The city:
Family-friendly dining

13 FEBRUARY 2025

Spending a day in The City can be hungry work, especially when you’ve got the kids with you! Prepare ahead of time on where you might like to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, and where you can make a snack pit-stop. There are plenty of family-friendly restaurants and cafés in The City that has something for everyone, including the fussy eaters. Fear not parents, you’ll like our picks too. Check out our top places in The City for a family feed, with fun dining experiences, dedicated kids’ menus and affordable bites.

Vapiano, Albert Lane

 It’s hard to go wrong with a pizza or pasta at Vapiano, making it a great choice for a relaxed family meal. With a spacious dining area and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for everyone to enjoy time together. The kids' menu ensures even the little ones have something tasty to enjoy. Plus, the $15 lunch combos, available Monday to Friday, offer great value and a delicious meal for the whole family.

Comuna Cantina, Creek Street

This Mexican street food inspired restaurant offers a range of fun and tasty finger food for adults and kids alike. The kids menu is the way to go with tacos, chicken or pork quesadilla and chicken bites, or you can choose the slightly more adventurous options with the family banquet. . There are also lots of fun mocktails for everyone to try.

Betty’s Burgers, Albert Street

Who doesn’t love a big, juicy burger? With beef, pork, chicken and plant-based burgers ready to satisfy those cravings, and there is even a kids bundle or the little ones. If you are looking for something a little sweet afterwards, there is also a delicious selection of ice-cream and thick shakes and once again, there are kid sizes as well.

The Walnut Restaurant, Alice Street

The perfect spot to bring the family for a celebration or a ‘fancy night out’, The Walnut Restaurant is serving up some delicious meals that are reflective of each chef’s culinary flair. There is also an extensive kids’ menu that is inclusive of larger meals for teenagers and dietary requirements.

Olive and Angelo, Edward Street

If your family love Italian food, then Olive and Angelo has an abundance of pizza and pasta options awaiting you. With authentic Italian dishes and flavours, the whole family is going to be silently eating away. There is also plenty of antipasti and dessert options that are perfect for sharing and trying  lots of different plates of food.

Phat Boy, George Street

Bringing authentic Thai food, drinks, and atmosphere to Brisbane’s George Street, you will instantly feel as though you have stepped into a Thailand oasis when you walk into Phat Boy. From classic dishes like Thai chicken and cashews to more unique dishes like the duck and sweet potato yellow curry, there is something for every member of the family.

Hanwoori Korean Bbq, Mary Street

For a more interactive dining experience, Hanwoori is a unique yet authentic Korean barbeque buffet! Each person can choose exactly what they want to eat and bring it back to the table, where if you have chosen any raw meats, you can cook it up on the barbeque that is located in the middle of your table. You can also make sure to keep an eye out for ‘all you can eat’ lunch deals.

Pancake Manor, Charlotte Street

Breakfast, lunch or dinner? Pancakes are always going to be a win with kids. Go for the classic pancake stack with butter and maple syrup or go all out and have your pancakes with a side of banana, butterscotch sauce and ice-cream. Just beware of the forthcoming sugar rush. Pancake manor also makes your life easier with  a special kids themed menu for those under 12 years old. Pancakes can also be made gluten free and vegan upon request.

Frankie & George, George Street

Now open for all-day breakfast everyday and dinner service from Monday to Friday, Frankie & George is perfect for your morning feed or snacks and delicious coffee! With both and indoor and outdoor space you can take the kids without worrying about making too much noise. The menu is also perfect if you have fussy eaters as the option for a simple ‘spread on toast’ is readily available.

Pochana Brisbane, Elizabeth Street

Pochana Brisbane is a vibrant, family-friendly gem that brings a taste of Thailand to the heart of The City. With its relaxed and welcoming vibe, it’s the perfect spot for families to enjoy delicious meals together. The menu offers a variety of tasty options, from mild flavours for the little ones to bold, authentic dishes for the adults. Whether you're popping in for a casual lunch or a relaxed dinner, Pochana’s warm atmosphere and friendly service make it an ideal choice for family dining.

Riverbar and Kitchen, Eagle Street

Riverbar & Kitchen offers a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere with beautiful views of the river. This vibrant venue features a relaxed setting where both kids and adults can enjoy fresh, tasty meals. The menu boasts a variety of options, from hearty meals to lighter bites, as well as delicious kids' menu ensuring there's something for everyone. With a spacious outdoor area and ample room for prams, it's the perfect spot to unwind as a family.

OBagel, Elizabeth Street

Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or if you are just looking for casual seating while the kids and yourself eat something substantial, than OBagel is the place for you. As bagels continue to be a delicious food trend, you will be the cool parents for letting your kids eat here. There are also plenty of sweet or savoury options to choose from as well as your morning (or afternoon) coffee.

Sushi Edo, Elizabeth Street

It’s a universal favourite and what’s more, all plates at Sushi Edo are only $4.80 and it’s fresh. Weather the kids are adventurous and love seafood or prefer the simple things in life and opt for teriyaki chicken rolls, the price remains the same per plate. The fun part is the iPad at each booth for the kids to scroll through to pick and place their order, it’ll occupy them for a while.

O Brasileiro, Adelaide Street

Take kids on a round-the-world trip via their taste buds, next stop, Brasil. O Brasileiro specialises in typical cuisine and offers a short kid’s menu. Children can try a rump cap or chicken fillet with rice, beans, salad and farofa (cassava flour). 

Harajuku Gyoza, Albert Lane

There’s loud music, a cool fit-out with interesting décor and friendly service at Harajuku Gyoza. It's all but guaranteed that kids will love the cheeseburger gyoza dumplings, but then again, the dessert gyoza might steal their hearts.

Corbett and Claude, Elizabeth Street

There is something for everyone at Corbett and Claude. Using high-quality fresh ingredients and boasting a home-style atmosphere, this eatery provides the perfect space for families to gather and unwind. With a full Italian kid’s menu available upon request, you are bound to find something delicious, no matter how picky the eater. Grab a kids combo deal, inclusive of any kids meal, a drink and a serving of chips for just $17.

Food Courts

It can be hard to go wrong in one of the many food courts scattered throughout The City. They provide options galore to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters and offer an opportunity to sit and recuperate before carrying on with the day’s activities. There are food courts in all the centres found along Queen Street Mall so there’s plenty of choice – UptownQueensPlazaWintergardenMacArthur Central and Post Office Square.

Grill’d, Wintergarden

Get a burger with a good conscience. Purchase a burger and receive a token for you and the kids to support a local cause and spread the community love with ‘Local Matters’.. These tokens are translated into donations and it’s a fun activity for your kids to be involved in. The burgers are made with fresh, healthy ingredients and consider  dietary requirements such as gluten-free buns and vegetarian or vegan options.

Melt Brothers, Post Office Square & Myer Centre Food Court

Grilled cheese? Yes please. Melt Brothers make the best cheese toasties for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Mini Melts are great  for kids with smaller appetites, but adults can go nuts with the Porky Pig. There’s so much more than just the classic cheese toastie here. If you’re brave to venture out there’s the  loaded fries or Cheesy Chicken chips. Gluten free bread and vegan cheese are also available on request.

Brisbane City Markets, Multiple venues

On every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday scattered throughout The City you can take the kids along to the Brisbane City Markets to meet farmers and producers, buy fresh produce and pasta, taste cheese and jams, and find meat, seafood to take home with you. Arrive hungry for the hand-picked food stalls, where you’ll find everything from fresh juices to falafel pita wraps to indulge in for lunch. Find out why this weekly market is a must-visit yourself.

Shingle Inn, King George Square

It’s always fun to pair a jam-and-cream topped scone with a nice cup of tea. Shingle Inn is the perfect spot to bring all the princess and prince’s who want to induldgeindulge in a classy high tea, with the kids high tea menu option. If you want to enjoy your birthday celebration with a high tea, a complimentary hot beverage  will be delivered to you whilst you are enjoying your day out.

Gelatissimo, Albert & Queen Street

Ice cream is the way to a kid’s heart, or at least a pretty reliable bribe for good behaviour. Gelatissimo have more flavours to choose from than you could possibly try in one visit. There’s the classics like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, but you’ve got to try the peanut butter brownie, tiramisu and green apple.

Nodo, Elizabeth Street

What’s better than regular donuts? Donuts that cater to dietary requirements without sacrificing on the flavour. Win-win. Kids will go crazy over the gluten free Nodo donut range, but their sugar levels won’t. The supernatural shakes are also fun but are very filling, you’ve been warned!

Dello Mano, Wintergarden

If your kids are more of the brownie type, then Dello Mano is the place to go. The range of handmade brownies are rich and decadent, making them perfect for the sweet tooth's in your life. Yes, these are the same brownies so good that Ashton Kutcher has them flown over to Paris for his birthday!

Bagel Boys, George Street

Looks like a donut but it’s not. Bagel Boys boil and bake 15 bagel varieties daily using a traditional American recipe and don’t use any preservatives or artificial flavours. The schmears are a lighter choice or get a filled bagel to keep you fuller for longer. We’re certain it’s going to be a popular choice with both you and the kids and is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.

Looking for things to keep kids busy? There's plenty of things family-friendly things to do in The City.

An image of the Regent on the Queen Street Mall.