Top Family Restaurants in Canberra | Australian Traveller

Your go-to guide to Canberra’s best family restaurants in Canberra, no matter the age of your kids.

After a long day ticking off Canberra’s galleries, riding around the lake or hiking to a lookout, it’s good to know where to find family restaurants in Canberra that welcome kids rather than just tolerate them. The nation’s capital takes its dining seriously, but it also understands that families with kids and prams have specific needs – like courtyards, early dinners and menus that work across generations.

From bakeries with playgrounds to Italian dining rooms that know how to cater to bambinos, these family-friendly Canberra restaurants deliver on flavour, flexibility and atmosphere.

In short

If you only visit one family restaurant in Canberra make it Agostinis. The Italian restaurant at East Hotel nails the brief for families. The dining room is spacious, the service warm and patient, and the menu pleases adults and kids in equal measure.

1. Space Kitchen

the exterior of Space Kitchen, Canberra — Step into Space Kitchen if you have a sweet tooth. (Image: Stuart Miller)

Space Kitchen is one of the more out-of-the-box family restaurants Canberra has tucked away. Set inside Woden’s Skypark car park, the cafe led by Ricardo de Marco is spacious, relaxed and playful. Kids gravitate toward the dessert cabinet filled with cookie monster cakes, a unicorn creation, and sugar-filled treats shaped like psychedelic mushrooms and mouse traps. Although it’s kid-friendly, Space Kitchen also caters to parents of older children with wagyu cheeseburgers and polenta waffles. The PG-rated shakes served with a splash of booze take the edge off.

Cuisine: Willy Wonka-worthy creations
Average price:  $$
Atmosphere: Fun and playful
Location:  Skypark, corner of Worgan Street and Melrose Drive, Phillip

2. Al’s Deli & Diner

breakfast with coffee at Al’s Deli & Diner — Indulge in toasted schnitty sangas and breakfast rolls stuffed with beer-battered fish. (Image: Zoe Esplin)

Al’s Deli & Diner earns its place on my list of family restaurants Canberra parents flock to. Why? Because it’s fuss-free and generous, which matters when kids are getting hangry. Families queue for toasted schnitty sangas, breakfast rolls stuffed with beer-battered fish and classic deli fillings kids crave (like mortadella with fior di latte). Here, parents get proper coffee and the satisfaction of food made from scratch. Road-trippers should order a sharing box to go (by 2pm for the next day).

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$ ($ out of $$$$$)
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: 122 Alinga St, Civic

3. Café Sosta

lakeside views at Café Sosta — The lakeside Café Sosta is housed inside the Red Shed. (Image: Adam McGrath)

There’s ample space to park a pram at Café Sosta , making it a popular choice for families. Housed inside the Red Shed rowing facility on Lake Burley Griffin, it’s the kind of cafe parents bookmark for a post-playground pit stop. While kids gravitate towards spaghetti pomodoro with stracciatella or fries, adults order the breakfast frittata with chorizo, broccolini leaves and parmigiano and a glass of bubbles. The lakeside outlook keeps things chill. Sosta, which means ‘to pause’ is the latest Bisa Hospitality venture.

Cuisine: The Italian-influenced menu suits all ages.
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: Red Shed, John Cardiff Close, Acton

4. The Cupping Room

the cafe interior of The Cupping Room, Canberra — Come for the coffee and stay for the cinnamon-soaked French toast. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The 30-somethings visiting The Cupping Room to get their fix of caffeine were doing so long before they had little ones in tow. While the OG cafe still takes the business of roasting specialty ONA Coffee beans very seriously, it’s also evolved into a relaxed space for families. Come for the coffee and stay for the cinnamon-soaked French toast made from brioche and scattered with butterscotch, fruit and chocolate shards. The fact there are highchairs and a dedicated kids’ menu makes The Cupping Room one of the family restaurants Canberra parents rely on.

Cuisine: Brunch fare that pairs well with coffee
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Rustic, yet refined
Location: 1/1-13 University Avenue, Canberra

5. Edgar’s

Modern Australian dishes at The Inn at Edgar's — Feast on modern Australian dishes. (Image: The Inn at Edgar’s)

Edgar’s Inn has undergone an exciting transformation over the past two decades. While Ainslie locals love waking up with a coffee at Edgar’s, they’re now likely to be found lingering here longer at The Inn and Wakefield’s Bar & Wine. The two reimagined venues regularly rank on guides to the best places to have a drink in Canberra. Edgar’s, on the other hand, has been drawing families  for decades thanks to crowd-pleasing options like toasties, brekkie burgers, French toast and kids’ pancakes. Order well off the lengthy menu and then check our list of fun things for kids to do in Canberra.

Cuisine:  Classic mod Oz café feare
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Casual, with indoor and outdoor tables crowded with locals
Location: 1 Edgar St, Ainslie

6. Wildflour Bakery, Fyshwick

Wildflour Artisan Bakery & Cafe, Fyshwick — Indulge in pastries and treats at the lush Wildflour Bakery. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Weekends in Canberra often begin at Wildflour Bakery , one of the most relaxed family restaurants in Canberra for brunch. Wildflour is an easy win after sport or between errands as it has a safety-gated children’s playground outside. Get your order away and then wait until the waiters start circulating with the French toast and chocolate croissants for the kids. Parents will also be kept happy with smashed avo or shakshuka with ONA coffee. Paninis to go make sense if a day of gallery-hopping is on the itinerary.

Cuisine:  Artisan baked goods
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Industrial-chic with dark tiles, blue velvet chairs and raw wood.
Location:  8 Townsville St, Fyshwick

 7. Agostinis

Agostinis Italian Restaurant, East Hotel — The family-friendly diner is styled with eclectic Kelly Ross-designed interiors and leopard-print booths. (Image: Agostinis)

Agostinis earns its reputation for being one of the best family restaurants in Canberra from the moment you sit down. The airy dining room on the ground floor of the East Hotel – one of the best places to stay in Canberra – is always full thanks to its friendly waiters and chef Francesco Balestrieri’s dedication to serving great Italian pizzas and pastas that suit even the pickiest eaters. Agostinis tries and succeeds to transport you to Italy via staples such as the prosciutto e rucola pizza, calamari fritta and pizza capriccioso. It’s one of the best restaurants in Canberra for all ages.

Cuisine:  Italian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun and playful and full of families having a great time
Location: East Hotel , 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith

8. Tiger Lane

the Inari Japanese restaurant in Tiger Lane — Japanese restaurant Inari is a social, noisy wonderland of interactive fun. (Image: Ben Calvert)

The neon-bright signs pointing toward Tiger Lane in the Canberra Centre are hard to miss. You can also follow the crowds of well-dressed families meeting up for a special shabu-shabu (Japanese-style hot pot) and yakiniku (grilled meat) meal at Taki, one of the most engaging family restaurants Canberra has for a special night out. Older children will enjoy dropping morsels of food into the simmering hot pot to cook. Those with teens in tow should head next door to Inari , a social, noisy wonderland of interactive fun.

Cuisine: Japanese
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Noisy, fun, social
Location:  Cnr Genge and Bunda Streets, Canberra.

9. East Row

breakfast at East Row, Canberra — The contemporary cafe serves up Instagrammable dishes. (Image: East Row)

East Row suits families who want a straightforward meal in Canberra without committing to a formal experience. Bring your Instagram-obsessed teenagers to East Row so they can refresh their social feed with images of doughnut French toast with caramelised banana, toasted walnut, vanilla mascarpone, grain and seeds. The contemporary cafe, which also serves ONA coffee, is housed in the revitalised Sydney Building and is full of hip couples with kids who arrange themselves artistically on the apple-green banquettes.

Cuisine:
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Exposed brick,
Location:  Sydney Building, Cnr London Circuit & East Row, Canberra

10. CBD Dumpling House

an open kitchen and dining counter at CBD Dumpling House — Dumplings are prepared in front of customers. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Expect dinner and a show at CBD Dumpling House as the chefs prepare thousands of dumplings a day in full view of their customers and passers-by. This noted dumpling den is one of those family restaurants in Canberra that is the go-to choice for those in search of fun. Eat xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) until you pop. Then order ice cream with waffles for the kids, which arrive with a snowfall of sprinkles.

Cuisine:  Chinese
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Big, boisterous food hall vibes
Location:  Shop FG13C, 148 Bunda St, Canberra

11. Verity Lane Market

the exterior of Verity Lane Market, Canberra — Nab a seat outside to enjoy a family meal. (Image: Lean Timms)

Can’t agree on what to eat? Problem solved. This upmarket food hall brings together multiple vendors under one roof, so everyone in the family can choose their own adventure. In suitably sunshine-y weather, the laneway tables spilling out of the iconic Sydney Building fill quickly with a mix of families, city workers and uni students. Inside, Verity Lane Market is welcoming and warm in winter. The convenient CBD food hall features vendors such as Una Pizza, Rasa Rosa and Katsu 38.

Cuisine: There’s a range of vendors and cuisines from Italian to Indonesian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere:  Rowdy and fun
Location: Verity Lane, 50 Northbourne Ave, Canberra

12. Brodburger @ Capital Brewing

Brodburger with Capital Brewing beers — Brodburger bites are best paired with beer from Capital Brewing. (Image: Kara Rosenlund/ VisitCanberra)

The original red caravan where Brodburger began life is now housed in the family-friendly courtyard at Capital Brewing Co., where its disciples look like they eat here more than in their own homes. And why not?  It’s one of the best places for a drink in Canberra. The flame-grilled burgers are brilliant: grown-ups should get the bigger-than-your-head Deluxe stuffed with eggs, bacon, lettuce and onion while kids can order the same in a ‘Baby Size’ version.

Cuisine:  Big-ass burgers, hot dogs, fries
Average price: $$
Atmosphere:  Big beer barn energy
Location:  Building 3/1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick

13. Patissez Café & Bakery

a burger at Patissez Café & Bakery — Patissez’ Hangry Burgers are aimed at children who are feeling hungry. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The home of the world-famous FreakShake is now known for so much more. The menu at Patissez pushes the same kind of pimped-up food that put the bakehouse on the map in the first place. Head to the cafe, tucked away in a suburban shopping strip, for loaded Tijuana tacos, Patissez fried chicken and Hangry Burgers aimed at children who are still growing and feeling hangry. Patissez is one of the best places for breakfast and brunch in Canberra, regardless of whether you have kids in tow.

Cuisine:  Baked goods
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  It’s giving Canberra cult cafe
Location: 21 Bougainville St, Griffith

14. Snapper & Co

Sit down for a satisfying brunch at Snapper & Co. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Sit outside at the Southern Cross Yacht Club in Yarralumla and enjoy the crisp Canberra air while the kids kick a ball around. The eatery is right on the lake overlooking Black Mountain, skewered as it is by the iconic Telstra Tower. Canberra’s best fish and chips are also available northside at Snapper at Jamison, within the Jamison Club. Order the Whipper Snapper fish and chips from the kids’ menu and crumbed snapper fillet and chips, which arrive wrapped in a custom newspaper printed with dad jokes.

Cuisine:  Seafood
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Yachties spinning yarns
Location:  Mariner Pl, Yarralumla

15. Lazy Su

Maneki-neko figurines at Lazy Su, Braddon — Kids will love the golden cats that adorn the walls. (Image: Lazy Su)

Teach your children to appreciate good food and retro-chic decor at Lazy Su in Lonsdale Street where these two components collide to great effect. Watch the chefs cook up a storm with dishes everyone seems to order such as Korean buffalo wings, charred broccolini and beef short rib bibimbap. Families should arrive early for dinner at the Japanese-Korean-Americana eatery, as the place turns up the volume as the night progresses.

Cuisine:  Japanese-Korean-Americana
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Beautiful chaos
Location: 1/9 Lonsdale St, Braddon

16. Monster Kitchen & Bar

dinner at Monster Kitchen & Bar, Canberra — The innovative kitchen and bar is popular for its plant-based menu. (Image: Zachary Griffith)

Monster Kitchen & Bar is no-longer plant-based. But the in-house restaurant at Ovolo Nishi will always have something on the menu to suit vegetarians. Expect generous portions, pretty plating and fantastic service. The restaurant has big windows out onto the leafy street, a statement chandelier, and clubby panelling. In short, it has a rebellious, fun spirit that will please the pickiest of eaters. For families staying at Ovolo Nishi, it’s an easy option for dinner.

Cuisine:  Mod Oz
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Beautifully bonkers
Location:  Ovolo Nishi, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra

17. The Jetty

an open-air dining area at The Jetty, Canberra — The Jetty Beer Garden is set on Lake Burley Griffin. (Image: VisitCanberra)

You will want to clink glasses and toast to your good fortune after stumbling across a licensed cafe overlooking the water. The menu at The Jetty will placate parents of picky eaters with kids’ meals that include chicken sliders and nuggets. Rub shoulders with rugged-up locals over a Fricken Chicken burger while the kids tuck into chocolate brownies. The Little Burley Market is held near The Jetty once a month and there is a fluid roster of live music throughout the year.

Cuisine:  Pastries, baked goods, sweets, toasties, burgers and wings
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Casual and low-key
Location:  Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Commonwealth Place, Canberra

18. Two Blind Mice  

Two Blind Mice is an Italian-leaning local that is hugely popular with harried parents with high expectations. Part neighbourhood pub, part low-key eatery, the kids will stop squeaking at Two Blind Mice when their woodfired pizza and pasta arrives. Mum and Dad will also be pleased with the house-made gnocchi, seasonal specials, and decent wine list. Service is relaxed, prices are fair and the cooking is consistent, which is why Two Blind Mice has one of the most loyal followings in the city’s south.

Cuisine:  Dependable pub grub with an Italian accent
Average price: $$
Atmosphere:  Fuss-free and informal
Location:  6/44 Curtin Place, Curtin

19. Rosa’s

an open-air dining area at Rosa’s, Canberra — Rosa’s is the perfect spot for casual dining and drinking. (Image: Lean Timms)

You’re likely to hear a collective sigh from put-upon parents when they arrive at Rosa’s , conveniently located near the Parliamentary Triangle. Set beside the lawns of The Lobby and close to the National Rose Gardens, Rosa’s attracts families who like relaxed evenings rather than white tablecloths and fuss. Kids tumble around the lawn kicking a ball in between bites of Hawaiian pizza while parents sip on spritzes and antipasti. The mood stays breezy as the festoon lighting flicks on. Open until 8pm only.

Cuisine:  Italian-inspired casual dining
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere:  Laid-back, social, family-friendly
Location:  7 King George Terrace, Parkes

20. Cartel Taqueria

Mexican restaurants have a way of lifting the vibe, which is why Cartel in Belconnen works so well for families. Set on the foreshore of Lake Ginninderra, this high-energy taqueria attracts parents who want less formality and food their kids can eat with their hands. The tacos here are fried and stuffed to the gills with chicken, pork or beef and cheese. The DIY joy of the dipping sauces adds to the fun. Families spill in here after walks by the lake or visits to the skatepark. Order extra napkins.

Cuisine:  Mexican
Average price: $$
Atmosphere:  Riotous
Location:  Unit 5/114 Emu Bank, Belconnen

Video credit: Tourism Australia

From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland , and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

a couple on Mount Oberon — Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit , which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk , even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk , usually done over seven days.

the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland — Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The best bush hikes in Gippsland

the Baw Baw National Park — The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland — Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park , along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park — Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail , a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park — The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park , known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the WildernessRetreats in The Prom — Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

Eating there

the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.