Shevonne Hunt

Any parent knows that eating out with small children can be just a tad stressful if you haven't picked the right place. You want somewhere where kids are free to be, well, kids – whether that means making a small spaghetti mess at the table or enjoying their fave meal (nuggets, anyone?) via a smaller, child-appropriate portion.  Bonus points are well-earned for spots with large play areas for children to run around in, and excellent food and drink menus that keep the parents happy, too.  Fortunately, Time Out Australia's Editor in Chief and Sydney local Alice Ellis is a mum, so she has plenty of experience at kid-friendly restaurants. Here are some of the best places to dine with children. Take a look at the top rainy day activities for kids. 

From rock climbing to giant Scrabble, these pubs in Sydney have all bases covered for both parents and kids to have a fun night out. The days of your local watering hole being an exclusive, blokey hideout are long gone. Not only are there pubs embracing inclusivity and actively welcome families with kids, but they're broadening their appeal across the board with delciious food, and more diverse entertainment. These are our favourite local pubs that don’t shun families for bringing toddlers or tweens in tow. Need to burn off some steam? Check out the best playgrounds in Sydney here. Want to have a nice sit-down lunch with kiddos in tow? Check out the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.  

When it comes to swimming pools suitable for families, Sydney is spoilt for choice. There are delightful nooks in our most popular beaches and aquatic centres with slides and dumping buckets to keep things exciting. Want more fun? Swing, climb, slide, slip and dip across the 17 best playgrounds around or entertain the kids with these ten places to see wild animals in Sydney.  Keep on swimming this summer at one of Sydney's 11 best ocean pools.    

There’s not much you can’t buy online these days, but when it comes to toys, there’s something to be said for browsing. A good toy store has been stocked by someone who has put thought and care into what goes on their shelves, and you’ll always find something special. Make a day of it with these child-friendly cafés and kid-friendly pubs around Sydney. RECOMMENDED: Your guide to the summer school holidays.

If you enjoy your swimming centres with a touch of tree-style tranquility Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre comes with that kind of vibe. They’ve got options for both indoor and outdoor swimming with two indoor pools, one 50m outdoor pool and a water play area for the little ones – all set in the tranquil tree surrounds of Ku-ring-gai.

Outdoor pools in Sydney have been under threat as larger, indoor aquatic centres (that include gyms) have come on the scene, so a gem like the Botany Aquatic Centre is to be truly cherished. There are three pools spread across lush green lawns peppered with trees, for plenty of shade. You can choose from a shaded, shallow baby pool, a waist-deep pool for bigger children and an olympic pool for the more adventurous.

Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most famous beaches, and for good reason. Unfortunately this beautiful spot is also very popular with tourists and locals alike. If you can face the battle of parking and public transport, the dip will be worth your while. Icebergs is a stunning public pool at the southern end of the beach, but the children’s pool at the north end is a really popular option for families with smaller children. When the tide is in there’s an additional rock pool at the end of the paddle pool which has the added bonus of tiny sea creatures.

Bronte Beach itself is well known for its rough surf, but the Bogey Hole and pool are great for kids. The Bogey Hole sits at the southern end of the beach, right next to the pool, and it offers protection from the surf and an abundance of rock pools for little ones to go exploring. It can also be a great place to first try snorkelling. If you bob around the rocks in the nearby pool you might even spot a few crabs hiding in its nooks and crannies. It’s also free and open when little children are most active.

This lovely little ocean pool is great for families with small children. You enter the pool by a sandy bank, and it’s right next to grass lawns and a fenced playground so you can spend time waddling to and fro with toddlers without too much hassle. It’s not far from Cronulla Beach, and you can access the rock pool easily with a pram or wheelchair.

This Earlwood playhouse and café is a great place to enjoy a chicken schnitzel with a pint of beer (for the grown-ups, obviously). For the offspring, there are three big slides and a smaller kids’ play area that parents can view while enjoying their meal. Kids get in free during dinner times and there’s fabulous air conditioning.

Most of your local RSLs or Diggers clubs are family-friendly affairs. If your local hasn’t gentrified, it’s worth checking out (it’s hard to worry about the kids spilling food on the floor when the décor hasn’t been updated since the 1970s). Staff are friendly and food is delivered to your table. Kid-friendly tip: They are air conditioned and have some of the best views of Bondi, slightly away from the hubbub of the beach.

The RSL has a selection of places to eat, but you’ll want to head to Riverviews Bar and Dining, because it is right beside the Tribal Zone – a play area with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can see your children go crazy on the gym equipment, ballroom and arcade games while you finish a sentence (or drink). Entry is $6 per child but there are friendly staff supervising them the whole time. Kid-friendly tip: There’s a beautiful big aviary at the entrance with macaws, ducks, finches and more that young kids will love.

This place is like the Hamptons come to life. There are hammocks and deck chairs scattered among the tables, there’s a playground for kids and it sits right on a beachfront, and there’s a pet-friendly café. Kid-friendly tip: As one mum puts it: “The floor is sand, so crumbs from kids can just be kicked into the sand, rather than leaving the café as a disaster zone.”

Part of the South Coogee Bowling Club, the restaurant has high chairs, a play pen for the under fives (complete with a TV) and a clear view of the greens outside, where you can challenge your children to run around. Staff are very friendly and food is delivered fast. Our tip is to book ahead as this place gets busy. Kid-friendly tip: There’s a gelato bar.

Monkey Puzzle stocks Moulin Roty shadow puppets and torches with projectors so kids can make up their own stories. Owner Pamela Blyton says, “We believe children learn through hands-on play, and toys should last longer than a season.” There is a wide selection of wooden toys, including sturdy options for toddlers, and more high-end products for older kids like the stunning Kolekto Oriento range of puzzles. Go home with: La Lampe des Ombres to tell your own fairy tale in the shadows ($19.95) or a Blackboard laptop ($23.95).

This is a small store packed with the good stuff. You’ll find Crafttastic Yarn Unicorn Kits and Mini Glitter Bowl making sets, plus old favourites like Djeco and Tiger Tribe. And while you may go to a toy store for toys, you can’t miss the book section at the back. Owner Anne Maree is a former teacher and it shows in the stock of picture books she keeps in store. Go home with: Nighttime Fairies, A Bedtime Shadow Book ($20) or the Migoga Marble Run by Quercetti ($65).