Pubs & restaurants with playgrounds in Melbourne
Melbourne's big family pubs are in the suburbs: Wheelers Hill's Stadium 1 sits in the middle of the dining room, the Matthew Flinders near Chadstone has its own kids' bowling arcade, and Edwardes Lake and Berwick Springs both have Kid's Planet playgrounds with a separate zone for under-fives. Down the Peninsula, the Dava at Mount Martha and the Pig & Whistle at Main Ridge put outdoor playgrounds beside the view.
Every venue below has its play area on its own website, and the description says only what that site says, linked underneath. Playgrounds shut for functions and some pubs keep short kitchen hours, so it pays to check the day you go.
Inner
PUB · MELBOURNE
Good Nature Hotel
The Good Nature Hotel is in Federation Square, handy for a family day in the city, with a pub, a beer garden and a kids' playground. There's a kids' menu, free entertainment on Sundays in the early afternoon, from face painting to balloon twisting, and the kitchen runs from 11:30am every day. It takes bookings on its website.
Play area Kids' playground within the pub, with free Sunday kids' entertainment
PUB · HAWTHORN EAST
Auburn Hotel
The Auburn Hotel in Hawthorn East has a children's playground in its open-air beer garden, with a covered courtyard and a raised deck looking over it. Kids are welcome with a parent, dogs are allowed in the courtyard and beer garden, and there are school holiday craft sessions. The Pavilion dining room can be booked for birthdays.
Play area Children's playground in the open-air beer garden
Northern
PUB · RESERVOIR
Edwardes Lake Hotel
Kid's Planet at the Edwardes Lake Hotel is an indoor playground beside the bistro, for kids 12 and under, with Junior Kid's Planet set aside for the under-fives. It isn't staff-supervised, so an adult stays with them; shoes on, and no food or drink in the play area. On Friday nights from 6pm to 8pm there's rotating kids' entertainment, from magic to face painting.
Play area Kid's Planet indoor playground beside the family bistro
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · COOLAROO
Coolaroo Hotel
The Coolaroo Hotel's play area is indoors, inside the family bistro, and big enough that the hotel promotes it for children's birthday parties. There's a kids' menu, the bistro is open seven days, and tables can be booked online. The hotel also has Nightcap Hotel rooms on site.
Play area Large indoor playground for children near the bistro
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · BUNDOORA
Bundoora Hotel
The Bundoora Hotel has an indoor playground in its family bistro, with a kids' menu for the children and a seniors' menu for the grandparents.
Play area Indoor playground beside the Family Bistro
PUB · PRESTON
Cramer's Hotel
Cramer's Hotel in Preston has an indoor playground and play area, a dedicated kids' menu, and a bistro that opens for lunch from 11:30am and dinner from 5:30pm every day.
Play area Indoor playground and play area for kids
PUB · HADFIELD
First & Last Hotel
The First & Last Hotel at Hadfield has a large indoor playground that parents can keep an eye on from the bistro. There are kids' and seniors' menus, and the hotel promotes itself for children's birthday parties.
Play area Large indoor playground watchable from the bistro
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · COOLAROO
Roxburgh Park Hotel
The Roxburgh Park Hotel on Somerton Road has its kids' play room at the side of the buffet bistro, with soft play, slides and climbing, and parents can see into it from their tables. The buffet includes food for kids.
Play area Separate play room beside bistro: soft play, slides, climbing
Eastern
PUB · WHEELERS HILL
Wheelers Hill Hotel
Wheelers Hill Hotel's Stadium 1 playground sits right in the heart of the dining area, and the hotel calls it enormous. The family bistro has floor-to-ceiling windows onto the Dandenong Ranges and a fireplace, and the Lower Terrace function room beside the playground takes kids' parties. It's close to Jells Park, in a building that started out as the Mulgrave Post Office in 1876.
Play area Stadium 1 kids' playground set in the middle of the dining area
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · CHADSTONE
Matthew Flinders Hotel
Near Chadstone, the Matthew Flinders has a huge kids' play area with its own bowling arcade and a full games arcade next to it, laid out so parents can see the children from the tables. The menu has a kids' section, the bistro serves lunch and dinner every day, and kids' parties run on weekends.
Play area Huge kids' play area including its own bowling arcade
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · BORONIA
Boronia Hotel
The Boronia Hotel has a Kid's Planet indoor playground for kids 12 and under, with a Junior Kid's Planet kept for five and under. Staff don't supervise, so an adult stays with them, and food and drink stay out. Friday nights bring free face painting, and there are party packages in the hotel's own party spaces.
Play area Kid's Planet indoor playground plus Junior area for under-fives
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · DONCASTER
The Doncaster Hotel
The Doncaster Hotel has a large indoor playground, a kid-friendly menu in its family bistro, and free kids' entertainment on some weeknights.
Play area Large indoor playground next to the Family Bistro
PUB · MOUNT EVELYN
York On Lilydale
York On Lilydale at Mount Evelyn has two kids' play areas, one inside and one out, both in view of the family bistro. There are kids' and seniors' meals, and kids' entertainment shows through the year.
Play area Two kids play areas, one indoor and one outdoor
PUB · RINGWOOD
Manhattan Hotel
The Manhattan Hotel in Ringwood has a kids' playground at its Feast buffet, plus a movie room with bean bags, and kids aged three and under eat free at the buffet.
Play area Kids playground plus movie room with bean bags at Feast Buffet
South-Eastern/Bayside
PUB · BERWICK
Berwick Springs Hotel
Berwick Springs has a Kid's Planet playground indoors next to the bistro: the main equipment is for 12 and under, and a junior section keeps under-fives apart from the bigger kids. Parents supervise throughout. The bistro serves all day on Saturdays and Sundays, and there are kids' party packages in their own party spaces.
Play area Kid's Planet indoor playground next to the family bistro
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
PUB · CHELSEA HEIGHTS
Chelsea Heights Hotel
Chelsea Heights Hotel renovated its kids' space, The Stadium, around a new jungle gym that the hotel describes as extensive. The kids' menu covers ages up to 12, the bistro is light-filled with an alfresco area outside, and it serves from 11:30am to 9pm every day. Edithvale Beach is about eight minutes' drive away.
Play area The Stadium: recently renovated, very large indoor kids' play space
PUB · CLAYTON
Monash Hotel
The Monash Hotel in Clayton has a large indoor kids' playground in its family bistro, so parents can sit over a meal while the kids play. There are kids' and seniors' menus, and Dooley's Irish Bar next door.
Play area Large indoor kids playground dedicated to children, beside Family Bistro
PUB · CRANBOURNE
The Settlement Hotel
The Settlement Hotel in Cranbourne has a Kids Zone indoor playground for kids up to 12, with climbing, jumping and sliding and an interactive play screen. The family bistro serves lunch and dinner seven days, and there's a motel on site.
Play area Kids Zone indoor playground for up to 12s: climb, jump, slide
PUB · BEACONSFIELD
Pink Hill Hotel
The Pink Hill Hotel at Beaconsfield has indoor and outdoor play zones; the indoor one is a separate room off the bistro with soft play, slides and climbing, in view of the tables. There's a beer garden and live shows too.
Play area Indoor and outdoor play zones; indoor room with soft play, slides, climbing
PUB · CARRUM DOWNS
Sands Hotel
The Sands Hotel at Carrum Downs has both an indoor and an outdoor playground, a kids' menu in the Sands Bistro, and kids' entertainment on a range of days.
Play area Indoor and outdoor playground
PUB · PAKENHAM
Castello's Cardinia Hotel
Castello's Cardinia Hotel in Pakenham has an expansive kids' play area spread indoors and out, a special kids' menu in the bistro, and regular giveaways for kids.
Play area Expansive indoor/outdoor kids play area
Western
PUB · SUNSHINE
Glengala Hotel
The Glengala in Sunshine has an indoor playground in its family bistro, which opens for lunch and dinner every day. There are kids' and seniors' menus, bookings can be made online, parking is plentiful, and a private function room takes up to 70 seated for a birthday.
Play area Indoor kids' playground inside the family bistro
CLUB · TARNEIT
Club Tarneit
Club Tarneit's kids' play area is indoors, just off a bistro full of natural light that serves lunch and dinner every day. There are meals made for kids, face painting on Friday evenings from 5:30pm, and a cafe on site for coffee and cake.
Play area Dedicated indoor kids' play area inside the club
PUB · BRAYBROOK
Braybrook Hotel
The Braybrook Hotel's Kids Zone is a multi-level indoor playground with climbing frames, tunnels and slides, and a smaller zone that keeps the little ones apart. It's fully enclosed with mesh walls you can see through from the dining room, and it opens with the international buffet's sessions, closed on Mondays.
Play area Kids Zone: multi-level climbing frames, tunnels, slides; separate toddler zone
PUB · MELTON
Mac's Hotel
Mac's Hotel in Melton has an indoor playground by its family bistro, with kids' and seniors' menus.
Play area Indoor playground area beside the Family Bistro
CLUB · DEER PARK
Deer Park Club
The Deer Park Club has a double-storey kids' playground next to its family bistro, and free kids' entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm and at Sunday lunch, from face painting and balloon twisting to magic.
Play area Double-storey kids' playground next to large family bistro
CLUB · ALTONA
Altona Sports Club
Altona Sports Club has an enclosed children's playground, and families are welcome in the Bayview Bistro and the Seaview Lounge. The bistro is closed on Mondays.
Play area Enclosed children's playground
From Altona Sports Club ↗
PUB · YARRAVILLE
The Victoria Hotel
The Victoria Hotel in Yarraville has a Kids Room away from the bistro and bar, with soft play, a toy train and kiosk, a magnetic wall, a drawing station and reading nooks. There's free parking, pram access, high chairs and baby change, live kids' entertainment on Sunday afternoons, and themed kids' party tables.
Play area Separate Kids Room: soft play, train and kiosk, Lego-style walls, reading nooks
🎉 Hosts kids’ parties Their party page ↗
Mornington Peninsula
PUB · MOUNT MARTHA
The Dava Hotel
On the Mount Martha esplanade, the Dava has a play zone that runs from an indoor playroom for little ones to a big playground outside. The Rainbow Room was designed for families, there's a separate kids' menu, and the decks look over Port Phillip Bay. It's open seven days for lunch and dinner.
Play area Indoor playroom for little ones plus a large outdoor playground
PUB · MAIN RIDGE
The Pig & Whistle
The Pig & Whistle at Main Ridge has a naturally built adventure playground opposite a beer garden with views of Port Phillip Bay, on 30 acres where kangaroos often graze. Those playground and garden tables are walk-in only and depend on the weather, while the 90-seat restaurant needs a booking on weekends. Meals are served Thursday to Sunday.
Play area Naturally built adventure playground opposite the beer garden, plus rolling lawns
PUB · LANGWARRIN
Beretta's Langwarrin Hotel
Beretta's at Langwarrin has the Worx Zone, a four-level soft play area, and a special kids' menu. Its free Kids Club, for ages 1 to 10 living within 40 km, brings kids' shows, lucky dips and birthday treats, and Monday is Kids Night Out.
Play area Four-level Worx Zone soft play area
PUB · SOMERVILLE
Somerville Hotel
The Somerville Hotel has an indoor playground you can watch from the family bistro while you eat, with a kids' menu and a seniors' menu.
Play area Indoor playground visible while dining in the Family Bistro
CLUB · FRANKSTON
Frankston RSL
Frankston RSL has three play areas for under-eights and one for bigger kids, plus a brand-new play area in its undercover alfresco. The Four Seasons Bistro has a children's menu with a gelato and activity pack, and CP's function space has a playground of its own.
Play area Three play areas for under-eights, one for bigger kids; undercover alfresco play space
Other cities
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Checked on each venue’s own website. Play areas can close for events or bad weather, so check before you go. We are not paid to list them. Run one of these venues? Tell us if anything has changed.