The top 12 family restaurants in Canberra

Your go-to guide to Canberra’s best family restaurants in Canberra, no matter the age of your kids.

After a long day seeing the sights in Canberra, it’s good to have a few family restaurants in Canberra.

The nation’s capital is known for its dining scene and it’s good to know you can find a whole range of restaurants, cafes and food experiences that welcome little ones, tweens and teens to the table.

1. Wildflour Bakery

Canberrans take their leisure time seriously, and you will find many of them starting their weekend right by sitting down to breakfast at Wildflour Bakery.

Order artisan baked goods at Wildflour Bakery. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Expect a beguiling cast of locals consuming their body weight in artisan baked goods in this family-friendly Canberra cafe, which has an undercover courtyard overlooking play equipment. This will keep the kids happy until their French toast and chocolate croissants arrive.

Pick indulgent pastries and treats at Wildflour Bakery. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Take your pick between classic options such as smashed avo and shakshuka before getting properly caffeinated with a cup of ONA coffee. Pick up paninis to go.

Power through the day with a cup of coffee. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 8 Townsville Cresent, Fyshwick ACT 2609

2. Edgar’s

Edgar’s has undergone an exciting transformation of late. While Ainslie locals love waking up with a coffee at Edgar’s, they’re now likely to be found lingering here longer at The Inn and Wakefield’s Bar & Wine. The two reimagined venues regularly rank on guides to the best places to have a drink in Canberra.

Be surrounded by plants at Edgar’s. (Image: The Inn at Edgar’s)

But back to Edgar’s, which has been drawing families for decades thanks to crowd-pleasing options like toasties, brekky burgers, French toast and kids’ pancakes. Order well off the lengthy menu and then check our list of fun things to do with the kids.

Dine flavourful meals at Edgar’s. (Image: The Inn at Edgar’s)

Address: 1 Edgar St, Ainslie

3. Agostini’s

There’s a lot to take in at Agostinis, located on the ground floor of East Hotel, one of the best places to stay in Canberra.

Agostini’s features a shimmering pastel-coloured ambience.

This family-run restaurant is always full of all ages due to its friendly waiters, and serious dedication to serving great Italian pizzas and pastas that will suit even the pickiest eaters.

Grab a slice of pizza at Agostini’s.

It’s a beautiful airy, light-filled dining room that becomes moodily lit after dark and aims to transport you to Italy via staples such as the prosciutto e rucola pizza, calamari fritta and pizza capricciosa.

Dine authentic Italian dishes at Agostini’s.

Address: East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith.

4. Tiger Lane

The neon-bright signs pointing toward the new Tiger Lane precinct in the Canberra Centre are hard to miss.

Drop by Inari, the signature restaurant of Tiger Lane.

You can also follow the crowds of well-dressed families meeting up for a special shabu-shabu (Japanese-style hot pot) and yakiniku (grilled meat) meal at Taki, one of the most family-friendly restaurants in Canberra.

Nab a spot at Inari.

Older children will love the interactive element of dropping a morsel of food into the simmering hot pot to cook. Those with teens in tow could also head next door to Inari, which is a hectic wonderland of fun led by so-called sushi shaman, Tiger Lane executive chef Shaun Presland (ex-Sake).

Head to Inari for sensational sushi servings. (Image: The Cru Media)

Address: CNR Genge and, Bunda St, Canberra.

5. East Row

Bring your Instagram-obsessed teenagers to East Row so they can refresh their social feed with images of doughnut French toast with peanut butter snow or the not-so-humble lamb burger built around a charcoal bun.

The contemporary cafe, which also serves ONA coffee, is housed in the revitalised Sydney Building and is full of hip locals who arrange themselves artistically on the apple-green banquettes.

Address: Cnr London Circuit & East Row, Sydney Building, Canberra, ACT 2601

6. CBD Dumpling House

You will get dinner and a show at the CBD Dumpling House as the chefs prepare thousands of dumplings a day in full view of their customers and passers-by.

Pull up a chair at CBD Dumpling House. (Image: VisitCanberra)

This noted dumpling den – the go-to choice for everyone from fat-cat politicians to students – is a decidedly fun place to enjoy xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) until you pop. Kids love the ice cream with waffles, which arrive with a snowfall of sprinkles.

CBD Dumpling House is a go-to spot for dumplings. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: Shop FG13C, 148 Bunda St, Canberra ACT 2601

7. Verity Lane Market

In suitable weather, the laneway tables within the iconic Sydney Building maximise Canberra’s chilled hipster vibe. But, like most places in Canberra, Verity Lane Market is not too cool for school and you’ll get a warm welcome when it’s cold outside.

The upmarket street-food market has a convenient CBD location where families can choose between vendors such as Pizza Artigiana, Rasa Rosa and Tuck Shop.

Savour authentic ramen at Verity Lane Market. (Image: Ash St George for Verity Lane Market)

Address: 50 Northbourne Ave, Canberra ACT 2601

8. Brodburger at Capital Brewing

The original red caravan where Brodburger began life is now housed in the family-friendly courtyard at Capital Brewing Co., where its disciples look like they eat here more than in their own homes. And why not?

The flame-grilled burgers are brilliant: grown-ups should get the bigger-than-your-head Deluxe stuffed with eggs, bacon, lettuce and onion while kids can order the same in a ‘Baby Size’ version.

Grab a big bite of flame-grilled burgers at Brodburger @ Capital Brewery.

Address: Building 3/1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick ACT 2609

9. Patissez

The home of the world-famous FreakShake is now known for so much more. The menu at Patissez pushes the same kind of pimped-up food that put the bakehouse on the map in the first place.

Grab delicious pastries at Patissez. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Head to the cafe, tucked away in a suburban shopping strip, for loaded Tijuana tacos, Patissez fried chicken and Hangry Burgers aimed at children who are still growing and feeling hangry.

Patissez is one of the best places for breakfast and brunch in Canberra, regardless of whether you have kids in tow.

Satisfy your burger cravings at Patissez. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 21 Bougainville St, Griffith ACT 2603

10. Snapper & Co

Sit outside at the Southern Cross Yacht Club in Yarralumla and enjoy the crisp Canberra air while the kids kick a ball around. As the name suggests, the eatery is right on the lake overlooking Black Mountain, skewered as it is by the iconic Telstra Tower.

Swing by Snapper & Co for a quick brunch. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Order the Whipper Snapper fish and chips from the kids’ menu and crumbed snapper fillet and chips, which arrive wrapped in a custom newspaper printed with dad jokes.

Try the crumbed snapper fillet and chips at Snapper & Co. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: Mariner Pl, Yarralumla ACT 2600

11. Lazy Su

Teach your children to appreciate good food and retro-chic decor at Lazy Su in Lonsdale Street where these two components collide to great effect.

Watch the chefs cook up a storm with dishes everyone seems to order such as Korean buffalo wings, charred broccolini and beef short-rib bibimbap.

Families should arrive early for dinner at the Japanese-Korean-Americana eatery, as the place turns up the volume as the night progresses.

Find Chinese golden cats hanging on the wall. (Image: Lazy Su)

Address: 1/9 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT 2612

12. Monster Kitchen & Bar

Have you got a few vegetarians in the family? Monster Kitchen & Bar is the in-house vegetarian restaurant at Ovolo Nishi and will have something to suit, regardless of how rampant a carnivore you are.

Pop into Monster Kitchen & Bar for vegetarian-friendly menu. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Expect generous portions, pretty plating and fantastic service. The restaurant has big windows out onto the leafy street, a statement chandelier, and clubby panelling. In short, it has a rebellious, fun spirit that will please the pickiest of eaters.

Reserve a table for your dinner date at Monster Kitchen & Bar. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra