Canberra’s best kid-friendly restaurants for dinner | HerCanberra

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Canberra’s best kid-friendly restaurants for dinner

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Let me set what might be a familiar scene for many parents: it’s the end of a long week, and there’s no food in the fridge.

It’s a beautiful warm evening. You’re getting peckish, bordering on hangry. The idea of going out for dinner sounds tempting…but then you remember you have young kids. Almost immediately, your options dwindle down to fast food and fluorescent lights. But tonight is different: you want a place with atmosphere. Music. Maybe even a wine.

So you take a deep breath and head to that cool new place with the little ones in tow. But within mere minutes, things start snowballing. An eye-roll from the table next door when your mini diner loudly proclaims their desire to go to the toilet. Dropped food under the table. Wriggly limbs knocking over the sugar bowl. Many, many questions about when the food is coming, and why there are no chicken nuggets on the menu. You sit there, sweating, one eye on the clock as you eventually throw your phone at them to keep them busy and quiet. Then, like an excruciating finale to a stage show, a meltdown ensues over dessert. You can almost hear the entire restaurant exhale in relief as you abruptly call it a night (at 6.15 pm and a half-eaten plate later). “Sorry,” you mutter to the staff as you make your exit, avoiding their eyes.

While this awkward exchange may ring true for many, the fact is there are dinner options in Canberra that offer atmosphere whilst welcoming kids – so  much so that we’ve created a rather hefty list. However, a few rules had to be set first to make the cut. Each restaurant had to have:

  • A larger dining space with room to spread out if there’s a case of the wiggles.
  • A menu that caters to both adults and kids.
  • The option to book a table early (that’s around 5.30/6 pm. No 8.30 pm sessions here thanks!).
  • Enough background noise so any mini meltdowns will likely go unnoticed.
  • A relaxed, inviting atmosphere.
  • The option to seat larger groups.
  • Any colouring in/activities are a bonus!

Two Blind Mice (Curtin)

Book a table outside at this Woden gem and you’ll have access to the courtyard, so the kids can get up and run around if they get a little antsy. The wood-fired pizzas are delicious and decently sized, making them perfect for mixing and matching. Along with pizza, the kid’s menu also features cheeseburgers and Spaghetti Napolitana (a firm but messy favourite among our kids!) With live music on weekends and the kitchen opening from 5 pm, it definitely fits the bill when you’re searching for a summer vibe on those warm nights.

6/44 Curtin Place, Curtin | twoblindmicecurtin.com.au

The George Harcourt Inn (Nicholls)

After a hearty meal with plenty of room to spread out? With loads of outdoor seating in their beer garden, marquee or rear courtyard, The George is ideal for groups or large families. With a classic pub setting, there are also heaps of options for hungry kids, including bangers and mash, flathead and of course the classic spaghetti Bolognese. To add a bit of atmosphere, there’s also live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays!

3 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls | www.georgeharcourt.com

Rosa’s (Parkes)  

With twinkling fairy lights and a relaxing deck that overlooks the lawns of The Lobby, Rosa’s is a relatively new addition to the dining scene. Whether it’s panini, panuozzo, pizza or Pimm’s, adults will be sure to find a delicious option for a summer evening, while the kids menu includes the ever-popular cheese or Hawaiian pizzas. Open until 8 pm, it’s a good option for little ones who need to be in bed by a certain time!

King George Terrace, Parkesrosascbr.com.au

Snapper and Co (Yarralumla)

Nothing says summer like fish and chips by the water! You can choose to either book a table at The Deck or Courtyard areas or if you’re after something more relaxed, simply bring a rug and settle in on the lawns. The kitchen is open all day, so it’s a great option on a Friday after school if you have particularly hangry kids and can’t be bothered cooking. For the parents, there’s a DJ and live music, along with a charcuterie board and delicious cocktails. Cheers to that!

Mariner Place, Yarralumla | snapperandco.com.au

Agostinis (Kingston)

Indoor and outdoor dining options are available at this Italian restaurant, located inside the East Hotel. The service is always super friendly, and a bonus is they provide colouring in for the kids! It’s a large space, so it’s not super obvious if you need to get up for a wander around the foyer. We’ve had many a birthday here and the kids have always finished their meal (in some cases asking for more pasta!) The gelato is always a hit if there’s room after dinner, too(of course there is).

East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffithagostinis.com.au

Contentious Character (Fyshwick)

Nab an outdoor table and you’ll feel right at home at this new addition to Dairy Road. For adults, think tapas, sangria and shared platters, while kids can pick from spaghetti, fish or perennial favourite chicken nuggets. The precinct has loads of space for the kids while maintaining an ultra-cool vibe for adults. An added bonus? Dairy Road is currently hosting a family event on Sundays until March! Play Day will include entertainment and free play with water instruments, bubbles, toys and tunnels from 1until 4 pm, so your little ones can let off steam before dinner!

4/1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | contentiouscharacter.com.au

Bicicletta (New Acton)

Book a table in the courtyard of this New Acton gem and you’ll get both space and atmosphere. With surrounding greenery and statues, there’s plenty to admire while picking from a delicious Italian menu (with the kitchen handily open for dinner from 5 pm!) There’s pizza, pasta and shared boards for the adults, while the kids (or bambini) menu has everything from gnocchi to pepperoni pizza. Delizioso!

1/15 Edinburgh Avenue, New Acton | bicicletta.com.au

Notable mentions

  • Public, Manuka
  • Gryphons, Griffith
  • The Meating Room, Weston
  • Kingston Pub, Kingston
  • La Rustica by the Lake, Kingston
  • Rashay’s (Tuggeranong, Woden or Belconnen)
  • Verity Lane Market, City
  • Little Instanbul, Tuggeranong
  • Turkish Pide House, Woden
  • Cartel Taqueria, Quenbeyan
  • Zeus Street Greek, City
  • CBD Dumpling House, City
  • Bella Vista, Belconnen
  • Pretty much any of the clubs in Canberra are guaranteed to be kid-friendly – Southern Cross Club, Hellenic Club, Mawson Club and Vikings Club to name a few!

Feature image via @twoblindmicecurtin

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