Kid-Friendly Restaurants in the Bay Area
Eating out with young kids doesn’t have to be bananas, if you choose a kid-friendly restaurant. Let the kids run around, play with toys, all while you enjoy a meal with your spouse or friend. We rounded up the best spots in the Bay Area to enjoy a bite with your littles.
PENINSULA
Bumble
Whether you are looking for a space to get some work done or catch up with a friend, Bumble is a wonderfully cute, and quaint restaurant located in Los Altos. If you’ve been following our page for awhile now, you know how obsessed we are with this place! You can pay to drop off your child (ages 1-10) at the playroom to be watched by their friendly staff. $10 for up to 30 minutes or $20 for 1.5 hours. Every Wednesday and Thursday are HALF off. If your child is too young or you don’t want to use the playroom, they have a big sand pit they can play in for free in the front with tables and chairs around it. Toys are also made available inside to play with at the table.
Playroom is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am-3pm.
Bumble, Los Altos
Cafe Zoe
If you have a picky eater that only wants to eat the classics, Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park is your place. Kids can choose from chicken bites, peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese all served with a side of chips, animal crackers and fruit for just $5.50. Lots of food! There is outdoor seating along with a playhouse and toys for kids. They even have free Wifi if you wanted to catch up on some work while the kids are happy playing
*UPDATE- Cafe Zoe no longer has a playhouse and toys
Cafe Zoe, Menlo Park
Hobee’s
Coffee cake coffee cake....did I say coffee cake? It is melt in your mouth goodness! Don’t leave Hobee’s without trying their blueberry coffee cake. Best I’ve ever had.
As soon as we sat down, we received crayons, a spill-proof water glass, and a fruit plate arranged in a smiley face. It was so helpful. Getting kids in high chairs can be the biggest struggle! Once kids were done eating we sent them off to play with the toys so us moms could finish our meals.
Find a Hobee’s near you! Locations include: Cupertino, Mountain View (doesn’t include kid toys/books), Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, N. San Jose, Redwood Shores.
Kids eat free Wednesday evenings at the Palo Alto & Sunnyvale location!
Hobee’s, Palo Alto
SOUTH BAY
Lemon Tree
Lemon Tree in Santa Clara has a fun play space with a small cafe and plenty of tables to sit at. This is a great spot for crawlers and toddlers (up to 5 years old) with all the toys a kid needs; slides, train table, pretend play stations such as a doll house, market and kitchen. Weekdays are open play from 10am-3pm and weekends are reserved for private events.
Lemon Tree
Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms are popping up all over the Bay and we could not be more excited! The ingredients are so fresh, with so many fun sandwiches and salads to choose from and best of all their fun kid areas for littles to play at. The kids menu is a great deal and my kids love all the choices, especially their grilled cheese.
Thursdays are generally kids eat free days (with the purchase of an adult entree) except for San Jose location which is Tuesdays (double check before going!).
Locations include: Brentwood, Campbell, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Francisco, San Mateo & San Ramon.
Mendocino Farms, Campbell
EAST BAY
Denica’s Real Food Kitchen
If you are looking for a new family friendly breakfast spot, Denica’s Real Food Kitchen is it! On top of their delicious baked goods and waffles, they have a giant train table kids can play at. No need to rush to finish your food before kids go bizerk, send them off to play with the trains so you can finish your meal in peace. Locations include Walnut Creek, Castro Valley and Dublin. Open daily from 7am-4pm.
Denica’s Real Food Kitchen, Photo: @mmbartlettphotos
Zocalo Coffee House
This is a great coffee place where you aren't expected to get your coffee to go. Zocalo Coffee House is a social space with a kid play area filled with books, toys, train tracks, and a black board for drawing in the back. Zocalo’s is spacious with lots of seating areas. Enjoy a cup of coffee, catch up with a friend or work, free wifi is also available here.
Zocalo Coffee house, Photo: @deboire
SAN FRANCISCO
Rigolo
Rigolo was voted Best Kid Friendly Restaurant on Winnie.com last year. Their French Cafe has a delicious menu with great coffee and pastries. Sit near the kid area where kids can read books, play with toys, draw and sit at the kids table. Kids eat free on Mondays from 4pm to closing (One free kids meal with each purchase of an adult meal). Redeem their special going on right now, get a free junior scoop of ice cream with a $15 purchase. Click the bottom right icon on their website to have the offer sent your phone. They also offer fun kid party packages of making your own pizzas. Surprisingly the parking is pretty easy here.
NORTH BAY
Fox & Kit Cafe
Fox & Kit Cafe is dreamy! This might be the most beautifully designed coffee shop and indoor playground for kids I've ever seen! For $10-$15 depending on age, kids can play for up to 2.5 hours. Must be at least 9 months old to use the playground but a infant/crawler space in the cafe is available. Cafe is closed on Mondays. There is no wifi offered as they want to encourage engagement.
Fox & Kit Cafe, Photo: @shawntherobbins