Sydney’s vibrant, creative food scene is always serving up new things to try. And luckily, there’s no shortage of kid-friendly restaurants perfect for your next family gathering. Whether you’re after a healthy brunch spot the whole family will love, a place to celebrate a birthday or a special occasion, or a laid-back hangout with kids’ playgrounds, the best family restaurants in Sydney promise a memorable time.
Have your happiest meal of the day at a pancake diner in Haberfield and try kid-friendly Japanese flavours in Barangaroo. In Alexandria, wow your kids at a magical garden or head to Darling Harbour for a unique Brazilian BBQ experience. A waterfront restaurant in Watsons Bay has been hosting families for over 100 years, and a pizzeria in Macquarie Park has the perfect pizza to feed a crowd. An American chain brings its popular family atmosphere to multiple Sydney suburbs, and a yakiniku restaurant offers casual dining out in Burwood. Finally, a stylish Castle Hill RSL club serves kid favourites alongside premium quality steaks.
From kid-friendly menus to vibrant pizzerias, the best family restaurants in Sydney await, so read on and book your spot on OpenTable today.
Read on for the best family restaurants in Sydney
For a pancake party at one of the best cafes in Sydney – book at Happyfield in Haberfield
Bring the family to Happyfield, a chic, retro diner that serves up some of the best pancakes in Sydney. With well-crafted food and bright, friendly service, this bright-yellow restaurant more than lives up to its name. Named Cafe of the Year by the 2024 Good Food Guide, your ‘happiest meal of the day’ is just around the corner. The all-day menu serves eggs your way with optional sides of crispy hashbrowns and Cypriot halloumi. Head chef Jesse Orleans was born and raised in Canada, so you can bet the sweet, savoury and short stacks of fluffy pancakes will arrive at your table with plenty of maple syrup. A kids’ menu includes kid-sized pancake servings, classic eggs on toast and grilled toasties for diners 12 and under. The menu continues with juicy burgers, fresh salads and crispy fried chicken. An extensive drinks menu of house sodas, great coffee and a short but sweet cocktail, wine and beer section ensures you can find the perfect pairing for your breakfast, brunch or lunch.
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For one of the best family restaurants in Sydney with a spectacular setting – visit The Grounds of Alexandria Cafe in Alexandria
The Grounds of Alexandria is an impressive hospitality complex with multiple eateries draped in flowers and picture-perfect decor. The Grounds of Alexandria Cafe was the starting point, serving up themed menus that complement the decor of The Grounds. These ever-evolving themes are always popular with kids, creating a fun, creative atmosphere for the whole family. The specials menu is always changing and you can try something new each time you visit. For example, you might be able to try pillowy churros with rich hot chocolate or spicy slow-cooked chicken empanadas with a Mexican theme. Some signature dishes will always stick around, like the juicy Wagyu beef burger and the fresh spring greens bowl. The kids’ menu includes fluffy rainbow pancakes and crispy crumbed fish and chips.
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For a family-friendly Japanese lunch – book at Zushi in Barangaroo and Surry Hills
Zushi serves up modern Japanese food for the whole family in Barangaroo and Surry Hills. The Surry Hills location is in the heart of Surry Hills on busy Crown Street, while the Barangaroo outpost soaks up the sun in the waterfront precinct. Both are sheltered, surrounded by greenery and always ready to welcome you with a smile. Check out for the bottomless lunches with 1,5 hours of endless beer on tab and frozen. The menu options include a 5-course menu of all the favourite flavours, like crunchy deep-fried chicken karaage with sweet honey mayo and fresh lime and the delectable chef’s carpaccio to start your meal. The kids’ menu at Zushi is excellent, featuring Japanese classics always popular with younger diners. They can try juicy chicken karaage, sweet honey-glazed prawns with chips or mini salmon, cucumber or avocado sushi rolls. On the rest of the menu, you’ll find dishes like crispy chicken katsu, tender roasted duck teriyaki and sweet miso cauliflower.
📍 Barangaroo — Check availability
📍 Surry Hills — Check availability
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For one of the best family restaurants in Sydney in a garden – check out The Potting Shed in Alexandria
The Potting Shed is always in full bloom, with flowers spilling out from shelves along the wall and the hanging pots overhead. Pull up one of the elegant wooden or metal chairs or settle into one of the benches and peruse the menu of fresh, garden goodness. Try buttery wood mushroom orecchiette or spicy Jervis Bay mussels with black garlic cream. A smokey charcoal oven perfectly roasts everything from juicy lamb racks to whole cauliflower. A kids’ menu includes cheesy chicken parmigiana and an extra sweet ice cream sundae with fresh berries. Groups of 10 or more diners will enjoy the restaurant’s three-course group menu, with optional oyster, cheese and champagne upgrades.
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For a unique BBQ experience the kids will love – book at Braza Churrascaria – Darling Harbour in Darling Harbour
Enjoy traditional Brazilian barbeque at Braza Churrascaria – Darling Harbour. Watch rotating skewers of meat, seafood and vegetables cooked over flaming charcoals. The passadores (meat carvers) will rotate between the diners, hand-carving slices of succulent lamb, crispy halloumi and juicy pineapple right at your table. The main attraction is the special group churrasco banquet menu with meat and veggie dishes, while the kitchen also offers a vegetarian churrasco featuring veggie paella and crispy cassava fritters. Children under four eat free, while children five and up get a discounted price. During lunch hours Monday to Friday, you can also order a la carte and enjoy dishes like spicy stuffed crab shells and rich juicy steak sandwiches.
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For fish and chips on the beach – book at Doyles on the Beach in Watsons Bay
With a history stretching back to 1885, Doyles on the Beach serves up fresh seafood in a picturesque setting right on Watsons Bay beach. Internationally renowned, five generations of the Doyles have welcomed locals and tourists to a seat under the blue-and-white striped umbrellas. Start with some crispy, deep-fried calamari served simply with salt, pepper and smooth garlic aioli. Alternatively, try an oyster-tasting plate or some grilled Moreton Bay bugs with a vibrant chimichurri sauce. For mains, Doyles famous fish & chips is a must-try, offering your choice of beer-battered fresh fish with Alice Doyles’s chilli plum sauce. On the kids’ menu, you’ll find the same seafood favourites like fish and chips and calamari alongside the ever-popular crispy chicken tenders and cheesy tomato spaghetti. Each kids’ meal comes with a soft drink and an ice cream.
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For one of the best family-friendly steakhouses in Sydney – try Outback Steakhouse in Penrith, Quakers Hill and Wentworthville
With outposts in Penrith, Quakers Hill and Wentworthville, you can enjoy premium steaks and classic Outback Steakhouse flavours and atmosphere across Sydney. Dig into lightly smoked, falling-off-the-bone ribs brushed with a tangy BBQ sauce, or try crispy, fried popcorn prawns coated in a spicy sriracha aioli sauce. The kitchen ensures premium cuts of sirloin, tomahawk and ribeye are boldly seasoned, seared to perfection and served in multiple weights. Plus, each steak comes with two sides of your choice. The restaurant rounds the menu out with hearty chicken cobb salads, crispy bacon and chicken sandwiches, tender lamb chops and much more, making sure there’s something for everyone.
📍 Penrith — Check availability
📍 Quakers Hill — Check availability
📍 Wentworthville — Check availability
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For a fun yakiniku dining experience – book at Burwood Rengaya Casual Dining in Burwood
Burwood Rengaya Casual Dining is a lively yakiniku restaurant, in a relaxed, Japanese-inspired dining space. With all-you-can-eat premium and standard buffets, Rengaya Casual Dining offers excellent value in the heart of Burwood. The menu includes a wide range of meat cuts including chicken thigh, black angus rib and scallops. Cook these to your liking over the grill at your table and refill whenever you’re ready. You can also enjoy some ready-to-eat dishes like a range of fresh nigiri, sushi and sashimi or some tangy salads. Close out your meal with a creamy matcha soft-serve or a sweet yuzu and lychee jelly. The drinks menu includes Japanese beers on tap and flavoured sake, plus non-alcoholic yuzu sodas and iced-matcha lattes.
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For award-winning one-metre pizzas – head to Verace Pizzeria in Macquarie Park
Gaining glory in multiple rounds at the World Pizza Championships, including Australia’s Best Pizza in 2017, Verace Pizzeria brings traditional Neapolitan pizza to the heart of Macquarie Park. Pizzas come served with San Marzano tomato and fior di latte mozzarella and topped with spicy salami, fresh veggies or salty anchovies, for a true taste of Italy to Sydney. Start things off with an antipasto board of freshly sliced salami, smokey provolone and woodfired bread. Pasta options include slow-cooked beef and pork bolognese and soft homemade gnocchi in Napoletana sauce. For big groups, a great option is the one-metre pizza. Order one, two or three pizza types and have it laid out on the table for everyone to share. Once you’ve had your fill, find just a bit more room for a creamy tiramisu or a refreshing seasonal gelato.
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For one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Sydney for steaks and burgers – visit Courtyard Kitchen, Castle Hill RSL Club in Castle Hill
The big, modern Courtyard Kitchen, Castle Hill RSL Club, a lovely family-friendly restaurant that serves up only the best cuts of steak. Start things off with a creamy honey-baked camembert or some spicy Baja prawn tacos and move on to a prime scotch fillet, expertly seared over the grill, or a juicy Hawaiian chicken burger, both served with crunchy, chunky chips. Kids’ meals include dinosaur chicken nuggets, mini cheeseburgers and crispy battered fish fillets. Take a seat indoors and let the waitstaff take care of you, or place your order and take a pager to one of the outdoor tables, so you can collect your meal when it’s ready. Every dining area has its own charm, from the blue velvet booths indoors to the bright umbrellas outdoors. RSL members get discount prices, but everyone can enjoy the flavours of Courtyard Kitchen.
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With mini cheeseburgers and massive steaks, sodas and wines, the best family restaurants in Sydney have something for every member of the family. Whether you’re spending the day out on the beach, at a creative garden complex or just exploring the city, it’s easy to find somewhere to satisfy the whole family. You can find relaxed, diner-style eateries and refined restaurants perfect for a special occasion all over Sydney. With kids’ menus and activities, these restaurants are ready to treat your family to an excellent meal.
