Family-friendly restaurants are hard to come by, especially ones that serve up tasty menu items and provide ample drink options. Fortunately, many food joints across California have become more family-oriented and now offer great food and drink choices, all while making sure your kids are happy to be there, too. Check out the best family restaurants in California and give them a try!
1. Huckleberry Café & Bakery, Santa Monica
With an all-day kid’s menu, this place is the perfect place to satisfy your kids’ appetite. What makes Huckleberry Café & Bakery even better is their commitment to using (nearly exclusively) organic and GMO free. Their meat and dairy come from local farmers and producers and they serve locally roasted coffee. The kids will love the grilled cheese on country bread and parents can enjoy a Balsamic Roasted Eggplant and Portobello Mushroom Sandwich.
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2. Bumble, Los Altos
Head to Bumble and check your kids into their playroom so you can sit back and relax with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The indoor and outdoor playroom features toys, games, and arts and crafts supplies for your children to enjoy. When they’re done playing, let them order off the kid’s menu and choose an entrée that comes with seasonal vegetables, fruits, a chocolate chip cookie, and a drink of choice. For the adults, try the grilled chicken sandwich with wild arugula, tomato, feta cheese, and orange citronette dressing and wash it down with a beer, glass of wine, or some bubbly.
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3. Homeroom, Oakland
If you remember how much you loved Macaroni and Cheese as a kid, then make sure to bring your own kids to Homeroom, a super family-friendly joint in Oakland. Not only will your kids get order some of the fanciest Mac ‘n Cheese around, you’ll also get a chance to create your own dish and dress up your old childhood favorite. Let the kids add hot dogs and bacon to their dish, while you can add caramelized onions and artichoke hearts. Top your Mac ‘n Cheese with sautéed mushrooms, Kalamata olives, and shredded cheddar for a tasty treat. Go wild with your Mac ‘n Cheese creation at Homeroom, and let your kids do the same.
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4.Waypoint Public, San Diego
Taking your kids to a restaurant can sometimes be a hassle, but head to Waypoint Public and they’ll make your experience as smooth as can be. They have an entire play area filled with activities for the kids, so you won’t have to worry about them getting too rambunctious at the table. Make sure to try their giant soft pretzels with a fresh beer on tap, or the Public Burger, a crowd pleaser for every age. The Oyster Po Boy Taco is a menu item you should definitely try, and it’s just $3 during happy hour! Bring the kids and enjoy all that Waypoint Public has to offer.
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5. Urban Putt, San Francisco
What’s better than an indoor putt-putt golf course? An indoor putt-putt golf course with food and drink options for the whole family! Urban Putt in the Mission District of San Francisco features a full bar with house-made cocktails, a West Coast craft beer list, and wine. Try the fried chicken and waffle skewers or the roasted pumpkin empanadas and you won’t be disappointed. Or, order a deep dish pizza for the whole family to split. Make sure you bring both an appetite and your game face to Urban Putt.
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6. Au Fudge, Los Angeles
Actress Jessica Biel went all out with her first restaurant, making it both fun for kids and enjoyable for parents, too. Biel’s menu consists of fresh, local, all natural and sustainably grown foods, and offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Kids can hang out in the Au Fudge Creative Space (for an extra fee) where they can draw, paint, and express their artistic side before or after their meal. Parents will love the happy hour menu, which features discounted cocktails, wine, and beer. Overall, this place is a win-win for parents and kids!
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7. Corvette Diner, San Diego
This 1950s-themed diner caters to kids just as much as it does to adults, making it the perfect family-friendly restaurant. Parents can sip on Bloody Mary’s, wine, and craft beers, not to mention one of Corvette Diner’s house-made cocktails, while they watch their kids play in the game room. Here, arcade games like Guitar Hero, Air Hockey, plenty more await. Don’t forget to grub on some of the diner’s best appetizers. Try the fried pickle spears, homemade potato chips with lime chili dipping sauce, or the Chili Cheez Waffle Fries. The burgers here are the entrées to get, and you can get one with just about anything. Try Dante’s Inferno which comes complete with jalapeno mayonnaise, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and jalapenos, or let the kids get the Macho Nacho, a burger topped with tortilla chips, cheez whiz, and jack cheese, among other tasty items.