I love Austin for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is the huge number of restaurants that make it easy to go out to eat as a family with small kids.
In past cities we’ve lived in (get it together, Houston and Dallas!), kid-friendly restaurant options just meant that the restaurant was relaxed, tolerated kids and maybe had some space for kids to run around if you were lucky. In Austin there are dozens of places to eat or drink that not only have plenty of room but have constructed playgrounds so kids can play and get their energy out while adults get to enjoy their meal!
Here are the more than 60 restaurants with playgrounds in and around Austin (and breweries too!), organized by area of town! Whether you’re visiting Austin or just looking for a new spot to try, you’re sure to find something both you and your kids will love.
If you’re looking for my top recommendations, my top 10 favorites are:
- Central Market North Lamar
- Phil’s Icehouse
- Hat Creek
- Fieldhouse at the Crossover
- Brentwood Social House
- The Hive
- Meanwhile Brewing Co.
- Littlefield’s
- Nomadic Outpost
- Fitzhugh Brewing
Find one near you with this map!
In This Post
Restaurants With Playgrounds With Multiple Locations
1. Mandola’s
Cedar Park
12100 W. Parmer Ln Ste. 200
Cedar Park, TX 78613
William Cannon
4301 W William Cannon Dr E-1
Austin, TX 78749
If you’re in the mood for Italian, head to Mandola’s Cedar Park location and let the kids run off their energy while you enjoy your pasta. There’s playgrounds and space to run around. Bonus: Kids meals come with gelato!
Mandola’s actually shares this playground space with Super Sap’s, if you’re more in the mood for Thai food than Italian!
2. Phil’s Icehouse
Burnet
5620 Burnet Rd.
Austin, TX 78756
South Lamar
2901 S. Lamar Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
North 183
13265 US Hwy 183 N
Austin, TX 78750
Phil’s Icehouse is one of my favorite restaurants to go with my kids. I love their burgers and fries, and how each location’s playground is different.
They’re always next to an Amy’s Ice Cream (because they’re owned by the same people), so there’s no question of what’s for dessert!
3. Hat Creek Burger Company
Lots of locations
We’ve been to at least six of the Hat Creek locations around the Austin area, and they’ve all been great options. Even the Domain location, which can get a little crazy, is a great bribe to get your kids to cooperate on a shopping trip.
They serve breakfast and lunch/dinner options, so you can go in the morning and keep playing right through lunch (something we have done more times than I should admit)!
4. Waterloo Ice House
Burnet Rd.
8600 Burnet Rd.
Austin, TX 78757
360 & 2222
6203 N Capital of Texas Hwy
Austin, TX 78731
Escarpment
9600 Escarpment Blvd.
Austin, TX 78749
If you’re on your way home from swimming or hiking at Emma Long Metropolitan Park, stop by the 360 & 2222 location of Waterloo Ice House for a meal or snack and let the kids play on the playground. Lots of space outside and lots of shady trees.
Fair warning on the Escarpment location — there are no tables in or right next to the playground area, so you can’t really supervise from the table.
Central Austin Restaurants With Playgrounds
1. Central Market
4001 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin TX 78756
When we moved to Austin, everyone always told us we had to go to Central Market on North Lamar. I thought that was strange until we went there.
Huge patio with live music many weekends (you can check out the schedule online), restaurant and drinks you can order inside, a big-kid playground and a toddler playground, as well as a turtle pond with a huge low tree.
You can go for coffee on a weekday morning or drinks at night, they have kids meals, and you can pick up a few groceries while you’re there!
2. Whole Foods
525 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78703
On the roof of Whole Foods downtown, there’s an adorable little playground (recently replaced) — plus lots of shaded tables if you want to buy some food to eat up there and lounge chairs overlooking the street below. Whole Foods of course has grocery options, but also has lots of hot food to order if you want a proper meal.
There’s a parking garage underground and an elevator that can take you straight to the roof or inside the store.
3. Brentwood Social House
1601 W Koenig Ln.
Austin, TX 78756
My kids love the pirate ship playground, and I love the small, fenced-in yard that makes it very easy to keep an eye on them. It’s a great spot for a parent to get some work done, have some coffee and get some snacks for your kids.
Pro tip: The house made mustard is amazing. Order the pretzel with the mustard and you’ve got a meal.
4. Littlefield’s
2401 Winsted Lane
Austin, TX 78703
This is the cutest place right in the middle of Austin in Tarrytown! Come get Cookie Rich or Veracruz Tacos from their permanent trucks here, grab a table and watch the kids play on the turf hill and tunnel.
Parking is tricky — the lot is tiny and most of it is reserved for residents of the little condos right there. You should be able to find plenty of street parking, but there aren’t a lot of sidewalks in the neighborhood, so be careful!
5. Home Slice North Loop
501 E. 53rd St.
Austin, TX 78751
Home Slice is an Austin classic — highly recommend if you’re visiting and looking for a pizza place with Austin vibes.
The play area isn’t a traditional playscape. It’s a bunch of turf-covered hills and tunnels, which children seem to LOVE. We have several of these turf/hill type places in Austin, and I’m always shocked by how well and long my kids will play on them.
6. El Mercado
1302 S. 1st St.
Austin, TX 78704
This Mexican restaurant has a little backyard playscape with a slide and a small area for kids to dig in the dirt and play with small toys.
7. Double Trouble
103 N Loop Blvd E
Austin, TX 78751
This is a great all-day spot! They serve both coffee and cocktails, plus tacos (including vegan options!). There’s a big patio with a stage and trees, plus a little play area set apart from the rest of the patio.
It is covered in turf with hills, tires, and colorful animals to sit on. The quirky murals in the play area give it the perfect Austin vibes.
8. Lazarus Brewing (Airport Blvd.)
4803 Airport Blvd
Austin TX 78751
Another spot that opens early and stays open late, the Airport location of Lazarus Brewing is so fun. They have a big turquoise pirate ship playscape and silly animals to rock on. Grab a beer, a coffee, or some Tex Mex food.
9. Camp Out
6700 Burnet Rd.
Austin, TX
This North Central spot is connected to Yard Bar, so your kids can see all kinds of pups running around the neighboring dog run (safely on the other side of a fence!). There’s a playscape and small soccer pitch with goal, so all ages can run around here.
10. Casa de Luz
1701 Toomey Rd
Austin, TX 78704
Casa de Luz is a special spot — a wellness community/space with a restaurant and playground. Their menu is organic, whole-plant focused, and you don’t choose from a menu when you go. You just have what’s offered that day! Even if you’re not used to this type of healthy food, you’ll enjoy it more than you expect — they do a great job making it flavorful.
East Austin Restaurants With Playgrounds
1. Redbud Ice House
2027 Anchor Ln
Austin, TX 78723
This East Austin spot that opened in 2024 is a great hangout! It’s got a big patio, complete with play area, which includes balance beams and a see saw. Burgers, soft serve and a kids menu — the perfect place to meet friends with kids.
It shares its parking lot with Batch, which is also a fun place for both kids and adults.
2. Stargazer
979 Springdale, Suite 130
Austin, TX 78702
This all-day cafe is perfect for coffee with kids during the day and for date night! It is such a cute space all around, and the tall rocket ship playscape is totally unique.
3. Austin Beerworks Sprinkle Valley
10300 Springdale Rd
Austin, TX
If you’re looking for a great hangout spot, I love this ABW location. There is so much space, and it’s kid-friendly inside and outside. There’s a treehouse playground outside plus toys like blocks and trucks, and there’s a family room inside with toys that is separate from the rest of the brewery.
4. Oddwood Brewing
3108 Manor Rd.
Austin, TX 78723
This is the total package for a family outing! Oddwood Brewing has a shaded turf area around the back with small playhouses, stepping stones and other fun toys. Inside, there is a little room with retro arcade games (plus Super Smash Bros) all set to free play so you don’t have to pay.
5. Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches
3220 Manor Rd.
Austin, TX 78723
This cute little spot is great all day long. There’s coffee, delicious kolaches and beer. In their shaded backyard, there are turf hills and toadstools plus a bocce ball court. It also shares its parking lot with Redbud Ice House for double the fun.
South Austin (and Suburbs) Restaurants With Playgrounds
1. The Hive
10542 Menchaca Rd.
Austin, TX 78748
We love The Hive. It’s the ideal place to hang out with a beer on a weekend day or grab coffee with friends during the week. There’s a two-story barn playground built by the owners (with picnic tables right next to it) and a hilly turf area with a bunch of small playhouses perfect for toddlers.
They have coffee, beer, breakfast tacos, donuts, and more.
2. Bouldin Acres
2027 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
This colorful place is lots of fun for both kids and adults — a great place to meet up with child-free friends where they’ll still enjoy themselves! There’s a cute fenced-in playground for the children and drinks, TV and pickleball courts for the grown-ups.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This BA location doesn’t allow children after 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. Easy Tiger South
3508 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
Relax at picnic tables under the big shady trees and let the kids play in the Little Tiger Den. It’s a turf area with chalkboards, balls and blocks, and a tunnel that’s just a little too big for kids to climb on.
4. Doc’s Backyard
5207 Brodie Ln. 100
Sunset Valley, TX 78745
Doc’s Backyard has an awesome playground — it’s like being at a park that has food and drinks. There’s a little playhouse, big playscape and even park-style swings!
5. Nomadic Outpost
3505 Country White Ln
Austin, TX 78749
This Sunset Valley spot is a beautiful place to hang out on a nice day. It has lots of picnic tables and chairs, and plenty of space to run around. There’s a small turf area plus a swing, ninja course, and a little playscape with really fun netting to climb and hang in.
They share their space with Slab BBQ and Daygos taco truck for your food fix, and they serve beer, coffee and cocktails.
6. Meanwhile Brewing Co.
3901 Promontory Point Dr.
Austin, Texas 78744
This place is more than a brewery; it’s a gathering place for all kinds of people, at all times of day. There are beers and other alcohol options of course, but they also have amazing food trucks and coffee options. The playground has natural wood elements, with a fort, rope net for climbing and a slide, plus a big metal jungle gym, all with lots of shade from the trees.
7. Way South Food Park
11300 Old San Antonio Rd
Manchaca, TX 78652
This is a fun hangout to meet up with friends or even just grab a coffee while the kids play. There’s a great coffee truck — Doxa — that opens early plus a handful of other food trucks. Get a meal or dessert, and the kids can play yard games or run around on the playscape — a couple slides, different ways to climb up and several platforms to hang out on.
8. Progress Coffee + Beer Buda
750 FM2001
Buda, TX 78610
I love this cute place for coffee and beer in Buda! The patio is huge with lots of seating and an adorable little playscape in the corner. Watch your kids’ heads though! The boards above the ladders are low and even little kids bonk their heads.
9. Thicket Food Park
7800 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745
You could hang out here all day! There are lots of food trucks situated around a yard with a small playscape, little ride-on toys, a metal merry-go-round and more.
10. Dear Austin
2310 S Lamar Blvd #102
Austin, TX 78704
This coffee shop serves coffee and drinks and has an awesome patio. There’s a big sandbox with toys, a play kitchen and a rocket ship with magnets and chalk inside.
(It’s also next door to its sister store, the cat cafe! Purrfecto Cat Lounge)
11. Moontower Saloon
10212 Menchaca Road
Austin, TX 78748
Here’s a spot to relax with lots of shade and a really chill vibe. Moontower Saloon has a colorful net playscape in its trees for kids to enjoy. They can bounce, run around and explore it. Plus giant Jenga, volleyball courts, and plenty of space.
Fair warning: it sounds like they sometimes charge $20 for parking (and you can potentially credit it toward your tab at the bar but not at the food truck). I’m not sure of the timing of when they charge!
12. Fast Friends Beer Co.
7313 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd
Austin, TX
You’ll love the space and playground at Fast Friends! The inside is lovely, and they have food, coffee, beer and other drinks. And the outside has wood playscape with a tunnel and slide.
North Austin Restaurants With Playscapes
1. Mesa Rosa
15515 Ranch Rd 620 N
Austin, TX 78717
Mesa Rosa has a huge covered patio and now has a shade structure over the playscape, so it’s a great option even on sunny summer days. The yard is huge, the playground is a little bit different than your typical restaurant playscape, and you can watch with a margarita in hand.
You likely will have to go find the kids every once in a while because there are some spots that aren’t too visible from the tables.
2. Aviator
4005 West Parmer Lane, Ste. E
Austin, TX 78727
Aviator Pizza is one our go-to restaurants on a weeknight. It happens to be close to where we live, but I would drive farther for the good pizza, beer and patio seating.
The playground was a little too big for our kids when they were toddlers( the ends of the slides are kind of high off the ground), but there are also rocks and trees to climb on. The kids are always finding different ways to play there.
The whole patio is enclosed, but fair warning, the fence is just a couple railings, so we’ve seen some of the more adventurous kids climb through it.
3. Garbo’s
12709 N. Mopac Expressway
Austin, Texas 78727
Garbo’s moved to a bigger space in 2020 with a great patio and has added a play area to its offerings. The fenced-in play yard has a pirate ship playscape, swing set, and ninja course for kids to enjoy while you hang out and eat lobster rolls.
Connor’s Creamery is connected to Garbo’s too, so you can get a sweet treat after you eat.
4. The Boat
10931 Stonelake Blvd.
Austin, TX 78759
The Boat is a seafood restaurant complete with a boat playscape! It has a good sized patio, a couple of arcade games, and is just across the highway from The Domain.
The boat playground has a tube slide, secret hideout underneath for kids, and lots of ways to climb on board.
5. Bouldin Acres Braker
1806 W Braker Ln
Austin, TX 78758
If you like a sports bar vibe (complete with pickleball courts!) but need it to be kid-friendly, Bouldin Acres is your place. This is the second location that opened in 2023 and added a playground a few months later. It’s at the back of the property past the pickleball courts and totally fenced in (though the gate is probably left open) so kids can run around without disturbing anyone back there.
6. Austin Beerworks
3001 Industrial Ter.
Austin, Tx 78758
The original location of ABW does a lot with a smaller outdoor space! This spot over near Q2 Stadium has a covered play area with turf hills and tunnels and a big chalkboard.
Northwest Austin Restaurants With Playgrounds
1. Rudy’s 620
7709 Ranch Road 620
Austin, TX 78726
Barbecue joints are pretty laid-back places as is, but add in a playground and it’s the perfect place for kids. If your kid won’t eat barbecue (no judgment; mine won’t!), there’s also breakfast tacos, sides and a range of desserts.
2. Oz Tap House
10601 RR 2222 Ste. H
Austin, TX 78730
This is one of the first playground restaurants we went to after moving to Austin, and we were so impressed! There’s a small covered patio with a playground to the side. There’s also green space outside the fence with cornhole.
This is a pour-your-own-beer place (but they also have pour-your-own wine and cocktails), which is a cool concept, but I think it’s a bit expensive and I’m terrible at pouring!
3. Oasthouse and Flores Mexican Restaurant
8300 N FM 620
Austin, TX 78726
Oasthouse and Flores Mexican Restaurant share a playground between their patios. It’s a cool option for parents to be able to choose between gastropub fare and Mexican food. This is a good option for bigger kids who can go to the playground by themselves or to use while waiting for your food (when a grownup can go with the kids). The playground is a little far down (though you may be able to see it from your table) and not fully fenced in.
4. Ski Shores
2905 Pearce Rd.
Austin, TX 78730
This Ski Shores location is a great spot if you’re wanting to enjoy the lake, have a meal and some drinks, and let the kids run around. It is RIGHT by the lake, so you can even boat there. Fair warning: there’s no playscape, but it does have a kids play area. There used to be a playscape, but they remodeled, and replaced the playground with a fenced area of turf hills for kids, plus a sand area.
West of Austin – Restaurants With Play Areas
1. Austin’s Pizza Westlake
3638 Bee Caves Rd
Austin, TX 78746
This pizza spot has a lot of outdoor space and a big ship playground! Great for a friends get-together.
2. Winston’s
4900 Bee Creek Road
Lakeway, TX 78669
The playscape at Winston’s coffee and pizza spot is adorable! It’s in the back and fully fenced in, next to shaded picnic tables.
3. FairLane Cocktails and Coffee
29035 Ranch Rd 12
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Cocktails, coffee and food trucks, plus lots of space and a big playscape at this Dripping Springs spot.
4. Sundancer Grill
16410 Stewart Rd
Lakeway, TX 78734
This restaurant playground has a lake view! (As long as the lake is high enough) Sundancer is right next to Lake Travis and the Sail and Ski Yacht Club Marina. The playground is separated from the eating area, but it’s perfect for when you’re waiting for your food or while the adults are still chatting.
5. Route 12 Filling Station
31560 Ranch Rd 12 #214
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
A restaurant with its own splash pad?! That’s Texas for you! Route 12 has a playscape and a splash pad during the summer.
6. Angel’s Icehouse
21815 State Hwy 71
Spicewood, TX 78669
There’s a big shaded playground with turf and blocks at this restaurant. The outdoor area is big, perfect for meeting up with friends, and has fans.
7. Fitzhugh Brewing
15435 Fitzhugh Road
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
The most charming brewery and matching playscape that you ever did see. Fitzhugh Brewing’s outdoor space has lots of trees and tables surrounding the cute white playground. They also routinely put on kid-friendly events.
8. Jester King
13187 Fitzhugh Rd.
Austin, TX 78736
This is the OG Austin brewery, and they made it even better with a playground (and adding some shade near it!). There’s a playscape with balance beams, climbing, monkey bars and a slide. You can also visit the goats while you’re here, eat pizza, roam around the space and listen to live music.
9. Hays City Store
8989 Ranch to Market Rd 150
Driftwood, TX 78619
This Driftwood spot southwest of Austin has a lot of space plus a big net/web playground.
10. Vista Brewing
13551 FM 150 W
Driftwood, TX 78619
This brewery with lots of land is especially be beautiful when the wildflowers are blooming in the spring! The playground here is set off a bit from the main area and has plenty of tables for parents to sit and chat while kids play.
11. 12 Fox Beer Co.
4700 W Fitzhugh Rd.
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
You can find a cool-looking castle playground at 12 Fox, plus some smaller play elements. The big playscape has bridges and is fun for big kids (the ladders are kind of hard to use, so they’re not great for small kids).
12. Ghost Note Brewing
23663 Ranch Road 12 @ Ghost Note Lane
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
This is a fun, out-of-the-way brewery with a lot of space. There’s a wooden playscape with balance beams and slide.
13. Suds Monkey Brewing Co.
Suds Monkey has some really fun elements in its outdoor space, like a big fort, a wooden jeep playscape, an obstacle course and giant tires.
Northern Suburbs
1. Kerbey Lane
2120 N Mays St.
Round Rock, TX 78664
Kerbey Lane is an Austin institution. It’s already great for kids because of the range of meal options, including special pancake flavors, but this Round Rock location ups the ante with a playground outside their patio.
Let the kids run free while you’re waiting for your food and enjoying a coffee or boozy drink.
2. Mighty Fine Burgers, Chipotle, Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe
201 University Oaks Blvd.
Round Rock, TX 78664
These three Round Rock restaurants share a playground outside of their patios. Mighty Fine Burgers is the closest and probably easiest to supervise your kids from your table (and closest to the entrance to the mostly fenced-in playground), but they’re all a bit separated from the play are.
I’d say this is a good option for playing before or after the meal when an adult can come actively supervise or for older kids you trust to be farther away from you.
3. Salt Lick RR
3350 East Palm Valley Blvd.
Round Rock, TX 78665
Right next to Dell Diamond in Round Rock, you can grab some barbecue and let the kids play on their playscape while you eat nearby outside. It’s a great place to meet up with friends before a Round Rock Express game!
4. Fieldhouse at the Crossover
1717 Scottsdale, Ste. 160
Cedar Park, TX 78641
This is a great place for both kids and adults to play! Fieldhouse at the Crossover has pickleball and volleyball courts you can reserve, cornhole, a soccer field and a shaded playground.
The Fieldhouse offers a ton of different drinks — beer, cocktails and wine — and there are several food trucks on site. Check out the website to find out who’s there now.
This place feels a little upscale but is made to be family-friendly. And the bonus to being in the suburbs — plenty of parking!
5. The Good Lot
2500 W New Hope Dr.
Cedar Park, TX 78613
We love The Good Lot — it’s one of our favorite hangout spots with our kids or with friends. Lots of shade, fans, turf and a unique play area with a pyramid climbing playscape and a wooden arch.
6. Brushy Creek Food Park
2301 Brushy Creek Rd.
Cedar Park, TX 78613
This relaxed/rustic Cedar Park property has a taco truck, breakfast sandwiches and Ukrainian-style shawarma and is BYOB. There’s a play area for kids to enjoy while you wait for your food.
7. 600 Degrees and Whitestone Brewery
401 E Whitestone Blvd Suite A-108
Cedar Park, TX 78613
This collaboration between Whitestone Brewery and 600 Degrees Pizza has a small playscape under a shade tent. Kids can climb up both sides or go underneath it — and lots of kids just run around and around it!
8. Liberty Tavern
This American cuisine restaurant has a nice little outdoor space with string lights and a fun playscape. It’s fenced in so you don’t have to worry about kids running into the parking lot.
9. Nameless Saloon
23296 Nameless Road
Leander, Texas
This family-friendly spot has a great ice house feel. You can play pickleball, enjoy live music, eat at the different food trucks, play cornhole and of course, play on the playgrounds. Nameless has the most unique playscape I’ve seen in a while. The base is an old van and then there are tubes in the top that lead to a slide! There’s also another more traditional wooden playscape.
10. Rockabilly Brewing
Rockabilly Brewing in Hutto has chill, kid-friendly vibes. There’s a playscape, small play houses and they often have a bounce house for kids too!
Austin Area Breweries With Playgrounds
The breweries are on this list already, sorted by area of town, but you can find them all together in this post!
Love a good deal? These restaurants offer kids eat free promotions (and some have playgrounds!).