8 Family-Friendly Restaurants In And Around Sydney, Australia
Where to eat with the little ones in Australia’s Harbour City
By Rei Sage -
With its gorgeous beaches, generally pleasant year-round weather and plethora of activities for kids – everything from wildlife encounters to exciting museums – Sydney is an evergreen holiday destination for those travelling with children. Looking for a family-friendly restaurant in Sydney where you can get a taste of the city’s buzzing culinary scene? These establishments keep the young ones in mind with laidback ambiences, children’s menus and various offerings to keep them entertained.
At the spacious Three Blue Ducks Rosebery, which specialises in wood-fired and charcoal-grilled dishes, kids can check out the play area before grazing on fare from the “ducklings” menu – think beef sausages, grilled market fish and assorted desserts. Visit on Wednesday evenings for their steak-forward Butcher’s Block Night, or sample the chermoula roast chicken, crispy pork belly or miso-glazed eggplant from the lunch and dinner menu.
Three Blue Ducks is at 1/85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018, tel: +61 2 7251 8662. Visit its website for more information.
This waterfront venue in the Newport suburb includes an in-house play zone for the kids – so the adults can sit back, relax and soak in the stunning views of the harbour. On deck are delectable seafood items including local rock oysters and fresh prawns, plus cooked dishes like salt and pepper calamari, a spicy chicken burger with tangy pineapple and grilled swordfish. There’s also a dedicated children’s menu.
The Newport is at 2 Kalinya Street, Newport NSW 2106, tel: +61 2 9114 7337.
This recently opened upscale spot is perfect for seafood lovers. Kids are more than welcome, and the children’s menu features a tuna burger, seafood spaghetti Bolognese, fish and chips and chocolate mousse with blackberries. The grown-ups’ menu switches up with the seasons, but you can expect the likes of yellowfin tuna chateaubriand, wild kingfish with apple and radish and coral trout with chimichurri sauce.
Petermen is at 66 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065, tel: +61 2 8387 4836. Visit its website for more information.
Armory Wharf Cafe, which overlooks the picturesque Parramatta River, is approximately a 30-minute drive from the city centre. Tuck into seasonal dishes like miso salmon with soba noodles, fried chicken served on a croffle and prawn tacos. Little ones can order from the kids’ menu before exploring the nearby playground, which has a double flying fox, a multi-level treehouse, a water play area, and swings.
Armory Wharf Cafe is at Building 13, Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson Street, Newington NSW 2127, tel: +61 423 884 801
The Grounds of Alexandria is home to multiple kid-friendly dining establishments, including an indoor café and The Potting Shed – a garden restaurant set within a beautiful plant-strewn space. Both places provide children’s menus and dishes made with fresh local produce, with The Potting Shed’s highlights ranging from the signature beef burger to an Instagram-worthy antipasti platter and vibrant salads.
The Grounds of Alexandria is at 7A/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria NSW 2015, tel: +61 2 9699 2225.
Located within the Art Gallery of New South Wales, this all-day dining restaurant by acclaimed chef Clayton Wells is great for grabbing a bite after checking out the exhibits. Adults will be treated to dishes like rigatoni with marinated goat’s cheese and fermented chilli, ocean trout with curry sauce and grilled beef flank steak with rocket, while kids can have the stir-fried noodles, crispy chicken roll or tomato pasta.
Mod Dining is at1 Art Gallery Road, Sydney NSW 2000.
Situated in North Sydney, The Greens has outdoor dining and lawn bowling all in one place, making it an ideal choice for a day of family fun. The kids get their own menu, while adults can take their pick from breakfast items like pancakes, avocado toast and scrambled eggs with prosciutto, or hearty mains such as crab and prawn linguine, smoked pork cutlet and seared barramundi if you’re here for lunch or dinner.
The Greens is at 50 Ridge Street, North Sydney NSW 2060, tel: +61 2 9245 3099.
The ground floor of Coogee Pavilion is a family-friendly space that features games including a giant Scrabble board, table tennis and other activities to keep the young ones well-occupied. Food-wise, there’s an extensive raw bar, pizza counter and other crowd-favourite dishes like pasta, burgers and colourful salads made with locally sourced ingredients. Children have their own menu, too.
Coogee Pavilion is at Ground Floor, 169 Dolphin Street, Coogee NSW 2034, tel: +61 2 9114 7321.