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kid friendly cafes

Armory Wharf Cafe: Waterfront & Family-Friendly Cafe in Sydney

September 8, 2020 / Newington, South West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Armory Wharf Café

The Armory Wharf Café in Sydney Olympic Park is a family-friendly, waterfront cafe with a casual vibe and al fresco seating.

Located on the edge of the Parramatta River in the Newington Nature Reserve, the Armory Wharf Café is a licensed venue that has stunning 270-degree water views of mangroves and the industrial Armory wharf.

The Armory Wharf Café has a mix of shaded outdoor and indoor seating, and a menu that offers fresh, seasonal cuisine.

There are daily specials and a decent amount of options for kids.

The cafe is an extremely popular spot for families in particular, with its close proximity to Blaxland Riverside Playground. There is a section of the playground close enough for older kids to enjoy while their parents are waiting for meals to arrive in the cafe.

Our group ordered the Beer-battered Fish n Chips (served with mushy peas and tartar sauce, $24), Grilled Salmon (served with a spinach, nut and grain salad and beetroot hummus, $28), Berry Good Smoothie (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and skim milk, $8), Loaded Focaccia (housemate focaccia topped with scrambled eggs, haloumi, spinach, tomato relish and avocado, $20), Kids’ Mini Pizza Pocket (cheese and tomato pizza pocket, $12).

The fish and chips, salmon and loaded focaccia meals were all excellent. Great sized services, bright, fresh produce and excellently cooked. All meals arrived quickly and were very well made.

The only dish that was a let down was the pizza pockets. They were a bit sweet and weird tasting, and not a hit with any of us unfortunately.

I would highly advise making reservations to secure a spot. Parking is available nearby however is limited and is also used for the playground, so arrive early enough to wait for a spot to become available if you are visiting on a weekend.

Afterwards, take kids to Blaxland Riverside Playground or to explore the Newington Armory.

Armory Wharf Cafe
Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson Street, off Holker St, Newington NSW
Hours: Wed-Sun 9am–2pm
http://www.armorywharfcafe.com

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More things to do on the Central Coast.

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Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

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Sotto on Ryde Cafe, Ryde Park: Kid-friendly Cafes in Sydney

August 27, 2020 / North-West Sydney, Ryde, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Sotto on Ryde Cafe, Ryde Park: Kid-friendly Cafes in Sydney

Sotto on Ryde Cafe is a family-friendly gem, located in Ryde Park, Sydney. The cafe features outdoor seating, overlooks a playground and is a few steps from a bike and scooter track.

The cafe features a very reasonably-priced menu, with all-day breakfast, weekday lunch specials, and an excellent kids’ menu.

The cafe is open-air, with plenty of tables, and overlooks the playground and park.

The service is efficient and fast. The food fresh and served quickly.

There are easily-accessible public restrooms at the rear of the cafe.

The playground is best suited to preschool/ lower primary-aged kids.

Read more about visiting Ryde Park and Ryde Park scooter and bike track..

Sotto on Ryde Cafe
30 Argyle Ave, Ryde
Hours: Daily, 7am-5pm
sotto-on-ryde.business.site

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids.

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney.

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Frankie’s Food Factory at Flower Power Milperra Sydney

July 25, 2019 / Milperra, South West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Enjoy modern classics in the heart of a leafy nursery at Frankie’s Food Factory, inside Flower Power Milperra.

The massive new Flower Power sure packs a punch with its excellent cafe, Frankie’s Food Factory, making it a destination for dining as well as shopping for plants.

Frankie’s Food Factory has a breakfast and lunch menu served inside large indoor and outdoor dining areas with a lovely leafy nursery view. The outdoor dining area leads into the fully fenced playground.

We thought the menu was a bit on the pricey side, however couldn’t fault the staff, ambience, decor or food.

The food is a bit American in style – the burgers we ordered were extremely “American”, with soft buns and thin French fries sprinkled with gentle spices.

Frankie’s Cheeseburger (single $21 | double $27 | triple $32, wagyu beef burger with melted cheese, pickles, onion, tomato sauce & American mustard, served with fries, add bacon +4).

There is an excellent, reasonably priced kids’ menu from which we ordered the Scrambled Eggs ($8, served with toast & tomato sauce).

My Halloumi Quinoa Salad ($21, halloumi, quinoa, Spanish onion, roasted cauliflower, spinach, avocado, brown rice & sunflower seeds) was excellent and I would absolutely order it again.

The Nutella Hot Chocolate ($6, served with whipped cream & marshmallows) was an absolute winner, too.

Kids will love drawing on the paper covering the tables while they wait for their meals to arrive.

There is a small kids’ games area at the front of the cafe that mostly requires money to operate.

We visited during the school holidays and it was packed. According to staff school holidays and weekends are always busy. We arrived at 11:30am and waited about 30 mins for a table.

Don’t forget to flash your Garden Lovers Club membership card for a 5% discount. Frankie’s is 100% pet friendly so you can bring your furbabies too.

Frankie’s Food Factory at Flower Power Milperra
479 Henry Lawson Drive, Milperra
Phone: (02) 9899 2299
Hours: Daily, 8.30am-5pm
http://frankiesfoodfactory.com/

Get Directions.

Call Me Harris: Kid-Friendly Cafes Sydney

September 16, 2018 / CBD, Pyrmont, Sydney / 0 comment

Located on at the end of Harris Street, Pyrmont, Call Me Harris offers beautiful water views along with fresh baked foods, all day brekkie and a great range of healthy meal choices.

Sitting next to Pirrama Park and Pirrama Playground, it’s a great location for families to drop by to stave off the hangar attack or to get a much needed caffeine hit.

With coffee by Three Pence Roasters, Call Me Harris has a reputation for serving excellent coffee.

The open air cafe is casual and fun. Choose a seat and order at the counter, and be sure to take a selfie in the blue throne chair when you do.

We love the all-day brekkie menu, choosing the Smashed Avocado and Sumac Tomatoes ($18) and Poke Salad, made with chicken or salmon ($18) as our meals of choice. There is a kids’ lunch menu but not breakfast, but a Eggs and Bacon on sourdough dish ($14) does the job, substituting the bacon for a hash brown. We also choose a Fruit Tingle smoothie, which is made from mixed berries and pineapple juice.

If baked goods are you thing then you will love the fluffy and fresh treats made daily on site. Cruffins are a regular feature, as are red velvet croissants. Today however, these cronuts are on offer and they look delicious.

Kids will love the child-sized tables and chairs that are scattered around. Adults will love the cheerful ambiance, excellent food and friendly staff.

Public bathrooms are around the back of the kitchen, including a disabled toilet and baby change table.

Read more about Pirrama Park and Playground here.

Call Me Harris
20 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat & Sun 8am-5pm
Phone: 0431 694 002
Online facebook.com/callmeharrispyrmont

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sydney Restaurants: Petty Cash Cafe, Marrickville, Australia

August 6, 2018 / Inner West, Marrickville, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

A cosy, retro cafe in Marrickville, Petty Cash has become a go-to for inventive vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes in Sydney’s inner west.

Petty Cash is a low-key spot, located directly across the road from the playground in leafy Enmore Park. As such it’s a great spot for families to dine in or pick up some take away and eat it in the park.

We dined in and enjoyed the vintage, mismatched chairs, tables and crockery. The cafe has a slightly hippy feel to it and is a bit disorganised. This either adds to its charm or can be irritating, depending on how hangry you are.

Petty Cash is a popular spot with locals, and the Sunday we visit it’s packed with diners. We nab a table inside but there’s a long line at the counter to order food. We’ve arrived at rush hour and the cafe is hectic.

As a vegetarian I find cafes that cater to vegan and vegetarians hard to find. I loved the menu at Petty Cash as I could eat almost everything on the menu. I would have liked to have seen a kids’ menu as well.

We chose the Big Brekkie with free range eggs on toast + avocado, tomato, hash brown, haloumi and house beans ($17.90), pumpkin & ricotta lasagne with burnt rosemary butter and salad ($17.90) and the free-range eggs on toast ($9.90).

When ordering at the counter we weren’t given a number or asked where we were sitting, so I was curious to see how our meals would find us. I was pleasantly surprised to see they they did find their way to us very quickly – the servers asked the person who took the order where to send the meals. What an incredible memory!

The playground across the road has some shade cloth over parts of the equipment, and a really cool space ship climbing structure. There are plenty of trees for shade and wide grassy spaces for running around. There are public restrooms at the nearby aquatic centre.

Petty Cash Cafe
68 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Hours: Daily 7:30am–3:30pm
Phone: (02) 9557 2377
Prices: $$
Online: facebook.com/Petty-Cash-Cafe

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sydney Restaurants: The Cove Dining Co, Abbotsford, Australia

August 5, 2018 / Abbotsford, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

A busy road in a residential area is not the location you’d expect to find the beautiful Cove Dining Co cafe. Located inside the community hall of what was once the Abbotsford Nestlé factory site, the building is heritage-listed and gives a lovely insight into a time gone by.

Walk inside to find a spacious dining room with long tables perfect for big groups or sharing and meeting new friends. There is also an outdoor verandah with alfresco seating and a lovely view of the lush gardens surrounding the building. The verandah is my pick for seating if you’re visiting with kids as the gardens provide the perfect place for kids to play.

The Cove Dining Co is a small, family run business. Almost everything is prepared onsite, including smoked goods, cheese and jam. Free range and organic ingredients are used where possible.

The menu has a lot of variety as well as some familiar favourites to fall back on. The dishes we order arrive pretty quickly for a busy day and are fairly busting with colour and flavour.

Honey Spice Granola with Almonds, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut and Sultanas, served with Yoghurt and Preserved Fruit ($16).

Bubble & Squeak with Fried Egg, Speck, Cabbage, Peas, and Potato with Sourdough ($20).

Boiled Egg and Sourdough off the kids’ menu ($6).

There is a decent-sized kids’ menu with enough options for picky eaters as well as those who will try something a bit more substantial. Boiled Egg and Sourdough ($6), Pancake with Maple Syrup ($6), Scrambled Egg and Bacon on Sourdough ($8), Toasted Cheese Sandwich on Brioche with Fries ($6), Crumbed Fish and Fries ($14), Crumbed Chicken and Fries ($14).

This is one incredible family-friendly cafe, as evidenced by how accessible it is for strollers and wheelchairs, and provide use of highchairs, baby change tables, toys and colouring in equipment. There is also free wifi!

The Cove Dining Co
378 Great N Rd, Abbotsford, NSW
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 8am-3pm
Phone: (02) 9713 7896
Prices: $$
Online thecovediningco.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

The Tramshed Cafe, Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia

July 29, 2018 / Narrabeen, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Jump aboard a beautifully restored 1930s tram at The Tramshed Cafe on Narrabeen Lake, an approximately 40 minutes drive from Sydney’s CBD.

The tram is open for visitors to walk through, including the drivers’ areas. You can even order your meal to go and eat it on the tram if you can persuade the kids to go inside and sit at a regular table.

This old tram, number 1753, carried passengers between North Sydney and the Spit Bridge from 1933 until 1958.

Inside the actual cafe, you’ll find a brightly lit, open space, with plenty of tables and booths. The cafe serves up Modern Australian breakfasts and lunches, specialty roasted Little Marionette coffee and a very decent kids’ menu.

The Tramshed Cafe ie licensed and BYO. Breakfast is available 7-11.30am and Lunch 11.30-3.30pm.

Alec and I both ordered The Tramshed Big Brekkie (Eggs your way, bacon, roast tomatoes, mushroom, hash brown, avocado, chorizo, tomato relish and sourdough, $20). I asked for mine with vegetarian substitutes. Cheese has the kids’ eggs on wholewheat toast ($8).

Our food was delivered to us quickly by the extremely friendly waitstaff. We were pleased with the portion sizes and how fresh the food was. Beautiful bright colours, really delicious flavours. Note: If ordering toast and you like butter on it, you’ll need to ask for it.

The Tramshed Cafe has a number of environmental initiatives in place that I really appreciated. They use BioPak Green packaging for takeaway orders, which can be recycled, they use only paper straws, compost as much as they can, recycle where possible and support local suppliers to reduce freight.

While the cafe itself sits on an extremely busy road, it’s positioned next to Berry Reserve, which has a large playground and the beautiful Narrabeen Lake.

At the lake is an entry point to the 8.4km Narrabeen Lagoon Trail that can be walked, biked or scooted. A bit far for us to complete, we walked and scooted the 1.2km to Bilarong Reserve, which has an excellent playground with play equipment and mythical beast sculptures.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Tramshed Cafe
1395a Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
(02) 9970 7486
Hours: Daily, 7am-5pm
Online

Bitton Oatley: Sydney’s Best Cafes For Families

April 23, 2018 / Oatley, Southern Sydney, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

We have been fans of the flagship Bitton cafe in Alexandria for years, so were extremely happy to hear about the new Bitton Oatley site when it recently opened. Both Bitton cafes offer a French-inspired menu and share the same philosophy of “five star gourmet at café prices in a friendly atmosphere”.

The new Bitton Oatley has a huge outdoor area wth a little play area and some cute landscaping features to discover. The menus are seasonal and baristas serve Grinders coffee.

The family-friendly atmosphere of Bitton Alexandria is mirrored here, and on our mid-week visit we see mums and bubs enjoying babyccinos in the spacious yard.

The cafe is extremely accessible for strollers and also wheelchairs. There is a flat path that leads from the front all around the back and directly into the back of the cafe and yard. There is also clear access to the bathrooms and a large family and wheelchair accessible bathroom with a change table and even a few spare nappies and wipes.

I also appreciated how easy it was to park at the cafe! There is plenty of street parking available on the site streets.

There is a dedicated kids’ menu featuring Scrambled Eggs, Crispy Bacon and Toast, French Crêpes, Steak and Fries, Chicken & Mushroom Pasta, Crumbed Fish Fillets and a Kids Beef Burger (French Crêpes pictured above).

We ordered Breakfast Salad Bowl (Soft Boiled Egg, Avocado, Quinoa, Pistachios Baby Heirloom Tomatoes, Kale, Crispy Bacon, Baby Spinach, GF, $17) and the Tomato and Goat’s Cheese Sourdough Toast with Basil Oil ($17).

I always know what to expect when we dine at Bitton and this time was no exceptions. Delicious food made with the freshest of ingredients and served quickly. Impeccable and friendly service. A thoroughly enjoyable experience, every single time.

This brunch was made even sweeter by the surprise gift of two free mini creme brulees for dessert. Yum!

Bitton Oatley
119a Mulga Rd, Oatley
Hours: Tues & Sun 7am-4pm, Wed-Sat 7am-9pm, Mondays closed.
Phone: 02 9570 5777
bittongourmet.com.au

Get directions

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

24 Kid-friendly Restaurants in Sydney (that parents will enjoy too)

November 14, 2017 / Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Having a kid these days doesn’t mean your foodie adventures have to come to an end. Spectacular Sydney is serving up plenty of delightful choices for families to take their mini-gourmets to enjoy fancy babyccinos along with a perfectly smashed avo.

Check out my top kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney – where the wee ones can eat and play while adults dine on fine cuisine.

Kid-friendly Restaurants in Sydney

acre Artarmon

Enjoy farm-inspired food grown on-site at acre Artarmon. This open-air urban oasis features indoor and outdoor seating, picnic style areas, kids’ play area and chicken coop.

acre Artarmon is a cafe, restaurant, bar and bakery set within sprawling indoor and outdoor gardens that produce the food that goes straight into kitchen to produce the meals.

Get more info on visiting acre Artarmon.

Acre Artarmon
1 Frederick Street, Artarmon
Hours:
Cafe Bakery: Mon – Sat 7am – 5pm | Sun 7am – 3pm
Restaurant: Thursday 4.30pm – 10.30pm | Fri 12pm – 11pm | Sat 12pm – 11pm | Sun 12pm – 4pm
acre-artarmon.com.au

Glenorie Bakery in Glenorie

Technically this is a bakery but it’s still one of our top go-tos in Sydney for a delicious brekkie. Glenorie Bakery serves a top brekkie and lunch as well as award-winning pies and sensational eclairs. Kids will love the play area out the back.

Get more info on visiting Glenorie Bakery.

Glenorie Bakery
4/930 Old Northern Rd, Glenorie NSW
(02) 9652 2624
Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-6pm, Sat & Sun 6am-5pm
glenoriebakery.com.au

Lab Kitchen Five Dock

Lab Kitchen Five Dock serves up delicious, seasonal, modern Western-Eastern dishes at a reasonable price – and has a massive backyard filled with play equipment and toys for kids. What more could you ask for?

Get more info on visiting Lab Kitchen.

Lab Kitchen Five Dock
Hours: Daily, 7am-4pm
108 Great N Rd, Five Dock
Website: labkitchen.com.au

The Picnic Burwood

The Picnic at Burwood is a whimsical elevation of the humble outdoor dining experience. The outdoor cafe is located inside a pavilion in a park in Burwood, a few metres from a large, fenced in playground. The menu is delightful and delicious. Adults can order the very insta-worthy pavlova hotcakes while kids’ eyes light up to see the adorable “bear” dish of bear-shaped toastwith banana and blueberries.The Picnic is our constant go-to and is always on the list of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Get more info on visiting The Picnic Burwood here.

The Picnic Burwood
Burwood Rd & Park Ave, Burwood
Hours: Tue-Sun 8am-4pm. Closed Mondays.
Website: facebook.com/Thepicnicburwood

Black Star Rosebery and Entertainment Quarter

The home of delicious pastry such as the famous watermelon cake as well as quiche that tastes like heaven, Black Star’s Rosebery and Moore Park cafes are perfect places to take the kids to appreciate the finer tastes in life. Both have large seating areas with plenty of tables and space for strollers, and the Rosebery one has a nice little set of toys for kids to play with while they’re munching their way through some of the best cake in Sydney.

Get more information on visiting Black Star Rosebery here.

Black Star Pastry
C1, 85-113 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat & Sun 8am-4pm

210 Bent St, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-5pm, Fri & Sat, 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-4pm
Website: blackstarpastry.com.au

Burnt Orange – Mosman

The Burnt Orange cafe is housed in an historic sandstone manor overlooking Sydney Harbour. Adults are spoiled for choice with an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, while kids can enjoy fine dining of their own with options such as the crumbed whiting fillets with chips, pasta spirals with fresh tomato sauce or mini organic cheeseburger with chips served with a smartie cookie and a choice of fresh orange juice, strawberry or chocolate milk for $15. Next to the dining area upstairs is a gorgeous boutique store filled with kids toys and clothes.

Get more info on visiting Burnt Orange here and on their amazing high tea here.

Burnt Orange
1109 Middle Head Rd, Mosman
Hours: Daily 8:30am-5:30pm
Website: burntorange.com.au

Clover Cafe – Annandale

A cheerful little cafe on Annandale, a part of Sydney with loads of young families. A kids play area with sturdy toys keeps little ones entertained while their parents enjoy their baked eggs and fresh juice. While the breakfast menu is light on kids meals the lunch menu has a choices such as the every-popular toastie.

Clover Cafe
78 Booth St, Annandale
Hours: Daily, 7am-3pm
Website: facebook.com/CloverAnnandale

Three Williams – Redfern

A cafe in the trendy part of Redfern, Three Williams is a delightful surprise for families looking to dine in the area. A peek inside the entrance into the cavernous underground cafe reveals plenty of space. Kids love to race up and down the ramp intended for disabled access, that leads them straight to a giant chalkboard and small play area. The food is fantastic and the staff extremely kind towards their youngest guests.

Get more info on visiting Three Williams here.

Three Williams
613a Elizabeth St, Redfern
Hours: Daily, 7am-4pm
Website: threewilliamscafe.com

The Grounds of Alexandria

This cafe is constantly rated one of Sydney’s best for a very good reason. The Grounds of Alexandra is a cornucopia of whimsical delights. From the farm animals (meeting the famous pig, “Kevin Bacon” is a must) to the play area, fountain and rambling paths leading through gardens and lanes bursting with flowers, statues and tiny creative details, the external grounds at The Grounds is, in itself, worth a visit alone.

The food is excellent: the popular “signature avocado” set a new standard in smashed avo brekkies when introduced a few years back. The Grounds is such a special place to visit that it is always right up the top of lists mentioning the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Get more info on visiting The Grounds of Alexandria here.

The Grounds of Alexandria
7A, 2 Huntley St, Alexandria
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-9pm, Friday 7am-10pm, Saturday 7:30am-10pm, Sunday 7:30am-9pm
Website: thegrounds.com.au

Bitton Gourmet – Alexandria and Oatley

Ask for a table out the back next to the small toddler play area when dining at Bitton Gourmet with littles. Adults enjoy the delicious French-Australian cuisine while the kids love that they have somewhere to play while waiting for their scrambled eggs. We love their all-day breakfast menu and the can-do staff who are always happy to help in anyway they can.

Bitton Gourmet can now be found at Oatley, too, where they have the same menu in a bigger venue with a backyard and play area for kids (photo above).

Get more info on visiting Bitton Gourmet Alexandria here and Bitton Gourmet Oatley here.

Bitton Gourmet
36-37A Copeland St, Alexandria
Hours: Wed-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun-Tues 7am-4pm.
Website: bittongourmet.com.au/alexandria

119a Mulga Rd, Oatley
Hours: Wed-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun-Tues 7am-4pm.
Website: bittongourmet.com.au/oatley

The Incinerator Willoughby

A popular cafe for families on Sydney’s North Shore, the cafe is inside old incinerator that has been given a new lease of life. Outdoor tables and grassy areas give kids plenty of room to roam while their parents enjoy “Have it your way” free range eggs and Ti Tam milkshakes. A nearby playground provides a convenient place to let kids run around if there’s a wait for tables.

Get more info on visiting The Incinerator Cafe here.

The Incinerator Willoughby
2 Small St, Willoughby
Hours: Sun-Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri & Sat 7am-4pm, 5pm-10pm
Website: theincinerator.com.au

Coogee Pavilion

Head to the back of the Coogee Pavilion to find a paradise for kids and their parents. Giant games of Connect Four and Scrabble, building blocks, board games and a colouring table entertain the kids, leaving adults free to enjoy a well-deserved drink. The wood-fire pizzas are our fave dishes to order.

Get more info on visiting the Coogee Pavilion here and on the perfect day in Coogee here.

Coogee Pavilion
169 Dolphin St, Coogee
Hours: Daily, 7:30am-12am
Website: merivale.com.au/coogeepavilion

Camperdown Commons

Order a meal from acre, the sustainably-focused eatery at Camperdown Commons, while the kids play nearby. Diners can choose between a large, sit down restaurant and bar, container with takeaway coffee and snacks and a casual outdoor area on the terrace or lawn area outside. Many of the ingredients in the dishes come directly from the pocket gardens onsite, making the dining experience very literally farm-to-table. Families will particularly love the outdoor area with its interactive kids’ play space and chicken coop where rescue hens from battery farms now live a life of luxury.

Get more info on visiting Camperdown Commons here.

Camperdown Commons
31a Mallett Street, Camperdown
Hours: Mon-Thu 12pm–3pm, 5pm–10pm, Fri-Sun 8am–3pm, 5pm–10pm
Website: camperdown.commons.com.au

The Tramsheds – Harold Park

Located at Harold Park, The Tramsheds is a must-visit for kids who are obsessed with wheels. The old Rozelle Tramway Depot, originally built in 1904, has been beautifully refurbished and given a new life as a hub for restaurants and facilities for local residents.

The full-sized resorted tram inside the Tramsheds is now part of the dining area for the Butcher & The Farmer cafe, so you can ask for a table inside and let your little one pretend to drive it while waiting for their babyccino to arrive.

Get more info on our visit to the Tramsheds here and all the kid-friendly dining options it offers.

The Tramsheds
1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge
Hours: Daily, 7am-late
Website: tramshedsharoldpark.com.au

Vogue Cafe – North Ryde

While the Vogue Cafe sits inside busy Macquarie Shopping Centre, from the inside it feels like Wonderland. It’s an adorable, whimsical place, with a straightforward menu and fantastical shakes. Called “Magical Milkshakes”, they are topped with things like whipped cream, rice bubbles, pop corn and jelly snakes, with a chocolate and sprinkles rim.

The food is always delicious and the staff friendly. A small, enclosed play space has been a welcome addition to the cafe by families of younger kids.

Read more about our visit to the Vogue Cafe here.

The Vogue Cafe
109 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Website: facebook.com/TheVogueCafe

Bills at Bondi

When you want hotcakes, you go to Bills, even if you have kids in tow. What I really enjoy about Bills is happy and easy-going vibe. The friendly staff bring little ones coloured pencils and paper to entertain them while you wait for your brunch.

Scrambled eggs or boiled eggs and toast soldiers will keep the little ones happy from the breakfast menu, or order a linguini, junior burger or schnitzel for lunch. Their French fries are also excellent.

Read more about our visit to Bills Bondi here.

Bills Bondi
79 Hall St, Bondi Beach
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am-10pm
Website: bills.com.au

Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour

This big, bright and bold restaurant is an excellent edition to Darling Harbour, situated near the ICC building. The seating is casual – grab a table and order at the bar. There’s plenty for kids to look at, including the pizza kitchen and fresh pasta station, plus a games area (best suited for older kids) and house-made dessert and gelato counter. The kids’ menu is massive and has something to suit everyone, rather like the menu for adults. Keep an eye out for special kids eat free deals.

A few steps outside Fratelli Fresh is the excellent Darling Quarter playground.

Read more about our experience at Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour here.

Fratelli Fresh
2/14 Darling Dr, Darling Harbour
Hours: Daily, 7am-12am
Website: fratellifresh.com.au/venues/darling-harbour

The Tramshed Cafe – Narrabeen

Hop aboard a beautifully resorted 1930s tram at this bright and cheery cafe on Narrabeen Lake. Not only is the tram excellent fun itself, the cafe serves up delicious Modern Australian cuisine and offers its youngest diners and excellent kids’ menu. A large playground is situated outside the cafe, and the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail starts directly behind the cafe, making it the perfect outing for families.

Read more about our visit to the Tramshed Cafe here.

The Tramshed Cafe
1395a Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
(02) 9970 7486
Hours: Daily, 7am-5pm
Website: thetramshed.com.au

The Cove Dining Co – Abbotsford

The Cove Dining Co cafe is located inside the community hall of what was once the Abbotsford Nestlé factory site, a heritage-listed building. The dining room is spacious, with long tables, or choose alfresco seating on the outdoor verandah with a lovely view of the lush gardens surrounding the building and let the kids play while they wait for their meals.

This is one incredible family-friendly cafe, as evidenced by how accessible it is for strollers and wheelchairs, and provide use of highchairs, baby change tables, toys and colouring in equipment.

Read more about our visit to The Cove Dining Co here.

The Cove Dining Co
378 Great N Rd, Abbotsford, NSW
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 8am-3pm
Phone: (02) 9713 7896
Online thecovediningco.com.au

The Innocent Kitchen – Sydenham

The Innocent Kitchen is a sweet and simple cafe run by two sisters in Sydney’s inner west. The menu is basic and located on a blackboard. Choose from items like a bacon and egg roll and toasted sandwiches. Kids can order fairy bread, raisin toast, vegemite or peanut butter sandwiches and toasties. The babyccinos are free!

Read more about our visit to The Innocent Kitchen here.

The Innocent Kitchen
288 Unwins Bridge Rd, Sydenham NSW
Hours: Mon-Wed 7am-12pm, Thur & Fri 7am-2pm, Sat 8am-1pm, closed Sundays.
Online: facebook.com/TheInnocentKitchen

The Tiny Giant – Petersham

This tiny little cafe in Sydney’s inner west is a hot spot for pretty and tasty dishes. Expect creative and delicious breakfasts including their famous brioche toast which is completely clouded in bright-pink fairy floss, berries and cinnamon ricotta. The Tiny Giant makes the list because their kids dishes are just as cute and creative as the grown-up versions.

Read more about our visit to The Tiny Giant here.

The Tiny Giant
110 Audley St, Petersham
Mon-Fri 6:30am-3pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am-3pm.
Ph: 02 8065 4684
thetinygiant.com.au

Frankie’s Food Factory – Milperra

Enjoy modern classics in the heart of a leafy nursery at Frankie’s Food Factory, inside Flower Power Milperra.

There is an excellent kids’ menu with something to suit the fussiest of diners, and a large, fenced playground attached to the outdoor dining area.

Read more about our visit to Frankie’s Food Factory here.

Frankie’s Food Factory at Flower Power Milperra
479 Henry Lawson Drive, Milperra
Hours: Daily, 8.30am-5pm
Phone: (02) 9899 2299
frankiesfoodfactory.com

The Marsden Brewhouse – Marsden Park

The Marsden Brewhouse is a hotel and brewery located in Marsden Park, north-west Sydney. The large and airy interior is perfect for casual dining with little ones, and with their huge outdoor playground attached they are prepared for the smallest diners to come, eat and play.

The kids’ menu features plenty of choice at a good price point ($10 for most meals, including a drink). On weekends there is often a small animal farm set up in the playground for kids to enjoy, free of charge.

Read more about our visit to The Marsden Brewhouse here.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney
Cnr Richmond Road and, Hawthorne Ave, Marsden Park
Phone: (02) 8710 3535
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-3am, Sunday 10am-12am
themarsdenbrewhouse.com.au

The Boatshed – La Perouse

This casual, modern eatery is perched right above the extremely calm Frenchmans Beach, making it the perfect destination for both a swim and a delicious meal.

The outdoor deck is large, sheltered and has a stunning view, so it’s guaranteed to make everyone in the party happy.

Read more about our visit to The Boatshed here.

The Boatshed La Perouse
1609 Anzac Parade, La Perouse
Phone: (02) 9661 1817
Hours: Tues-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat & Sun 7am-4pm
theboatshedlaperouse.com.au

Bodhi – Sydney CBD

Our long-time go-to restaurant for vegan yum cha, Bodhi is a family-owned restaurant located under St Mary’s Cathedral in the heart of the CBD. Bodhi is great for kids, with long tables underneath ancient Moreton bay fig trees, overlooking Cook and Philip Park . As well as offering a completely vegan menu, Bodhi also has great gluten-free and nut-free options. Kids will love trying to spear brightly-coloured dumplings with chopsticks and sampling the custard-filled pig buns for dessert.

Bodhi Restaurant Bar
2/4 College St, Sydney
Hours: Yum cha Wed-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm. Dinner (a la carte) Tue-Sun 5pm-10pm.
https://www.bodhirestaurant.com.au/

Armory Wharf Cafe – Newington

The Armory Wharf Café in Sydney Olympic Park is a family-friendly, waterfront cafe with a casual vibe and al fresco seating.

Right next door to the cafe is the excellent Blaxland Riverside Park playground – you’ll have to pry the kids off the equipment to leave at the end of the day!

Read more about our experience at the Armory Wharf Cafe.

Armory Wharf Cafe
Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson Street, off Holker St, Newington NSW
Hours: Wed-Sun 9am–2pm
http://www.armorywharfcafe.com

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

The Picnic, Burwood: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Sydney

February 19, 2017 / Burwood, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

The Picnic at Burwood is a whimsical elevation of the humble outdoor dining experience. The outdoor cafe is located inside a pavilion in a park in Burwood, a few metres from a large, fenced in playground. The location is a big part of the appeal for families and has lead to its popularity among with parents who like great food, but who have small kids who like to swing on things.

Another drawcard is picnic-inspired design, with a white and yellow colour scheme and plenty of greenery through out the gazebo. It feels like al fresco dining in Europe, yet is a stones through from a huge Westfields, in the middle of suburban Sydney.

The Picnic doesn’t take bookings on weekends, so expect to wait around 30 minutes in peak times. Arrive early for a shorter wait time. We turned up at 10am, were told there would be a 15 minutes wait for our party of 3, but our table was ready five minutes later. Don’t be turned off by given a lengthy wait time – you’ll be put on their waitlist and send an SMS when your table is ready, meaning you can head up to the playground and let your kids run their steam off before their meal, which is a win in my book.

If you don’t fancy waiting at all, you can borrow a picnic rug and order food from the kiosk.

The menu is broken up into Breakfast (until 12pm) and Lunch (from 12pm). We are in time for brekkie and order the Pavlova Hotcake ($18.50, soft pancake with house made coconut crumble, berries, meringue, lemon curd, passionfruit cream and mango sorbet), Super Breakfast Bowl ($21.50, dukkah poached egg with quinoa tabouli, kale, avocado, shredded carrot, cucumber, pickled cabbage, edamame beans and sweet potato, served with organic sprouted bread), from the kids’ breakfast menu The Bear ($7, bear-shaped toast with banana and blueberries and your choice of peanut butter, butter, Nutella or Vegemite), Kids’ Size Classic Shake ($5, choice of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or banana).

The husband orders a coffee, which takes the longest because it’s an incredibly busy coffee day, apparently, our server apologises profusely. It’s no matter because our food arrives quickly and the coffee arrives as a dessert for hubby to happily sip as our daughter is entertained by colouring in.

This cafe is an Instagram dream with it’s beautifully presented dishes and bright natural light. Thankfully the meals are not just pretty – they’re delicious. The food vanishes and the plates are clean. It’s thoughtfully designed not just for a pretty photo but to satisfy their diners’ hunger, too.

The Picnic ticks every box for us, and is sure to become one of our favourite cafes in Sydney.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Picnic Burwood
Burwood Rd & Park Ave,
Burwood NSW
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue-Sun 8am-4pm. Closed Mondays.
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