One of the best perks about living in Austin with kids is that there are so many amazing restaurants with playgrounds. Truth – There’s no need to even eat anywhere that doesn’t offer fries with a side of slide!
Dining out with the littles isn’t always easy, but it can still be fun. Austin has an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants with playgrounds and dining options to suit nearly any palate. From food trucks to cafes, and even full-service restaurants, here are some of the best family-friendly places to eat and play in Austin.
Eating Out with Kids: Our Favorite Austin Restaurants with Playgrounds
Central Market (4001 North Lamar Boulevard) is a favorite local gourmet grocery store. It features a restaurant, gelato counter, and coffee bar inside, and a huge deck, patio, stage, and playground outside. Order food at the counter, dine on the patio and listen to live music while the kids play on one of the best playgrounds. Note: The playground is not enclosed and can get crowded during peak times, so plan to keep an eye on little ones.
Central Market
Waterloo Ice House (6203 N. Capital of Texas Highway) is perfect for making new memories with the littles, and a great spot to dine after hiking at Bull Creek. The kids love will love playing on the playground and in the sand pit. The playground is enclosed.
Waterloo Ice House
Read more about Waterloo Icehouse North Austin offerings here.
Phil’s Icehouse/Amy’s Ice Creams (13265 US Highway 183 North) is such a genius idea. Phil’s is attached to Amy’s and there’s a playground on the patio. The kids can play while beers are sipped and burgers are enjoyed. Proceed to end the meal with Austin’s favorite local ice cream. It’s a go-to spot for out-of-town guests and never disappoints. Note: The playground area is not fully enclosed, so watch those kiddos. Bonus – Eastside Pies is in the same parking lot and Papalotes Tacos is right across the street, so there are plenty of tasty options!
Phil’s Icehouse / Amy’s Ice Creams
Salt Lick (3350 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock) is authentic Texas BBQ and a local favorite. When we went, the boys played while we waited for our food under a tree-covered patio lit with globe lights. PSA – Make sure to try the pickles and the cobbler a la mode during the visit. Note: The playground isn’t completely enclosed and it’s right next to a parking lot, so watch kiddos closely.
Salt Lick
Dahlia Cafe (2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill) is kind of far outside of Austin, but is an experience worthy of the driving. There’s a great patio/playground scene with some old-school equipment and the food was fantastic. Note: The playground is enclosed for the most part, but there are some places where kids can hide (along the tree border).
Dahlia Cafe
Kerbey Lane Cafe (2120 North Mays Street, Round Rock) has a nice playground right off the patio. The best part of Kerbey Lane Cafe is that kids eat FREE every Tuesday, so this place is a family favorite. Note: The playground area is completely enclosed, but it sits next to the parking lot and has a gate that kids can open.
Kerbey Lane
Whole Foods Market Lamar (525 North Lamar Boulevard) or Domain (11920 Domain Drive) is a great place to eat and play. Both locations offer food options for everyone in the family. There’s a salad bar, hot and cold food bars, sandwiches, pizza, sushi, tacos, and more. Grab food and dine on the rooftop plaza of the North Lamar location and enjoy the view and playscape, or out on the outdoor patio at the Domain location. Both locations offer playgrounds, although the one at the Domain location is much smaller. The Domain location offers an interactive kid’s club on Tuesdays. This includes story-time, snacks, crafts and more! Check it out here. Note: The playground at the Domain location is not enclosed and sits next to a parking lot.
Whole Foods – Downtown
Hat Creek Domain (3210 Esperanza Crossing), Hat Creek Round Rock (3700 E Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock), Hat Creek Burnet (5400 Burnet Road), Hat Creek Westlake (5902 Bee Cave Road), and Hat Creek Georgetown (201 San Gabriel Village Boulevard, Georgetown) all have playground areas. The food is fresh and yummy (those sauces!), and the friendly staff and atmosphere are awesome. Pro Tip – Spend a morning at the Creative Playscape in Georgetown, and then drive over to the nearby Hat Creek for a lovely afternoon, eat lunch and let the kids play some more!
Hat Creek Burger Company
Joe’s Crab Shack (2401 I-H 35 Frontage Road, Round Rock) has a fantastic playground below their back deck patio. Kids will love the slides and the sand too. Note: It’s all enclosed so the kids can’t escape, but unless seated at one of the nearby tables, it’s hard to keep an eye on the kids while they play.
Joe’s Crab Shack
The Triangle restaurants, Mandola’s (4700 W Guadalupe St #12), Galaxy Cafe (4616 Triangle Avenue), Maudie’s (4600 W Guadalupe St, Ste B5), all share this public playground. Maudie’s is the closest to the playground. Mandola’s also has a Cedar Park location with a playground (12100 West Parmer Lane, Ste, 200) and offers FREE gelato with every kid’s meal. Galaxy Cafe offers many kid favorites, so it’s another great choice.
Triangle
The North Austin location of Aviator Pizza (4005 W. Parmer Lane) is a family friendly locally owned, operated, and sourced craft pizza and Texas craft beer bar. They have a great playground located right next to the picnic tables so kids and parents can enjoy their time. Bonus: it’s enclosed.
Santa Catarina (500 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park) This Cedar Park gem offers a large covered playground and patio. The tortillas are homemade, the happy hour is every day from 4 to 6 p.m., and the kids will be so entertained that it’s easy to make a quasi-date night out of this spot.
More Favorite Kid-Friendly Restaurants with Playgrounds:
- Torchy’s Tacos (11521 RR 620 North #1000, Austin) is located in Plaza Volente, which is on the southeast corner of RM 620 and Anderson Mill Road in northwest Austin. There is a playground on-site.
- Oz Taphouse (1060 Ranch Road 2222) This family-friendly and playground-included spot allows the unique experience of pouring your own beer by the ounce.
- Flores Mexican Restaurant (8300 N FM 620, Austin)
- Ski Shores Cafe (2905 Pearce Road) Enjoy margaritas and burgers on Lake Austin while the kiddos play!
- The Midway Food Park (1905 S Capital of Texas Highway) Here you can find eight food trucks, a playground, live music, picnic tables, and bathrooms.
- Doc’s Backyard (5207 Brodie Lane, Sunset Valley)
- Southpark Meadows (9300 S IH 35 Frontage Road) has a shared community playground. Click here for a link of dining options
- Homespun (131 E Mercer Street, Dripping Springs)
- Oasthouse and Flores (8300 N. FM 620) Oasthouse and Flores share a playground but boast two completely different experiences. The things they have in common? Amazing happy hours and a large playground that will keep the kids occupied for hours!
- Homeslice (501 E. 53rd Street) – The second location of this beloved Austin classic offers tunnels and turf for the littles to explore. It was modeled after one of the playgrounds in Washington Square, and is meant to be as fun as it is organic.
Looking for even more family fun? Check out all of these posts!
