The Best Kid-Friendly Pubs in Sydney
Drain your little one's batteries while you carve out some moments for adult conversation at the best kid-friendly pubs in Sydney.
Sydney is a city of kid-friendly pubs, from The Vineyard in Sydney’s west, to the Nintendo Switch-stocked The Mona Vale Hotel on the Northern Beaches. You’ll also find a soft play playground at The Belrose, a train-themed playground at The Log Cabin and a slew of free activities at The Guildford.
With dedicated play spaces, meal deals and creative fun packs, you have an entirely appropriate reason to bring your kids to the pub. So the next time you’re feeling game, or maybe you just need to get out of the house, drain your little one’s batteries before bed and enjoy a cheap family pub feed, here are the best kid-friendly pubs in Sydney.
Kid-Friendly Pubs on the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore
The Mona Vale Hotel
The Mona Vale Hotel features a fully fenced playground with slippery dips, climbing structures, and swings. The huge beer garden has space for prams, a table tennis table for older kids, and plenty of room to relax. Inside, you’ll find a kids’ corner with toys, a chalk wall, and Nintendo Switches. Plus, you can grab coffee and pastries from Ben’s Bakery Cafe onsite if you’re visiting during the day.
Suburb: Mona Vale
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Budget-friendly, Families, Locals
Need To Know: Keep an eye out for their schedule over the school holidays, too, as they often run petting zoos and other fun events.
The Greens North Sydney
Surrounded by St Leonards Park and with glimpses of the city skyline, this bowling club turned chic bar is a popular Lower North Shore haunt. Its light-filled interiors open out onto an outdoor space with a garden party vibe.
When not in play, kids can run around the greens, and The Greens regularly host family-friendly events (read: events with jumping castles and petting zoos!) throughout the year.
Suburb: North Sydney
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Outdoor dining, Group dining, Weekend plans, Families
Need To Know: Kids Eat free at The Greens on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Belrose Hotel
Equipped with an enormous soft playground with slippery dips, a ball pool and a jungle gym, your children will run themselves ragged at the Belrose Hotel. There is also a separate infant/toddler room, so the smaller ones aren’t trampled by excited groups of older kids. The children’s menu is made up of fresh Australian produce, and they also offer kids’ party packages.
Suburb: Belrose
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Locals, Families, Quick bite, Weekend plans
Calabria Bowling Sports and Social Club
The Calabria Bowlo (as locals affectionately call it) is one of the most kid-friendly pubs in Sydney. Come the weekend, the closed-in soccer field is taken over by kids running around as their relaxed parents watch on from the nearby tables, sipping their wines in peace.
It feels like an old-school bowling club from the ’90s, with classic pub grub like wood-fired pizza, pasta and schnitty (save room for their ice cream or something from their delicious dessert offering!) all up for grabs.
Suburb: Manly Vale
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Families, Locals, Weekend plans
The Diddy
When it comes to family-friendly pubs in Sydney, a visit to The Diddy in Longueville, is a must. A much-loved local institution, it’s a place where kids reign supreme and can spend hours playing on the sprawling greens. The laid-back, casual atmosphere makes it an excellent setting for family gatherings. With bistro-style food on offer (think tacos, burgers, fish and chips and pizza), you can easily feed the kiddos before they let off some steam and run amok.
Suburb: Longueville
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Locals
Kid-Friendly Pubs in Western Sydney
The Vineyard
Set among the leafy surrounds of Sydney’s northwest, The Vineyard is a stylish pub that doesn’t skimp on family-friendly appeal. At the heart of it is the Vineyard Farmhouse, a beautifully designed play area complete with shade sails, soft-fall ground and misting fans to keep the little ones cool and entertained. It’s the perfect setup for a relaxing afternoon where kids can run free, and parents can unwind with a glass of wine in hand.
Suburb: Vineyard
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Long lunch, Families, Weekend plans, Locals
Need To Know: During school holidays, The Vineyard levels up the fun with a rotating schedule of free kids’ activities. Think craft workshops, petting zoos, pony rides and more — all designed to keep young minds busy while adults enjoy the laid-back vibe.
The Log Cabin Hotel
Perched along the beautiful Nepean River, the historical Log Cabin Hotel is a hit with local families.
The star attraction for kids? A fantastic train-themed outdoor play area, complete with a large pretend train, perfect for climbing and imaginative play. During the school holidays, the fun ramps up with plenty of kids’ entertainment on offer, while parents can relax and take in the gorgeous riverside views
Suburb: Penrith
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Weekend plans, Families, Locals, Group dining
The Guildford Hotel
The Guildford Hotel’s heritage charm and welcoming atmosphere make it a great spot for families. The venue features a kid-friendly play area, while the menu boasts hearty smoked meats and shared plates for family dining.
Suburb: Guildford
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Locals, Families, Quick bite
Need To Know: On Sundays, the weekly Sunday Funday offers exciting free activities for kids, including slime school, bath bomb making, and cookie decorating. Suitable for ages three and up, it’s a fun and creative way to spend the day — just be sure to book ahead!
Kid-Friendly Pubs in Sydney’s Inner West
Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co.
Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. in St Peters, Sydney, is a family-friendly brewery run by a father-son duo.
With a wheelchair and pram-friendly layout, cosy nooks, and a menu of shareable pub classics like hotdogs, beef burgers, and wings, it’s great for a relaxed family outing. Plus there’s colouring-in, books, a chalkboard, and other fun activities to keep little ones entertained.
Suburb: St Peters
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Weekend plans, Families, Group dining
Need To Know: Chuck & Sons run a parent group every Friday from 12pm – 2pm.
FAQs About the Best Kid-Friendly Pubs in Sydney
Plenty of Sydney pubs now come with serious play credentials. The Mona Vale Hotel features a fully fenced playground with slippery dips, climbing structures and swings, while the Belrose Hotel boasts an enormous soft play area with a ball pool and a separate toddler room. Out west, The Vineyard’s Farmhouse play area has shade sails, soft-fall ground and misting fans, and The Log Cabin in Penrith is home to a train-themed outdoor playground kids can climb all over. Whichever direction you’re headed, there’s a pub where the kids can burn energy while you relax.
The Vineyard takes some beating. Set in Sydney’s leafy northwest, its beautifully designed Farmhouse play area keeps little ones cool and entertained with shade sails and misting fans, while school holidays bring free craft workshops, petting zoos and pony rides. The Log Cabin Hotel in Penrith is another standout, with its riverside setting and much-loved train playground, while The Guildford Hotel hosts a weekly Sunday Funday with free activities like slime school and cookie decorating for ages three and up. Booking ahead is a smart move for the holiday programs, which fill fast.
Yes — several pubs go well beyond a playground. The Guildford Hotel’s Sunday Funday offers free weekly activities including bath bomb making and cookie decorating (just book ahead). During school holidays, The Vineyard rotates through free craft workshops, petting zoos and pony rides, while the Mona Vale Hotel and The Greens in North Sydney regularly host petting zoos and jumping castle days. The Log Cabin in Penrith also ramps up kids’ entertainment over the holidays, so it’s worth checking venue schedules before the term break hits.
Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. in St Peters is the Inner West’s family-friendly gem. Run by a father-son duo, this laid-back brewery has a wheelchair and pram-friendly layout, cosy nooks, and plenty to keep little ones busy — think colouring-in, books and a chalkboard. The menu of shareable pub classics like hotdogs, burgers and wings suits the whole crew, and Thursdays are a parent’s dream, with kids eating free. It’s proof you don’t need a sprawling beer garden to nail relaxed family dining.
Yes! The Greens North Sydney offers free kids’ meals every Wednesday and Sunday, making it one of the best-value family outings on the Lower North Shore — especially when paired with the bowling greens for the little ones to run around on. Beyond free meals, plenty of Sydney pubs sweeten the deal with free kids’ activities: The Guildford Hotel hosts Sunday Funday sessions with slime school and cookie decorating, while The Vineyard runs complimentary school holiday workshops, petting zoos and pony rides. It’s always worth booking ahead, as these family-friendly offers can be popular with locals.
Finished our round-up of the best kid-friendly pubs in Sydney and seeking out more great venues? Take a peek at our edit of the best pubs in Sydney right now as well as our ultimate guide of things to do in Sydney.