From cafes with play areas to family-friendly pubs, clubs and restaurants, these are the Sutherland Shire venues local mums recommend for breakfast, lunch and dinner with kids.
Looking for somewhere to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner with kids in the Sutherland Shire? These family-friendly cafés, clubs, pubs and restaurants have been handpicked from recommendations shared by local mums in the Mums of the Shire community.
A family meal can look very different depending on the day. Sometimes it is breakfast and a coffee while the little ones play nearby. Other times it is woodfired pizza beside a playground, fish tacos by the beach or a restaurant dinner where the food and cocktails are just as appealing to the adults.
The venues on this list have earned their place for different reasons. Some have supervised kids’ areas, some have brilliant outdoor playgrounds and others combine great food with the kind of relaxed setting that makes dining with children easy.
Here are the local spots mums recommend for eating out with kids across the Sutherland Shire.
In this guide
Caringbah
Tradies Caringbah
Tradies Caringbah makes family dining feel genuinely relaxed, thanks to Playspace, its supervised indoor kids’ area for children aged three to 12. Kids can climb, play and get creative while parents settle in for lunch or dinner at Nor East Café & Bistro nearby.
The menu has plenty of choice, from seafood, salads and share plates to pub favourites and kids’ meals. The garlic sizzling prawns are a standout, and the coconut margarita is worth keeping in mind when you feel like ordering a drink.
Playspace sessions are $5 per child for members, with a second session available for $3 when space allows. Tradies members can also access Kids Eat Free on Thursdays and Sundays with the purchase of an eligible main meal.
Kirrawee
The Prince Hotel, Kirrawee
The Prince has become much easier for families since its renovation, with extra parking, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and an undercover kids’ area with play equipment, games and basketball hoops.
The bistro menu covers pizzas, burgers, schnitzels, seafood, salads, share plates and meals for kids, while the stylish fit-out and cocktail list make it feel like somewhere the adults have chosen too.
Book ahead and ask for a table close to the play area so you can keep an eye on the kids from your seat. The Prince also runs kids’ activities on selected Sundays and during school holidays.
Menai
Club Central Menai
Club Central Menai is made for those days when you want the kids properly entertained while you enjoy a meal.
Kids Central is a supervised indoor space for children aged four to 12, with gaming consoles, movie screens, creative activities and play equipment. Sessions run for two hours, which gives everyone time to settle in rather than rushing through dinner.
The Terrace Bistro serves a broad menu of club favourites, seafood, steaks, burgers, salads and kids’ meals. It is also a handy one to remember when the weather rules out an outdoor playground.
Taren Point
Taren Point Hotel
Taren Point Hotel comes into its own on a sunny afternoon. The large outdoor area gives families plenty of room, with a play zone and regular children’s activities adding to the appeal.
The food offering includes pub classics, burgers, schnitzels, seafood, tacos and casual share plates, with a separate menu for kids. There is also a good cocktail list and plenty of onsite parking.
School holiday events often include everything from slime making and reptile visits to pizza making and kids’ bingo, so it is worth checking what is happening before you book.
Kurnell
Kurnell Rec Club
Known locally as the Reccas, Kurnell Rec Club has an outdoor play area and the relaxed atmosphere you want after a morning at the beach or exploring Kurnell.
Endeavour Chinese Restaurant serves lunch and dinner, with a menu filled with Chinese favourites, seafood, noodles, rice dishes and plenty of shareable options. The club also regularly has raffles, live music and community events on the calendar.
It is an easy addition to a family day out at Silver Beach or Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
Bangor
Roberto’s at Bangor Tavern
Roberto’s at Bangor Tavern pairs a large outdoor playground with a menu that feels a little more considered than the usual pub offering.
Woodfired pizza, pasta and Italian-inspired share plates sit alongside schnitzels, burgers and a dedicated kids’ menu. The drinks list includes spritzes, cocktails and wine, so there is plenty for the adults to enjoy too.
Ask for a table in the alfresco area near the playground when booking. There is also plenty of onsite parking, making it an easy meeting place for a few families.
Caringbah
The Willarong, Caringbah
The Willarong has a glass-enclosed play area with a climbing gym, slide and beanbag zone, positioned so parents can keep an eye on the action from the surrounding bistro tables.
Willo’s Kitchen serves classic bistro food, lunch specials, hearty mains and a dedicated kids’ menu. The Sunday roast is another favourite with locals.
There is a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome in the alfresco area, so nobody needs to miss out on the family outing.
Sylvania
Sylvania Bowling Club
Sylvania Bowling Club is made for a relaxed lunch on a sunny day. Its outdoor kids’ play area gives children plenty to do while parents enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of a local bowlo.
Bistro on Holt serves burgers, steaks, calamari, salads, sandwiches and children’s meals, along with rotating specials. The club also hosts raffles, trivia and live entertainment throughout the week.
It is casual, friendly and easy to settle into when you want lunch to stretch into the afternoon.
To book, call 02 9522 8638.
Kurnell
Cook at Kurnell
Cook at Kurnell brings beachside views, colourful food and plenty of space together beside Silver Beach.
The menu takes inspiration from Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Bali and the Mediterranean, with breakfast dishes, burgers, fish tacos, sandwiches and casual lunch favourites. There is also coffee, cocktails and a drinks menu made for long lunches by the water.
The outdoor play area and relaxed setting give kids room to move, while the Port Botany outlook makes it feel like more than a standard café visit.
Caringbah South
The Laneway Cafe, Caringbah South
The Laneway Cafe is a welcoming neighbourhood spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch with younger kids.
The menu goes beyond basic café staples, with dishes such as shakshuka, homemade beans, burgers and seasonal specials, alongside good coffee, fresh juices and a children’s menu.
Hidden out the back, the cosy courtyard is a lovely little surprise and adds to the neighbourhood charm of The Laneway Cafe. Castelnau Street Reserve sits directly behind it, so it is easy to follow breakfast or lunch with a play at the shaded playground.
Cronulla
Salt Meats Cheese, Cronulla
Salt Meats Cheese is one to remember when you want a beautiful place to eat in Cronulla without ruling it out because the kids are coming.
Set inside the heritage-listed Banc building in Cronulla Mall, the menu is filled with pizza, pasta, antipasti and Italian desserts, along with wine, spritzes and cocktails.
The tip from local mums is to book a table outside. The playground in Cronulla Mall is right there, so you can keep an eye on the kids if they are ready to leave the table before everyone else.
Woronora
The Boatshed Woronora
The Boatshed Woronora combines breakfast, lunch and coffee with one of the prettiest café settings in the Shire.
Sitting beside Loftus Creek near the Woronora River, it has peaceful water views and a menu covering breakfast favourites, café lunches and meals for kids. The loaded milkshakes, topped with ice cream and fairy floss, also receive plenty of love from local families.
Families with older children can hire canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, while Burnum Burnum Sanctuary and its large playground are only a few minutes away.
Kirrawee
South Village Dining Precinct, Kirrawee
South Village takes the pressure off choosing one restaurant when everyone is in the mood for something different.
The precinct has cafés, casual restaurants and takeaway options serving a range of international cuisines across breakfast, lunch and dinner. Several dining spaces overlook the indoor children’s playground, so the kids can play nearby while you have a meal or coffee.
Undercover parking and parent facilities make it particularly handy on rainy days or when you are meeting another family.
Miranda
Oli’s Cafe, Miranda
Oli’s Cafe has a cute play area and enclosed yard, giving younger kids somewhere to play while breakfast, brunch or lunch is happening nearby.
The menu includes specialty coffee, all-day brunch, café favourites and seasonal dishes, with plenty that feels appealing to adults as well as children.
The relaxed courtyard is also a lovely setting for mothers’ groups, weekend breakfasts and catch-ups where you want to stay for more than one coffee.
Taren Point
Taren Point Bowling Club
Taren Point Bowling Club has the easygoing feel of a local bowlo, with lots of outdoor space, a renovated children’s playground and a small indoor games room.
The menu brings together Chinese dishes and familiar pub food, which is handy when you are dining with a group and everyone wants something different. There is plenty of space to settle in for the afternoon, particularly when the weather is good.
Members can also use the courtesy bus, making it possible to enjoy a couple of drinks without needing to organise the drive home.
Bonnet Bay
Wolfpack Woodfire, Bonnet Bay
Wolfpack Woodfire is a laid-back local spot for woodfired pizza, pasta and casual family dinners.
The playground right beside the venue is a major bonus, particularly when dining with younger kids. Parking is easy, the atmosphere is relaxed and it is BYO, so you can bring your preferred drinks along.
Wolfpack is open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, with lunch available on weekends.
View the Wolfpack Woodfire menu →
To book, call 02 9528 0569.
Bundeena
Bundeena Bowling Club
Bundeena Bowling Club gives you a very good reason to turn lunch into a full day out.
The large playground and outdoor seating are perfect for families coming from the beach, ferry or one of Bundeena’s walking tracks. The Green Bistro serves club favourites and Asian-inspired dishes, with plenty of choice for adults and kids.
On a warm summer day, pack the kids’ cossies. You can take the ferry from Cronulla, head to the club for lunch, then finish with a swim near the Bundeena ferry wharf before heading home.
Menai
Rocksalt, Menai
Rocksalt is for the days when you want dinner with the kids to feel like a proper night out.
The modern Australian menu is beautifully presented, the service is friendly and the children’s menu means younger diners are well covered. The cocktails are excellent too.
It suits birthdays, dinners with grandparents or any occasion where you want something more polished without choosing a restaurant that feels uncomfortable with children.
More Places to Eat With Kids in the Sutherland Shire
Whether you are searching for a kid-friendly café for breakfast, a relaxed weekend lunch or somewhere the whole family can enjoy dinner, the Sutherland Shire has plenty of places to choose from.
This guide has been handpicked from recommendations shared by local mums in the Mums of the Shire community. Play areas, menus, opening hours and weekly offers can change, so check directly with each venue before visiting.
Know another family-friendly café or restaurant that belongs on the list? Send your recommendation to the Mums of the Shire team so we can continue updating the guide.
