A family feast – the Gold Coast’s best kid-friendly cafes and restaurants
Anyone with little humans in tow knows how challenging it can be to eat out at an actual restaurant. Sure, you will probably spend most of your meal trying to get your offspring to stop mashing miscellaneous food into the table, or making a speedy bee-line for the nearest exit, but you don’t have to do the cooking or washing up so it’s still a win. Whilst most restaurants do their best to accommodate tiny tribes with the addition of high chairs and kid’s menus, some places have kid-friendly dining down to a fine art. To help make things a little easier on parents and carers, we’ve compiled a handy list of family-friendly restaurants and cafes that make eating out a breeze. Okay, maybe not a breeze, but breezier perhaps.
Stable at Cornerstone Stores, Currumbin
Nestled within Cornerstone Stores in Currumbin, Stable boasts a beautiful grassy area, making it an instant hit with parents. There are a couple of picnic tables, but just as many people prefer to roll out a rug. The menu changes with the seasons, so there’s always something delicious to take your fancy.
Bella’s Wonderland, Southport
While lunch at a play centre may seem unconventional, hear us out. Bella’s Wonderland in Southport is not just any play centre, it’s the largest indoor play centre on the Gold Coast, so there’s plenty to keep the wee ones amused. While the kids are skipping between the slides, the ball pits, climbing walls and dress-ups, you can be sipping coffee and making the most of the cafe menu that meanders from next-level sandwiches to scrambled-egg topped croissants and crispy karaage. There’s also some super-cute little sweets and treats for the kids in the cabinet.
Stones Throw, Currumbin
If you’re on the hunt for a kid-friendly cafe with top-notch brews of the caffeinated kind, make haste to Stones Throw at Currumbin. Order inside and then make your way down the nearby driveway and you’ll be greeted with a leafy outdoor seating area with plenty of room for the kids to roam – there’s even a caravan and a sandpit for the little ones to play in. The coffee and imaginative menu of all-day eats is a winner in our books. Oh, and it’s dog friendly, so that’s a bonus!
Nobbys Shack, Nobby Beach
From the roadside, Nobbys Shack looks like an ordinary cafe. Those who venture through, however, are rewarded with an expansive open-air deck area lined with tables as well as a kid’s play area. It’s the perfect place to bring the fam, soak in some sunshine and enjoy a fresh juice or coffee and a bite. Of an afternoon, the team are scooping delicious gelato and ice-cream.
Funnybone Coffee, Helensvale
If you’re in desperate need of caffeine but your offspring aren’t the type for sitting still and colouring in, Funnybone Coffee in Helensvale is the perfect place as there’s an enormous playground mere steps away from the front of the cafe. You can sit and enjoy your coffee and breakfast while keeping a close eye on the kids playing in the park. As an extra bonus, there’s an awesome kids menu and really excellent coffee.
Mini & Me Coffee Shop, Mudgeeraba
A quaint new addition to the list, Mini & Me in Mudgeeraba is perfect for those with very young kids and babies. The venue is the handiwork of Marija Dimitric, who was looking for the kind of place she wanted to go with her own kids and drink coffee without having to worry whether they were making noise or not wanting to sit at the table. There’s an indoor playroom, complete with costumes, toys and a tv, as well as a small deck area with a little cubby house. The kitchen is equally as compact, so the menu includes a selection of baked goods including homemade brownies, cookies, a selection of sugar-free snacks and burek, which is a savoury pastry, a nod to Marija’s homeland. Hot tip, you’ll also find Turkish-style coffee for those days you need a little extra kick.
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Southport Sharks, Southport
We have three words that are guaranteed to make any parent or carer’s ears prick up – supervised. play. area. The Wobbygongs Kids Fun Zone is a purpose-built fully supervised play area for children aged three to 12 years, complete with a rock-climbing wall, mini basketball court, PlayStations, theatrette, home corner play area and drawing tables – the hardest part is getting them to come back to the table to eat. It’s $4.50 per kid per hour and bookings are essential. There’s also a free kids show every Sunday from 5:00–7:00 pm.
Café 63, Coomera
If you’re at Westfield Coomera and in need of a pit stop, Café 63 is a perfect spot for families, offering a relaxed atmosphere with views of the nearby playground. This vibrant cafe serves a variety of delicious options, from all-day breakfast favourites like smashed avocado and eggs Benedict to hearty lunch dishes and freshly brewed coffee. With a welcoming vibe and a menu that caters to all tastes, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a meal while keeping an eye on the kids as they play.
Kiki Koala, Surfers Paradise
This one comes with a caveat – Kiki Koala is part retail, part coffee shop, and completely adorable so be prepared to fall in love with the sweet marsupial. The venue is owned by Wayne Jacobs, who created the character Kiki – the super-cute little koala – back in 1988, but has recently reinvented her for a modern audience. The cafe offers Vittoria coffee alongside ice-cream and cupcakes that are handmade by a five-star pastry chef. In coming weeks, the menu will expand to include Kiki-shaped waffles.
Gathering Co, Robina
For those with runners, Gathering Co has a gated play area for kids, allowing you to sip your coffee without the constant fear they’ll make a swift dash for the exit. Find this hidden kid-friendly gem at the entrance of Newlife Church at 4 Greenwich Court in Robina. Just a heads up, they’re closed on Saturdays.
Currumbin RSL, Currumbin
If your tribe is of an age where you can watch them from a little further afield, Currumbin RSL’s deck area is ideal. There’s a playground right out the front that is fully fenced – just be sure to book a table close by so you can keep your peepers peeled as it is creekside. There’s also colouring-in kits for when you need to bribe them back to the table to eat. Live tunes, tasty food and cold drinks? We’re in!
Custard Canteen, Tallebudgera
Long, salty, sun-kissed days at Tallebudgera Creek are a fave for many, so this one is a no-brainer. Custard Canteen enjoys prime position at the front of the Tallebudgera Leisure Centre, shaded by greenery and eye-catching red-and-white striped umbrellas. There are picnic tables sitting pretty alongside sun loungers and plenty of space to sprawl. Eat in or grab your Portuguese custard tart to go – either way, Custard Canteen is a treat for kids and grown-ups.
Dune Cafe, Palm Beach
If you’re not yet across Dune Cafe in Palm Beach, you are missing out! There’s a massive Pirate Park just a hop, skip and jump away, a huge open lawn to burn off excess energy and kick a ball, and when you’re in need of a dip to cool down, the creek is right there. It’s the perfect family friendly day out.
Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh Heads
It’s been an old-faithful watering hole off Tsipura Drive in Burleigh Heads for yonks, but if it’s been a minute in between drinks, the hotel has been transformed into a family-friendly destination. The kids will be entertained in the playground, which means parents can relish some rare moments of peace without constant (and repeated) requests for snacks. It’s a tried and tested winner in our books.
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Miami Marketta, Miami
Those who are looking to venture out after dark with the tribe in tow should look no further than Miami Marketta. Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night from 5:00 pm, the Gold Coast’s original street-food market comes alive with food stalls, local artisans and bands from up and down the coast. The kids can dance while you sip a margarita, which is always a good vibe. Just get there early as it’s been known to get busy.
Pasture & Co, Currumbin
Forming part of Ground at Currumbin, Pasture & Co is popular among the parent folk thanks to its expansive grassy outdoor area. Hang out under the towering fig trees or roll out a rug and sip your latte as the kids explore. The all-day menu has been designed to suit all tastes, from grab-and-go bites to nourishing sit-down meals.
Robina Pavilion, Robina
If you’re yet to check out Robina Pavilion, consider this the sign you’ve been waiting for. There’s a dedicated kids area but The Lakeside is also super family (and doggo) friendly so you can bring the whole kit and cavoodle – see what we did there?
The Historic Rivermill, Mount Nathan
This one is more of an all-day kind of outing rather than a quick catch-up over coffee, but it’s definitely worth the trip. Nestled in Mount Nathan Shire in the Gold Coast Hinterland, approximately ten minutes inland from Nerang, you’ll find this sprawling family-friendly gem. Spread across 6.4-ha, there’s plenty of room to roam – you can even feed the turtles down by the lake and feed the alpacas. There are ponies every Saturday from 9:00 am to midday. Oh, and did we mention there’s a cafe?
The Sanctuary Markets, Currumbin
Feeding time at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary takes on a new meaning every Friday evening as The Sanctuary Markets roll in from 4:00–8:30 pm. The Market operates on The Village Green’s deck section and incorporates a wide variety of international foods including Thai, Japanese, Brazilian, Mexican, Balinese, Greek, Tibetan, Dutch, German and Filipino. The venue is also fully licensed, there’s live music and free off-street parking available.
Honourable mentions: Of course we’d love to include every kid-friendly cafe and restaurant but our word count simply will not allow it. If you’re looking for a few more spots, check out Pancake Diner in Burleigh Waters, where kids eat free on Thursdays, BSKT in Mermaid Beach, Cadence Cafe in Nerang, Cafe Catalina in Southport, overlooking Broadwater Parklands, and Coomera Lodge Hotel in Coomera.
A few south of the border: Okay, we know we said the Gold Coast’s top family-friendly restaurants, but it would be remiss of us not to mention these places. So here we are breaking the rules because these are 100-percent worth the drive. Thank us later.
Farm&Co, Cudgen
It’s known as ‘the sunflower place’, but Cudgen’s Farm & Co is so much more than an Instagrammer’s haven. The fully operational family-owned-and-run Kingscliff farm has a beautiful onsite restaurant. Once you’ve finished feasting, stroll around the farm and zen out in the hammocks beneath the trees, crack open macadamia nuts and, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch Hank (the resident pig) and the chickens at feeding time (it’s quite a sight).
Cubby Bakehouse, Chinderah
If you’ve been to Cubby, you might be raising a curious eye at this inclusion given it’s directly fronting the main road, but hear us out. If you do manage to peel yourself away from the treats cabinet (a truly impossible task), there’s actually quite a spacious grassy area to the side of the cafe, which is lined with picnic tables. It’s semi-fenced but if you’ve got a runner or explorer on your hands, this one may not be for you. If, however, your offspring responds to a bribe of baked goods, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Lolita’s Mexican Cantina, Casuarina
Margaritas with a side of child minding? It’s a hard yes from us. Get in touch with Kakes & Biscuits for all of the details.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg! The Gold Coast and its surrounds are filled with family-friendly venues so if your favourite has been overlooked, give us the hot tip at [email protected]
Image credit: Funnybone Coffee, Zoe & co Visuals