Finding somewhere for a family meal doesn’t always mean heading to a play centre or settling for a venue designed entirely around the kids.
Some of our favourite Melbourne pubs, bars and hotels are places the whole family can enjoy – somewhere the kids are welcome, the food is good and the adults can still enjoy a proper pub meal, cocktail, cold drink or afternoon by the water.
And while a playground is always a bonus, it’s not the only thing that makes a venue family-friendly. Give us a relaxed beer garden, room for the kids, an easy kids’ menu, a great view or something fun nearby and we’re happy!
From riverside pubs and beachside favourites to historic Melbourne hotels and venues with dedicated kids’ play spaces, here are some of our Melbourne With Kidz family-friendly favourites.
Station Hotel, Footscray
59 Napier Street, Footscray
The Station Hotel is one of those pubs that makes a Sunday family lunch easy.
There’s a semi-covered beer garden, kids’ playground and their regular Sunday family sessions include entertainment, face painting and a visiting petting zoo.
Dogs are welcome in the beer garden too, making it a good option when you want to bring almost the entire family.
Add classic pub meals and a dedicated Sunday roast for adults and kids and it’s an easy western suburbs option for a long weekend lunch.
Anglers Tavern, Maribyrnong
2 Anglers Way, Maribyrnong
Sitting right beside the Maribyrnong River, Anglers Tavern has become a standout for families since its redevelopment.
There are two dedicated kids’ areas: Kids Quarters, with interactive play zones and an outdoor playground, and a quieter Reading Room positioned near the bistro.
The venue notes that the play areas aren’t supervised, so parents still need to keep an eye on the kids.
The big beer garden, riverside setting and pub-style menu make this one particularly nice when the weather is good.
The Victoria Hotel, Yarraville
188 Hyde Street, Yarraville
The Victoria Hotel really understands family dining.
Its dedicated Kids Room has been designed like a miniature Yarraville, with interactive play including a train and kiosk café, magnetic wall, drawing station, reading nook and tech zone.
There’s also a beer garden with a kids’ playground.
Add highchairs, baby-change facilities, pram access, onsite parking and regular Sunday kids’ entertainment and it’s an especially handy one for families with younger children.
BrewDog Pentridge, Coburg
E Division, 1 Champ Street, Coburg
Eating inside a former prison already gives the kids something different to talk about!
BrewDog Pentridge occupies part of the historic Pentridge precinct and spreads across a huge indoor and outdoor space, with a large beer garden and plenty of room to settle in for a casual family meal. The menu leans into burgers, wings, pizzas and salads, with plenty of vegetarian and plant-based choices too.
We love this one for combining a genuinely interesting Melbourne location with somewhere the adults can enjoy too.
Good Nature Hotel, Federation Square
Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
One of Melbourne’s newest family-friendly city pubs has quickly become one of our favourites.
Good Nature Hotel has a covered kids’ playground, kids’ menu and plenty of space for families, making it especially useful when you’re already in the city for a show, gallery, sporting event or day at Fed Square.
On Sundays there’s also free rotating kids’ entertainment alongside the upstairs playground, with activities such as face painting, games and crafts.
We recently visited ourselves and loved that the kids could head off and play while we actually sat down and enjoyed lunch.
The kids’ meals were also much more substantial than we expected – particularly handy when you’re dining with bigger kids.
The Wharf Hotel
18–38 Siddeley Street, Melbourne
For families who love a waterside venue, The Wharf sits right on the Yarra with indoor and outdoor dining and city views.
Sunday is a particularly good time to visit with kids.
The venue runs Family Funday Sunday, with rotating activities such as magicians, balloon twisting, face painting and occasional character appearances.
There are familiar pub favourites including burgers, pizzas, fish and chips and parmas, plus options for kids. Minors are welcome when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
West Beach Pavilion, St Kilda West
330A Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West
Few family meals beat one where the kids can have the sand practically at their feet.
West Beach Pavilion sits right on the beach with indoor and outdoor dining and panoramic bay views. The venue confirms that both its restaurant and Beach Club welcome families.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available, and it’s an easy one to pair with a beach walk or play on the sand before or after your meal.
Hotel Esplanade — The Espy, St Kilda
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Yes, The Espy with kids!
Most Melburnians associate The Espy with live music and big nights out, but it also welcomes families during the day. The venue describes its daytime dining areas as relaxed and suitable for all ages, and there’s a kids’ menu available.
Come earlier, grab a pub meal and soak up the history and bay-side atmosphere before the venue moves into its livelier evening mode.
Studley Park Boathouse, Kew
1 Boathouse Road, Kew
This one isn’t your traditional pub, but it absolutely deserves a place on a family-friendly drinks-and-dining list.
Surrounded by greenery beside the Yarra, Studley Park Boathouse combines café and restaurant dining with outdoor decks and, of course, its famous boat hire. Children from three years old can join adults on the rowboats, canoes and kayaks.
The venue also runs its Mini Explorers program for younger children on Sundays, with changing nature-inspired craft activities.
It’s one of those places where lunch can easily turn into a whole family afternoon.
Auburn Hotel, Hawthorn East
85 Auburn Road, Hawthorn East
The Auburn Hotel has long been a favourite for family catch-ups, and its huge beer garden is a big part of the appeal.
There’s a dedicated children’s playground in the open-air garden, giving kids somewhere to play while the family settles in for lunch or dinner. The menu covers pub classics, contemporary dishes and woodfired pizza.
The venue also runs family-focused Sunday activities, so it’s worth checking what’s on before booking.
The Gardiner Hotel, Malvern
84 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
The Gardiner is a polished neighbourhood pub that still works when you have the kids in tow.
For a family visit, head for the ground-floor dining area, which the venue specifically describes as family-friendly. The menu centres around seasonal share plates and modern takes on pub classics, while the building also includes a terrace and rooftop for more grown-up catch-ups.
It’s a good pick when you want somewhere a little more stylish without making family dining feel difficult.
Family-friendly pubs don’t have to be all about the kids
As parents, sometimes we just want somewhere everyone can enjoy.
A playground and kids’ entertainment are brilliant, but so is a beach view, a big beer garden, room for the pram, a decent kids’ meal or somewhere you can sit down with a cocktail while the kids happily eat their chips.
These are some of our favourites around Melbourne, but we’re always looking for more.
We also love using our Small Ideas membership to save when dining out as a family. Members can receive 10% off food and drinks at participating Australian Venue Co pubs and venues, which is such an easy way to make family lunches and dinners a little more affordable.
What’s your favourite family-friendly pub, bar or hotel in Melbourne? Let us know – we’d love to add more to our list!
Please note: Family policies, kids’ activities and entertainment can change, so always check directly with the venue before visiting.
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