A family-friendly pub in the heart of Melbourne
Finding somewhere to eat in Melbourne CBD that genuinely caters for kids can sometimes be tricky, so we were excited to check out Good Nature Hotel at Federation Square.
Located right in the heart of Fed Square on Flinders Street, Good Nature Hotel is a modern Melbourne pub, bar and beer garden with plenty of space for families — and the big drawcard for us was the dedicated kids’ playground upstairs.
It’s an especially handy option if you’re already spending the day in the city, visiting Fed Square or looking for somewhere to have lunch or dinner before or after a Melbourne event.
The kids’ playground
This is what really makes Good Nature Hotel stand out for families.
Head upstairs to the Grove Bar & Terrace and you’ll find a covered outdoor playground where the kids can climb, explore and go down the slide while parents sit nearby and enjoy their meal. Because the play area is under full cover, it also makes the venue a much easier option when Melbourne’s weather isn’t playing along.
There are also oversized games, including giant wooden blocks, giving the kids something else to do between eating and playing.
For us, having somewhere the kids could burn off some energy while we enjoyed lunch made the whole experience much more relaxed.
Kids’ meals with proper portion sizes
We were really impressed with the kids’ meals – these weren’t tiny portions!
Our kids chose the Kids Steak, which comes with a 150g porterhouse, chips and tomato sauce, and the Kids Parma with chips and tomato sauce. At the time of our visit, the steak was $20 and the parma $18.
Both were great portion sizes, particularly the steak, and definitely suited our bigger kids.
The current kids’ menu also includes chicken nuggets, battered fish nuggets, pasta and a mini cheeseburger, with desserts including Frog in a Pond and kids’ ice cream. There are colouring activities too, which is always handy while you’re waiting for meals to arrive.
Food for the grown-ups
It’s not just about the kids here. The main menu has a mix of pub classics, grills, share plates and more substantial meals.
We tried dishes including the salt and native pepper squid, served with chips, house salad, aioli and lemon, along with the pan-fried barramundi with seasonal greens, roasted potatoes and saffron cream.
There are also familiar favourites such as chicken parma, schnitzel, fish and chips, burgers, steaks and salads, so there’s plenty of choice if you’re visiting as a family or with a larger group.
Free kids’ entertainment on Sundays
If you can time your visit for a Sunday, there’s even more happening for families.
Good Nature currently runs free kids’ entertainment every Sunday from 12pm–3pm beside the upstairs playground. Activities rotate and can include things such as face painting, balloon twisting, games, crafts and other interactive entertainment.
When we visited, the kids loved watching the balloon creations being made and there was a really fun, relaxed family atmosphere.
It makes Sunday lunch an especially good time to visit — grab a table, order some food and let the kids enjoy the entertainment and playground afterwards.
For us, it’s the combination of location + good-sized kids’ meals + entertainment + playground that makes this one worth saving.
You can have an actual sit-down meal without the kids getting bored, there’s plenty for adults to choose from, and being right at Federation Square means you can easily include it as part of a bigger Melbourne day out.
It’s also one of those venues that works whether you’re heading in specifically for lunch or simply need a reliable family-friendly place to eat while you’re already in the CBD.
Good Nature Hotel Melbourne – need to know
- 📍 Where: Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- 🛝 Kids’ playground: Yes — upstairs and under cover
- 🍴 Kids’ menu: Yes
- 🎨 Kids’ activities: Colouring plus oversized games
- 🎈 Sunday entertainment: Free, currently 12pm–3pm
- 🕚 Venue hours: Sunday–Wednesday 11am–10pm; Thursday–Saturday 11am–midnight
- 🍳 Kitchen: Sunday–Friday 11:30am–9pm; Saturday 11:30am–10pm.
Hours, menus, prices and family entertainment can change, so we recommend checking directly with the venue before making a special trip.
Check the latest Good Nature Hotel details and bookings HERE
Good Nature Hotel is a great one to have on your list when you’re looking for family-friendly dining in Melbourne CBD. We loved the generous kids’ meals, the playground was a hit and the free Sunday entertainment gives families another reason to stick around rather than rushing through lunch.
SAVE this one for your next family day in Melbourne! 🛝🍽️💚
Our visit to Good Nature Hotel was hosted. As always, all opinions are our own.
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