Family-friendly dining
Source: @yuli_surianty
Eating out when you have kids can be a bit of a hassle – children are notoriously bad at sitting still and waiting quietly, and the odds of them making a mess are pretty high. What’s a parent to do?
The best restaurants are the ones where you can send the kids off to play while waiting – or after they’re done eating – so that you can eat the rest of your food in peace. As such, here are 10 of the most kid-friendly restaurants in Singapore with playrooms so impressive, your children will definitely leave you alone to dine in peace.
1. The Bank Bar + Bistro
The CBD seems like the last place you’d find a kid-friendly restaurant in, but here it is. The Bank Bar + Bistro is a popular spot for watching football and wolfing down reasonably-priced brunches, but it’s also one of the most kid-friendly joints in town.
The kids’ menu doubles up as a colouring sheet, which will keep them occupied (hopefully) while waiting for the food to arrive. And after the kids are done eating, they can head over to The Bank’s, a corner full of activities to keep them occupied, from toys to slides to cars. Just note that the playroom is a bit far from the dining area, and young kids will definitely need to be supervised!
However, the real kicker is this: on weekends and public holidays, you get one free kids meal with every adult main ordered. And these aren’t cheap ‘kids meals’ with frozen fish fingers and nuggets – they are legit, proper meals, made with fresh ingredients and flavours, so the whole family can dine well.
Address: One Shenton #01-01, 1 Shenton Way, Singapore 068803
Opening Hours:11 am – 11 pm (Mon), 11 am – 12 am (Tue – Fri), 9 am – 12 am (Sat, Sun, PH)
Telephone: 6636 2188
Website
2. Zaffron Kitchen
The words ‘Indian restaurant’ and ‘kid-friendly’ don’t usually go together, largely because little tongues usually can’t handle the spice factor of Indian cuisine.
That isn’t a problem here, as Zaffron Kitchen serves up delicious kid-friendly and non-spicy options that will go down well with your young ones. And their outlet at East Coast Road gets an extra thumbs-up because their playroom is in a class of its own.
Source: @markkymarkky
Featuring a wooden ‘hut’ structure, their play area has a play kitchen, rocking horses, and lots of opportunities for imagination to run wild. It’d be a great place to meet up with fellow parents – the kids can play and have fun while the adults catch up.
They also have kid-sized toilets and diaper changing facilities, making a trip to Zaffron a hassle-free experience for everyone involved.
Address: 137 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428822
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 9:30 pm (Mon – Thu), 11:30 pm – 10:30 pm (Fri – Sun, eve of PH), closed from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Mon – Fri
Telephone: 6440 6786
Website
3. The Coastal Settlement
In a hidden corner in the East lies this gem of a restaurant – The Coastal Settlement. They’re known for their amazing vintage decor and kampung vibes – arrive at the restaurant, and you’re greeted by the sight of flower-power VW Beetle, and the interior is full of kitschy items like typewriters and old Vespas.
What your kids will love, aside from the funky retro stuff on display and their delicious kids menu, is the outdoor play area. With its bright colours and old-fashioned carnival vibe, your kids will have tons of fun. Just remember to bring along lots of mozzie repellent!
There’s an al fresco dining area near the playground, so adults can sit back and enjoy their meal while the kids run around.
Address:200 Netheravon Rd, Singapore 508529
Opening Hours:10:30 am – 11:00 pm (Tue – Fri), 10:30 am – 12:00 am (Sat – Sun), closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
Telephone:6475 0200
Website
4. Open Farm Community
Source: @openfarmcommunity
People wax lyrical about Open Farm Community’s open spaces for kids to run free, and it’s easy to see why. Known for their rustic, flavourful food and organic ingredients, they provide a relaxing atmosphere for a casual lunch out.
Their outdoor sand playground features play structures that look like pigs and cows, holding true to the whole idea of farm. There are also sand toys around the playground, and is conveniently located next to the toilets for an easy post-playground cleanup.
If you’ve got older kids, ring the restaurant up beforehand and make a reservation to go lawn bowling ($10/h) or play table-tennis ($5/h) – it’s a different take on sports we play and love.
The only quibble is that the playground isn’t near the restaurant, so if you need to supervise your kids, you and your partner will need to take turns. However, they do have an outdoor cafe dining area, which might be a better option for keeping an eye on the young ‘uns.
Address:130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819
Opening Hours:Restaurant – 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Mon – Fri), 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Sat – Sun, PH) Cafe – 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily.
Telephone:6471 0306 (Reservations) 6264 7960 (Enquiries)
Website
5. NOM – Bistro & Bakery
Hidden away the MacPherson Community Club, NOM – Bistro & Bakery serves up a delicious brunch menu, but they’re most well-known for their rainbow cakes and toast – a colourful treat that will definitely delight the younglings.
Source: @foohong
On the menu at NOM – an acronym for No Other Meaning – are more adult items like Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Pasta and Tom Yum Pasta, so Mom and Dad have plenty of food options. There’s also a huge variety of light bites and waffle desserts that will fill little bellies.
Source: @missy_lo
While you’re eating, the little ones can have fun at NOM’s playground, modelled after the famous Dragon Playground in Toa Payoh. It’s just a slide and some steps, but your kids will be able to enact dramatic roleplays of dragon-taming while you finish up your scrambled eggs.
If you have older kids who you can trust to run around on their own, there’s a mini-rock wall outside the cafe where they can unleash their inner Spiderman.
P.S: you can hold birthday parties at NOM too!
Address: 400 Paya Lebar Way, Macpherson Community Club Level 1, Singapore 379131
Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, closed every first Tuesday of the month
Telephone: 6747 3839
Website
6. Tree Lizard Dempsey
Tree Lizard at Dempsey is home to fine-dining fare for casual dining prices, as well as a huge expanse of land for kids to run around in. They have an impressive playground on site as it is – complete with swings, slides, and climbing structures, but on the weekend, the kid-friendly factor goes into overdrive.
Children love bouncy castles – which is why heading over to Tree Lizard Dempsey for a weekend brunch is an excellent idea. Aside from their playground, Tree Lizard has a bouncy castle and additional entertainment planned for the kids, from arts & crafts to games. Mom and Dad can sit back and relax while the kids have fun, making it an ideal place for a leisurely brunch to catch up with friends.
Plus, Tree Lizard has loads of outdoor seating, making supervising your children over a cup of coffee an easy task.
Address: B1-01, 25 Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249670
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
Telephone: 6834 3969
Website
7. District 10 at UE Square
Source: @district10sg
Okay, so District 10 Bar & Restaurant at UE Square isn’t usually the most kid-friendly spot on the list, come weekends, this is the perfect place for brunch with the family.
Aside from their kids menu (that double up as colouring sheets), District 10 wheels out the bouncy castle every weekend from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm, and kids can go in and run amok for free. I don’t know about kids these days, but when I was growing up, I could never get enough of bouncy castles – they were more important to me than Pokemon.
Parents can tuck into a delicious brunch spread from District 10, with classics like Eggs Benedict and Brunch Beef Burgers. The kids menu looks pretty delicious too – think Cheese Pizzas and Mini-Burgers perfect for little hands.
If you want to supervise your kids on their bouncing adventure, request for a table outside so that you have a full view of the castle as you dine.
Address: 1 Clemencau Ave, #01-15/16/17 , UE Square Shopping Mall, UE Square, Singapore 239917
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 12:00 am (Mon – Fri), 9:00 am – 12:00 am (Sat), 9:00 am – 11:00 pm (Sun)
Telephone: 6738 4788
Website
8. Ju Shin Jung Korean Restaurant
Source: @yuli_surianty
A Korean BBQ restaurant doesn’t sound like the best idea if you have kids – what if they burn themselves, or we don’t cook the food properly? Over at Ju Shin Jung, all those worries are put to rest. Simply order the food, and staff do all the hard work, ensuring each piece of grilled meat is cooked perfectly. You won’t have to juggle grilling your food while making sure your kids keep their itchy fingers to themselves!
Of course, if you want to distract your kids from the allure of the BBQ grill entirely, Ju Shin Jung’s Guillemard and West Coast outlets have amazing children’s playrooms that’s sure to entertain them for hours. The one at West Coast has a few old school amusement rides and some toys, but both have a ball pit that kids can slide into and play with.
The restaurant can get pretty crowded, so make sure you call ahead and reserve a table! Be sure to request a table near the play area as well, so that you can monitor your kids while eating delicious KBBQ.
Address: 27 West Coast Highway #01-18/19 Westway IF Singapore 117867 102 Guillemard Road #01-01 Singapore 399719
Opening Hours: West Coast: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Guillemard: 11:30 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Weekdays), 11:30 am – 11:00 pm (Weekends and PH)
Telephone: 6464 0872 (West Coast), 6440 7707 (Guillemard)
Website
9. Quentin’s Eurasian Restaurant
When I saw the playroom at Quentin’s Eurasian Restaurant, my jaw dropped. Where was a playroom of this calibre when I was little?
As all parents know, nothing is worse than having to wrangle squirming children while waiting for your food to arrive. Fortunately, Quentin’s has the best playroom I’ve ever seen, so your kids will be happily occupied while waiting for their meal.
Source: @quentinssg
The play area is full of things for kids to do. They’ve got slides, games, stuffed animals, books, electronic cars, DVDs, a ball pit…. You name it, the chances are, they’ve got it.
Quentin’s is also known for their excellent kid-friendly service, so this is one restaurant that’ll make your family feel right at home.
Address: 139 Ceylon Rd, Level 1 Eurasian Community House, Singapore 429744
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm (Tue – Thu, Sat – Sun), 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm – 12:00 am (Fri), closed on Mondays
Telephone: 6348 0327
Website
10. Eat Play Love
A Thai-Western fusion concept at Aliwal Arts Centre, Eat Play Love is a place to dine while your kids explore their creativity. Rather than having the usual kids’ playground where the little ones might scream their heads off, Eat Play Love occupies them with something a little quieter – arts and crafts.
For $5/h on weekends, public holidays and school holidays (or $5/2h on regular weekdays), kids have access to a craft table full of amazing supplies for them to work with. With everything from beads to crayons to paper plates, let your children’s imaginations run wild as they create their own incredible masterpieces.
P.S: they’ve got art and craft activities for adults too, so join in on the fun!
Address: 28 Aliwal Street, #01-07, Aliwal Arts Centre, Singapore 199918
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, closed on Tuesdays
Telephone: 6444 6400
Website
Sit back and enjoy your meal!
With playrooms like these, your kids will happily play for hours, which means you can have that leisurely dinner you’ve been wanting for a while. Plus, these restaurants are perfect for a chill weekend brunch, or for reunions with friends – while you’re reconnecting with old buddies, your kids can make new ones!
Dining out with your kids doesn’t need to be a struggle – just pick the right place, and it’ll be a great meal for everyone.