When the sun comes out we like to head out to head outdoors to eat and play. And while there are plenty of child-friendly cafes in Melbourne with outdoor play, many of them serve so-so food.
So here’s my list of the top family-friendly cafes (in no particular order) with great food and an outdoor play space or adjacent playground within sight from the cafe. Click here for the best family-friendly cafes with indoor play.
Bookmark it, save it, print it and tick off the list with your kids. Bon appetit!
1. Serotonin Burnley
Cafe focusing on healthy, raw and organic food where the cafe seats are SWINGS. Plus a great train-spotting playground across the road.
Serotonin, 25 Madden St, Burnley
2. The Farm Cafe Abbotsford
On site cafe at Collingwood Children’s Farm with a seasonal, produce-driven menu.
A particularly popular spot when the monthly farmers markets are on (every 2nd Saturday of the month).
The Farm Cafe, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford
3. Leroys Newport
Sunny courtyard with a cubby house, undercover sand pit and great food.
Leroys, 5 Mason St, Newport
4. The Boathouse Maribyrnong
Lovely spot situated on the banks of the Maribyrnong River at Maribyrnong Park. Our kids love the expansive nautical-themed playground next door.
The Boathouse, 7 The Boulevard, Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds
5. Fig and Walnut Seddon
Cosy cafe with courtyard and a sophisticated menu.
Fig and Walnut, 11-13 Bellairs St, Seddon
6. Stables of Como South Yarra
The restaurant group behind Eastern suburb favourites Porgie + Mrs Jones, Snow Pony and Friends of Mine are the people behind the cafe, so you know the food and coffee will be top notch.
Run around the grand gardens of Como House or there’s a playground just outside the gates.
Stables of Como, Como House and Gardens, cnr Williams Rd and Lechlade Ave, South Yarra
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7. Saluministi Docklands
Fantastic Italian paninis looking out onto the playground at Buluk Park and just a few steps from Library at the Dock.
Saluministi, 892 Bourke St, Docklands
8. Cafe Heide Bulleen
Our go-to lunch stop after every Heide Art Bubs session. Purchase a picnic box and enjoy the sculpture garden.
Cafe Heide, Heide Museum of Modern Art, 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen
9. Cowderoy’s Dairy St Kilda West
Retro milk bar turned cafe with visibility of the playground next door from the deck.
Cowderoy’s Dairy, 14 Cowderoy St, St Kilda West
10. Duchess of Spotswood Spotswood
At the ‘Duchess’ you’ll find a British-inspired menu with a leafy courtyard and spacious cubby house filled with toys.
Duchess of Spotswood, 87 Hudsons Rd Spotswood
11. Aintree Cafe Rockbank
At the hub of Woodlea Estate is Aintree Cafe, a social enterprise cafe with an amazing adventure playground on its doorstep. Worth a special drive!
Aintree Cafe, 27 Woodlea Blvd, Rockbank
12. Park Street Carlton North
At Park Street you’ll find sophisticated all-day dining with a playground on its doorstep.
Park Street, 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North
13. Mister Fox Ringwood
Mister Fox in a cafe inside a golf clubhouse with great food at suburban prices, plus a spot of putt-putt golf for the kids.
Mister Fox, Ringwood Golf Club, 352 Canterbury Road, Ringwood
14. Sunshine Social Sunshine West
An old servo is converted into fancy chicken shop with a decked out cubby and ride on toy.
Sunshine Social, 64 Glengala Rd, Sunshine West
15. Two Brothers Mitcham
At Two Brothers you’ll find an inventive brunch menu in the burbs with a kid-friendly outdoor courtyard at the back.
Two Brothers, 558 Mitcham Road, Mitcham
16. Brother Hen Moonee Ponds
Two chefs, some chooks and an undercover courtyard with toys makes a for a fantastic family-friendly space.
Brother Hen, 154 Pascoe Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds
16. Station Hotel Footscray
The Station Hotel is a Footscray gastropub serving some of the best steaks in Melbourne with the added bonus of an outdoor beer garden with cubby house and play kitchen!
The Station Hotel, 59 Napier St, Footscray
Notable out-of-town mentions:
- Boynton’s at Feathertop Winery Porepunkah
- The Deck at Flinders Hotel Flinders
- The Plough Inn Tarrawingee
- The Hungry Peacock, Tyabb
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