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Food & Drink

Child-friendly restaurants in London

By Jen Barton Packer on 12/8/2019

Children and restaurants. Those two words don't always conjure up images of calm, relaxing and enjoyable meals – but we think that's probably because you haven't tried the right restaurants.
We're happy to remedy that. Here are a few London options that won't just make you feel welcome when you arrive with a baby, toddler or school kid in tow, they'll cater to you with child-centric menus, play areas and even free meals. Yes, free food! And no, these aren't your typical chain restaurants either – we're talking glorious cuisine, a great ambience and something parents will enjoy as much as the kiddos. Book ahead for your next family lunch or dinner out or pop in just because you live in London and happen to have kids. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy a fab meal out.

Best Japanese: Roka

Urban babies are never too young to sample sushi. Roka has plenty of that as well as other Japanese staples like dumplings, tempura, beef sirloin, teriyaki salmon and more, with bento box starters for kids, followed by a choice of mains and yummy pudding. For big people, black cod and yellowtail sashimi with truffle yuzu are favourites. The Canary Wharf location even has a soft play area so kids can let off some steam (before, during or after the meal).

WHERE

Locations on Charlotte Street, Canary Wharf, Mayfair and Aldwych

Best for simple British fare: Rivington Greenwich

Any restaurant with an extensive gin menu (215 varieties on offer) scores high on our list of fun dining experiences, and while you're sipping a G&T and tucking into hearty mains like fish pie or a ribeye steak, your little one can enjoy fish cake fingers, mini schnitzels, sausages and mash and simple tomato spaghetti. Oh, and the best part? Up to two kids under the age of 12 eat free with an adult who orders a main.

WHERE

Rivington Greenwich, 178 Greenwich High Rd, London, SE10 8NN

Best for pizza: Hai Cenato

Pizza and gelato is a dream meal for most children, but when the pizza in question is courtesy of Jason Atherton and his celeb chef friends, it's brilliant for adults, too. Come at the weekend – kids eat free lunchtimes on Saturday and all day Sunday.

WHERE

Hai Cenato, 2 Sir Simon Milton Square, London, SW1E 5DJ

Best for brunch: Tom's Kitchen

Tom's Kitchen has it all: a Michelin-starred owner, Tom Aikens, free weekend under-12s brunch for up to four children at the Canary Wharf location (which comes complete with playroom and colouring sets for the kiddos), and a convenient branch off the King's Road for those mid-week museum and shopping dates with your little ones. The brioche French toast is our brunchtime favourite, but kids will also like the choice of mini berry pancakes, eggs on toast and sausages and baked beans. Yum.

Credit: David Geffen Photography

WHERE

Tom's Kitchen, 27 Cale Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3QP and 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4HD

Best for relaxed family meals: Roast

How many London restaurants make you feel comfortable with a party of 20 – when half of that party is kids? Roast, conveniently located above Borough Market, does, with delicious, locally sourced British fare to boot. The children's menu has staples like burgers, fish fingers and chicken wraps and kids up to 12 can eat gratis on UK public school holidays for lunch or dinner. From beetroot risotto to rainbow sea trout to the bone marrow burger with truffle mayonnaise, the food won't disappoint adults, either.

WHERE

Roast, The Floral Hall, Stoney Street London, SE1 1TL

Best for meat-lovers: Sophie's

This New York warehouse style steakhouse is a must for mini meat-lovers with mains like carver roast chicken, burgers and Sunday roast. Cue mouth watering.

WHERE

Sophie's, 311-313 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW10 9QH and 42-44 Great Windmill Street, Soho, London, W1D 7NB

Best for ambience: Hixter Bankside

Mark Hix's restaurants are renowned for mixing gorgeous food with a child-friendly atmosphere; Hixter Bankside might just be our favourite with its cool space (originally a metal box factory) with exposed brick and metalwork and amazing art on display, including works from Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. Kids will love the menu selection, which includes mini chateau steak and Indian Rock chicken. Parents will love that kids can eat free between 4pm-6pm Monday to Friday and 12pm-6pm on weekends.

Credit: Matt Austin

WHERE

Hixter, 16 Great Guildford St, London, SE1 0HS

Best for chefs-in-training: Bread Street Kitchen

Not only does Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen offer kid-friendly Sunday brunches, with face painting and magic shows for kids and bottomless Prosecco for grown-ups, on select Sundays in 2019, the restaurant will be hosting pizza masterclasses, where BSK chefs will help your mini-me make their own pizza, which they'll then eat while you enjoy a main from the brunch menu. To follow? Dessert for them and fizz for you - the whole experience is £60 for 2 adults and 1 child.

WHERE

Bread Street Kitchen, 10 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9AJ

Best in general: Anywhere Italian

We just have to give a shout-out to every Italian restaurant we've ever been to with children, from tiny neighbourhood haunts to chain restos to smart establishments. If you're ever at a loss as to where to go, head into your closest Italian: they won't make you feel like a leper – in fact, you'll probably hear that your kiddos are 'bellissimi,' which is amazingly gratifying when they've been tantruming for the past 40 minutes. Also, you can't ever go wrong with pasta and pizza for the kids. Or yourself, for that matter.

Best for variety: Market Hall Fulham and Victoria

Choose from pancakes or pork belly when you go to Market Hall Fulham or Market Hall Victoria for brunch. From mid-June 2019, it's not just about the dining experience: The Kids' Table is setting up shop, providing supervised fun for kids aged 3-10, so the kids can make friendship bracelets and do LEGO, while you sip on a Bloody Mary. Bliss.

WHEN

9.30am – 12.30pm (from June 16 in Victoria), 10am-1pm (from June 23 in Fulham)

WHERE

191 Victoria Street, SW1E 5NE and 472 Fulham Road, SW6 1BY