The Best Child-Friendly Restaurants In London
Padella
The only downside to this eternally popular pasta place is that you have to get there super early to grab a table. Which is exactly why it works perfectly for those with children – get there when it opens at 5pm and you’ll be pretty much guaranteed a spot. Buggies and booster seats work best in the atmospheric basement, where kids can tuck into the likes of pappardelle with eight-hour beef shin ragu (much better than bolognese) and fettuccine with tomatoes, garlic and basil.
6 Southwark Street, Borough, SE1 1TQ
Visit Padella.co
Poppie’s Fish & Chips
Poppie’s is renowned for its authentic fish and chips – and it’s little wonder, with born and bred East-End proprietor, Pat ‘Pop’ Newland, at the helm. Pop’s career in the fish and chip business started in 1952 when, aged 11, he got a job on Roman Road cutting up copies of the Daily Mirror to wrap fish and chips in. Now, kids can get in on the action via the £4.95 children’s menu, which includes cod bites, sausage or fishcake, all served with chips.
6-8 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, E1 6QR and 30 Hawley Crescent, Camden, NW1 8NP
Visit PoppiesFishAndChips.co.uk
Bistro Union
This popular neighbourhood restaurant comes from Adam Byatt, the man behind the acclaimed Clapham restaurant Trinity. Given that Bistro Union is slightly more relaxed, it makes sense that it offers an outstanding children’s menu. For £8, kids will be given cucumber sticks and sour cream to snack on, followed by a choice of steak and chips, macaroni cheese, breaded Cornish cod and chips or pigs-in-blankets and chips, followed by ice cream. Between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, kid’s meals come free with an adult main course.
40 Abbeville Road, Clapham, SW4 9NG
Visit BistroUnion.co.uk
Caravan King’s Cross
Pizza is the name of the game when it comes to feeding children at Caravan King’s Cross – the team’s mozzarella, tomato and basil offerings is one that keeps kids happy time and time again, while adults can tuck into mains or a more acquired taste, such as spiced cauliflower, harissa and pomegranate yoghurt. The fountains outside on Granary Square will keep kids amused (and wet), and the staff here have a lovely way with little ones.
1 Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4AA
Visit CaravanRestaurants.co.uk
Pastaio
Stevie Parle’s Soho pasta joint, with its colourful interiors and large sharing tables, makes a great spot to take the kids for an early dinner. While adults can indulge in an Aperol Spritz or prosecco slushie, little ones will be pacified by the huge range of fresh pasta dishes: simple classics include the likes of rigatoni with slow-cooked tomato sauce, and wild mushroom tagliatelle. Two scoops of stracciatella ice-cream will keep everyone happy.
19 Ganton Street, Soho, W1F 9BN
Visit Pastaio.London
Hix Soho
Perhaps not the first place that springs to mind for a family gathering – we salute anyone brave enough to bound into Hix’s flagship Soho venue with a double buggy in tow – but when kids can eat for free with any adult à la carte course, every day until 6pm, you know you’re onto a winner. Menus offer the best of British seasonal food designed especially for younger diners. Kids can also enter a colouring competition to win a voucher for the family to dine at any HIX restaurants.
7/9 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 0PJ
Visit HixRestaurants.co.uk
Big Easy
For an all-American feast, you won’t find much better than Big Easy. Plus, kids under ten eat free when accompanied by an adult ordering from the bottomless brunch or à la carte menu. Adults have the option of choosing between ‘The Big Pig Gig’ limitless BBQ or the ‘Fresh Lobster Fest’, which includes free flowing prosecco, Big Easy brew, frozen Bacardi mojito, or house wine, all for £29.50, with a limit of two free child meals per one adult.
Locations in Covent Garden, Chelsea and Canary Wharf
Visit BigEasy.co.uk
Tom’s Kitchen
With dedicated children’s menus in both the Canary Wharf and Chelsea branches, Tom’s Kitchen is more than clued up when it comes to dining with kids. Little ones can choose from the likes of boiled egg and soldiers or mini berry pancakes for breakfast; crispy chicken with mash and peas or tomato and cheese pasta for mains; and for dessert, grated apple with yoghurt and sultanas, or pear and blackberry crumble with vanilla ice cream. And to wash it down, there are milkshakes, juices and smoothies to choose from, too.
Locations in Chelsea and Canary Wharf
Visit TomsKitchen.co.uk
Pear Tree Café
In the middle of Battersea Park, right on the river, Pear Tree Café has been a favourite fixture of south London locals since it was opened by Annabel Partridge and Will Burrett in 2016. The café offers beautiful views across the boating lake and a seasonally changing menu in a relaxed setting – perfect for kids. A children’s menu includes the likes of cheesy beans on toast, fish finger sandwiches and tomato and bacon pasta.
Pear Tree Café, Lakeside Café, Battersea Park SW11 4NJ
Visit PearTreeCafe.co.uk
Carluccio’s
A buzzing hotspot for pasta-loving bambinos, Carluccio’s Italian is a haven for families. Kids can colour with crayons as they wait patiently for their bowls of spaghetti bolognese or creamy mac and cheese, and if they’re feeling particularly creative, they can even create their own pasta dish with a range of fresh ingredients. The kid’s menu includes a main, dessert and soft drink all for £7.
Various locations
Visit Carluccios.com
Wahaca
This bustling Mexican mini-chain has a special kids menu offering smaller, mildly-spiced versions of their taco and quesadilla creations, with a few added extras – like homemade hibiscus cordial, babyccinos and creamy scoops of ice cream. Every branch is always busy, so you won’t have to worry about your clan making a racket, they’ll blend into the background noise easily.
Various locations
Visit Wahaca.co.uk
Granger & Co
With outposts in Chelsea, Clerkenwell, King’s Cross and Notting Hill, Granger & Co’s Australian-inspired fare makes them the perfect place to pop in for a family brunch. As well as toasted sandwiches, cooked breakfasts and a selection of nutritious sweet bakes – the muffins and toasted coconut bread are divine – there’s a delicious range of smoothies and shakes packed with fresh fruit and a hit of ice cream.
Locations in Chelsea, Clerkenwell, King’s Cross and Notting Hill
Visit GrangerAndCo.com
Pizza Pilgrims
Pizzas are always a winner, particularly when served up quickly in Pizza Pilgrims’ self-titled ‘Pizza Playground’. There’s no dedicated kids’ menu as such, but there are plenty of plain classics to delve into – marina, margherita and aubergine parmigiana spring to mind – and kids can watch the drama unfold as pizza doughs are tossed into the gigantic wood-fired pizza ovens.
Various locations
Visit PizzaPilgrims.co.uk
All Star Lanes
With bowling, burgers and milkshakes on the menu, you know the kids will be kept suitably entertained at bowling hotspot All Star Lanes. The kid’s menu includes buttermilk fried chicken, mac and cheese, fish goujons and char-grilled hot dogs, followed by warm chocolate brownie, ice cream or a milkshake.
Locations in Bayswater, Brick Lane, Holborn and Stratford
Visit AllStarLanes.co.uk
The Oak SW11
The Oak SW11 is located outside Battersea Park, so is well placed for post-park lunches for hungry families. Serving an array of Mediterranean dishes, the restaurant doesn’t have a dedicated children’s menu but instead serves smaller portions of any of its pizzas, such as the traditional margherita or something more advanced like the stagioni (roast ham, black olives, mushrooms and artichoke).
39 Parkgate Road, Battersea, SW11 4NP
Visit TheOakSW11.com
Camino Bankside
Kids eat free at weekends at Camino Bankside. Situated on Canvey Street, just behind Tate Modern and close to South Bank, the restaurant is a great pit-stop on family days out. The kids offering at this Spanish restaurant features classic tapas such as Iberico meatballs and croquetas as well as a vegetarian tapas including tortilla and arzùa ulloa (cheese fritters with sticky tomato jam). The ‘Kids Eat Free’ menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm for children aged 12 and under.
5 Canvey Street, Bankside, SE1 9AN
Visit Camino.UK.Com
Market Halls
Market Halls in Fulham and Chelsea offers 18 kitchens, five bars, two coffee shops and two roof terraces between them. Now The Kid’s Table has teamed up with the venues to launch supervised fun for kids aged three to ten years old, so parents can enjoy Sunday brunch undisturbed. Whether you’re craving pancakes with pork belly from Hot Box or avocado on toast from Squirrel, parents can relax with friends or the papers while the pop-up kid’s corner keeps their children entertained. Activities include Lego building, friendship bracelet making, drawing, games and more – and even the family dog is welcome.
472 Fulham Road, Fulham, SW6 1BY and 191 Victoria Street, Victoria, SW1E 5NE
Visit MarketHalls.co.uk
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