As the capital city of Texas, Austin is known for its gorgeous recreational spaces, vibrant art scene, and copious restaurants. The dining options near many Austin vacation rentals range from upscale eateries serving gourmet dishes to casual bakeries specializing in delicious desserts. With an abundance of entertaining attractions and family-friendly restaurants, Austin is sure to impress visitors of all ages. Check out the most popular kid-friendly restaurants in Austin.
1. Hat Creek Burger Company
Whether it’s the outdoor playground or picnic table seating arrangements, Hat Creek delivers a family-friendly environment that encourages fun and playful behavior. To promote family harmony, every Tuesday night at Hat Creek is Family Night, and burgers are half price. The barn-inspired structure helps create a relaxed dining atmosphere that works well for conversation and family bonding. Kids are sure to ask for one of the specialty shakes, which includes options like birthday cake and s’mores.
2. Contigo
Contigo lets parents relax outdoors on the large patio while kids play a fun game of washers. Tasty menu items like grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers are favorites for kids. Warm lighting paired with the open floor seating arrangement gives this Texas ranch-style restaurant a casual ambiance children enjoy. A small sand area provides another location to keep kids busy while parents enjoy a cold drink or dessert.
3. Top Notch
If you’re looking for a vintage dining setting with curbside service, look no further than Top Notch. With vintage hot rods occasionally parked in the lot, Top Notch gives kids a blast from the past with every kid’s meal served in paper hot rods. Popular menu items include burgers and onion rings; however, most kids enjoy the fried pies and malts. Top Notch delivers a nostalgic approach that parents appreciate and children remember.
4. Phil’s Icehouse
For parents and children on vacation, Phil’s Icehouse delivers a casual atmosphere to enjoy a burger and fries. Attached to Amy’s Ice Cream, this restaurant provides the perfect location for kids to play and eat a good meal. The brightly decorated decor creates a playful vibe, while the outdoor playground and large patio area gives children more than enough room to work up an appetite. Menu items like corn dogs and sweet potato fries keep kids coming back for more.
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5. Home Slice Pizza
It’s a little-known fact that kids love pizza, and Home Slice Pizza serves one of the best pies in Austin. Between the ping-pong table on the patio and coloring sheets, this pizzeria keeps your kids smiling and entertained. After enjoying an eggplant pie or white pie with spinach specialty pizza, give your little one a delicious cannoli or bite of tiramisu. Home Slice Pizza offers a laid-back setting with dim lighting and booth seats for families.
6. Napa Flats
Kids love rolling out the dough while they wait for their personal pizza at Napa Flats. Booth style seating and warm lighting create an inviting dining atmosphere, and the open outdoor playground gives them more than enough room to play around. Kid-friendly menu items like cheese ravioli and spaghetti and meatballs are a home run with kids.
7. Kerbey Lane Cafe
For most parents, all-day pancakes is more than enough to draw their kids to any restaurant or cafe. With a large playground next to the outdoor patio, kids can laugh and play while waiting for kid-friendly menu items like junior quesadillas and crispy chicken bites. Kids eat free on Tuesdays, which fosters an environment perfect for families on vacation. Kerbey Lane Cafe serves parents appetizing dishes like fried chicken Benedict and the chile relleno plate.
8. The Midway Food Park
The Midway Food Park offers a diverse selection of menu options for parents and children. The wide-open outdoor park space features a large playground area for your little ones to run and play. Kids gobble up desserts from The Cheesecake Experience, while parents enjoy Tex-Mex items like brisket quesadillas and tacos from Taconmaye. With multiple vendors, The Midway Food Park has a tasty bite for the entire family.
9. Mandola’s Italian Market
To encourage a family-friendly atmosphere, Mandola’s serves children free gelato with every kid’s meal. Well-known for traditional Italian dishes like chicken piccata and eggplant parmigiana, this restaurant entices your little one with trenette and meatballs or fettuccine alfredo. Open floor seating helps enhance the casual environment, while the playscape ensures your kids enjoy spending time in the restaurant.
10. Central Market
Designed to keep the kids busy while parents shop, Central Market offers an outdoor patio area and playground to deliver a laid-back dining experience. With a gelato counter and full restaurant, this location provides a one-stop shop for parents and kids when on vacation. Popular menu items include build-your-own pizza and signature wraps.
11. Thai Fresh
With a conversion from counter service to table service, Thai Fresh offers a family-friendly environment with a kid’s dining area fitted with board games for the tables. Introduce your little one to the unique taste of Thai food with kid-friendly menu items like portioned sized bowls of pad Thai and tasty scoops of coconut ice cream.
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