Kid-friendly restaurants in London

The ambience is what makes this restaurant stand out from the crowd, and as you might have noticed, kids aren’t too fussed about the food as long as they’re being entertained. The lively and eccentric clientele and the house pianist playing live music should keep them distracted long enough for you to enjoy your meal properly too. Food wise, they can choose from roast cauliflower, beef burgers, fish & chips and pork chops, while treats such as chocolate cake and black forest sundae tempt from the dessert menu.

Epic riverside views and the pubby feel are The Narrow’s main forte, which will instantly make your kids relax. The fact that it's a Gordon Ramsay restaurant also means the food is up to scratch. The children will enjoy the beer-battered haddock with mushy peas, tartare sauce and chips, or the sweet potato and spice fire bean burger with tomato salsa, beetroot hummus and chips. Fennel sausage and mash with sage crisps and red onion gravy might be one to try if they’re feeling up for poshing up their usual bangers and mash. The same goes for the truffled mac 'n' cheese side.

Every Saturday, any two children accompanied by a paying adult get to enjoy brunch for free at this Shoreditch hipster-haven Italian. Nibbles such as spaghetti Pomodoro and buttermilk chicken are served alongside their choice of ice cream or fruit salad, making this a super destination for a quick foodie fix. There’s reason for parents to join too, with classic Italian nosh, an extensive cocktail list and delicious desserts. The warm interiors and pubby feel add to the atmosphere, making it inviting and relaxing.

The large dining room at this Cantonese-leaning Chinese means bringing the kids to dinner will be a breeze. The extensive menu of premier dim sum plays its part, too – keep the children occupied with delicious dumplings, crispy spring rolls and roast pork buns. Satay chicken, fried chicken, stir fried vegetables and a wide selection of rice dishes should be inviting to picky eaters too. Gold-leaf ceilings and glossy black panelling covered with hand-painted Chinese art further provide the right setting.

The clue is in the name of this family-run Italian restaurant, which is Italian for ‘the family’. The locals-orientated Old Chelsea veteran (it’s been trundling along for about 40 years) is the ideal place for a family meal. The lovely service, relaxed interiors and popular summer terrace all contribute towards a fantastic experience for both parents and kids alike. The food does its part, too, with the likes of deep-friend breaded mozzarella with bread and sauce, a wide range of pastas (get them to go for the ‘fusilli con broccoli’ to trick some greens into them, or go for the classic carbonara), and soups.   

Interaction is key to keeping kids happy at a restaurant, and what better than some hands-on Mexican food? The canteen-style restaurant chain from ex-MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers is a popular spot for young families with its colourful food, equally colourful interiors and casual atmosphere. Cheap and cheerful, too, you can feed the fam without breaking the bank. Have the little ones ‘build your own tacos’ from the dedicated kid’s menu, where tortillas with lettuce, cheese and mashed up guacamole come as standard alongside a side of vegetable stick dippers and crunchy chips. Your kid’s choice of grilled chicken, steak, crunchy cod or seasonal veg will be added. There are also cheesy toasted quesadilla sandwiches up for grabs.  

The London dining staple that is The Wolseley is perhaps not the first restaurant that comes to mind when you’re thinking of kid-friendly places. But the classic European grand café-styled brasserie is dramatically handsome with its high-ceilinged dining room, which also means it’s buzzy and loud. This means taking chatty kids with you won’t be an issue. Feed them Wiener schnitzels, pork chops or a selection of sandwiches from the Café Menu, but should all else fail, the rich dessert menu should keep the kids occupied.   

If you’re keen on bringing the offspring to a more health-conscious space, this Aussie-owned caff in colourful Notting Hill will tick all of your boxes. The bright, bustling dining room with cute little yellow chairs should keep your kid’s senses stimulated, while the choice of dishes such as beef burger with fries; spaghetti with tomatoes, black olives, chilli and stracciatella; and Parmesan-crumbed chicken schnitzel with creamed corn and fennel coleslaw should keep their little taste buds happy.

Parents tend to be afraid of bringing their children into Michelin-starred establishments, but they really shouldn’t be. At least not when Michelin-starred establishments are as forthcoming as 30-year-old The River Café. Although there is no specific children’s menu in place, the Italian crowd-pleasing food (delivered with real expertise and love), always goes down well with the minis, but the kitchen are also at hand to modify dishes to suit little taste buds. This is truly some of the best Italian food in town, so expect to pay accordingly.  

Parents will be overjoyed to hear that kids up to the age of 12 eat for free at York & Albany, as long as parents dine from the à la carte menu. Dishes that will go down well with the kiddos include chicken wings with tamarind sauce and coriander cress, burgers, fish & chips, and pizza. The bright and airy dining room, part of a glam glass structure, has a distinct pub feel to it, making it instantly relaxing and family-friendly.

Italian restaurant Zafferano has maintained a high reputation in Belgravia for more than 20 years and it all comes down to the prima Italian cooking. Italian food is a godsend to parents, and it’s no different here – keep your children satisfied with lashings of pappardelle with wild mushrooms or grilled lamb chops with peas and grilled peppers. The dessert menu here is also to be celebrated with child-friendly options including Eton Mess, chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, and sorbets.

Kids will love the retro theme at this Cantonese fast-food joint on Russell Street in Soho. Toys line the bright-red walls, gingham tablecloths cover the tables and there’s a Pac-Man-shaped dumpling dish that is sure to bring on giggles. Dishes such as cheeseburger spring rolls and dumpling soups with straws add to the novelty but tasty remarkably good, so will be enjoyed by all generations. Go at lunchtime as it can turn quite boozy come dinner time.  

Four words: ice cream bar menu. If the option of building your own cones, sandwiches and wafer baskets with ice cream doesn’t get your kids going ballistic, we suggest you seek medical help instantly. This fun little addition makes this Gordon Ramsay restaurant a no-brainer for dining with kids, but mains from the dedicated kid’s menu, such as meatballs with pasta, or fish & chips with peas should stock them with some nutrients before the ice cream madness commences.  

Turning out comfort food both for adults and children alike, this family-friendly restaurant benefits from friendly staff, a warm environment and a dedicated kid’s menu. Parents can devour rare-breed steaks, fish and poultry hot off the grill, whereas kids can sit happily with meatballs and pasta; chicken and chips with peas; or bangers and mash. Dessert keeps things classic with the choice between chocolate brownie; vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce; or a sticky toffee pudding.

This kid-friendly sibling of the Heron Tower big boy is slightly more relaxed and embraces a local character. The Piccadilly Circus location means it works fantastically as pre-theatre dining or a stop for refuelling on a busy day sightseeing. With choices such as pizza, deep-fried baos, macaroni cheese and grilled chicken ticking the kid-friendly boxes, you’re all sorted. The ice-cream waffle cone piled with jam and cream is also an awesome way to finish the meal.

The hugely popular Hawksmoor is a favourite among adults, but there is no reason why it shouldn’t become a winner with the little ones as well. Sought-after for Sunday lunch and pre-theatre dining, it’s the ideal place to take kids with dishes such as macaroni cheese, baked sweet potato and triple-cooked chips on the menu. The British-leaning kitchen also serves up classic desserts such as sticky toffee pudding and a large selection of ice cream to keep them well-oiled.

The neon-lit restaurant with light projections on the tables and touch-pad ordering will be enough to keep your kids wide-eyed, but the playfully plated food will do its trick, too. The ‘Chef Cam’ at the tables play retro video games of Pong, meaning you won’t even need to get the iPads out to entertain the kids, and you can upload your own images to create a personalised table-top montage. Try the DIY pancakes and the signature Dragon Roll (that’s actually presented as a green dragon) from the menu for some fun and interactive eating.  

Pizza is a failsafe when it comes to feeding hungry children and also works perfectly as a treat. The always jam-packed Shoreditch branch of this pizza mini chain means the buzz is kept to a max, allowing rowdy children to roam free. kid-friendly pizzas include buffalo mozzarella ones with tomato and basil or salami with mozzarella and tomato. It doesn’t end there, though, with other Italian classics such as mac 'n' cheese and beef lasagne up for grabs.  

This Gordon Ramsay-led restaurant has a warm and friendly vibe that’s ideal for taking kids to – the service is also fantastic. The Mediterranean food served here also goes down well with the minis, who can devour delights such as meatballs and pasta, chicken and chips with peas, and bangers and mash from the dedicated kids menu. Family favourites such as chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, and sticky toffee pudding are up for grabs for dessert.

The kid’s menu at Pique-Nique is simply an illustration of Rocky from Chicken Run with ‘+Potatoes’ and ‘+Ice cream’ written on it – all for £10. Slightly morbid if you’re a Chicken Run fan, but the concept is fun and captivating. The French bistro has plenty of other delights with a more grown-up menu description, making this a hot-spot for families. With a summer terrace for warmer days, this is particularly popular during the summer holidays.  

After a busy day of showing the children the skyscrapers of London, take them for some Japanese food at this large and open restaurant. Full-on sushi is sometimes tricky to get children to experiment with, but most kids like salmon sashimi with rice, and at Roka, there’s plenty of the stuff. There are also lovely dumplings to choose from, whereas meat, fish and vegetables from the robata grill will go down well. For warmer days, there’s an outdoor terrace for little legs to roam free.

Pasta is always a solid winner with the little ones, but why not go somewhere where the dish is done to perfection and where you are guaranteed to have a fantastic time, too? Giorgi Locatelli’s Michelin-starred Fitzrovia flagship ticks all the boxes. There are some discreet booths for smaller families, which gives ample privacy for you (and shelter other guests from the sound of playful children). Both kids and parents alike will be impressed by luxe interiors and the hand-crafted pasta. Dare your little ones to try something new – linguine with Cornish lobster, tomatoes, garlic and sweet chilli perhaps, or maybe even the pasta with kid goat ragu? If not, crowd-pleasers such as homemade egg pasta with seasonal vegetables are delivered with real panache.  

The kid's menu at Cafe Murano Covent Garden allows the little ones to choose their pasta and their sauce to create their ultimate favourite. Have them decide between penne, orecchiette, hand-rolled tagliatelle or maccheroni and then between sausage ragu, meatballs, olive oil and parmesan, and wild mushrooms. Alternatively, they can opt for a chicken Milanese with potato fritti. The friendly-staffed restaurant, headed up by Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett, is modern and airy.

You can never go wrong with pizza when it comes to kids, and Franco Manca serves up some absolutely mean ones. There’s a dedicated kids' menu that gives you a pizza, drink and ice cream for a fiver (yes, the rock bottom prices and the casual atmosphere are further reasons for Franco Manca’s popularity). Have the kiddos choose between a classic tomato and mozzarella; a ham, tomato and mozzarella; or a mushroom, tomato and mozzarella. There are also family favourites such as garlic bread and pizza bread with rosemary and sea salt.

Afternoon Tea is an experience for the whole family, but there’s no denying that, traditionally, it has a more adult touch to it. That’s where The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental comes in. Treat your kids to a ‘Mini Afternoon Tea’ with an Asian twist. From the sandwich selection, the little ones can enjoy the likes of peanut butter and jam; Nutella and butter; and ham and cheddar cheese. Milk chocolate lollipops, marshmallow sushi and panda chocolate biscuits are all a part of the extensive hand-made pastry selection, which will all bring a smile to their faces. Mini scones and fruity teas complete the line-up.  

Dean Street Townhouse’s ultra-comfy dining chairs will be your saviour when impatient children get tired and just want to kick back with their iPads. The high-tempo atmosphere is also great for blending into the crowd, meaning you won’t have to constantly hush your kids, which we know you hate. Put the likes of haddock and chips, the Townhouse cheeseburger or grilled chicken breast in front of them to nosh on. Smaller treats such as fish fingers, macaroni cheese and sausage rolls will also keep them tip-top.