Half Term: Best Family-Friendly Restaurants In London

Wondering how to keep the kids entertained during half term? Taking the kids out for dinner is a lovely treat – but finding the right venue is not easy. Not all restaurants are kitted out for little ones, and if children don’t feel welcome – or like the food – things could go downhill pretty quickly (hello, tantrums). But fear not: London is filled with great child-friendly restaurants where diners of all ages are welcomed with open arms. Some offer dedicated children’s menus, others have a fun element or theme, and all have a relaxed atmosphere, meaning parents won’t be sitting worrying about disturbing fellow tables. Here’s the C&TH pick of the best child-friendly restaurants in London, from an immersive jungle-style experience to an eatery that’s dedicated to pancakes. And if none of these float your boat, how about a kids afternoon tea?

Child-Friendly Restaurants In London

• Dishoom
• Rosa’s Thai
• Pizza East
• Where The Pancakes Are
• Cafe Murano
• Poppie’s
• The Jam
• Padella
• Caravan

Dishoom, Multiple Locations

Introduce little diners to the joys of Bombay cuisine at Dishoom, one of the capital’s best loved Indian restaurants. Dishes don’t go overboard on the spice, plus there’s a dedicated children’s menu featuring the likes of Murgh Malai (mild grilled chicken thigh) and paneer tikka, both served with potatoes and a glass of fruit juice. For pudding, there’s cinnamon or coconut ice cream, or kulfi, a sweet frozen treat with pistachio and mango. Dishoom eateries tend to be lively and relaxed too, and they’re often filled with big groups, so no need to worry about the kids disrupting quiet date nights.

Locations in Covent Garden, Battersea, Canary Wharf and Shoreditch, among others, dishoom.com

Rosa’s Thai, Multiple Locations

Thai food is renowned for its spice, which might put little diners off. But Rosa’s Thai offers a dedicated kid-friendly menu, ‘Little Rosas’, which offers an array of more simple, but no less tasty, dishes. Children can choose a starter, a main and a drink for just £7.50, choosing from the likes of chicken rice, stir fried flat noodles, and ice cream for pudding.

Locations in Brixton, Soho and Greenwich, among others, rosasthai.com

Pizza East, Shoreditch

Pizza is an easy win for kids – and they’ll especially love the lively vibe of Pizza East, housed in a former tea warehouse in Shoreditch. The restaurant is always jam-packed and bustling, meaning rowdy children won’t be evil-eyed. And, although there’s no dedicated children’s menu, plenty of dishes will appeal. You won’t get any complaints as they tuck into mozzarella sticks, crispy potatoes and classic tomato pizzas, followed by ice cream or a salted caramel chocolate pot.

56A Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ, pizzaeast.com

Where The Pancakes Are, Battersea, Fitzrovia & London Bridge

One word: pancakes. Lots of them – piled high with all manner of sweet and savoury toppings. There are branches in Battersea, Fitzrovia and London Bridge, all focusing solely on the titular dish, with a signature buttermilk batter made with 12 ingredients – though veggie, vegan and wheat-free alternatives are available. Kids can build-their-own pancake from the children’s menu, which features a choice of toppings like mixed fruit, berry compote, sausage or halloumi, or select a slightly more grown-up option from the main menu – the Banana Marshmallow, for instance, or the American, made with streaky bacon and blueberries.

Locations in Battersea, Fitzrovia and London Bridge, wherethepancakesare.com

Cafe Murano, St James’s, Covent Garden & Bermondsey

Save Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Murano for a kid-free night, but visit her more pared-back offshoot with the whole family. All branches – found in St James’s, Covent Garden and Bermondsey – offer a dedicated children’s menu, where kids can build their own pasta bowl: pick either rigatoni, cavatelli, or pappardelle, and add a sauce, such as pomodoro or sausage ragu. Alternatively there’s a chicken milanese with potato fritti, and for dessert, there’s ice cream and sorbet – all for just £10.

Locations in St James’s, Covent Garden and Bermondsey, cafemurano.co.uk

Poppie’s, Spitalfields, Soho & Camden

Seafood is often scary territory for children, but crispy battered cod tends to go down a treat – particularly when paired with a big portion of chunky chips. Pat ‘Pop’ Newland’s Poppie’s is an East End stalwart, serving no-frills fish and chips, caught on day boats and delivered to shops by Billingsgate fishmonger and old friend of Pop’s Joe Bush. There are also branches in Soho and Camden – all of which are low-key and friendly restaurants where families are more than welcome. If the classic fish suppers are too big for little ones, they can go for a smaller portion of cod bites, fishcake or sausage and chips.

Locations in Spitalfields, Soho and Camden, poppiesfishandchips.co.uk

The Jam, Chelsea

Kids will love the fun factor of The Jam, a child-friendly spot often referred to as the Treehouse Restaurant as a result of its multi level seating. Ensure you book one of the upper tables to get the full experience, which involves climbing up a ladder to your own private booth. Food is classic Italian, with a mix of sourdough pizzas, pasta and risotto dishes – some of which can be ordered in smaller sizes – and there’s a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere which always attracts lots of families. 

289A King’s Rd, London SW3 5EW, thejamrestaurant.com

Padella, Borough Market

The only thing that turns people off famed pasta restaurant Padella is the no bookings-policy, which means you usually have to queue to get a table. But if you go at a more child-friendly dinner time, you’ll miss peak hours. Inside, it’s all about big bowls of fresh, hand-rolled pasta: children and teenagers will love the signature pappardelle with beef ragu, and tagliarini with dried chilli and garlic. Everything is whizzed up quickly too, so no need to worry about kids getting bored. If you’re a group or have a buggy with you, nab a table in the basement where there’s more space.

6 Southwark St, London SE1 1TQ, padella.co

Caravan, King’s Cross

With branches dotted all over the city, Caravan is open all day from breakfast through to dinner, and is well-suited to families. The King’s Cross outpost in particular is very spacious, with an extensive menu spanning everything from small plates to pizzas and Middle-Eastern inspired bowls. Curious young eaters can try ham croquettes and grilled halloumi with braised greens, or keep it classic with a pizza, before heading outside for a play around the fountains on Granary Square.

1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA, caravanrestaurants.co.uk

Featured image: Getty Images