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kid friendly restaurants sydney

The Marsden Brewhouse: Restaurant Review

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

The Marsden Brewhouse is a hotel and brewery located in Marsden Park, north-west Sydney. 

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

Since opening in April 2019, the Marsden Brewhouse is believed to be the largest hotel in Western Sydney. It contains multiple bars and dining areas, a TAB, gaming lounge, in house craft brewery, function area, sports screens, children’s play area and also hosts live music on weekends.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

Reservations are a good idea on weekends, as even though the Brewhouse is huge, it’s popular with large groups and fills up fast. You can make a reservation online but I would suggest calling instead fo get a table in the right area for your needs. 

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

The Marsden Brewhouse is a large, bright space, with different themed spaces. Families will gravitate towards the cheery dining area near the restaurant area that is nearest to the playground.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

Seating is also available on the outdoor terrace, located right next to the playground, perfect for keeping en eye on kids.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

The playground is large and has lots of interesting elements to suit kids of various age groups.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

A little cubby house, swings and stream / water features for littlies, and a huge climbing frame for older kids and a small and large slide. 

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

There is partial shade cloth coverage over the play area, however not over the steel climbing frame. 

There are restrooms very handily available for kids to use right in the playground area.

On weekends the Brewhouse also often has a farm animal area set up in the playground for kids to enjoy free of charge.

The menu is huge and has a good variety of traditional pub food as well as a kids/ menu, woodfired pizzas (gluten-free bases are available) and options for vegetarian / vegan / gluten-free.

Kids’ meals come with a complementary drink. At time of writing the kids’ meals included pasta bolognese, cheeseburger with chips or vegetables, grilled chicken breast with chips or vegetables, calamari with chips or vegetables, battered fish with chips or vegetables, ham and pineapple pizza (can be made without the ham), $10 each. A cheese and crackers pack including seasonal fruit and berries, vege sticks is $15.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

We ordered the Kids’ Pizza (no ham, $10), Heirloom Tomato & Buffalo Burrata Bruschetta, (with basil & EVOO on toasted organic sourdough, $13), Grilled Chicken, Pumpkin & Haloumi (chargrilled chicken breast on the side, grilled haloumi, spinach, roasted red capsicums, toasted nuts & grains & lemon herb dressing, $24), and All Day Brunch Bowl (raw shredded vegetables, avocado, black rice, okra, sprouting grains, red peppers, mushrooms, fried free range egg & sesame lime chili sauce, $23).

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

Meals are ordered and paid for at the counter, where you are given a buzzer for collection meals when they’re ready. Drinks can be ordered at the nearby bar. We found the meals to be made very quickly even on a busy day, and were impressed at the freshness and taste of the food we ordered.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

There is also a gelato cart which is very popular in summer.

Parking is available either outside around the front of the Brewhouse, or undercover, which is my preferred option for hot days.

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney Marsden Brewhouse, Sydney

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

 

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Sydney Restaurants: Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the perfect spot for casual dining, particularly with the family. Enjoy vibrant, affordable Italian food and family-friendly menus in a bright, large dining area.

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

With the tagline: “Fratelli Fresh, A Place For Everyone”, you’d expect no less, and the restaurant offers up delicious food with enough variety to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

Located directly underneath the ICC building, Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the ideal location for a meal when seeing a show, or visiting the nearby Darling Quarter playground.

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

While we were sorely tempted by the hand-tossed Neapolitan pizzas (they looked amazing), we were having a light lunch and chose a build-your-own salad and kids’ pasta.

Fratelli Fresh frequently has excellent deals such as kids eat free on Sundays and school holidays, plus daily deals for the adult menu. On the day I visited, the build-your-own salad was $10 ($15 with soup) and kids ate free as it was school holidays, so our meal cost only $15. Crazy cheap, especially considering the excellent quality and generous portions.

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

There is a games area that would suit older kids. During the school holidays Fratelli Fresh puts on free kids’ activities too, making it a no-brainer in my opinion!

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

We loved the gelato and dessert bar and indulged with truly delicious gelato after our meal.

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour

The Darling Quarter playground is only a few steps away, making this our new fave restaurant when visiting the area.

Get more info on the Darling Quarter Playground here.

Fratelli Fresh
2/14 Darling Dr, Darling Harbour
Phone: 02 9259 5600
Hours: Daily, 7am-12am
Website: fratellifresh.com.au/venues/darling-harbour

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.

Saint Michiba Pizza: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Waterloo, Sydney

What do you get when the Franciscan order and a flying pig cross paths? You get a slice of pizza heaven. St. Michiba’s is a kid-friendly pizza eatery on Waterloo’s leafy Phillip St with a sinfully delicious menu with a playful shade of Japanese-anime-inspired ambience.*

Lukas pointing out the cool artwork inside St Michiba's
Lukas (kind of) pointing out the cool artwork inside St Michiba’s. Photo by Emily Staresina

On a recent blustery spring evening, Baby Lukas and I took my parents (visiting from Canada) to St. Michiba’s. For the sake of full disclosure, I must admit that it was not my first time at St. Michiba’s and that they may even know me when I ring for takeaway.

As the restaurant interior is small, we elected to sit outside which was great because it left us room for the pram and allowed Baby Lukas free access to zawk (my word to describe his style of zombie walking – a fresh skill he’s acquired) and gawk at all the people walking by.

The first thing my parents noticed was the unusual menu – salads are listed under “The Garden of Eden” while vegetarian pizzas hail from “The Franciscan Order”. We decided on the Genesis salad (prosciutto, avocado, toasted walnuts, parmesan on wild rocket, $14), the Rahmiel (smoked ham, mushroom, pineapple and olives, $26) and the Assisi ($22, otherwise known as a Margherita).

In not very long our pizzas arrived, and they didn’t disappoint: for approximately 10 minutes not a sound (other than Baby Lukas happily chowing down on pizza crust – which make for excellent teething snacks, by the way) was heard as we concentrated on the goodness. As a testament to the quality, my father, who’d rather have a steak over pasta (which is what he classifies pizza), was stunned at how good these thin-crust pizzas tasted.

Lukas in awe of the heavenly feast before him (Genesis salad, $16, Assisi pizza, $22)
Lukas awed by the heavenly feast before him (salad, $16, Assisi pizza, $22). Photo by Emily Staresina

While we ran out of stomach to try any of the Last Temptations (also known as dessert) we were more than satisfied with our dinner.

Last bite: Waterloo doesn’t lack for pizza joints, nor does it lack for kid-friendly places to eat, but St. Michiba’s is one of those rare places where good food and stuff to do make happy babies and happy parents.  

*Clarification: I’ve no idea if the flying pigs artwork that adorn the pizza boxes and the walls actually are Japanese Anime inspired, but this is what my uninformed self would call it.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No, the menu suits any kids eating pizza

St. Michiba’s
Shop 8 / 863 Bourke Street, (actually located on Phillip St at end of Pedestrian crossing)
Waterloo NSW 2017
Ph: (02) 8068 8767
Prices: $$$
Hours: Sun-Sat 5pm-10pm
Get Directions

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