Kid Friendly Cafes and Restaurants
The BEST Auckland kid friendly cafes and restaurants that make it easy for families to dine out.
- By: Auckland for Kids
Find out where Auckland for Kids editor and readers recommend to go out to eat with kids in Auckland, New Zealand. Here are our favourite eateries to go to in Central Auckland, East Auckland Eateries, West Auckland, North Auckland and in the Gulf Harbour.
CENTRAL AUCKLAND
Auckland inner city cafes & restaurants
Commercial Bay - Harbour Eats
Commercial Bay, 7 Queen Street, Auckland City Centre
www.commercialbay.co.nz/dine
Harbour Eats is a dining hub in Commercial Bay shopping and hospitality precent on Queen Street. The best thing is your family can each choose what they want and sit and eat together. Eateries inlcude: Aroy Express, Daruma Ramen, Fatimas, FooDu, Kai Eatery, Needo, Oji Sushi, Shake Out, Tank Juice Bar, Nam Nam, Eat Indian, Eden Noodels, Tart Bakery, Wise Boys, The Little Fish Shop and for dessert there is Ben & Jerry’s or Doe Donuts.
Ebisu
116-118 Quay Street, Britomart, Auckland City Centre
www.ebisu.co.nz
Upmarket Japanese restaurant which has a kids menu of health bento boxes followed by dessert. The kids get an an activity page too and there are highchairs for babies. Ebisu is more suited to older kids, but is a restaurant that the whole family (not just the kids) will enjoy.
Auckland Fish Market
22 Jellico Street, Wynyard Quarter, Central Auckland
www.afm.co.nz
Auckland Fishmarket has one fishmonger and eight different eateries to choose from including sushi, pizza and other Kiwi cuisine. When your family can’t agree on what they want to eat, this is a good option as everyone can choose different meals and still sit together. Eateries include: Chao, The Store, Bang Bang Kitchen, Lobster & Trap, The Wreck, Billy Pot, Market Galley and Oji Sushi.
Mexicali Fresh
Auckland locations include: K-Road, Botany Junction, Constellation Drive, Lincoln Road, Mount Eden and Ponsonby,
www.mexicalifresh.co.nz
Mexican food in a casual setting, complete with a kids menu. As the meals are made in front of you, its easy to get them to leave out certain items if you have fussy kids, like ours who don’t like lettuce. Plus for little ones there are high chairs.
Baduzzi
10-26 Jellicoe Street, North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland City Centre
www.baduzzi.co.nz
Superb Italian restaurant on the North Wharf in Wynyard Quarter. The kids menu has Buttered Pasta, Mr Meatball, Chicken Schnitzel or Parmigiana, with Gelato or chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert. There is colouring and a highchair for the kids too.
After you have fnished eating, you can let the kids run off their energy at the fun playground at Silo Park.
Balmoral and Mt Albert eateries
Albert's Post Bar and Eatery
911 New North Road, Mount Albert, Auckland, NZ
www.albertspost.co.nz
Albert’s Post kitchen specialises in pizzas and makes their dough every day. They cater to littler people with a special kid’s menus and a playroom to entertain your children. Plus they have rooms for buggies to park.
Barilla Dumpling
571 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Central Auckland
Facebook: Barilla-Dumplings
A favourite place to go in Auckland for tasty dumplings. It gets busy, so at times you may have to wait for a table. Barilla is a fun casual place to go as a family with your older children. Although you can take your younger kids to Barilla, you won’t find any extra things for younger kids.
Eastern Suburbs & Mt Wellington cafes & restaurants
Better Burger
Sylvia Park, 286 Mount Wellington Highway, Auckland
Other locations: Ponsonby, Botany, Custom Street Auckland CBD.
www.betterburger.co.nz
Organically and locally produced burgers & the fries. Better Burger uses quality ingredients which are wrapped in a tasty honey bun burger. For the vegetarians in your family they do a great vege mushroom burger too, so they won’t be left out.
On a fine day, get your food to go and enjoy eating your meal and people watching on one of the beanbags in Takutai Square, or take in the views from one of the giant seats on Queens Wharf which are only a short walk away.
Moustache milk and cookie bar
Orakei Bay Village, 228 Orakei Road, Remuera
Other NZ locations: Cavendish Drive, Manukau and Riverside Markets Christchurch
moustache.co.nz
Milk and cookie bar for kids (and the whole family). Moustache make their cookies daily using free range eggs, New Zealand butter, premium Dutch cocoa and Whittakers chocolate with no additives or preservatives. They have soy and coconut milk options for vegans as well. If you are after something more for lunch, then you can choose something from one of the Food Workshop eateries and sit in the main table area.
Huddle Cafe
261 Morrin Road, St Johns, Auckland
Instgram: Huddle.nz
Fun neighbourhood cafe with great food and coffee, Cute kids area for younger children with lots of tables close by. There are highchairs available for the little ones too.
Charlie & George Cafe
Shop 4, 40 Stonefields Ave, Mount Wellington, Auckland
Facebook: Charlie-George-Cafe
Colouring for the kids, hopscotch and chalk drawing on the concrete patio outside the cafe. High chairs for younger children are on hand. Note this outdoor playspace, may not be suitable for younger children as the concrete patio is not fenced and adjacent to a road.
The Little District
Sylvia Park, Mount Wellington Highway, Auckland
www.littledistrict.co.nz
Family friendly restaurant, bar and cafe at Sylvia Park shopping centre. The Little District is an all day eatery with a brunch, snack, lunch and dinner menu. Our favourites are their wood fired pizzas.
Azabu Mission Bay
44 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay, Auckland
Mission is a family friendly eatery and bar by the beach and playground in Mission Bay. They have a kids menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Highchairs are available for babies and toddlers. There is colouring, large outdoor games, and they often have special events on such as outdoor family movies to keep the kids entertained.
We like that the eatery is right by the Mission Bay playground, so the older kids can nip in out out to play between courses. Note: although the playground is next to the restaurant it is not easily seen from the restaurant due to the large trees, and the playground is next to the beach and a busy car park so you may only want to let your older kids explore by themselves.
Kings Garden Cafe Remuera
Kings Plant Barn, Orakei Bay Village, 228 Orakei Road, Remuera, Auckland
www.kings.co.nz/cafe/remuera
The Garden Café is a relaxed family cafe with large inside and outside seating areas. The retro caravan and trampoline in the kids area,always keep our children entertained. The outside area is also dog-friendly too if you want to bring the family dog with you.
After you have had your meal, then the nearby boardwalks around Orakei basin, or back to Shore Road Reserve are a fun family walk.
Ellerslie, Greenlane, Onehunga, Royal Oak and Three King cafes
Cornwall Park Cafe
Editors Pick
Pohutakawa Drive, Cornwall Park, Epsom
www.cornwallparkeateries.com
Kid friendly cafe in Cornwall Park. There is a large indoor kids play area and also a large lawn right in front of the cafe for the kids to play on with soccer goals set up. The cafe has a kids menu and the brown paper as table clothes for the kids to draw on.
Zookeeper's Son
715 Mt Albert Road, Royal Oak, Auckland
joylab.co.nz/the-zookeepers-son
Family friendly gastro pub with a kids menu and a kids play area with toys, television and books upstairs. There is free parking available behind the gastro pub too.
Mexico
Corner Ladies Mile & Main Highway Ellerslie, Auckland
Mexico also has restaurants in Auckland Airport, Sylvia Park, Ponsonby and Silverdale.
www.mexico.net.nz
Mexico is a family friendly casual restaurant with a kids menu, highchairs, crayons & activity sheets. Plus on Sundays Mexico – Kids eat FREE* on Sundays from the kids menu when their parents dine.
Kingsland, Eden Terrace, Morningside & Mt Eden eateries
Morningside Tavern
16 Morningside Drive, Morningside Precinct, Morningside, Auckland
www.morningsidetavern.co.nz
Family friendly tavern for lunch and dinner complete with a sandpit and a ping pong table to keep the kids entertained. There is pub food for the adults and a kids menu for your little ones too.
Crave Cafe
Editors Pick
6 Morningside Drive, Morningside, Auckland
www.cravecafe.co.nz
Kid friendly neighbourhood cafe in Morningside complete with an ice cream shop, toy box and more to keep the kids entertained. There is lots of space indoors and outside on the deck too. Choose from comfy retro armchairs or table seating.
Brothers Brewery and Juke Joint
5 Akiraho Street, Mt Eden, Auckland
brothersbeer.co.nz
Other Locations include City Works Depot, Orakei, Onehunga, Commercial Bay and Birkenhead.
Southern style BBQ restaurant in an ex-leatherworking factory that is now a craft beer brewery complete with an outdoor courtyard, retro furniture and a sandpit. Plus there is an old classic Morris Minor for the kids to play in and classic toys. They have a kids menu, high chairs and there is lots on the Juke Joint BBQ full menu that kids will like too.
Bluebells Cakery
361 New North Road, Eden Terrace
Other cafes in Hillsborough and Commercial Bay | CBD
bluebellscakery.com
Boutique cakery with cupcakes, slices, sandwiches, salads, shakes, coffee and more. High chairs for the little ones.
Circus Circus Cafe
447 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Central Auckland
www.circuscafe.co.nz
Circus Circus is a circus themed cafes that has a kids menu and high chairs. Just behind the cafe is Essex Reserve Playground which is a fun place for the kids to play afterwards. (Note: the playground is not directly connected to the cafe, so you would need to get your drinks and food to takeaway if the kids can’t wait to go the playground.) Another good playground which is only a short walk or bike ride away is Tahaki Reserve Playground.
Peel to Pip
619 New North Road, Morningside, Auckland
Facebook: Peel to Pip
Kid-friendly cafe in Morningside with a dedicated kids play area and yummy cafe food. This relaxed cafe has a kids menu and highchairs are available for the little ones.
Kingsland Social
462 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland
Facebook: Kingsland Social
Kid friendly cafe with an area set aside for little ones with toys. There is a kids menu and highchairs for toddlers.
Parnell, Newmarket, Remuera and Epsom cafes and restaurants
Best Ugly Bagels
3A York Street, Newmarket, Central Auckland
www.bestugly.co.nz
Enjoy watching the bagels being made by hand, from being rolled out, simmered in honey water and then fired in the stone oven. Then the hard part is deciding which toasted bagel sandwich to eat. There is no kids menu, but they do have a plain bagel with butter option on their menu which should keep any fuzzy eaters in your family happy. The casual outside courtyard has seating with an open fireplace. Families with older kids and teenagers enjoy eating here the most.
Hello Friends + Allies Cafe
93 Great South Road, Epsom, Central Auckland
Facebook: hellofriendsandallies
Cafe with good food and coffee. Spacious room out the back which has an area with lots of toys and a dolls house for the kids to play with.
Archie's Restaurant and Pizzeria
63 Davis Crescent, Newmarket
Facebook: Archies-Pizzeria-Restaurant
Family friendly restaurant. They give the kids a rolling pin and dough to roll out their own pizza which keeps the kids entertained.
Cafe Greenfinders at Palmers
Corner of Shore and Orakei Road, Remuera, Central Auckland
www.palmers.co.nz/palmers-remuera/
Cafe in the garden centre, with a dedicated children’s play area, change table facilities and high chairs.
La Porchetta
167-171 Parnell Road, Parnell, Central Auckland
(Other Auckland location Henderson)
www.laporchetta.co.nz
Family friendly Italian casual restaurant in Parnell.
Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay & Westmere cafes & restaurants
Dear Jervois Cafe
234 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Central Auckland
Faccebook: Dear Jervois
Kids menu and colouring. Plus a baby’s change room complete with change table stocked with nappies, wipes, bags and a nappy bin.
Fusion Cafe
32 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Central Auckland
Facebook: Fusion Cafe Ponsonby
Herne Bay cafe with an outdoor courtyard with a sandpit and play equipment at the back of the cafe is best suited for toddlers and younger children. The popular cafe has a kids menu too.
Prego Restaurant
226 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Central Auckland
www.prego.co.nz
Prego is a long standing favourite Auckland Italian restaurant that has a kids menu, colouring and high chairs.
Note: Prego does not take bookings unless you are in a group over 10 people, so you are best to head there early with the kids.
Catroux Cafe
129 Westend Road, Westmere, Central Auckland
www.catroux.co.nz
The cafe has a kids’ brunch menu, an indoor sandpit, toys and kids blackboard.
EAST AUCKLAND CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
East Tamaki, Botany Downs and Howick cafes and family restaurant
Daruma Sushi Botany
451J Ti Rakau Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland
daruma.co.nz
Revolving sushi restaurant with booth seating for families. The kids menu is a Supertrain plate with sushi, noodles, juice and more. High chairs are available for babies and toddlers.
Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe
280 Botany Road, Golflands, East Auckland
Facebook: Hawthorndene
Cafe in a cute historic cottage set in a country garden not far from Botany Town Centre. There is a club house, playground and sandpit for the kids to play outside and giant fruit trees. The play area has lot’s of outside tables close by. Plus there is good food and coffee for the parents too!
HIPPO Cafe
451 Ti Rakau Drive, Huntington Park, Auckland 2013
www.hippoworld.co.nz
Great brunch spot for the kids with a fun indoor playground. The playground is not free to use, and you will need to pay for your children aged 1 to 12 years old, if they want to play on it. High chairs are available in the cafe.
Uxbridge Cafe
35 Uxbridge Road, Uxbridge Arts & Culture centre, Howick, East Auckland
uxbridge.org.nz
Family friendly cafe open for breakfast, lunch and snacks in Uxbridge Arts & Culture centre.
The Tearooms at Shamrock Cottage
73 Selwyn Road, Cockle Bay, Howick, Auckland
www.shamrockcottage.co.nz
Enjoy home made food or high tea in a historical Auckland cottage with a roaring fire and sun drenched courtyard.
NORTH SHORE AND NORTH AUCKLAND CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
Birkenhead, Chatswood, Birkdale and Beach Haven cafes
Sugar Cafe at Chelsea Bay
Editors Favourite
Chelsea Bay, 100 Colonial Road, Chatswood, Auckland
www.chelsea.co.nz/chelseabay/cafe/
Kid-friendly cafe with stunning waterfront views of the Harbour Bridge and both an a la carte menu and great cabinet selection of sweet treats. But one of the best things is the fenced playground located directly in front of the cafe for little kids to play at. In the summer weekends there is a coffee cart selling coffee and takeaway treats if you want to sit outside and enjoy the picnic tables and lawn areas too. There is pram and wheelchair access throughout the cafe and centre too!
Don’t miss checking out the FREE Interactive Virtual Baking Zone indoors for kids to explore and learn about baking just behind the cafe too!
Devonport, Cheltenham and Belmont cafes
Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Cafe
Editors Favourite
Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, 64 King Edward Parade, Torpedo Bay, Devonport
navymuseum.co.nz/visit/torpedo-bay-cafe
Family friendly cafe with a fun nautical themed playground outside the cafe with superb views across the harbour back to the city. There is outdoor covered and uncovered seating right next to the playground. Enjoy food from the cabinent and menu. Plus there is plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. The kids can choose from the kid’s menu and there are ice-creams too. There is a parent’s room and the cafe is fully accessible for buggies making it the perfect family-friendly cafe.
The cafe connects directly to the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum which has free admission making it a perfect day out!
Tot's Pantry Cafe
13 Williamson Avenue, Belmont, Auckland
Kid friendly cafe with an outdoor and indoor play area. Plus there is plenty of space for prams. Child-friendly food with baby food, toddler meals, kids meals and a regular adult menu.
Castor Bay, Campbells Bay, Mairangi Bay and Murrays Bay cafes
November Cafe
408, Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
November Cafe
A cute Mairangi Bay cafe serving traditional Vietnamese food tucked away from the busy main road. We love the cute kids corner with a play area and books for littlies.
Paper Moon Restaurant
437 Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
papermoon.org.nz
Local neighbourhood child friendly restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kids menu and colouring is provided for children. High chairs are available for babies and toddlers. Outdoor seating and space to park your buggies is available. Plus you will find a playground and the beach just a short walk away.
Takapuna and Milford cafes
Jam Organic Cafe
33-45 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, North Shore, Auckland
JamOrganicCafe
Jam is off the main Hursmere Road strip and opens onto the neighbouring Hurstmere Green.
Albany cafes
Fields Cafe
4 Appian Way, Albany, North Shore, Auckland
www.fieldscafe.co.nz
Neighbourhood cafe and eatery overlooking Hooton Reserve with a nearby fenced children’s playground which you can watch from the outdoor deck. You can’t see the playground when you are sitting inside the cafe, so you will need to get an outdoor table to keep an eye on your little ones playing. There is space for prams and high chairs for your babies and toddlers. There is an all day menu, cabinet food and a Kids Menu.
Rothesay Bay, Browns Bay, Waiake and Torbay cafes
Eatery at Rothesay Bay
Corner of Lyons Ave & Beach Road, Rothesay Bay, North Shore, Auckland
Kid friendly breakfast and lunch cafe. Lots of toys for the kids, highchairs for the little ones. Outdoor deck with view of the Auckland harbour and Rangitito
Northcote, Birkenhead and Glenfield cafes and gastropubs
Postman's Leg
43-51 Downing Street, Glenfield, North Shore, Auckland
joylab.co.nz/the-postmans-leg
The Postman’s Leg is a family friendly gastropubs with a covered sunny deck and outdoor courtyard. There is pentanque, a sandpit, playground and colouring and kids menus to keep the kids happy.
Zookeepers Son
715 Mt Albert Road, Royal Oak, Auckland
https://joylab.co.nz/the-zookeepers-son
Family friendly gastro pub with a kids menu and a kids play area with toys, television and books upstairs. There is free parking available behind the gastro pub too.
Dutch Delight
3-5 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead, North Shore, Auckland
dutchdelight.co.nz
Dutch restaurant with great pancakes. There is a playroom for younger kids too.
NORTH WEST AUCKLAND CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
Hobsonville and Whenuapai cafes
Catalina Cafe
Buckley Avenue, Hosbonville Point, Auckland
Instagram: Catalina Cafe
Family friendly cafe in the 1938 historic ex-airforce building. The cafe has a kids menu and gelato menu too. It opens onto the grassed area of Hobsonville Point Park, which has a playground at the far end of the park with giant metal sculptural pods, climbing frames, swings and slides.
Other fun things for kids to do in the neightbour is to play at the Harrier Point Park Playground, see the Hobsonville Ferry Terminal and walk along the Hobson Point walkway boardwalk.
The Parkhouse Whenaupai
1 Ripeka Lane, Whenuapai, Auckland
www.theparkhouse.co.nz
Family-friendly cafe with an all-day brunch, dinner and kids menu. Right next to The Parkhouse is the Whenuapai Settlement Playground which is a fun park for the kids to play, and best of all you can easily see the playground from the deck. The cafe is accessible with a ramp for buggies and wheelchairs.
Little Creatures Brewing
2 Boundary Road, Catalina Bay, Hobsonville, Auckland
littlecreatures.co.nz
Little Creatures is a family friendly brewery in the former Sunderland sea boat hangar in the Catalina Bay precinct at Hobsonville Point. There is an indoor playground for the kids. Plus you can choose from 3 different eateries: Saltys for fish and chips, Little Creatures for pizzas or Kittyhawk for Italian.
Kumeu, Huapai and Riverhead cafes & restaurants
Hallertau
Editors Pick
1171 Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, North West Auckland
hallertau.co.nz
This is one of our favourite places to eat with kids in Riverhead. There are giant sized games, an outdoor playground, rock climbing wall, toys and colouring to entertain the kids. There are high chairs for the little kids. The food is superb and there are Little Hopper kids meals too.
Boric Food Market
1404 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, Kumeu, North-West, Auckland
www.boricfoodmarket.co.nz
Cafe with a fun outdoor country themed farm style playground for the kids, complete with big vintage tractors, slides, wooden playhouses, swings, tunnels and even a mini grocery store overlooking the orchard.
The Boric Build Zone gives children of all ages a place to create, learn and imagine together. Filled with loose parts of wood, tyres, pipes and bricks to provide endless possibilities for your little ones.
Boric has lot’s of kid friendly events happening through out the year. Toddler Tuesdays happen on select days each month on the covered balcony to meet with friends and enjoy a morning of laughter, food and free activities for the kids. There is also seasonal events like the Easter Egg Hunt and Family Day, Mother’s Day, Fathers Day and Christmas events happening too.
Soljans Bistro
366 SH 16, Kumeu, North West, Auckland
soljans.co.nz
Family friendly cafe in a vineyard setting with a children’s menu and high chairs for babies and toddlers. There is a little playhouse for toddlers and younger kids and a grass field and 2 pentanque courts for the older kids to entertain themselves.
The Food Vault
10 Matua Road, Kumeu, North West Auckland
www.thefoodvault.co.nz
Deli style cafe with tasty seasonal food and freshly baked pastries.
Carriages Cafe & Wine Bar
299 Main Road, Kumeu, North West, Auckland
carriageskumeu
Carriages is a 1930’s style cafe and wine bar with 2 ex-train carts where you can have a family meal or dink in Kumeu. There is an outdoor deck area and lake with ducks too. Muriwai and the Gannet colony are only a short drive away.
SOUTH AUCKLAND CAFES
Auckland Airport cafes
Butterfly Creek Cafe
Butterfly Creek, Auckland Airport, South Auckland
www.butterflycreek.co.nz
Cafe at Butterfly Creek with a sunny inside deck and outdoor courtyard with a fun kids playground. You can just go to the playground and cafe without having to pay to go into the Butterfly Creek attraction too.
Percy Cafe
2 Te Kapua Drive, Auckland Landing Business Park, Mangere, South Auckland
percycafe.co.nz
Large airy cafe close to Auckland Airport with a fun outdoor playground for the kids. There is an all day menu, cabinet food and a kids menu.
Clevedon cafes
The Farmhouse Deli
400 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Clevedon 2582
farmhousedeli.co.nz
The Farmhouse is a local deli-style cafe in Clevedon with delicious seasonal fresh food and great Kokako Coffee. The cafe is in an old restored villa on a beautiful farm. There is a large covered deck overlooking the farm which you can walk around on its trails. The kids can play in the mudplay kitchen, climb on the digger playground or have fun on the large lawn area.
Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura cafes and gastropubs
Cafe Miko at the Auckland Botanic Gardens
Auckland Botanic Gardens Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre, Manurewa, South Auckland
www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz
Cafe Miko is a family friendly place for breakfast, lunch or a snack. The cafe and outdoor terrace have stunning views over the Gardens, and there is a small boat that our kids always enjoy playing in. The Botanic Gardens, make a fun place to explore together on a walk afterwards too.
The Good Home in Takanini
254 Great South Road, Takanini, South Auckland.
www.thegoodhometakanin
Family friendly gastropub with a kids menu.
Friends of the Farmer Cafe
Kings Garden Cafe Takanini, 163 Airfield Road, Takanini, South Auckland
www.kings.co.nz/cafe/takanini
Relaxed kid-friendly cafe located within Kings Garden Takanini.
WEST AUCKLAND CAFES & RESTAURANTS
Humbug Cafe
32 Rua Road, Glen Eden, West Auckland
Facebook: Humbug Cafe
There are two separate areas in the cafe, one is a child friendly space with vintage toys and comfy couches. There is a kids menu too.
Deco Eatery
Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Waitakere, West Auckland
www.decoeatery.co.nz
Middle eastern themed eatery that welcomes children and families with a great view over the bush to the sea.
Mt Atkinson Coffee Shop
44b Portage Road, New Lynn, West Auckland
Facebook: Mt Atkinson Coffee Shop
Mt Atkinson coffee shops (formerly the Tannery Cafe) is a great spot in West Auckland for relaxed meal and great coffee.
