14 Kid-Friendly Cafe Escapes on the Gold Coast

Where to eat with the kids in Coolangatta

Griffith St Larder

Griffith St Larder is a casual eatery that serves affordable food in style. It offers a relaxed beachside vibe and the passion and expertise of a Melbourne cafe, where owners Kylie and Dennis Bastos were once located. The all-day breakfast menu is delicious and kids will love their salted caramel “syringe” cronuts, layers of flaky goodness injected with oozing caramel.

Pancake Diner

The retro vibes of Coolangatta’s Pancake Diner is casual dining at its finest. The newest addition from the Pancakes in Paradise team, the Pancake Diner offers affordable family dining and some of the biggest pancake stacks you’ve ever seen. What’s not to love?

Passiontree Velvet

If you’re looking for a change from your usual cafe offerings, Passiontree Velvet is the place to go. A world of edible luxury you’ll find ribbon sandwiches, freshly baked scones, French macarons, cakes and a tempting array of chocolates. There’s even a kid-friendly high tea called the Teddy Bears Picnic (cute!), which includes ham sandwiches, diamante biscuits, a macaron and a juice or babyccino. If that’s not kid-friendly we don’t know what is!

Beach Burrito

Renowned for its fresh and tasty mexican cuisine, Beach Burrito is the ideal place to grab a delicious lunch. Embracing its coastal location this sophisticated space delves up a fun, relaxed and friendly vibe and kids favourites like nachos and churros will put a smile on small faces. Mum can kick back too with a margarita or glass of sangria.

Crema Espresso

Sit back and relax while your little ones explore in the Kids Play area at Crema Espresso. Six towering indoor palm trees provide an ambient space for you to enjoy your coffee and a meal, with a kids menu also on offer.

Where to take the kids in Currumbin

Neighbourhood Espresso

If the sweet and colourful brioche French Toast isn’t enough to silence your little one, the roam-free fully-fenced garden will keep them entertained. Complete with a teal blue caravan, herb garden and mini tables and chairs, this Currumbin cafe has been designed with the child in mind. A great atmosphere and delicious food make Neighbourhood Espresso a great place to hang.

Pasture & Co.

With the chance of starting your day with wild kangaroos and the guarantee of great coffee, Pasture & Co. has to be one of the kid-friendliest cafes on the Gold Coast. There are even weekly events that include baby yoga and kid’s book readings! To satisfy your child’s sweet tooth there beautiful, brightly-coloured cakes and they’ll never guess that they are sugar, dairy and gluten free. This eco-friendly and child-friendly cafe is a must visit!

Dune Cafe

Voted most ‘kid-friendly cafe on the Gold Coast’, Dune Cafe is well worth a visit. Situated within the Palm Beach Parklands and overlooking the Currumbin Lagoon, kids can have their fill of hotcakes, nachos, shakes and smoothies before heading off to the playground at nearby Tarrabora Reserve where there’s a pirate ship and plenty of space to run around.

The best kid-friendly cafe in Bonogin

GrowCa Cafe

A gorgeous cafe/grocery store tucked away amidst the trees, GrowCa is a trendy shack where you’ll find yummy mummies sipping good coffee, enjoying good food and embracing good vibes. Everything on the menu uses only the freshest ingredients, locally sourced where possible. Each dish is unique and truly a work of art. While you’re there you can pick up your grocery items too, from fresh eggs, bread and pasta to milk, condiments and more.

A popular spot to go in Miami

Paddock Bakery

The fenced off and cute-as-a-button Queenslander, Paddock Bakery, is a popular choice for Gold Coast mums with dippy eggs and sourdough soldiers that never fail to impress. Every dish is Instagram worthy, as is the setting itself with a shady picket fence-lined courtyard that we’re sure must be home to pixies and elves after dark. Think artisan bread, straight-from-the-oven baked treats and hot chocolates complete with house-torched marshmallow.

Family favourite place to dine in Casuarina

Osteria

Just over the border is Casuarina’s Osteria, a kid-friendly favourite that’s hugely popular with the locals. Complete with one of the best cafe playgrounds in the region it’s fringed by a fragrant kitchen garden and inspired by locally grown produce and self-sustainability. An important part of the community, Osteria mimics an Italian meeting place and is the perfect place to take the family.

Child-friendly cafe options in Mermaid Beach

The Yard Cafe

The Yard Cafe features a fully-fenced garden complete with a huge blackboard and a play gym. The cafe supports the paddock and patch to plate and bowl movement and each dish that’s served is a sensory delight. Yard favourites include smashed avocado and streaky bacon with soft poached eggs and freshly baked sourdough or for lunch why not try their 5-hour slow cooked pork tacos.

Bam Bam Bakehouse

Bam Bam Bakehouse is a place where kids can be themselves and parents can relax over some yummy food and coffee. The cafe makes good use of the Mermaid Beach Council Park to offer space and comfort to all. No need to worry about the kids getting up to mischief here! Simply sit back and enjoy artisan pastries done right.

Taking the kids out to eat in Southport

Southport Sharks Club

The family-friendly Southport Sharks Club has a huge selection of food and is home to the Wobbegong Kids Fun Zone (3-12 years), a purpose-built play area featuring a rock climbing wall, mini basketball court, playstations, theatrettes showing the latest movies, a home corner and drawing tables. Prices start at $3.50 per hour and bookings are essential. Kids eat free on Monday.

Grab and run at The Strand Coolangatta

Don’t feel like running the gauntlet with kids in tow? Choose to take your food with you with one of the many take away options at The Strand Coolangatta. For a flaming feast head to Charr’d, where you’ll find hormone free and free range char-grilled meats and poultry, served up with family favourite salads and sides. Or why not grab sushi-to-go from Sushia? For pizza and pasta there’s Pomodoro Pizza & Pasta, for gourmet jaffles there’s Jaffles HQ and for everything seafood there’s Selfish. So many choices!