When it comes to satisfying your and your family’s hunger, you can find some fantastic places ideal for family occasions, celebrations and days out in Melbourne. From lively brunch spots to celebratory destinations for birthdays, kids menus, fun activities and all-you-can-eat buffets, the best family restaurants in Melbourne promise a fantastic time for the whole crew.
Take a journey through the culinary highlights this foodie city has to offer families. From hearty pizza at a lively Italian pizzeria in Bacchus Marsh to traditional pub dining in a historical setting in Brunswick to tasty Greek and Thai spots in the city centre, there’s something around every corner.
Gather the whole crew, the best family restaurants in Melbourne await, so book your table on OpenTable today.
Read on for the best family restaurants in Melbourne to know about
For one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne for bottomless pizza – head down to Ms Peacock in Bacchus Marsh
Ms Peacock is a family favourite housed in the historical setting of the awe-inspiring Eynesbury Homestead, a grand bluestone residence dating back to the 1800s. Enjoy an Italian-inspired culinary experience, specialising in gourmet wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta and wood-oven rotisserie. For the pizza lovers, check out the prosciutto pizza, acclaimed as Australia’s top contender in the fiercely competitive 2022 World Pizza Championship held in Parma, Italy. Such accolades have earned the restaurant a fantastic reputation as the place to be for wood-fired pizzas in Melbourne. Other notable pizzas include the capricciosa evoluta with mushrooms, smoked ham and artichokes and the spicy diavola pizza with salami and nduja. On Fridays, you can also enjoy the bottomless pizza deals, while the kids’ menu includes great options like chicken parmigiana, spaghetti bolognese and margherita pizza.
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For local Australian fare, sports and family entertainment – book a table at Deer Park Club in Deer Park
For a place to enjoy great food, sports coverage and somewhere for your young kids to run around, Deer Park Club is the answer. Here you can find events for both parents and children during the week and weekends, with kids’ entertainers with magic shows, interactive games, face painting and balloon twisting proving to be popular among little ones. The menu from the club’s bistro restaurant is a great adventure around Australia, with highlights such as the slow-cooked beef cheeks in red wine jus and Deer Park Club’s well-known variations of the parma, with traditional, Hawaiian, Margherita, satay and Texan versions being on the menu. Kids and senior members of the family can also enjoy their own bespoke menus − fish and chips, beef burgers and hot dogs keep the kids happy, while various pasta, steak and fish dishes are on the seniors’ menu.
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For an all-you-can-eat buffet with a kids playground – check out Braybrook Hotel in Braybrook
A winner of an OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award in 2022, Braybrook Hotel offers up a fantastic venue for family celebrations and days out. Here you can enjoy a lively sports bar, an all-you-can-eat buffet menu with food from over 40 countries and, of course, a kids’ play area. The renowned international buffet at Braybrook welcomes diners every day of the week, offering an extensive selection of hot and cold delicacies for both lunch and dinner. Indulge in a plethora of options ranging from fresh local seafood, succulent roast carvery, flavourful pastas, hearty soups, crisp salads, decadent desserts and beyond. What sets this restaurant apart is the abundance of choices available, allowing all to sample a bit of everything and savour the diverse culinary offerings to your heart’s content.
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For one of the best family restaurants in Melbourne for group bookings – book a table at Grandview Hotel in Brunswick
Located within the charming lanes of Brunswick West, Grandview Hotel embodies the character of a rustic country pub while nestled amidst the vibrant inner suburbs of Melbourne. Constructed in 1889, Grandview retains the architectural splendour and allure of its historic-listed building. The hotel offers a family-friendly atmosphere with a space that allows ample indoor and outdoor seating for dining, various private function spaces or simply a cosy spot to enjoy a quiet beverage. Operating seven days a week, the kitchen serves up a selection of traditional pub favourites, such as chicken parma, chicken schnitzel and grilled or battered fish and chips. There’s even a ‘Parmas of the World’ menu on Thursdays, showcasing adaptations of parma dishes like Aussie parma, Spanish parma, Italian parma and Nashville parma. Joined by seniors’ and kids’ menus and a great wine and craft beer list, Grandview Hotel welcomes you from the moment you step into the bar, promising to become your beloved local haunt in Brunswick.
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For the best family restaurant in Melbourne for a pizza party – get down to KAIJU! Beer & Pizza in Huntingdale
Alongside the well-known KAIJU! Beer Brewery, you’ve got KAIJU! Beer & Pizza keeping the brewery company. The brainchild of brothers Nat and Callum Reeves, this exciting venture combines some of the finest craft-brewed beers in the region with delectable pizzas. Set in a colourfully painted converted warehouse with indoor and outdoor seating, your loved ones can enjoy a creative pizza menu. The restaurant offers standard and kids’ sizes of the outlandish cheeseburger pizza, along with classics such as margherita, mushroom and tropical. The restaurant boasts a cutting-edge pizza oven and showcases a menu that celebrates traditional pizza varieties. Yet, in alignment with the KAIJU! ethos, you’ll find playful experimentation with flavours and toppings. To complete your journey, take your pick of 16 different beers on tap, and you’re away!
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For one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne for celebrating a birthday – don’t miss Olympic Hotel in Preston
Olympic Hotel in Preston is the place to be when it comes to a family-friendly place for birthday celebrations and get-togethers to remember. Whether you seek the cosy, expansive ambience of the bistro or prefer the lively energy of the bustling sports bar, Olympic Hotel caters to all preferences. The chefs craft delectable pub fare using fresh ingredients and creative flair, ensuring generous portions to please everyone. Here you can enjoy both lunch and dinner, with attentive staff providing top table service with a smile. When it comes to the food on offer, check out the roast of the day, lemon pepper squid or classics like steak, fish and chips and chicken parma or schnitzel. You can also find great offers for kids’ and seniors’ menus, so everyone is happy at the table and can celebrate with style.
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For one of the best family restaurants in Melbourne CBD for Thai cuisine – check out Dodee Paidang Little Collins in Melbourne CBD
Located just a short stroll from Melbourne’s famous St Paul’s Cathedral, Dodee Paidang Little Collins is a delightful place home to some of the finest Thai street food in the city. Here, you and your family can enjoy a fantastic traditional Thai meal with a lively atmosphere that will have you coming back time and again. You can delve into the feast menu when arranging a group booking, so it’s perfect for a family celebration. These menus include a perfect combination of traditional Thai plates. You’ll find popular rice-based dishes such as crispy chicken, crispy pork belly and BBQ pork, with great sharer plates like steamed or fired dumplings, prawn toast and spring rolls. You can also order flavourful and spicy dishes like a traditional Thai curry or pad Thai. With these, you can build the perfect meal for your family celebration.
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For a neighbourhood gem loved by locals – get your family down to Bridges Restaurant in Hurstbridge
Bridges Restaurant is one of a kind in Melbourne. Nestled in the attractive neighbourhood of Hurstbridge, in tranquil surroundings away from the city, you can enjoy a relaxing celebration with family, enjoying some fantastic food in a natural setting. Here, you and the family can get stuck into parma night on Wednesdays and Thursdays or steak night on Saturdays. Your traditional parmas come with all the trimmings you love, such as ham, Napoli and cheese, salami and olives or guacamole, sour cream, corn chips and jalapenos. The lunch and dinner menu, with options for kids and seniors, also offers up an array of tasty dishes with starters and small plates like bruschetta, arancini balls and buffalo wings, while risottos, pasta, pizzas, burgers and steaks dominate the main dishes.
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For the best family restaurant in Melbourne for gyros and souvlaki – try Stalactites Restaurant in the Melbourne CBD
When it comes to branching out and trying something different, you could book a table for your family at an iconic Greek hotspot like Stalactites Restaurant in the Central Business District. As one of Melbourne’s most enduring and renowned Greek eateries, Stalactites has been under the ownership and management of the same Greek family since 1978, solidifying its status as a revered institution in Melbourne. Here you can enjoy some classic Greek fare, indulging in a spread of homemade dips, flavourful gyro souvlaki, chargrilled meats and traditional dishes hailing from Southern Greece. Enjoy sharing platters with chicken or lamb gyro, or various meats and calamari. Your kids can also enjoy their own set banquet menu, with smaller plates and classics such as gyros, chicken and lamb souvlas, calamari, spaghetti kokkinisto, a slow-cooked casserole beef with homemade tomato sauce. The main event, souvlaki, is off the chart and a must-try.
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For one of the best family restaurants in Melbourne for game nights – check out The Railway Hotel Windsor Bistro in Fitzroy North
When it comes to treating your family to a great meal or celebration in Melbourne, check out the inviting The Railway Hotel Windsor Bistro in Fitzroy North. Located in the south-east of the city, Railway Hotel exudes charm and warmth reminiscent of the 70s, making it an ideal destination for family dinners, post-work drinks or weekend gatherings with friends. The pub serves an extensive selection of draft beers alongside classic pub favourites. The attractive menu offers high-quality Italian-inspired dishes that reflect its Mediterranean heritage. Here you can take advantage of the enticing lasagna Wednesdays, trivia night and the pool room (which is really popular with the kids). You can also try out some classic dishes like summer greens pasta, roasted artichokes, crab pil pil pasta and Moroccan spiced chicken skewers. Pub classics, like the beef burger, chicken parma, fish and chips or wagyu rump steak, really get the tastebuds going. Railway Hotel embodies all the qualities of a beloved local gem − a genuine neighbourhood treasure.
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You’re sure to find a great place for your family get-together in Melbourne. If it’s a special celebration you all want to remember, you’ll be sure to receive a fantastic welcome and service that befits the day. Whether you’re looking to try something new with Thai or Greek cuisine or just want some hearty local fare, the best family-friendly restaurants in Melbourne promise to make some happy memories.
