A family guide to kid-friendly restaurants in Adelaide

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Your go-to guide to Adelaide’s best kid-friendly restaurants.

Dining out with kids doesn’t have to mean missing out. You’ll find incredible kid-friendly restaurants in Adelaide that will satisfy fussy little ones while also featuring refined options for adults on the menu. Here are the best places to start.

The Moseley Igloos or Beach Club

Tweens will especially love these cosy dining domes that pop up in winter at The Moseley Bar & Kitchen, which is located a stone’s throw from Glenelg Beach. The artfully curated igloos feature groovy chairs, blankets and throws arranged around a cosy fireplace that would look great on the ’gram. Invite the extended family to hibernate in a hired igloo (available for 2.5-hour-long sessions for up to eight people), which includes kiddie-friendly menu options such as ham and pineapple pizza.

Moseley Igloos at The Moseley Bar & Kitchen
A winter pop-up at The Moseley Bar & Kitchen.

Alternatively, summer brings with it the annual beach club. The annual dining event is popular for a reason, so book ahead to secure a table on the sand and order from the kids’ menu – think fish and chips, potato and jamon croquettes, fried manchego or a steak sandwich.

The Moseley Bar & Kitchen’s Beach Club
Feel the sand between your toes at The Moseley Bar & Kitchen’s Beach Club.

Address: 11 Moseley Square, Glenelg SA

Africola

Africola is a vibe. And it’s one that gastronomically inclined families will love. Dining in this loud and chaotic East End Adelaide restaurant, which was modelled on a South African shebeen (read: a once disreputable unlicensed drinking establishment), is as heart-warming as it is hectic.

Interior of Africola in Adelaide
The vibrant interiors of Africola will be a winner with kids. (Image: Ellen Morgan)

Keep the entire clan happy at the hatted restaurant with rounds of crisp chicken skin ‘tea sandwiches’, peri peri chicken, whole roasted cauliflower, house-made hummus and flatbreads.

Africola's whole roasted cauliflower
The whole roasted cauliflower is delicious; the kids might even agree. (Image: Josh Geelen)

Address: 4 East TCE Adelaide, SA

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Parkside Hotel

Parents who declare dinner tables to be a device-free zone will love the double-sided kids’ menu at Bob & Olive’s Garden at the Parkside Hotel, which includes a colouring sheet and is delivered with a set of pencils. The renovated hotel, originally built in 1858, has indoor and outdoor areas and includes an enclosed all-weather kids’ play area replete with a cubby house. All kids’ meals are $15 and include a colossal ice-cream sundae.

Bob & Olive's Garden, Parkside Hotel
Parkside Hotel is a great family dining spot.

Address: 142 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside SA

Beach Bum

Hop on the train to Hove bound for Beach Bum where you will find a menu that offers an amalgam of Japanese, Hawaiian and Mexican cuisines. Choose between pork belly tacos with Tabasco mayo, chicken katsu, Mexican beach balls, pineapple pork ribs and poke bowls. Adults will appreciate the shaved-ice cocktails and the fact kids under 12 eat free on Sundays at the beachside restaurant, which is near to an Insta-famous 200-metre-long jetty.

Beach Bum, Hove Adelaide
Fun fusion food at Beach Bum.

Address: 406 Brighton Rd, Hove SA

Bloom

This former tram barn in the inner-city suburb of Thebarton has been transformed into an airy and bright cafe with a sprawling green lawn that is perfect for little ones to run themselves to a standstill on. The all-day menu is filled with perfect breakfast-brunch-lunch options, with an extra column of share plates, and a dedicated kids’ menu. Dishes utilise fresh local produce, with lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

Inside Bloom in Adelaide
Once a former tram barn, now a fresh and fun cafe. (Image: Bloom Winfield)

Address: 38 Winwood St, Thebarton SA

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Tony Tomatoes

Lauro Siliquini and Enzo Verdino are the duo behind the now-closed Spaghetti Island. And their cult following also extends to Italian eateries Ruby Red Flamingo, Coccobello and Tony Tomatoes. Pizza devotees will love Tony Tomatoes, which wows little people and their parents with options such as the Tony Pepperoni and the classic Margherita.

Tony Tomatoes, Adelaide
From the owners of Spaghetti Island comes Tony Tomatoes, a haven for pizza devotees.

Address: 155-157 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide SA

The Original Pancake Kitchen

It pays to have a hot pancake spot in your list of commendable eateries. And now that The Original Pancake Kitchen has three outlets around Adelaide, the call for pancakes at this institution should probably be considered compulsory when visiting the SA capital. Prime your palate for a good time with rounds of pillowy Hedgehog pancakes smothered in chocolate fudge or Mozzarella pancakes with fried eggs and ham.

Address: 13 Gilbert Place, Adelaide, SA; 287 Diagonal Road, Oaklands Park, SA; 1A/52-54 Hindley St, Adelaide, SA

Adelaide Central Market

Adelaide Central Market, established in 1869, consistently rates as one of the top things to do in Adelaide. Roll up to Stall 12 at the colourful market to find Decadent Donuts where drool-worthy options include the Berry Sinful, topped with fresh raspberries, or the Dusty Queen with cinnamon and fresh orange. Parents should order the Coffee Coffee Yum Yum doughnuts to go with that cappuccino. For something a bit more substantial for lunch, there is Lucia’s Pizza & Spaghetti Bar, Big Table, Let Them Eat and Zuma Caffe.

OMG Decadent Donuts, Adelaide Central Market
And for a special treat, check out OMG Decadent Donuts at Adelaide Central Market.

Address: 44-60 Gouger St, Adelaide SA

For more places to eat in Adelaide, read our guide to Adelaide’s best restaurants.

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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7 Great Walks of Australia providing unforgettable adventures

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    Traipse Jurassic cliffs and wander secluded beaches on Australia’s most enchanting walks.

    Australia’s landscapes are made for hiking. Take the Red Centre, dusted in shifting sands and dotted with miraculous geological formations. Or our rainforests, left behind as the sole souvenir from continents that no longer exist. Down south, mottled night skies hang above crashing seas and unwavering cliffs. It makes sense, then, that hiking holidays are rising in popularity. No wi fi, no traffic. Just you and the path less travelled on the Great Walks of Australia in remote and iconic destinations.

    What are the Great Walks of Australia?

    If nature is your happy place, you’ve likely heard of the Great Walks of Australia, part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences program since 2013 – a curated collection of 15 all-inclusive, eco-luxury journeys showcasing the country’s most spectacular landscapes with expert guides and incredible meals. GWOA launching in 2013 as 

    From exploring the peaks of a World Heritage listed island, to journeying through the heart of Australia, and the gentle pull of the majestic Murray – there’s a walking holiday to suit walkers of all experience levels (and interests).

    Joining a Great Walks of Australia hike means the pressure is off with all meals, guides and eco-luxury accommodation included.

    Where can you hike?

    1. Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland

    great walks of australia tour group on Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland
    Enjoy incredible food along the way.

    Around 23 million years ago, volcanoes spewed magma across Queensland’s Scenic Rim. Now, what’s left of the fiery landscape takes the form of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana rainforest.

    The Scenic Rim Trail is a four-day guided hike that takes you through the ancient rainforest. You’ll venture out into breathtaking viewpoints across the Main Range National Park. Enjoy a packed lunch, listen out for the duplicitous calls of the lyrebird and enjoy the silence.

    You’ll spend your nights in boutique eco-cabins and incredible hospitality.

    2. Murray River Walk, South Australia

    great walks of australia tour group on
    Walk through vibrant wildflower fields.

    Murray River Walk pairs easy hiking with blissful evenings cruising the Murray River. Over four days and nights, you’ll follow kangaroo trails through red dirt dusted with vivid patches of wildflowers.

    Each day ends on a solar-powered, custom-built houseboat. Watch towering, red sandstone cliffs float by from the top deck spa. Then, it’s three-course meals sourced from local produce and served alongside the region’s best wines.

    The entire region you’ll be traversing is within the Riverland Ramsar site. Watch as spoonbills forage for food in the tranquil wetlands, emus parade through the wildflowers, and regent parrots flit above.

    3. Maria Island Walk, Tasmania

    wombat along the Maria Island Walk tasmania
    Spot adorable locals.

    Your Maria Island walk begins with a private boat transfer to an untouched, white sand beach. Barefoot in the sand, you’ll quickly realise – aside from your guide and group – you’re completely alone. Spot countless wombats and hear the distant calls of Tasmanian Devils as you spend four days leisurely traversing the island.

    Nights are split between private, comfortable wilderness camps and queen-size beds in a historic cottage from the island’s convict history. Meals are built around fresh-caught seafood and served with East Coast Tasmanian wine.

    4. Seven Peaks Walk, New South Wales

    hiker on Seven Peaks Walks on Lord Howe Island
    Explore the incredible Lord Howe Island. (Image: Luke Hanson)

    Lord Howe Island feels like another world. With its patchwork blue coral lagoons and magma-honed peaks, it’s easy to forget you’re in New South Wales.

    This walk has the highest level of elevation in the Great Walks of Australia’s collection. It’s because of this that you’ll witness nature like never before. UNESCO-listed volcanic peaks and coral reefs that grew out of solidified lava will become your daily norm.

    Along the way, step onto beaches that lie undisturbed for weeks at a time. Then, snorkel the southernmost reef in the Pacific Ocean.

    5. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, Northern Territory

    great walks of australia tour group on
    Learn from the Anangu people.

    This five-day, fully guided, premium hiking experience inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was developed in partnership with Aṉangu Traditional Owners. Begin your walk dwarfed by the shade of Kata Tjua’s towering dome formations. Following remote desert trails through the red sands, crest dunes and traverse mulga woodlands as you draw closer to the monolithic walls of Uluu.

    Each night, dine under the lamp light of the Milky Way in the warm desert air and sleep in new flagship, environmentally sensitive private camps and lodge. This is the first time that travellers have ever been allowed to spend the night inside the national park.

    6. The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria

    great walks of australia tour group on The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria
    See the Twelve Apostles in a new way. (Image: Ken Luke)

    The Great Ocean Road’s rugged splendour is best experienced on this signature four-day, 44-kilometre guided walk. You’ll follow the rugged limestone stacks of the shipwreck coastline: wild, crashing waves, curious wildlife, and two national parks.

    Finish each day at your luxurious lodge, where you’ll sit with your feet soaking and a glass of wine in hand. You’ll have a single lodge to call home on this walk, meaning you’ll only need to set out with a day pack.

    7. Three Capes Signature Walk, Tasmania

    Three Capes Signature Walk, Tasmania
    Walk along the edge of the world. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

    On Tasmania’s Three Capes Signature Walk, you’ll feel like you’re walking along the edge of the world. From your boat landing on a remote beach, climb slowly upward for spectacular views and wildlife encounters with pods of dolphins, fur seals and echidnas. Spend days walking Jurassic dolerite cliffs with the wild Southern Ocean as your only constant.

    Stay in architecturally designed eco-lodges nestled at the very edge of the world. Think floor-to-ceiling windows, a plunge pool and even an on-site spa to tend to ailments from the hike.

    Discover more Great Walks of Australia and start planning your next adventure at greatwalksofaustralia.com.au.