10 Feb 2023
With the school holidays here, there’s plenty to see, do and eat!
Whether you’re scootering by the beach, exploring the Aquarium or watching penguins up close and personal, you’re going to get hungry. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the best kid-friendly restaurants near major attractions in Melbourne (and a little bit beyond!) including the Zoo, Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and more.
It’s tough being a parent. Sometimes you must sacrifice what you want to do and where you want to eat to make the kids happy. But if you’re headed for a day out at the beach, go to Seaford and opposite the beach you’ll find 38 South where you won’t have to make any sacrifices at all.
The café offers a fabulous all-day brekkie and salad menu with highlights like the passionfruit and vanilla pancakes and a salmon poke bowl. It’s also open for dinner five nights a week with a grown-up and kids menu that’s full of delicious Mediterranean-inspired choices.
What’s really clear is that the family behind 38 South have gone out of the way to make kids feel part of the Melbourne coffee experience. They are rightly proud of the babycino, but they also make cute Mermaid pancakes which will delight any kids under 10 (and some big kids too!).
And this school holidays, there are 50 vouchers available so that kids eat free with every adult meal purchased. You’ll have to be quick, though, and follow the instructions after you click on the voucher link here.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Mermaid pancake ($8)
A 10-minute tram ride from Melbourne Zoo is A1 Bakery, making it the perfect spot after a day of lions and tigers and bears (oh my!).
Relaxed and casual, this Middle Eastern bakery has been pumping out pies, pita, traditional breads and Lebanese pizza to a very high standard since 1992, so they really know what they’re doing.
There’s plenty to please both kids and adults with the Spinach pie a great way to get them to eat greens and the Cheese pie a comforting favourite.
But it’s the mini beef hotdogs wrapped in pastry and sprinkled with sesame seeds that are worth the short trip from the Zoo. While you might find good Lebanese pies around town, these are harder to come by and they are seriously worth the trip (even if you weren’t at the Zoo!)
Dish Cult’s top pick: Hot dog (small $1.50, large $3.00)
You’ve spent the day at the Melbourne Aquarium, you’re hungry, you’re tired and you need something delicious? A short walk over Queens Bridge will take you to Criniti’s, the perfect place to satisfy the appetite of the whole family.
The whole gang will love the metre-long pizzas (yes, you read that right, they go up to 3 metres) as well as burgers, pastas, steaks and much more.
There’s a dedicated kids menu, but everything here is made to share and there’s lots to love. Wood-fired pizza is always a winner, so we suggest going for the Nonna Caterina, named after the Criniti family’s matriarch, which is loaded with prosciutto, buffalo ricotta, rocket and parmesan.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Nonna Caterina pizza ($27)
After a day perusing dino remains and insect exhibits at the Melbourne Museum, you’re left with a crowd of hungry and eager-to-eat-right-now little ones. At that point, it’s hard to think of anything more comforting or satiating than Universal Restaurant.
A quick five-minute walk from the Museum, you won’t have to answer very many questions of “are we there yet?” before tucking into some of the classic pastas, parmas, steaks and schnitzels.
Also, reward the kids – and yourselves – with the signature Nutella tiramisu. The trek round the Museum will have been worth it!
Dish Cult’s top pick: Nutella tiramisu ($14.50)
Grazeland needs no introduction to seasoned Melbourne foodies, but Scienceworks is just next door so logic tells you that the open-air food-truck-esque concept is the perfect place to eat and unwind after getting your geek on.
This bustling venue seems to be permanently spilling over with eager diners and queues of families, couples and groups of friends. There really is something for everyone, from African to South American, Greek to Indian, and whether it’s the hot souvlaki with chips, cheesecake on a stick or lobster rolls you’ll find something tempting.
The views of the city under the West Gate Bridge and the twinkling fairy lights set the tone for a grand finish to a great family day out. There is a small entrance fee, but there’s also live music and heaps of variety, so we’d say it’s a tiny price to pay.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Claw and Tail’s lobster roll ($20)
Quite possibly the world’s favourite noodle dish, ramen is always a safe bet no matter who you’re bringing for a meal, and safe bets are always welcome when you’ve got the whole family in tow.
A sure-fire crowd-pleaser that’s super close to Artvo, Fukutontei Ramen will fill hungry tummies with gyoza dumplings and pork belly tonkatsu ramen in no time.
There are also plenty of sharing options here with rice and udon bowls on offer, so you’ll get great value-for-money flavour at this cosy little spot, not to mention a family with full bellies.
Dish Cult’s top pick: Fukutontei rosukatsu set – crumbed pork loin with tonkatsu sauce and cabbage, comes with rice and miso soup ($19.80)
If you’re off to the penguin parade on Phillip Island, you’ll need a hearty, comforting meal to keep you warm as you wait for the colony of little penguins to waddle up onto the shore. Pino’s Trattoria, in nearby Cowes, is just the place.
A light and airy space filled with motorcycle memorabilia referencing the Island’s status as home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, this is simple Italian food done right.
None of the usual chicken nuggets and chips for the kids here, Italians know that bambini have tastebuds too so at Pino’s you’ll find a kids menu with gnocchi pomodoro, baby herb chicken schnitzel with chips and rigatoni Bolognese. Just as impressive is everything else on offer, from the risotto with seafood to the 350 gram rib eye.
And a word of advice before you head off to the penguins, even in summer, rug up well!
Dish Cult’s top pick: Baby herb cotoletta chicken with chips ($13 on the kids menu)