Kid-friendly cafes

Need a place to recaffeinate? We’ve trawled the city for some of the best of the best places that cater for the parental desire to get a coffee in them as well as their offspring’s need to run around like mad things. And as always, we welcome your suggestions and comments below: share the knowledge, Sydney.

Amigos Play Café

The clue’s in the name, frankly: there are several play areas in this Caringbah favourite, including a soft play area for the tinies.

The Flying Fox Café

It’s not just a name, you know: the Mona Vale café is next to Winnererremy Bay Park, which does legitimately contain a flying fox. So you can grab a coffee or a meal while the kids go nuts on the play equipment.

No Ordinary Café

This Willoughby café lives up to its name. It’s targeted the kid market strongly, with toys and play mats and good-sized portions.

Echo on the Marina Café

Right on the water at middle harbour means a little beach area as well as a park for running around in, plus an excellent children’s menu.

Adriano Zumbo

Head to Rozelle to inspire your family’s future chefs by watching the chefs prepare Zumbo’s trademark sweet treats, and then seal the deal by letting them eat said treats.

Café Piemonte

It’s connected to the Terrey Hills Flower Markets, and it boasts a big enclosed undercover play area for kids, perfect for pre-schoolers. The food’s very good too – and not that we’re implying anything, but its licensed.

Bellagio

It’s a hot spot for yummy mummies, especially since opening its outdoor play area tih toys and bikes – and, as befit as eastern suburb café, complementary babycinos.

Watson's Bay Tea Garden's Café

If you’re exploring the harbour, the location alone makes this worth popping into. It’s a solid café, but what a view – and there’s plenty of exploring space.

Martini Cafe & Bar

It’s not easy finding a Newtown café with room for prams, but thankfully Martinis courtyard has plenty of manoeuvring room, and great coffee (and cocktails in the evening).

Love Grub

Not only has this charming community-spirited Alexandria café requisitioned a space for a herb garden, kids are welcome to pick them. There’s also a well-appointed toy box, full of donated goodness.

Bitton Gourmet

Love Grub’s neighbour is a bit smaller and cooler, but does have Erskineville Park right across the road, which is mighty handy if the kids need a run around.

T.A.N.K Deli Café

This Drummoyne gem offers a play area for the small ones, and some of the best coffee in the west. It’s becoming quite the local favourite for a reason.

Petty Cash Café

The café itself is charmingly pokey, but Enmore Park is right across the road and the staff – bless ‘em! – will happily come find you to deliver your order. Now that is service.

Big Brekky

The biggest child-related advantage of this Petersham address is not its brekkies but its close proximity to Maundrell Park, just a few metres down Stanmore Road. Graba takeaway and let the kids run wild.

Esther's Table

Formerly the Hopscotch Café. A playful atmosphere, creative kids menu and very reasonable prices make this a bit of a hidden gem of the Annandale scene.

Our Place on Darling

It's a Balmain instituttion: fine dining at night, and a kid-friendly café during the day, with a great kids menu – and completion of the crossword scores you a free ice cream!

Sideways Café

Kids brekkie menu and close proximity to Johnson Park are but two of the charms of this popular Dulwich Hill café.