Best of the Gold Coast 2018: 9 top child-friendly eateries
SCHOOL holidays are here, but never fear: we’ve rounded up the top child-friendly restaurants and cafes the whole family can enjoy.
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NEVER fear, school holidays are here — and we’ve rounded up the best child-friendly cafes and restaurants on the Gold Coast.
There’s no need to feel anxious about bringing your children to these venues that go above and beyond to make sure the young and old feel welcome.
Paddock Bakery
20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
Paddock Bakery is an adventure for children every visit. Safely enclosed in an adorable picket fence, the cafe and bakery is surrounded by lush garden beds and features a window in to the baking room, perfect for curious children to examine.
“Paddock is renowned for its large outdoor garden, which is a haven for kids to explore,” owner Chloe Watts explains.
“With everything from veggie patches, to fresh lavender gardens and passionfruit vines overhead. It’s spacious and a friendly environment away from the hustle and bustle, so parents can relax while their children explore. Kids love to look through the glass windows into the Bakery and watch the Bakers make fresh sourdough and doughnuts.”
Paddock Bakery hosts Paddock Playdates, a baking and decorating class for children, and has a number of food options on the menu for children.
“Children love the dippy eggs, nutella bots, milkshakes and babycinos the most,” Chloe says.
Cafe Tahbella
11/3 Cottonwood Pl, Oxenford
Cafe Tahbella is all about children — after all, the cafe’s named after owners Rod and Emma Marsh’s daughters Tahlia and Annabella.
As well as having plenty of activities for children and a play room, Rod knows bringing the motley crew with you can really add up.
“What we try to do is when you come here, you can afford to buy food for your family,” Rod says. “Instead of spending $80 for a family of four, it’s more like $40 for four meals at our cafe.”
The cafe also executes a genius way of delivering food to your table.
“We always take the children’s food out first,” Rod says.
“We know its hard for parents to settle their kids, so the kids eat first, then the parents can sit back, have a chat, they can still have a bit of a date, while the kids play in the play area.”
Bumbles Cafe
21 River Dr, Surfers Paradise
Located across the road from a park and playground, Bumbles owner Kate Madison says families with children were always turning up for a feed.
“The people come and you accommodate what they want,” she says.
“They come, but we do things to suit them (families). It’s not that complicated, it’s called hospitality. The whole idea is to be nice.”
Bumbles offers every option on the menu in a child-sized version, and has activities for children.
“We have lots of different rooms. We’ve got drawing, and a big library, games, it’s really so their paying parents can have a fabulous time,” Kate says.
“We have babycinos, you can get anything and have a smaller size and price.”
The Yard Cafe
17 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach
The Yard Cafe manager Danielle Lucas knows her team’s attitude towards guests is paramount, making sure the staff are welcoming to diners young and old.
“When we hire we look for personality,” Danielle says.
“All our staff really friendly, accommodating — we just try and keep it light and fun.”
The Yard Cafe has an attached playground next to an enclosed area ideal for families and groups.
“We have a lot of mother’s groups in the back, it’s quite safe,” Danielle says.
“School holidays are always really busy for us. We like to accommodate everyone.
“We offer breakfast and lunch, with the usual pancakes and bacon for kids, and a little kid’s milkshake. We like to keep it interesting for them.”
Cafe Catalina
Broadwater Parklands, Southport
Cafe Catalina has one of the best spots on the Gold Coast for families — right in the middle of the Broadwater Parklands, next to the Aquatic Centre and a stone’s throw from the water and the massive park.
Events manager Anna Elgey says the cafe accommodates the whole family — the four-legged included.
“It’s not just children and young families, we’re very dog friendly as well,” Anna says.
“Our location is fantastic, by the park, the water. We try and have a family friendly menu with children options for breakfast and lunch.”
Anna says an attached marquee with fake grass is a popular spot for mum groups to pop their babies down.
Waterfront Restaurant
Southport Yacht Club, 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach
Harbour views? Tick. A sandy shore and a playground for the kids to run amok? Double tick.
The Waterfront Restaurant at the Southport Yacht Club is open and spread out, great for parents wanting to keep an eye on children while they run off steam.
Waterfront Restaurant marketing manager Bronwyn Hemmings says the Club also hosts regular sailing sessions for children and has weekly specials to entice family diners.
“Monday and Tuesday kids eat free,” Bronwyn says.
“We’re trying to get more families on the books and part of the Club with our sailing and promotions.
“They’ve got the playground area, and the beach as well, the parents can have breakfast and the children can play. It’s a win all around.”
Bearded Dragon Hotel
Lot 2 Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine Mountain
Bearded Dragon is a destination restaurant for families from southeast Queensland.
Children can spend hours feeding alpacas from the attached alpaca farm, climbing trees, running around the pastured grounds and scrambling around the playground and the ‘swimming’ dragon.
The Hotel hosts interactive reptile shows every Sunday and ‘Fiver Fridays’ — a movie night with a special $5 menu and children’s ‘fiesta’ games.
With so many activities and plenty of room for kicking the football around, your children will be fast asleep in the back of the car when you head off.
Dune Cafe
945 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Previously voted the best child-friendly cafe in the Gold Coast Bulletin, Dune Cafe overlooks the Currumbin Lake and is next door to a pirate park.
The nearby waterways are calm enough for wading and the shorelines are dog-friendly.
For the parents there’s an expertly crafted breakfast and lunch menu, and for the children a cost-effective list of food including hot cakes, bacon and egg slider and a nacho boat.
BSKT Cafe
4 Lavarack Rd, Nobby Beach
Sophisticated yet family friendly, BSKT puts a classy twist on eating out with your loved ones.
The menu is full of healthy options, catering to special dietary requirements and simply fussy eaters.
There is an attached playground and fenced off outdoor areas carpeted by fake grass for rough and tumbles.
You can head along with your kiddliwinks for breakfast or lunch during the week and for all three meal times on Friday and Saturday nights.
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