The best kid-friendly pubs in Melbourne

Pull up at the Portsea Hotel on a sunny Sunday afternoon and you’ll find children playing and climbing trees on the front lawn while parents sit overlooking Port Phillip Bay and Queenscliff. This seaside pub is the perfect pitstop for a coastal adventure; these guys offer kids packs with colouring books and serve the perfect kids’ portion of fish and chips to go with your own serve of market-fresh fish. Check the pub’s Facebook page for upcoming events, which range from Easter egg hunts to gigs and themed parties.

In 2014, we awarded this Brunswick institution the Family-Friendly Award at our Pub Awards. Three years on, nothing has changed: this community pub welcomes punters of all ages, even offering a toy box and a complimentary soft drink for kids to go with their steak and fries (or veggies). Even four-legged family members are made to feel at home in the spacious beer garden, so whether you’re coming for Monday’s $15 'roo and wine special or $12 burgers on Tuesday, there’s no need to leave anyone at home.

Watch little ones’ eyes light up at the site of the Croxton Park Hotel’s sprawling indoor playground; the biggest, we reckon, in the inner northern suburbs. What’s more, this Thornbury pub offers free kids’ entertainment on Friday and Saturdays from 6-8pm (featuring long-time kids’ performer Captain Adam) and free kids’ meals on Sunday nights.

It’s all about the bright, beautiful atrium at this Prahran favourite. Prams flank the space as parents enjoy one of the best parmas in town (which, naturally, comes in a kids’ serve on the ‘duckling’s menu’). Food-wise, this is top-notch pub fare with prices to match, which makes the Flying Duck perfect for a classy get-together with other families.

First and foremost, the Palace is made for regulars. It has a community atmosphere that’s hard to find these days, as most pubs have become either sad old boozers or too bright and trendy. Not so here, where the crowd is diverse in age and employment, kids are welcome, and the big shady beer garden is proudly pooch positive. Grab the kids and head over for live music, a good feed and some time in the sun.