Family-Friendly Restaurants in Austin
When you’re trying to go out for a meal with the whole family, chances are you’re catering to a wide range of ages and tastes. We’ve rounded up some of Austin’s best bets to appeal to picky eaters, wiggly young ones, and parents who seek a casual, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a great meal. Here are our picks for family-friendly restaurants around Austin.
Littlefield’s
2401 Winsted Ln.
This Tarrytown gem is a great place for families with young children to play outdoors in an enclosed, adorable yard space. Littlefield’s has live oak trees and picnic tables create a warm and friendly environment for people to order what they crave from various food trucks. Veracruz All Natural offers tacos and agua frescas while Goldy’s serves all-day brunch, sandwiches, salads, soups and more. For something sweet, you can order coffee, milkshakes or cookies from Cookie Rich.
Fareground
111 Congress Ave.
While you’re in downtown Austin, be sure to pop into the chic food hall, Fareground. With six different eateries such as Austin Rotisserie and Little Wu, along with two bars, Fareground has options for even the pickiest eaters. Walk to see the bats or the sunset from the Congress Bridge after dinner.
Brentwood Social House
1601 W Koenig Ln.
Located in the Brentwood neighborhood, Brentwood Social House is a community café that serves coffee, tea, and house-made European baked goods. With the charm of a house layout with a backyard playscape, enjoy an afternoon high tea experience, including a special tea service menu just for kids. Whether you’re seeking a cup of coffee with a friend while your kids play in the playground or a quiet spot to work with savory bites, Brentwood Social House offers a family-friendly, welcoming gathering space.
Easy Tiger
1501 E 7th St., 6406 North I-35, 3508 S. Lamar Blvd
Each of the three Easy Tiger locations offer plentiful outdoor seating and relaxed patio vibes. Enjoy fresh pastries and coffee in the morning and beer garden menu classics for lunch and dinner. Easy Tiger also offers a great kids menu for the little ones.
Ski Shores Cafe
2905 Pearce Rd.
For one of the best views in town, enjoy patio dining at Ski Shores Cafe. With a pickleball court, fun music, and green space for kids to safely run around, sit right on Lake Austin to watch the boats pass by. The family-friendly restaurant honors its 1954 roots and the motto “No Shoes. No Shirt. No Problem.”
Kerbey Lane Cafe
3704 Kerbey Lane (+9 other locations)
Everyone in the family can find something delicious to enjoy at Kerbey Lane Cafe. This kid-approved Austin staple has grown from their original cottage location in Central Austin on Kerbey Lane to now 10 locations. Stop into any Kerbey Lane Cafe for fluffy pancakes in a great variety of flavors, even with vegan options. The youngest members of your family can enjoy burning off some energy on the playscapes at both the Westlake and in Round Rock locations.
Meanwhile Brewing
3901 Promontory Point Dr.
Experience live entertainment, multiple food truck options, a great wooden playscape, and a wide selection of beers at Meanwhile Brewing. Bring your dogs and a soccer ball for the kids to enjoy a great indoor and outdoor venue, and you can even pair it with a day trip to McKinney Falls State Park.
Home Slice Pizza
501 E 53rd St. & 1415 S Congress Ave.
With an Austin favorite like Home Slice Pizza, you really can’t go wrong. The North Loop location offers a great patio and children’s play area. The South Congress location is a great place to stop in for a slice of that authentic NY-style pizza when you’re out shopping or sightseeing. At both locations, kids are offered a big ball of dough to play with before the meal to keep those little hands busy at the table.
Hank’s
5811 Berkman Dr.
Hank’s is both a family-friendly restaurant and Windsor Park neighborhood hotspot. The bright, open design includes a coffee shop that connects to the dining hall and large patio. Order fresh American fare that will surely appeal to everyone. The kids menu even includes greetings in languages from around the world.
Pool Burger
2315 Lake Austin Blvd.
Right by Deep Eddy Pool, Pool Burger’s elevated tiki bar scene creates a fun outing for the family. The 1968 airstream trailer serves all-natural gourmet wagyu beef on homemade buns. The island decor transports families to a funky beachside destination, where drinks are served with umbrellas and fresh flowers. It’s a perfect stop for a post-swim meal.
Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh Rd.
Head out to Jester King for a relaxing afternoon in the Texas Hill Country. This brewery, restaurant and farm is situated on a beautiful 165-acre ranch where you can enjoy visiting their resident goats, let the kids play wide open spaces, and enjoy some delicious wood-fired pizza and cold beer. Jester King is a welcoming hangout for all.
Lou’s
1900 E. Cesar Chavez St. & 1608 Barton Springs Rd.
At either the Eastside or Barton Springs location, you can count on Lou‘s for incredible food at very relaxed settings, perfect for hanging out with friends and family. With outdoor space and ping pong, too, this is a great family-friendly restaurant for a fun meal out with the kids.
Culinary Dropout
11721 Rock Rose, Ste 100
Culinary Dropout is a crowd-pleaser for all ages and tastes. If you’re visiting the Domain NORTHSIDE, stop here first to fuel up for a day of shopping. With kids in tow, opt to sit outside on the patio where you can enjoy games and close proximity to the little lawn in that part of the shopping center. Choose form many shareables for your group, a great brunch selection and kids menu, too.
Sour Duck Market
1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
This Eastside spot has delicious sandwiches, baked goods, soups, salads, dinner plates and brunch, along with a kids menu, too. The food might be the star of the show at Sour Duck Market, but it’s large outdoor space with play options for kids make it a real standout as a top family-friendly restaurant.
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon
1703 S 1st St
Fresa’s South First location, in particular, is. prime spot to take the whole family for their large outdoor seating area. Their menu offers large family-sized meals or you can opt to order individual dishes. The wood-grilled Tex-Mex dishes are delicious as well as breakfast and brunch, too.
Camp Out
6700 Burnet Rd.
The latest spot for family-friendly dining is a new casual outdoor hangout space called Camp Out. Situated next to Yard Bar in the Allandale neighborhood, Camp Out features outdoor amenities such as fire pits, a playground, a play turf area with a soccer net and more fun and games. The menu offers appetizers, salads, and comfort foods. It’s sure to become a popular spot to take the kids.
A few other notable, popular fast-casual local chains that are among best picks for family-friendly dining include Hat Creek Burger Company, Phil’s Ice House, Mandola’s, Waterloo Ice House — all Austin classics for good reason.
This guide featured contributions from Holly Cowart & Heidi Okla