Here are my favourite restaurants to eat out with kids in Melbourne’s CBD (Central Business District)
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WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS IN THE MELBOURNE CBD DISTRICT?
This is just my Melbourne CBD kid-friendly list – see here for full list of where we like to eat with our kids in other parts of Melbourne. And if you’re looking for our favourite things to do in Melbourne as a family?- Read here.
Explore Melbourne Laneways
Most tour guide style books will recommend Hosier Lane (the one with all the art work) – but I think it’s not so exciting for kids. So I recommend doing Hosier Lane, taking a picture, but then taking a walk to (and through) the Block Arcade (if you’re feeling fancy book a high tea at the “Tea Rooms 1892, ” formerly called the Hopetoun Tea Room, here) and then going for breakfast, brunch or lunch on Degraves St and connecting smaller laneway Degraves Place.
From there, you can also either:
– walk through Fed Square, take some pics of Flinders St Station and over Princes Bridge to the other side of the river and easily visit the NGV (see details on this in my “fun things to do with kids in Melbourne” article here) and take a walk through the Alexandra Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens, the Floral Clock (13 mins walk from Degraves St) and along further to the Shrine of Remembrance (23 mins walk from Degraves St).
-OR you can walk under Flinders Street Station from Degraves St and pop out on the other side of the river and be a bit closer to Afloat , the Crown Melbourne (14 mins walk from Degraves St) and the restaurants along the Southbank.
Another laneway with a different vibe in Melbourne is Hardware Lane. Some of the restaurants here are good and others are a bit touch and go. If here in the morning, I recommend parents heading to Maker (open from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends) for coffee (be really “Melbourne” and order “a Magic“) and kids can try a famous treat ” a lamington” (a sponge cake covered in chocolate and coconut – and this cafe does a special caramel raspberry cream filling version.)
And if you’re on Hardware Lane from midday onwards, go to Piccolina Gelateria for the most incredible gelato. Card only transactions here.
Vapiano Flinders Lane
This is a lovely kid-friendly restaurant that has enough space to not feel the pressure to speak quietly all the time but also doesn’t feel too much like a “family restaurant” either. The restaurant is big and there is even an outdoor terrace section that overlooks Flinders Lane. We call Vapiano (in Flinders Lane and Bourket St) our “Aussie version of Pizza Express” as the vibes are similar to Pizza Express in the UK.)
I also really like the brand new Vapiano on Bourke St (just on the Bourke St Mall opposite Myer and above Sportsgirl and Priceline. It’s so spacious in there and they do fab pizza making workshops for kids on school holidays.
Afloat
Open September to June each year. I would avoid this place with kids on a Fri or Sat night after 6pm as it becomes a bit of a date/ meet up kind of vibe at those times – but it is also totally fine all other times with kids. You are sitting on the Yarra River and it’s the perfect place to watch the world go by. See the full Afloat menu here.Make a reservation online for Afloat here.
Criniti’s
If you are wanting to eat along the Southbank, Criniti’s is kid-friendly and is on the water (but also away from the water enough that kids can play in front of the restaurant while you wait for food without being too close to the water’s edge.) Most adult meals are around the $20-25 dollar mark. This restaurant is bustling and busy so – it doesn’t matter if kids are a big wriggly or loud.
Higher Ground
I would really only come here with kids for breakfast or brunch as it can get a bit too “corporate lunch” for me to be able to relax with kids in tow. This restaurant cafe is SO beautiful. Make a reservation for Higher Ground here as it is very very popular – especially on weekdays.
Breakfast is a bit fancy here and can get a bit pricey but it’s nice for a catch up with another family (especially for babies in high chairs or kids who are old enough to sit still.)
Spaghetti Tree
A Melbourne institution. Definitely need a booking to dine here – gosh its so iconic. They have a kids menu but my kids also love eating adult portions here.
Chin Chin
You will definitely need a reservation here and it is the perfect spot for a special night or day as a family – especially if you are foodies. Make a reservation for Chin Chin online here.
Movida Bar de Tapas
This tapas bar is really welcoming for families. It’s well known for good food so you will need to budget more than you would for a pub meal. They have vegan and gluten free options. It’s on the famous Hosier Lane – the one with all the graffiti – which is cool by the way but shorter than what you think so just worth a quick walk and a photo. You can then walk to Piccolina Gelateria for dessert.
Metropolitan Hotel
If you’re looking for a lovely typical pot and parma style pub that is also nice for families right in the city centre – I like the Metropolitan Hotel on William St. The second floor is like a cocktail lounge and the rooftop is also open on sunny days. It’s just around the corner from all of the popular Korean restaurants on Chisholm Place. The Metropolitan Hotel welcomes kids but they don’t have high chairs or kids meals. See the full menu for the Metropolitan hotel here.
Cha Ching
This is a new-ish restaurant down the business end of town. But I’m a sucker for Asian fusion and liked the food here a lot. Read about Cha Ching on Trip Advisor here. It’s on the street level so it’s really easy with a stroller – I recommend making a reservation for traditional lunch time hours on a weekday – because it’s popular with the corporates in the area. The website makes this restaurant look super fancy but, in reality, I would save it more for a lush lunch out more than a fancy “it’s my birthday!” type of dinner.
Melbourne Central Lion Hotel
I find the Melbourne Central food courts to be way too chaotic with kids (and hard when everyone wants to eat something different.) It’s not a super fancy recommendation and I wouldn’t make a trip to the city for it but if you’re at Melbourne Central already – it’s a good option. I prefer to eat at the English style pub on the upper floor over the messy and busy food courts (take the escalators up from the shot tower to find it – it’s up near the bowling and movies.) The food is pub food – but hearty portions and very kid friendly. I’ve never found this restaurant to be too crowded and have only ever just walked in. It’s near the bowling alley and the cinema. You can see the Melbourne Central Lion Hotel menu here. We like to eat here before or after an even at the State Library of Victoria (its super close) or after a movie at Melbourne Central or after we’ve been to meet Santa at Myer in the city centre.
*Melbourne Central is open for late night shopping until 9pm on Thursday and Friday nights*
The Pancake Parlour
There is also a Pancake Parlour up here on this level of Melbourne Central.
The Pancake Parlour has a kids menu as well as a full vegan menu and a gluten free menu.
When doing Melbourne Central with kids…
My two love the Lego Store and seeing the big clock (under the shot tower) as it has the Aussie animals appear on the hour every hour (take the escalator up afterwards to see the koalas on the back.)
After Melbourne Central…
Go across the road to the State Library. It’s so beautiful and they also have storytimes etc for kids.
The Old Melbourne Gaol is also 7 mins walk from Melbourne Central. I’ve written about it in detail here.
Emporium Food Court
I find the Emporium Food Court to be slightly less intense and more spacious than the Melbourne Central food court. Especially first thing in the morning and after 3pm. It’s def not a MUST to eat here but definitely better than the Melbourne Central food court.
Haven’t decided where to stay in Melbourne yet? Here are my favourite kid-friendly hotels in Melbourne and why – read here.
This is just my Melbourne CBD kid-friendly list – see here for full list of where we like to eat with our kids in other parts of Melbourne. And if you’re looking forour favourite things to do in Melbourne as a family?- Read here.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
