The best child-friendly restaurants in London

Impress your children by taking them to the lo-fi neighbourhood pizza place with branches across the city. Food-wise, Yard Sale deals in double-fermented stone-baked pizzas (12-inch or 18-inch whoppers) with left-field toppings and goofily enjoyable names such as Holy Pepperoni. And there are Happy Endings ice cream sarnies to finish. Ideal.

Caravan’s all-day menu is a whirlwind of worldwide flavours – the jamón croquetas with saffron mayo are irresistible to humans of all sizes, but just about everything will suit small but curious appetites. Staff are loveable, and kids will adore the fountains on Granary Square. Caravan’s other branches are also child-friendly.

Kids will get a serious kick out of the DIY aspect of Marugame Udon, where you can build your own noodle or rice bowl, topping it with an overwhelming variety of tempuras. Happily for parents, it's also incredibly, incomparably cheap. There are also Chibi Meals for children under 11 for £4.95, with curry udon, curry rice, chicken paitan and vegan kake, which come in a children's size bowl and with a juice included. Training chopsticks are available and there are highchairs too. 

Kids generally hate queueing, so it’s worth heading to this all-day version of the Taiwanese Bao chain. While most little‘uns will turn their noses up at outré items such as beef short-rib with egg emulsion and fermented cucumber, the fried bao filled with Horlicks ice cream is a guaranteed winner.

A kid-friendly winner for brunch on the water, these two barges on the Grand Union Canal look like floating pieces of art. With owners from Down Under, it’s no surprise that there are flat whites and slices of banana bread for breakfast, plus a daytime menu of fair dinkum Aussie-inspired dishes. Bag a spot on the upper deck if the sun’s shining.

This Japanese café in Haggerston gets top rating from young customers thanks to its toy-filled playroom and canalside location. There’s no pressure to spend and scarper: while away the afternoon with as many matcha lattes as you can handle.

Don’t be fazed by the Michelin star: London’s best tapas joint is still approachable. Sit next to your little one at the counter and watch the chefs preparing all manner of snack-sized Spanish delicacies – their famed tortilla is a safe bet, even for nervous kids.

The jazzy soundtrack, cool interior, sizzling steaks and sustainably sourced fish might scream ‘grown-up’ but this London Bridge offshoot of Brighton’s Coal Shed also does the business for kids, with a mini menu that’s £10 for a minute steak, cheeseburger or mac ‘n’ cheese, plus a brownie or ice cream to finish.

Want to prove that you can still manage a hip meal out, even with kids in tow? Staff treat little ones like regular diners at this Bethnal Green institution, so tuck into comfort-food brunch dishes and maybe even sink a daytime cocktail – just like old times.

Your kids don’t have to wait till Shrove Tuesday comes around for their pancake fix – thanks to this bright, buzzy venue squeezed into one corner of Flat Iron Square. Sweet and savoury buttermilk varieties abound, from baby greens to banana with praline and marshmallow. Eat in the airy, pastel-walled dining room or alfresco at one of the plain wooden tables outside.

If your kids like dim sum, they’ll also like the dumplings and regional street food served at this Covent Garden outpost of a world-famous Taiwanese chain. Din Tai Fung is a cult phenomenon – so expect to queue (even if the children protest). It’s more expensive and more fashionable than Chinatown, but the food is worth it: don’t miss the signature xiao long baos (delicate soup dumplings).

There’s nothing scary about a ‘hopper’, especially when it has an egg in it. These Sri Lankan baskets of batter are decidedly kid-friendly, so spice things up with a sprinkle of sambal, a scoop of curry and (hopefully) a pickle or two.

Loud, informal, bustling and tailor-made for kids in town for a treat, Homeslice serves up ginormous 20-inch pizzas for sharing at the table – although they provide individual slices too (ideal for picky youngsters who don’t want to play ball) – and they’ll even let you have more than one choice from the toppings selection if you ask nicely.

The King’s Cross outpost of Bill Granger's all-day Aussie eatery is just dandy for a family brunch. Intriguing child-friendly options abound, from ricotta hotcakes to colourful pastas, salads and stimulating ideas such as crispy chicken with miso buttermilk dressing. This spot has the added bonus of alfresco tables on a quiet piazza. Branches in Notting Hill, Clerkenwell and Chelsea.

Head to this counter-only joint straight after school, and you’ll be rewarded with London’s favourite plate of pasta in no time. But be warned: your kids may love this dinky-portioned, soft ’n’ squiggly comfort food so much, they’ll turn up their noses at supermarket pesto.

From the folks behind Casse-Croûte, this quirky mock-Tudor pavilion on the edge of Tanner Street Park is affably French, right down to its untranslated old-school menu. Flavours are traditional to the core, with the kids’ menu promising rotisserie chicken plus potatoes and ice cream for £10. The terrace is a big bonus and youngsters can let off steam in the park afterwards.

‘Family eating’ is second nature to the Chinese, so it’s no surprise that this palatial rendezvous, located just a stroll from Madame Tussauds, is good with the kids. Sit with your little’uns at one of the big circular tables and share the spoils from some superior dim sum – ideal finger food for youngsters who haven’t yet mastered the art of chopsticks.

Poppies’ pick ‘n’ mix assortment of British kitsch (a jukebox, newspaper cuttings, model aeroplanes, wartime memorabilia) makes it look like some nostalgic fantasy trip, but eating here is still a treat for young and old alike. Soak up the nostalgia, just don’t mention the war!

Modest and hugely popular, this super-cute Middle Eastern café is known for its friendly vibe and incredible falafel – although finding a spare table at short notice can be a problem.
Those falafels are perfect for young appetites (as are the lamb meatballs), while grown-ups can rejoice in the likes of roasted aubergine with BBQ tahini crust and jewelled rice salad.

If you’re after a quick off-the-cuff lunch with the kids, head down an old Soho passageway to this dinky purveyor of ‘Beirut street food’ – a jam-packed haunt popular for its takeaway wraps (order the spicy sucuk sausage version with some Arabic bread, olives and pickles). Otherwise, sit at one of faux-rustic tables and share the spoils from the all-day mezze menu. Also try Yalla Yalla in Fitzrovia.

Parents be warned: it’s all about roll-your-sleeves-up DIY at this branch of Kintan, a bargain-priced Japanese yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant in a basement off Oxford Circus. Smoky, thick-ridged grills are built into each table and the fully illustrated medley ranges from kalbi short-rib to excellent pre-marinated spicy pork. Wipe-clean menus are splashed with red-sticker deals, making it even more of a bargain for families.

Breakfast at Ottolenghi’s Islington branch – the one with the on-table toasters – is a rite of passage for posh kids who live locally. Evenings are more grown up, although small people will easily be won over by the colourful counter displays – plus cakes for the journey home.

A completely different kettle of salt cod to the original Morito in Clerkenwell, this Spanish/North African hybrid is an expansive, concrete-chic space with high ceilings. It is civilised and minimalist, with a menu of sassy small plates that are perfect for curious kids who like to pick, nibble and experiment (anyone for cheese fritters with Cretan thyme honey?). 

Relive that famous father-and-son lunchtime moment from the movie ‘Bicycle Thieves’ by ordering a fried mozzarella sandwich for your little boy (or girl) at Pastaio – chef Stevie Parle’s artisan pasta joint in Soho. Bowls of the glistening hand-made stuff also come in small-sized servings for kids in need of carbs. Eating inside is fun, although alfresco tables are like gold dust.

It’s not quite Old MacDonald’s farm, but kids will love the barnyard vibe at this playful British eatery. The menu keeps it small, with lots of ‘mouthfuls’ for curious little ’uns – fancy a mushroom Marmite and egg confit eclair, kiddo?