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Pizzeria Stella
Max Grudzinski

15 Joyously Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Philadelphia

Where to take the whole family out to eat well

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Pizzeria Stella
| Max Grudzinski

Dining out with kids can be a challenge, but some restaurants make it easier with dedicated menus, roomy booths, and comfort food.

Pizzerias are usually a safe bet for families, as are brunch places, diners, and businesses with lots of outdoor space for little ones to move around. From a massive beer hall with an indoor playground to a chocolate-themed spot where children should definitely play with their food, here are Philly’s best kid-friendly restaurants.

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Creekside Market & Tap

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“Family Fridays” are a thing at this come-as-you-are food hall across from the Elkins Park train station, just outside of Philly. Creekside combines a microbrewery, bar, deli, and upscale dishes from Haven Local, run by Tam Fuard, former sous chef of A.Kitchen. Kids can roam with chicken tenders and fries and play free air hockey while parents spread out around big tables with beers and food like a Sri Lankan fried chicken sandwich. Bonus: Ice cream shop Goat House Creamery and Open Book Bookstore are just across the street.

The Landing Kitchen

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Room to run makes Nick Elmi’s suburban cafe a go-to for families. At the Landing Kitchen’s riverside patio, kids can play and color with chalk while everyone enjoys the Top Chef winner’s all-day food and drink, from grilled cheese and barbecue fries to avocado toast and sparkling rosé for the parents.

An outdoor patio
The Landing Kitchen.
Penn Group

Lola's Garden

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With an inviting grassy area that runs through a pedestrian-friendly shopping center, Ardmore’s Suburban Square is a popular spot for families. The team behind Harper’s Garden and Morgan’s Pier offers a big, covered outdoor dining area at Lola’s Garden, which welcomes kids and caters to them with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, shells and cheese, and grilled cheese.

Thirsty Dice

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Take a break from screen time with the little ones for a throwback experience at Thirsty Dice, where the biggest challenge will be choosing what to play from the selection of 800 board games. Kid-friendly food — including fries with bacon and chicken nachos — rules on this approachable menu.

Honey's Sit N Eat

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Honey’s is frequently full of families. In addition to one of the best brunches in town, Honey’s offers high chairs and a kids menu with simple options like pancakes, eggs, fruit, and grilled cheese. Fair warning: Get there early. There’s typically a wait during the height of brunch.

Craft Hall

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With an indoor pirate ship-themed playground, freshly brewed beer from Mainstay Independent Brewing Company, and a menu full of upgraded comfort food, Craft Hall checks all the boxes for a day of family-friendly fun. Diners coming by car can even park next door in Lot A at Rivers Casino.

Sabrina's Cafe (multiple locations)

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While adults enjoy stuffed French toast, fluffy omelets, and thick sandwiches at Sabrina’s Art Museum, Graduate Hospital, or University City locations, kiddos have their own menu to peruse with options like grilled chicken, buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips or fruit, and scrambled eggs with cheese. In the suburbs, find Sabrina’s in Wynnewood and over the bridge in Collingswood.

French Toast Bites

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One of Philly’s most popular vendors at events and festivals, Charisse McGill now has a permanent home for her French Toast Bites operation. The name says it all: bite-size French toast pieces that can come topped with berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, or caramel drizzle. You’ll also find a vegan option and French toast-infused coffee. The poppable treat is available year-round at Cherry Street Pier and seasonally at Spruce Street Harbor Park, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Christmas Village.

A paper container of French toast bites next to a container of French Toast spice in front of a sign that says French Toast Bites.
French Toast Bites.
Kory Aversa

Marathon Grill (multiple locations)

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Center City has two Marathon restaurants within a few blocks of each other. The broad menu is geared to please both grown-ups — with salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and moderately priced entrees — and littler guests. An extensive kids’ menu features leveled-up takes on typical offerings, such as curly cavatappi pasta with marinara or Bolognese and a hummus plate, as well as standards like chicken fingers, mac and cheese, and PB&J.

Max Brenner

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This international chocolate-themed restaurant and retailer has one of the biggest and most playful kids' menus in town. Children can “paint” their food with ketchup, get sliders in a mini-spaceship, and share the Chocolate Mess Party: warm chocolate mud cake in a chocolate swimming pool, with whipped cream mountains, ice cream bowling balls, chocolate chunks, toffee sauce, and some fruit for balance.

Miles Table (multiple locations)

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With a location in the north end of Graduate Hospital and one in the Bok Building, Miles Table promises a quick, casual, cozy experience with fulfilling, fresh meals. Everything on the kids’ menu — chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese and chips, a pancake, and scrambled eggs with sliced apples — is under $8, and you can order breakfast until 2 p.m.

Pizzeria Stella

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Just off South Street in the Head House Square area and walkable from Independence Mall, Pizzeria Stella from the Starr Restaurants group gathers families around wood-fired pizzas and gelato. Picky eaters will find plain pizza while the adventurous will enjoy more gourmet options, like a pie with black truffle and an egg.

A small child tilts a large plate of spaghetti with both hands.
Pizzeria Stella.
Max Grudzinski

Bridget Foy's

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When Bridget Foy was a newborn, her parents named their restaurant after her. It’s been a family-friendly joint ever since, even on busy holidays like St. Patrick’s Day. Now, Foy, a mom herself, runs the casual South Street destination. On the menu, find kid-accessible dishes like tomato soup with grilled cheese, pizza bruschetta, and pasta.

Hawthornes

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Hawthornes is a go-to spot for families in the area, especially for brunch-time pancake specials. Kids will also enjoy tater tot apps, sweet potato fries, French toast, and pizza (after 4 p.m.), while grown-ups appreciate espresso drinks in the morning and the long beer list.

P'unk Burger

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With seven kids of their own, P'unk Burger owners Marlo and Jason Dilks opened their East Passyunk eatery with young families in mind. Kids get their own menu with classics like burgers and shakes, but with an organic spin. The cash-only BYOB also supports children’s charities throughout the year and has arcade games. For more options, Italian Market sibling restaurant Slice offers doughnuts, pizza, and DIY pizza kits for takeout.

Creekside Market & Tap

“Family Fridays” are a thing at this come-as-you-are food hall across from the Elkins Park train station, just outside of Philly. Creekside combines a microbrewery, bar, deli, and upscale dishes from Haven Local, run by Tam Fuard, former sous chef of A.Kitchen. Kids can roam with chicken tenders and fries and play free air hockey while parents spread out around big tables with beers and food like a Sri Lankan fried chicken sandwich. Bonus: Ice cream shop Goat House Creamery and Open Book Bookstore are just across the street.

The Landing Kitchen

Room to run makes Nick Elmi’s suburban cafe a go-to for families. At the Landing Kitchen’s riverside patio, kids can play and color with chalk while everyone enjoys the Top Chef winner’s all-day food and drink, from grilled cheese and barbecue fries to avocado toast and sparkling rosé for the parents.

An outdoor patio
The Landing Kitchen.
Penn Group

Lola's Garden

With an inviting grassy area that runs through a pedestrian-friendly shopping center, Ardmore’s Suburban Square is a popular spot for families. The team behind Harper’s Garden and Morgan’s Pier offers a big, covered outdoor dining area at Lola’s Garden, which welcomes kids and caters to them with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, shells and cheese, and grilled cheese.

Thirsty Dice

Take a break from screen time with the little ones for a throwback experience at Thirsty Dice, where the biggest challenge will be choosing what to play from the selection of 800 board games. Kid-friendly food — including fries with bacon and chicken nachos — rules on this approachable menu.

Honey's Sit N Eat

Honey’s is frequently full of families. In addition to one of the best brunches in town, Honey’s offers high chairs and a kids menu with simple options like pancakes, eggs, fruit, and grilled cheese. Fair warning: Get there early. There’s typically a wait during the height of brunch.

Craft Hall

With an indoor pirate ship-themed playground, freshly brewed beer from Mainstay Independent Brewing Company, and a menu full of upgraded comfort food, Craft Hall checks all the boxes for a day of family-friendly fun. Diners coming by car can even park next door in Lot A at Rivers Casino.

Sabrina's Cafe (multiple locations)

While adults enjoy stuffed French toast, fluffy omelets, and thick sandwiches at Sabrina’s Art Museum, Graduate Hospital, or University City locations, kiddos have their own menu to peruse with options like grilled chicken, buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips or fruit, and scrambled eggs with cheese. In the suburbs, find Sabrina’s in Wynnewood and over the bridge in Collingswood.

French Toast Bites

One of Philly’s most popular vendors at events and festivals, Charisse McGill now has a permanent home for her French Toast Bites operation. The name says it all: bite-size French toast pieces that can come topped with berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, or caramel drizzle. You’ll also find a vegan option and French toast-infused coffee. The poppable treat is available year-round at Cherry Street Pier and seasonally at Spruce Street Harbor Park, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Christmas Village.

A paper container of French toast bites next to a container of French Toast spice in front of a sign that says French Toast Bites.
French Toast Bites.
Kory Aversa

Marathon Grill (multiple locations)

Center City has two Marathon restaurants within a few blocks of each other. The broad menu is geared to please both grown-ups — with salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and moderately priced entrees — and littler guests. An extensive kids’ menu features leveled-up takes on typical offerings, such as curly cavatappi pasta with marinara or Bolognese and a hummus plate, as well as standards like chicken fingers, mac and cheese, and PB&J.

Max Brenner

This international chocolate-themed restaurant and retailer has one of the biggest and most playful kids' menus in town. Children can “paint” their food with ketchup, get sliders in a mini-spaceship, and share the Chocolate Mess Party: warm chocolate mud cake in a chocolate swimming pool, with whipped cream mountains, ice cream bowling balls, chocolate chunks, toffee sauce, and some fruit for balance.

Miles Table (multiple locations)

With a location in the north end of Graduate Hospital and one in the Bok Building, Miles Table promises a quick, casual, cozy experience with fulfilling, fresh meals. Everything on the kids’ menu — chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese and chips, a pancake, and scrambled eggs with sliced apples — is under $8, and you can order breakfast until 2 p.m.

Pizzeria Stella

Just off South Street in the Head House Square area and walkable from Independence Mall, Pizzeria Stella from the Starr Restaurants group gathers families around wood-fired pizzas and gelato. Picky eaters will find plain pizza while the adventurous will enjoy more gourmet options, like a pie with black truffle and an egg.

A small child tilts a large plate of spaghetti with both hands.
Pizzeria Stella.
Max Grudzinski

Bridget Foy's

When Bridget Foy was a newborn, her parents named their restaurant after her. It’s been a family-friendly joint ever since, even on busy holidays like St. Patrick’s Day. Now, Foy, a mom herself, runs the casual South Street destination. On the menu, find kid-accessible dishes like tomato soup with grilled cheese, pizza bruschetta, and pasta.

Hawthornes

Hawthornes is a go-to spot for families in the area, especially for brunch-time pancake specials. Kids will also enjoy tater tot apps, sweet potato fries, French toast, and pizza (after 4 p.m.), while grown-ups appreciate espresso drinks in the morning and the long beer list.

P'unk Burger

With seven kids of their own, P'unk Burger owners Marlo and Jason Dilks opened their East Passyunk eatery with young families in mind. Kids get their own menu with classics like burgers and shakes, but with an organic spin. The cash-only BYOB also supports children’s charities throughout the year and has arcade games. For more options, Italian Market sibling restaurant Slice offers doughnuts, pizza, and DIY pizza kits for takeout.

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