Dining as a family on a Gold Coast holiday can be demanding with precious adult conversation limited to just a few minutes between help with iPad games and requests to finish meals. Luckily there are several amazing Gold Coast Family Restaurants that cater to rambunctious little ones that boast free kids meals, games rooms, playgrounds, arts and crafts, and much more.
Read on to discover the best Family Restaurants on the Gold Coast!
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Cafe Catalina
Southport - Central Gold Coast
Cafe Catalina offers modern Australian cafe dining in a spectacular location on the absolute beachfront of the Gold Coast Broadwater!
You can enjoy a beautiful meal and glass of wine overlooking the sparkling and calm waters while the kids enjoy the grassy area or the water. You're also right next to the Broadwater parklands and pathways to enjoy after lunch.
Cafe CatalinaMontezumas
Surfers Paradise – Central Gold Coast
Mexican foodie’s rejoice! There is a family restaurant for you on the Gold Coast that the kids will love. Dive into signature tacos, nachos, and burritos or let the kids create their own dinner with fajitas.
Thursdays are buy 1, get 1 free main meals nights, and once business resumes as usual nightly kids activities will be reinstated which include free colouring in books, poncho making, maraca crafts, and counting in Spanish to keep the kids entertained!
Montezuma's
Bumbles Cafe
Budds Beach, Surfers Paradise - Central Gold Coast
Bumbles Cafe is the perfect breakfast and lunch nook for families. The cafe has long been a favourite among families with a great area for kids to play as well as a decent kids menu.
Budds Beach
Norfolk Tavern
Ormeau - Northern Gold Coast
The Norfolk Tavern is a fantastic Gold Coast Family Restaurant that boasts well-sized meals, a great family-friendly atmosphere, and a lovely deck for outdoor dining. The restaurant boasts both a games room and playground to entertain the children after they’ve eaten.
Norfolk TavernKalinda Restaurant at Royal Pines
Benowa – Central Gold Coast
Kalinda Restaurant offers an absolutely delicious breakfast buffet on the Gold Coast with a huge variety to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters! Not to mention kids aged 4 and under eat free and once they’ve had their fill they can explore the outside playground or use the colouring books and pencils.
Dinner is no longer served at Kalinda, however, Trattoria Amici next door also have access to the outdoor play area for early dinners (the playground is open dawn til dusk) and a great kids menu.
Kalina Restaurant at Royal PinesShogun Teppanyaki
Southport – Central Gold Coast
Shogun Teppanyaki is an exciting experience for adults and children alike! Engaging chefs fling food through the air before it lands on sizzling hot plates all while keeping up fantastic conversation. Of course the meals are incredibly filling and diverse so they cater to even the fussiest of eaters and you will always leave full.
This is a great dining option for kids that doesn’t include a playground and shows kids that sitting at a table and enjoying a meal can be entertaining and fun!
Shogun Teppanyaki
Robina Tavern
Robina – Southern Gold Coast
Robina Tavern is nestled on the Robina waterfront offering beautiful lake views for the adults while the kids area is filled with video games, face painting, and special visits from Fairy Princess and Baggy Pants the hilarious clowns to keep the children amused for hours. The kids even have their own toilet facilities at Robina Tavern!
Mum and Dad will love the STONEGRILL menu for the perfectly cooked steak, the live entertainment on the deck, and the great prices. Kids even eat free on Saturdays between 5.30pm and 8.30pm – Gold Coast family dining at its best!
All staff have completed COVID-19 safe operations training and the restaurant is adhering to all safety standards.
Robina Tavern‘OX’ Oxenford Tavern
Oxenford – Northern Gold Coast
The Oxenford Tavern is a great spot on the northern Gold Coast to stop in for a hearty meal and to let the kids really enjoy a meal out. There is a PlayStation room with great games, kids only TV screens, as well as an indoor playground to keep the kids amused for hours.
They can also select their own meals from the fun kids menu that take them through a 3 step process of selecting a meal, side of heathy salad or veggies, and drink for just $9! You can add dessert for another $3. Dine on a Monday night for a FREE kid’s meal with every adult main.
Oxenford TavernHarvest Buffet at The Star Casino (Temporarily Closed - MG Cafe & Bar is open in The Star)
Broadbeach – Central Gold Coast
Harvest Buffet is an all-encompassing dining option as far as Gold Coast family restaurants go! It is a great option for both hungry and fussy eaters, as there is plenty of choice, all of which is of the best quality.
Kids 12 years and under eat free on Tuesdays.
Current dining options at The Star include Nineteen, which is a fine dining setting.
Lone Star Tavern
Mermaid Beach – Southern Gold Coast
If you love steak and chips, then Lone Star Tavern should be your top choice! This Gold Coast family restaurant boasts a great atmosphere, a variety of Graziers steaks, and both an indoor and outdoor playground the kids will love.
Cavills Steakhouse (Formerly Cav's Steakhouse in Labrador)
Runaway Bay – Northern Gold Coast
Cav’s Steakhouse is a favourite among visitors and locals alike for family restaurants on the Gold Coast as it boasts an indoor playground, colouring in, and a great kids menu including fresh fish, chicken, ribs, steak with veggies topped off with a FREE ice cream dessert!
Meanwhile adults will love Cav’s premium aged steaks and fresh seafood paired with the fully licensed bar!
Cav's Steakhouse
Hogs Breath Café
Main Beach – Central Gold Coast
Delicious steak and schnitzels can be found in abundance at this Gold Coast family restaurant, and is usually served with its partner in crime – curly fries.
Kids will love the Hogsters Kids Club and menu with every meal including a curly fries or salad, plus a free drink and 2 free scoups of ice cream for dinner! Of course the beach is just across the road for building sand castles and swims afterwards.
Hogs Breath CafeBenowa Tavern
Benowa – Central Gold Coast
Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious meal of char grilled steak, a local favourite the Benowa burger, or a salad at the Benowa Tavern while overlooking the Gold Coast canals. Meanwhile the kids can go crazy on the indoor and outdoor playgrounds! They can even settle down after their meal in the PlayStation room.
Southport Sharks (Currently Open)
Southport – Central Gold Coast
Frenzys is welcoming guests with their new and improved dining style to follow covid-safe guidelines. Families will still enjoy a wide variety of authentic and delicious meals.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all catered for with neighbouring Aviary Rooftop bar offering all you can eat pizza too!
Kids will absolutely love the Wobbygongs Kids Fun Zone! The large play area for children aged 3 to 12 years offers a rock-climbing wall, mini basketball court, PlayStations, and kids theatrette showing the latest movies and tv shows. Books are advised!
Southport SharksBurleigh Town Tavern
Burleigh – Southern Gold Coast
Burleigh Town Tavern is a family favourite on the Gold Coast as they offer great cuisine and loads of attractions for the kids! There is a large outdoor playground as well as a Playstation and games room to keep the little ones entertained for hours while Mum and Dad can enjoy their meals and relax.
The BTT also host colouring in competitions regularly, and have “Family Sundays” which incorporate a FREE jumping castle, face painter, and specialised kids menu! They even host regular Kids Disco’s that are complete with themes and prizes! They also specialise in children’s birthday parties that include a party host, party bags, games and prizes, a kid’s platter, and more.
With increased health and safety regulations these events are likely to be modified. Call the restaurant for specific information.
Dog and Parrot Tavern
Robina – Southern Gold Coast
The Dog and Parrot Tavern is a Gold Coast family favourite with a well-priced menu, and a range of activities for the kids including colouring in and face painting why not splurge on a night out with the family?!
There is also an outdoor play area that’s shaded and an indoor games room complete with PlayStation.
Dog and Parrot TavernOutback Jacks (Permanently Closed)
Mermaid Beach – Southern Gold Coast
Outback Jacks is a fantastic Gold Coast family restaurant with famous steaks, kid’s games room, walk-in wine room, 70’s style booth seating, free colouring in books for all children, and so much more you can’t look past Outback Jacks for family dining!
Pop in for dinner between 5pm and 7pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for Kids Eat Free!
Toscani’s (Permanently Closed)
Surfers Paradise – Central Gold Coast & Helensvale – Northern Gold Coast
Toscani’s is a lovely family restaurant with two locations on the Gold Coast that specialises in delightful Italian cuisine.
Kids can experience these authentic tastes from their very own menu and eat FREE on Sunday to Wednesday nights with the purchase of an adult meal! Once they’ve finished they can play to their hearts content on the outdoor playground situated right next to the outdoor seating.