Dock, Hobart, (03) 6231 2815, mures.com.au
Daily 8am-9pm
If your kids love fish and chips, Mure’s is the place for Hobartian parents and visitors alike. There’s traditional seafood fare, Mure’s signature seafood pizza, and even curried scallop pie. Outside you can eat amongst the hustle and bustle of local fishing boats while the kids play in the gated outdoor area, complete with dinghy. Back at the table, they can draw with the provided crayons and colouring pages. Booster seats and highchairs are also available.
Ginger Brown
464 Macquarie St, South Hobart, 03 6223 3531,
Daily 8am-4pm
This newish addition to the café scene in Hobart is fun for grown ups and kids. With a cute ‘50s décor, a comfy mix of couches and tables, and a big box of toys, it’s easy to see why Hobart parents are filling up the place. It offers good coffee, a selection of sweet delights and very yummy breakfasts – a welcome addition to the kid-friendly scene down south.
MELBOURNE
Mr Wolf
9- 15 Inkerman St, St Kilda, (03) 9534 0255; mrwolf.com.au
Tues-Fri 12pm-late, Sat 5pm-late, Sun 12pm-late (kids session 5pm-7-ish pm)
What’s the time Mr Wolf? Time to get stuck into some of the tastiest pizza around. Celebrity chef and mum Karen Martini knows a thing or two about food and family and it shows in her latest sophisticated but fun venture. Open for lunch and with dinner hours starting at 5pm, it’s the perfect place for an early dinner. Best of all, between 5-6pm, kids can colour in and have a pizza and ice cream sundae for just $10. There are highchairs and a really good children’s menu – throw in friendly staff and what’s not to love?
Jerry’s Milkbar
Daily 7am–3.30pm
Travel back to your childhood at this cute café that resembles an old fashioned milkbar, complete with giant lolly jar on the counter. Parents in the know flock to Jerry’s for great scrambled eggs, pancakes, milkshakes and spiders. While the prices are very reasonable, note that it is cash only. But with friendly staff, highchairs and a play area, it’s a crowd pleaser all around.
Birdie Num Nums
745 Nicholson St, North Carlton, (03) 9380 1950, birdienumnums.com.au
Mon-Sun 8am-4pm
Just minutes from the Melbourne Museum, this popular café is a haven for people with little people. With a fun kids menu, featuring treats like hot dogs and fairy bread, parents will also be happy with the grown-up offerings too. Throw in cheery staff, a big courtyard and possibly the only inner city café with a sandpit and you’ll be sorted.
PERTH
Little Creatures Brewery
40 Mews Rd, Fremantle, (08) 9430 5555, littlecreatures.com.au
Daily 10am-midnight
At first look kids and a brewery sounds as compatible as chocolate and dirt. But that’s not the case with this brewery. Parents can drink the best fresh beer in WA straight out of the drums, and if you’re lucky enough you can land yourself a table with a view over the Indian Ocean right next to an enormous enclosed sandpit. Grown ups can eat and drink in the sunshine while the little creatures play for hours in the sand.
Zamia Café
May Drive, Kings Park, (08) 9388 6700, zamiacafe.com.au
Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
Zamia Cafe is right in the Kings Park Synergy Parklands. Great coffee, fantastic food in a beautiful lakeside park setting. There’s a special kids menu available during the day with most things under $9, and coke and lemonade spiders for $5.50. Outside there are really good climbing frames and giant dinosaurs right next door for older kids.
Salt on the Beach
44 Port Beach Rd, North Fremantle, (08) 9430 6866, onthebeach.net.au
Café: daily from 8am-late. Restaurant: daily from 11am-late. Weekend buffet: 8am-11am
This café is an all-round winner with good food and a great children’s play area that they can’t escape from so you can dine in peace. One day a week, they have kids entertainment (face-painting, arts and crafts) from 5.30-7.30pm. On weekends, look out for the excellent buffet breakfast that’s a hit with parents and kids alike. Best of all kids under the age of five eat for free at the buffet.
SYDNEY
Newport Arms
2 Kalinya St, Newport, (02) 9997 4900, newportarms.com.au
Mon-Sat 10am-midnight, Sun 10am-10pm
This iconic Northern Beaches pub boasts that it has the world’s best beer garden. It’s also a haven for parents who fancy a catch up over a drink while the kids run wild in, not one, but three playgrounds. With a kids menu that lists nothing over $10 including fish and chips, pizza and chicken nuggets, a choice of sunny terraces and indoor areas, baby change facilities and high chairs, it makes sense to head north with the family this summer.
Petty Cash Café
68 Victoria Rd, Marrickville, (02) 9557 2377
Tues-Fri 8am-3.30pm, Sat -Sun 9am-3.30
Situated in a quaint corner building in a quiet street, Petty Cash does retro cute well, it also does child-friendly well. With an impressive but affordable breakfast and lunch menu and good coffee, it’s a great place to hang, inside or out. Highchairs are available, or if it’s a sunny day, grab one of the picnic blankets provided and head to the park next door and eat alfresco.
Din Tai Fung
World Square, Level 1, 644 George St; (02) 9264 6010; dintaifung.com.au
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Wed 5.30-9pm, Thur-Sat 5-9.30pm; Sun 5-9pm.
Head to the heart of the city for the ultimate dumpling house experience. While famous for its delicious soup dumplings, this Taiwanese institution has plenty of tasty bits and pieces that are perfect finger food for littlies (try the pork dumplings for $8). Kids get the royal treatment too with friendly staff offering highchairs and kid-sized crockery on arrival. Once the kids are full, they can entertain themselves watching the amazing dumpling production line through the kitchen window.
