Adventure, baby!

dinner

Dylan's Candy Bar

While kids and teenagers on the ground floor whirl around the self-serve candy bar, minutes away from a sugar coma, upstairs is a bright, pastel haven where you and your little ones can sit in giant life-sized cupcake booths (excellent privacy for nursing mothers) and chug down sweet candy-themed cocktails from the bar. Savoury food is limited to pizza and build-your-own deluxe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (add-ins include things like rice krispie treats, so this isn’t your typical sandwich). Their speciality is, of course, desserts, so be prepared for a sugar-high pretty much as soon as you walk in the door.

Sugar rush!
Cocktail + sugar = bliss.
Cupcake booth.
Too much sugar for everyone.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No – but there is plenty of room for strollers to wheel around or sit at your table with you.
Easy access: Yes – an elevator to the 2nd floor where the cafe is housed.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: No – but most older kids will eat pretty much anything on the menu. Ice-cream – hello?
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Dylan’s Candy Bar
1011 3rd Avenue at 60th street,
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (646) 735 0078

Hours:
Mon-Thu 10am–9pm
Fri-Sat 10am–11pm
Sun 11am–9pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=dylan's+candy+bar&fb=1&gl=us&hq=dylan's+candy+bar&hnear=0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62,New+York,+NY&cid=0,0,7473195737351987267&ll=40.762165,-73.965826&spn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Serendipity 3

A place this cute and kitschy screams child-friendly – until you read the sign on the door that reads “Absolutely no strollers or carriages allowed in the restaurant”. The decor, with oversized clocks and stained glass lamps, is a vision out of Wonderland – but this land is for big kids, not toddlers and babies. When asked if they have highchairs, the server responds with a no – adding they have booster chairs however, which they don’t recommend we use because they’re not safe.

Having a heart-to-heart with a friend’s toddler, who is perched on the “un-safe” booster seats.

The tables are small and squished together, making it difficult to hold infants on your lap. Add to that slow service and a potential long wait for a table (half an hour on weekdays, up to an hour on weekends), and you’ve got a place that is best left till the kids are a lot older.

The redeeming feature of Serendipity 3 is that their meals are tasty and large portioned, including their speciality Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which is large enough for four people to share.

Frrrozen hot chocolate. Huge.
Three ladies, three babies. Stealth baby in the baby carrier. Forbidden strollers ready to be deployed.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No
Easy access: No – several stairs down into the restaurant, plus two flights of steep stairs if your table is in the upstairs section.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: –—-

Serendipity 3
225 East 60th Street
between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 838 3531
Serendipity 3 accepts a limited amount of reservations for lunch and dinner only, not for desserts. To make a reservation for lunch or dinner please call (212) 838 3531.

Hours:
Sun-Thur 11:30am to midnight
Friday 11:30am to 1:00am
Saturday 11:30am to 2:00am

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=serendipity+3+225+East+60th+Street+between+2nd+and+3rd+Avenues+New+York,+NY+10022&aq=&sll=40.697488,-73.979681&sspn=0.573686,1.347198&ie=UTF8&hq=serendipity+3+225+East+60th+Street+between+2nd+and+3rd+Avenues+New+York,+NY+10022&hnear=&radius=15000&ll=40.761776,-73.964943&spn=0.03582,0.0842&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=16942713096821584029&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Buttermilk Channel

Buttermilk Channel: #kidfriendly #restaurants #carrollgardens #brooklyn #NYC via brunchwithmybaby.com

Carroll Gardens is the epicenter of kid-friendly Brooklyn, so it’s not surprising that Buttermilk Channel caters not just to brunch-loving foodie adults, but also their equally discerning offspring. Of note is their awesome kids’ menu. With a fixed price of $10, it features a main, such as a grilled cheese, buttermilk fried chicken or pasta, a side (you can choose fries or a healthy option like broccoli), and, the best part, dessert such as Lily’s Clown Sundae.

It’s also really great to hear that the staff are accommodating of children, making sure their meals come out first when needed.

Reservations for parties of five or more. For smaller groups, the wait for a table for weekend brunch can be a while.

Highchairs: Yes. They also have booster seats.
Stroller storage: Minimal – bring a stroller that folds up.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St at Huntington St,
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, 11231
Phone: (718) 852 8490
Prices: $$
Hours:
Dinner
Sun-Wed: 5pm-10pm
Thu: 5pm-11pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-12am
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 10pm-3pm
Get directions.

The Plaza Food Hall

The new food hall under The Plaza has more than 20 bright kiosks and stalls including Billy’s Bakery, La Maison du Chocolat, Tartinery, Sant Ambroeus desserts, Lady M Cake Boutique, Luke’s Lobster and Sushi of Gari. The cheerful environment is perfect for families to stop by for brunch, lunch or an early dinner. Little girls will love playing in the Eloise store, and your toddler can happily charge around the seating area without drawing disapproving glances from other diners.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Lots of space for strollers.
Easy access: Yes – there is elevator access to the food hall level.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Plaza Food Hall
1 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019
Phone (212) 986 9260

Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=plaza+food+hall&fb=1&gl=us&hq=plaza+food+hall&hnear=0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62,New+York,+NY&cid=0,0,11861330291617945167&ll=40.764396,-73.973957&spn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Public: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, SoHo, New York

Hipster babies rejoice – they, too, can brunch in trendy SoHo at Public. While not a hugely family-friendly venue, they do have high chairs and are very accommodating to babies. Great food (lamingtons!) and atmosphere – a perfect choice for brunch with friends who aren’t into the regular family-restaurant scene. No reservations for brunch, so arrive when they open to be seated first.

Lamingtons! Oh, and other tasty food.
Cool, industrial space.
Breakfast, Aussie-style.
Baby and boys check out the self-serve treats.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a fold-up stroller or carrier.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥–

Public
210 Elizabeth St, New York 10012
(Btwn Prince & Spring St)
Phone: (212) 343 7011

Dinner
Mon-Thu: 6pm-11pm
Fri-Sat: 6pm-12am
Sun: 6pm-10:30pm
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 11am-3:30pm

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Public+Restaurant,+Elizabeth+Street,+New+York,+NY&aq=0&oq=public+210&sll=40.749576,-73.991665&sspn=0.14331,0.3368&ie=UTF8&hq=Public+Restaurant,+Elizabeth+Street,+New+York,+NY&ll=40.722322,-73.994233&spn=0.016913,0.032015&t=m&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Public on Urbanspoon

Colonie: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

Colonie is a known date-night favourite. On the weekends however, it’s a brunch mecca for families. While the restaurant doesn’t feature a lot of baby-friendly amenities, it makes up for it with truly fine food and friendly staff who welcome kids of all ages. No reservations for brunch. Get there when it opens to avoid the queues.

Colonie

Colonie

Colonie

Colonie

Colonie

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No. Bring a fold-up stroller or carrier.
Easy access: Yes (one step).
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Colonie
127 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn 11201
(Btwn Henry & Clinton St)
Phone: (718) 855 7500
Prices: $$
Mon-Thu: 6pm-10:30pm
Fri: 6pm-11:30pm
Sat: 11am-11:30pm
Sun: 11am-10:30pm
Get directions.

Colonie on Urbanspoon

Images thanks to Yelp.

Ted & Honey: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

This little neighbourhood cafe is frequented by local families for a very good reason – despite having no room for strollers, it’s right next door to Cobble Hill Park. Their breakfast and lunch sandwiches are the perfect thing to chow down on while sitting in the pretty park with your offspring. The breakfast sandwiches are delicious – large, full of egg, fresh tomato and cheese. Just the thing to kickstart your day.

On cold days, snuggle up inside with your little one on your lap and let them play with some of the books and toys that are in the cafe just for this purpose, while you indulge in a grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Ted & Honey

Ted & Honey

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes (one step).
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Ted & Honey
264 Clinton St, Brooklyn 11201
(At Verandah Pl)
Phone: (718) 852 2212
Prices: $$
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-7pm
Sat-Sun: 8am-6pm
Get directions.

Ted and Honey on Urbanspoon

The National

This chic little eatery is part of The National Hotel. No-fuss breakfast and brunch are their speciality. Babies are more than welcome, with staff especially friendly towards the young diners.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes (there is a special entrance for wheelchairs and strollers).
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥–

The National
557 Lexington Ave (at 50th st)
New York, NY 10022
Reservations: (212) 715 2400

Hours:
Open daily: 7am – 12am

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=The+National,+557+Lexington+Avenue,+New+York,+NY&aq=&sll=40.775692,-73.961201&sspn=0.071627,0.1684&ie=UTF8&hq=The+National,&hnear=557+Lexington+Ave,+New+York,+10022&t=m&ll=40.756664,-73.972069&spn=0.006295,0.006295&output=embed&w=425&h=350%5D

Artisanal Bistro: Kid-friendly Restaurants, New York

Enjoy French cuisine with your kids at this Midtown bistro and fromagerie. Friendly staff make the babies and kids feel welcome. Fast service and delicious food keep the adults happy.

Little monkey across the table.
Baby’s lunch – parfait.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes. They can store small, folding strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Artisanal Bistro
2 Park Ave (At 32nd St),
New York 10016
Phone: (212) 725 8585
Reservations

Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30am–2:45pm, 5pm–9:45pm, Thur-Fri 11:30am–2:45pm, 5pm–10:45pm, Sat 10:30am–3:45pm, 5pm–10:45pm, Sun 10:30am–3:45pm, 5pm–8:45pm

Bubby's Tribeca

You don’t get more family friendly than the Bubby’s restaurants. The TriBeCa branch is a bit more upmarket than its Brooklyn sibling, but also has less space. Tables are a bit crowded together, making for a squished dining experience. A bright, rowdy atmosphere makes it fab for families. Take the kids to the nearby Hudson River Greenway afterwards to run around.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes. Stroller parking is outside the restaurant – be prepared to leave it on the street.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.
Kids-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Bubby’s TriBeCa
120 Hudson St, New York 10013
(At N Moore St)
Phone: (212) 219 0666

Hours:
Mon: 7am-12am
Tue-Sun: 24hr
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 9am-4pm