The best kid-friendly restaurants and cafés in Singapore

If you're looking for somewhere to hide in the shade with your little ones, Bee's Knees at the Botanic Gardens might just be the spot. After spending time romping around the verdant setting of the gardens, you can settle in at this all-day dining bistro, which serves up a whole range of croissants, fruit bowls, pizzas, pasta and sweet treats, including vegetarian options too. For the little ones, the fuss-free kid’s menu (from $13) features a classic big breakfast, burgers, pasta, and fish and chips, alongside a choice of juices and desserts.

This quaint bistro in Telok Kurau has been around since 2006. It isn’t merely an ideal hangout brunch spot for families, it’s also pet-friendly – you know that your kid will go gaga over the dogs lounging by the alfresco area, but the café also welcomes pets that fly and crawl. Their most popular items include the Three Little Pigs ($23.90), a trio of bratwurst, bacon, and ham with mushroom cheese melt and potato egg bake. Or try the ‘Shripmkin’ pasta ($23.90), featuring plump shrimps swimming in a chunky mashed pumpkin and tomato sauce. If your young ones are fans of Nutella spread, the Frothy Nutella Shake ($9.90) is sure to please, and it comes presented in a Nutella jar.  

Although there isn't a curated kids menu or dedicated play area, we reckon the famed CrazyShake – Black Tap's signature over-the-top milkshakes – will wow any child. With irresistible flavours such as cotton candy ($24) and cinnamon bun ($24), you're bound to have some peace while the little ones work their way through the shakes. There’s even a milkshake that’s topped with a whole slice of cake ($22) with rainbow sprinkles. The restaurant is also known for their ginormous juicy burgers. Get the classic All-American burger ($23) or the Greg Norman ($28) which features a wagyu patty with a sinful blue cheese spread. There are also plenty of large sharing sides, and don’t forget to catch a swig of the craft beer before leaving.

Known for Mexican comfort food, El Mero Mero at Chijmes boasts a fun yet laidback atmosphere that is accompanied by airy alfresco seatings, bodacious music, vibrantly coloured furniture, and cultural adornments all around. Sounds like the perfect spot to unwind over the weekends. But if your sitter isn't available, consider taking your kids along since they get to eat for free between 2pm to 5pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 10.30pm on Sundays. The wide lawn is definitely a worthy playground for them to run amok while you sip on an icy margarita. For the adults, get stuck in on hearty mains like the birria guadalajara ($28.90) featuring 48-hour slow cooked lamb, or choose from 10 types of tacos (from $9.90). 

This Baker & Cook outlet off Loewen Road in the lush Dempsey precinct might differ a little from the others. Unwind in the bright airy glasshouse with garden views while the kids revel in the play area. Besides brunch breakfast items, you can also order pizzas, large sharing plates such as miso-glazed eggplant ($16) with wakame brown butter, spring onion and cashew; and blackened corn barley risotto ($25) topped with grilled baby corn, sage and goat’s cheese.

Kind Kones dishes out quite a variety of healthy, vegan and mostly gluten-free sweet treats, made from scratch without all the nasties. The kid-friendly colouring station is perfect for keeping the kiddos occupied while you brave the queues for those tasty cones (from $5.90). Flavours rotate daily but look out for the signature – Blue Planet, which looks like Earth with green matcha cake bits and a base that is made of coconut, cashew and almond milk with vanilla and a natural blue pea flower dye. Trust us, we've not seen any kid that ever resisted one.

Huber’s Bistro isn’t your typical neighbourhood eatery. For one, it sits beside Huber’s Butchery, a gourmet grocer right in the heart of Dempsey Hill which procures all sorts of premium cuts of meat, dairy products, seafood and even fondue pots. The bistro itself has an extensive list of mains, charcuterie and sausages, using produce that can be found in the store. It also cooks up eight types of steak (from $27) in the evening, including a hefty Australian 200 days grain-fed angus t-bone steak that’s ideal for sharing ($99). All steaks are served with seasonal vegetables, your choice of side and sauce. There’s also a playground right next door with a mini obstacle course and a waterfall garden area. That way, your kids will be sufficiently entertained while you take your time to peruse the store’s range of premium cuts, ranging from Angus grain-fed beef to lamb chops.

Set in the lush greenery around Seletar Airport far away from the noise of the city, Wildseed is a café by day and a grill and bar by night. Its dinner menu features heavier fare like pizzas, burgers, grills and platters, but we recommend coming in the day for the kids to roam free at the plane-themed playground nearby. On the café menu are dishes like the Wildseed Super Food Salad ($22), loaded mac and cheese ($15), and smashed avocado ($19). The café’s quirky location also means you and the kids will be treated to views of planes flying in and out of the airport.

It’s normal for children to turn their nose up at fine dining. So instead, bring them to The Boiler, a casual seafood joint that serves up Cajun seafood boil in a bag (from $56). Empty the bag of seafood on tables that are lined with sheets, and encourage the young ones to get down and dirty and use their hands – it’ll be an experience they’ll surely remember. Tuck into fresh prawns, mussels, clams, smoked sausages, and corn cobs, or top up to enjoy mud crabs or Dungeness crabs. We highly recommend the house sauce which comes in three spice levels, but if you’re erring on the safer side, opt for the garlic butter which is sure to please any child’s palate. Children who are picky eaters can still choose from the kids’ menu, featuring classics like the fish and chips ($9.90) or creamy mushroom pasta ($9.90).

Besides being a cosy neighbourhood bistro in MacPherson Community Club, Nom Bistro & Bakery also serves up café classics – pizza (from $18) and gourmet burgers (from $18). Kids can also choose from the mini cheesy pizza or Hawaiian pizza ($10 each) on the kid’s menu, or snack on finger food like cod fish fingers and chicken nuggets with fries ($10). The food items might be on the pricier side given the portions, but what’s most special about this café is that there's a tiny replica of the well-known dragon playground of Toa Payoh in their indoor play area.

Featuring a pool with giant inflatables on one side and the beach on the other, plus water activities like banana boat that the whole fam can partake in, Ola Beach Club screams family fun. Its Hawaiian-inspired menu comprises dishes like huli huli chicken poke ($24) and loco moco ($25) – 150g of wagyu patty with kombu rice, crispy egg, fries and salad, as well as a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The menu also features a kid's section with four dishes and three desserts, including the kid's macaroni au gratin ($15) and beef bolognese ($18). Just remember to pack your bathers.

The already kid-friendly Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa has recently revamped Trapizza to include a larger water play area for energetic tykes to run around in. Not that they need to, since the beachfront location provides ample run and sand play space. If the young ones prefer less messy activities, there’s also a colouring corner and a dedicated play zone. The dedicated kid’s menu is rather impressive, with a Build-Your-Own-Bento option ($18) where kids can customise their own pasta bowls just the way they like. There’s also the vibrant tri-coloured fusilli ($12) with fruits and salad. Family-sharing items are also available. The wagyu beef burger ($46) comes with 800g of beefy goodness so there’s more than enough to go around, or you can order customisable 16-inch thin crust, wood-fired pizzas ($44).

With an attention-grabbing hot pink façade, this three-story dessert cafe is a gaudy knockout in Bugis. The pink wonderland keeps it basic on the first floor, but the second and third floors are where it turns into a dreamy wonderland for every kid. Find a giant ball pit set against a soft grey wall decked with pink letters and gift boxes on the second floor before heading upstairs for a princessy pink paradise complete with pastel pink walls, chairs and decor. Hungry? Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate its menu which includes soufflé (from $15.90), Korean bingsu (from $16.90), cakes (from $9.90), bubble tea (from $6.90) and more.

Though not an official franchise of Harry Potter, this is the first magic-themed cafe in Singapore – and it often makes references to JK Rowling's fantasy world. Cheeky dishes await you, like the Flying Charm ($24), which sees cold angel hair pasta with masago caviar and truffle oil held up by a magic wand, or the unassuming carrot and beetroot soup ($10) presented in a cauldron. Expect theatrical concoctions straight out of JK Rowling’s fantasy world as well, such as Mr Lich’s Flaming Brew ($17), a bright blue mystery concoction complete with a tall, eye-catching flame – the café’s signature. As if the wood-panelled walls, exposed brick and Harry Potter paraphernalia aren't a big enough nod to the brand. If your kid is a Potterhead, this is definitely the spot to take them.

If you want to get creative with your pancakes – and we mean real creative – get cookin' at Slappy Pancakes where you can choose a batter from five different flavours like pandan, chocolate, peanut, wholegrain and buttermilk ($8.50 per bottle) and create your masterpiece at your own table. Pick your fixings like fruits, nuts, cheeses and meats (yes, make your own savoury pancakes!) before you go crazy with the toppings. Your kids can have it their way and let their imagination run wild at Slappy Cakes.

Kith Kiztopia is the kid-friendly dining space adjacent to the indoor playground Kiztopia at Marina Square. Beyond the usual brunch offerings for adults, the young ones can look forward to a special kids menu with nine meal choices (from $10.95), including delightful mini pancakes, toast and eggs or ham and cheese toasties. There are also more substantial options like macaroni ham and cheese, bolognese, chicken tenders, beef burgers and fish fingers. Each set also comes with a choice of either watermelon juice or babyccino, along with a special Kiztopia free gift – a colouring set to keep the little ones occupied.

You’ve likely been to this easy, breezy, laidback Aussie-style eatery in the East but this one is tucked away in the heart of Mediapolis. Food-wise, it expands beyond just Aussie flavours with local favourites like beef rendang and chicken tikka masala on the menu. For the little ones, they’ve got a whole bunch of distractions — a bouncy castle set up every weekend and public holiday (weather permitting), a giant tic-tac-toe set-up for the young and old to play together, and ample space to scoot around. Be sure to collect a stamp each time you visit as 15 stamps will automatically sign you up for their Kid’s Club Gold Card, to access a free meal for your kiddo with every visit. But if you're visiting on Mondays, good news! Kids eat for free if an adult orders a main dish.

What’s a trip to the beach without lazing on a deckchair, mojito in hand while the little ones roam free? At this sprawling seaside restaurant in Sentosa, you can do just that. Besides classic tropical cocktails (from $16), Coastes stocks a formidable array of draft and bottled beers, and the nosh is unfussy yet vibrant enough to live up to the restaurant’s beachy vibe. Go for the refreshing chilled tiger prawn and avocado salad ($32), or the chorizo and baby scallops risotto ($26) simmered in a fragrant saffron broth. The little ones are well taken care of too with pizzas (from $20) and plenty of pasta options on the menu. Though they might be spending more time making sandcastles than sitting at the dining table.

You’d expect an establishment that’s selling buzzwords like ‘organic’, ‘low carbon footprint’ and ‘hand-picked herbs’ to be all judgmental, but Spa Esprit’s farm restaurant, Open Farm Community (OFC), is actually super friendly, unpretentious and totally kid-friendly. The restaurant is set within a lush garden in the Dempsey enclave, perfect for weekend brunches. The menu and chirpy staff don’t bully you to eat your greens. Housemade pasta, as well as meat and seafood feature heavily, and of course there are plenty of yummy desserts to end the meal with too. We hear the roasted barramundi ($36) and cauliflower with hummus ($32) are crowd favourites, so have those in mind when you plan your visit.

Don’t lie. You go to Ikea more often for the food than that Billy bookcase you don’t really need. A trip to Ikea is usually a family-friendly affair for the young and old, and it’s hard to beat the pleasure of the bistro hot dog and ice cream cone ($1), which also works like a dream for appeasing any terrible tantrums. Also – and deny it all you want – those Swedish meatballs ($7.50 for eight pieces) simply taste better in-house, especially when doused with generous heapings of sauce as well as a side of comforting mashed potatoes. And don't get us started on those juicy, deep-fried chicken wings ($4.00 for two pieces) that are perfect for snacking on.