Remember carefree, weekend brunches where all the adults could sit and dine (at the same time!) without interruption from a bored or antsy kid? Yeah…neither do we. Thankfully, though, in the last few years, the Los Angeles restaurant industry got wise to parents needing a little more than a great menu—think enclosed play spaces, room to roam and play and entertainment—all while you enjoy your hand-tossed pizza. Here’s our current list of the best family-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles where kids can be kids. Brunch is back, baby.
Eastside Restaurants Where Your Toddler Can Run Around
Kitchen Mouse
Kitchen Mouse is the sweetest, green pastel wonderland offering hearty, healthy breakfasts and lunches, a cornucopia of hanging plants, delicious treats, and an adorable little fenced-in kids play area so you can watch your kiddo play while you pilfer bites of their Snickerdoodle pancakes. Relax with a latte and a Morning Glory Bowl (brown rice, kale, chili lemon dressing, cashew mint chutney, sesame seeds, shishitos) or jump into a the Psychedelic Daalipop (red lentil daal, cucumber mint salad, cilantro mint chutney, tikka mushrooms & cauliflower, coconut brown rice & garlic herb chapati) while your little plays shopkeeper in the play corner. After lunch, pop next door to Topo, Kitchen Mouses's little sister takeaway shop with baked goods, sandwiches, whimsical toys, and gorgeous homewares galore.
5902 N. Figueroa
Highland Park
Online: kitchenmousela.com
Golden Road Brewing Company
Give it up for Golden Road Brewery: they really know what they're doing. Their outdoor area is basically a playground with servers who bring you beer. They have a large astro-turf'd area that is practically impossible for children to destroy. They boast bean bag toss games, table soccer, Connect-4, and other games, in addition to a beloved photo booth, which is a suspiciously easy way for your kids to spend $36 before you blink. Their beer and food menu is delicious, their fries are stellar (a must for family-friendly spots), and they even have a kids' menu with all the faves like mini corn dogs, mac & cheese and chicken nuggets. As if all that weren't enough, a train passes by on tracks every so often, which will be sure to wow your tiny locomotive lovers.
5410 W San Fernando Rd.
Atwater Village
Online: goldenroad.la
Westside Restaurants Where Your Toddler Can Run Around
The Proud Bird
This airplane-themed restaurant is the spot to go when you have a wiggly toddler in-tow. Grab food from the food bazaar (choices include family-favorite Bludso's BBQ not to mention a spot-on kid's menu), then head outside where a large playground, large grassy area and incoming flights are making their way into LAX. There is no limit to running around or noise your kids can make here.
11022 Aviation Blvd.
Westchester
Online: theproudbird.com
Playa Provisions
This beachfront restaurant (that's really like two restaurants, one ice cream bar, and one whiskey bar all wrapped into one area) has it all. There are open-air patios, one in the back of the restaurant facing the beach, and the second in front where tables are spaced nicely apart. Little kiddos get individually packaged crayons and coloring pages as well as kid-friendly menu faves like pretzel croissant, grilled cheese, burgers, and even PB&J. You're obviously not getting out of there without stopping at the small batch ice cream bar for some frozen sweet treats.
Insider Tip: There's a great playground and park around the corner called Del Rey Lagoon—it's the spot to hang either before or after you eat (if you don't head to the nearby beach of course, which is also one of our favorite spots to go sand sledding in the winter).
119 Culver Blvd.
Playa Del Rey
Online: playaprovisions.com
The Point
With not one, not two, but eleven options to eat, there isn't a single palate that won't be satisfied by the array of locales at El Segundo's The Point. From juice at Pressed Juicery to burgers at Hopdaddy to inventive riffs on Southeast Asian cuisine at Little Sister, there's no way anyone will go away hungry. And yes, of course, there's ice cream—fan favorite Van Leeuwen is here, with some vegan frozen options too. Did we mention free parking? And tons of shopping options, too? But the best part? There are loads of grassy areas for kids to run around and play if and when they get antsy.
850 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.
El Segundo
Online: thepointsb.com
Back on the Beach
Dip your toes in the sand and slurp an oyster while you vaguely observe your children playing over yonder on the beach. You're not dreaming, this restaurant actually exists and is truly a family-favorite! With a reasonably priced food selection and a kids' menu that has all the classics (and even soon-to-be-classics like veggie dogs!), Back On The Beach checks off pretty much all the boxes for fun, family-friendly dining right at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
445 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Santa Monica
Online: backonthebeachcafe.com
Downtown Culver City
Quite possible the mecca of kid friendly restaurants with outdoor seating, downtown Culver City, has transformed its entire downtown district to be jammed pack with amazing restaurants, now complete with adorable outdoor patios. Worth checking out: Citizen Public Market—a food hall with 7 vendors serving everything from Mexican and sushi to fried chicken, also has a rooftop and outdoor street-side dining. And don't miss one of our favorite ice cream shops—Salt & Straw—across the street on the Culver City Steps—an urban playground where the kids can run around post meal.
Main St & Culver Blvd.
Culver City
Online: downtownculvercity.org
Restaurant in the Valley Where Your Toddler Can Run Around
Pitfire Pizza
Pitfire's patio at the North Hollywood location is quite expansive which makes spreading out with your hungry hippos easy to do. Expect kid-sized pizzas, mini mac & cheeses and even packs of clay they can play with while they wait! Built-in heaters at every table guarantees those chilly nights won't kill the vibe—and don't miss the ping pong table!
5203 Lankershim Blvd.
N. Hollywood
Online: pitfirepizza.com
