We asked our readers to share with us their favourite child-friendly restaurants in SA and the response was awesome. So without further ado here is what they suggested (in their own words) for great restaurants for families in the Joburg area:
Trés Jolie – Peter Road, Honeydew. Large outside area, kiddies farm, pony rides, jumping castles etc.
Spur – Ruimsig – yes I know it’s a Spur! It has a large enclosed outside playground which is watched by staff.
MoZamBik – Beyers Naude Road, Randpark Ridge (kiddies room).
Casalinga – Beyers Naude Road, Honeydew (outside play area).
Lone Wolf Spur in Randpark Ridge – It has a fantastic outside kiddies play area which is ALWAYS buzzing with kids who you hardly see when you are there and they never seem to want to go home. It is THE place for birthday parties!
My all time favourite has to be Col ‘Cacchio Bryanston – they cater for the kids with real pizza dough and rolling pins, with great healthy foods for all ages.
Gia’s coffee shop at the Montrose Garden Centre, South Road, Morningside in Johannesburg – great breakfasts, brunches and lunches. Relaxed atmosphere. Have a jungle gym for kids and face painting etc on weekends.
Papachinos Clearwater – keeps the Papachinos atmosphere but is much larger with more activities for the kiddies
Da Vinci Al Fresco restaurant at the Inanda Club in Illovo, Johannesburg – great food, relaxed atmosphere and lots of garden for the kids to run around. They have a sandpit, jungle gym, trampoline, jumping castle etc
River Café at Field & Study Centre in Sandton – also lots of room for kids to play and run around and they usually have a jumping castle or water slide.
Fahrenheit in Benoni – massive outdoor play area with jungle gyms and other park equipment as well as a large area in the restaurant deicated to parents with kiddies – also excellent kiddies menu.
Pappachinos at Sevens is probably the same price as a Spur, and the kids have far more fun – outdoors, in a supervised specially made kids area, and the food is out of this world.
Celestino’s on Cedar Road, Fourways (near Dainfern). Staff are completely child-centric (nobody bats an eye when cream soda goes flying all over the place!), kids get to make their own pizzas, outside play area with supervision, parents both get to eat a hot meal at the same time. Our favourite “I’m just too tired to cook” spot! Ricky, Franz, Dumi & Rosa just know how to look after their little customers…
The Baron – Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Stunning outdoor area for kids and big screens inside for daddies to watch sport.
Outer Limits – Broadacres Fourways. Again outside area – jumping castles, jungle gyms – and a very sophisticated menu (incl sushi).
TSG Leaping Frog Fourways – Super-yummy menu and large indoor play area for littlies
Buitengeluk, Broadacres Fourways. More of a breakfast and lunch venue but beautiful gardens and duck pond for kids to run riot.
So there you have it – if you have any suggestions for us to add to this list then PLEASE email us at editor@food24.com – we’ll make sure they get a mention.
Article by: Cath Shone – follow @chocky33 and @food24 on twitter.