These local eateries are stepping up their game beyond the standard chicken nuggies and chips, offering our little foodies plenty of delicious options to munch on.
Handy information for parents and carers raising kids in the Southern Highlands, kindly brought to you by the wonderful crew at Explorers Learning Academy, specialising in play and early childhood education.
The Southern Highlands is a seriously family-friendly spot, and many of our local eateries roll out pretty decent kids’ menus.
However, during our adventures, we stumbled upon some places that take things up a notch beyond the typical chicky nuggies and chips.
Don’t get us wrong; we love a classic plate of fried taters and chicken. But every now and then, our kiddos might want to spice things up a bit.
Encouraging our little ones to try different foods is not only awesome but might just set them on the path to becoming the next Matt Preston or Melissa Leong [here’s hoping].
So, we’ve popped together a list of joints around town dishing out some exciting and tasty meals for our mini munchers.
Check them out:
1 :: Raw & Wild Market & Cafe
Known for being super kiddo friendly with a pre-schoolers play area that’s open Mon- Fri from 9 am to 12 pm it’s no surprise Raw & Wild Market & Cafe have got the kiddos covered in the eating department as well. There are dairy-free, gluten-free and vego options for all little dietary needs. All kiddo’s meals also come served with ice cream and a choice of chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla topping- nice.
Bonus: They’ve even got a special menu for our fur babies too. Doggie pasta followed by a dog-a-cino—Fido is living the high life!
2 :: Mittagong RSL
The kid’s menu at Ironstone Dining at Mittagong RSL is more than just the choice of nuggets or a burger, there are 8 different choices for the kids. We love the idea of the ‘little rascals roast’ perfect for keeping the Sunday roast tradition alive. The roast, as well as a couple of other options on the menu, can also be made gluten-free if your child has intolerances.
Mittagong is also home to the super cool Tabatinga fun centre so the kids can get their play on once they’ve finished chowing down on their meal.
3 :: Getsu Japanese Restaurant & Cafe
Sushi is a great way to introduce kids to different cuisines, and Getsu in Bowral offers an excellent menu to get them started.
Their Sushi set includes prawn, tempura, and egg, yummo! For noodle enthusiasts, there’s the Udon set featuring kara-age chicken. And if your little one loves rice, they can opt for the Chicken Teriyaki set. All sounds delish to us!
And if you need more persuasion to get the kids on board, remind them that Japan is also the land of Pokemon, so they’re basically eating like Ash Ketchum… maybe that will seal the deal?
4:: Courtyard Cafe Berrima
How fun does a Kids Farm Platter sound? Fruit, crackers, meat and cheese, it’s like a little charcuterie board for your sophisticated [or even fussy] eater.
There’s plenty of room in the courtyard here for kids to stretch out and tasty options for the grown-ups too.
5 :: High Tea
We’ve actually got a few places around town that do the most incredible high teas for our little foodies. Not just for grown-ups High Tea is a wonderful way to get the kids tasting all different things and making sure they feel like part of the action.
Why not take your kiddo on a high tea tour of the Highlands? [Not all in one day, obvs hehe]
First stop Centennial Vineyards, next up is Your Vintage Occasion followed by The Cupcake Co. to round it out.
All aboard!
6 :: Centennial Vineyards Restaurant
This place proves that kids can enjoy delicious, modern fine dining too! Children who love to feel a bit fancy will enjoy the vegetarian tortellini with a tomato sugo, carrot soldiers and fresh fruit… and because they’re kids and they deserve it, every meal comes with an ice cream cone and sprinkles.
7 :: The Press Shop
Here’s another example of a menu full of elevated kids’ choices. The beef burger is house-made, the toastie is crafted with sourdough and leg ham, and there’s even a lovely-looking gnocchi. The kids’ pancakes also sound INCREDIBLE with sticky date butterscotch sauce. This is one spot where the grown-ups might be sneaking bites off the smaller ones’ plates for a change
8 :: Moonacres Kitchen
Us Highlanders adore Moonacres Kitchen for their commitment to seasonal, local produce and their deeeeeelish meals. If you’ve got a little one who’s a fan of all-day brekkie [who isn’t?], then get them over to Moonacres for their all-day menu. Bacon rolls on potato bread or pancakes with homemade caramel… for lunch? Yes, please! Oooo and if you’ve ever tried the heavenly delight that is the incredible Moonacres cheeseburger, then you’ll know how chuffed your little ones are gonna be when they find out it comes in kiddo size as well.
There’s also a Moonacres School and Moonacres Farm that you can book for tours and lessons, perfect for getting children educated on where their food comes from and how to prepare it.
9 :: Boozy Burgers
Keeping with the burger theme, we know you can probably find burgers on a lot of kids’ menus around town, but we had to throw a special mention to our pals at Boozy Burgers because as is common knowledge, the burgs here are off the hook, even for the kiddos. Cheesy or chicken, both are yummo. Pair their burger-y goodness with a house-made soft drink [or hard drink for the adults] from Eden Brewery to make for a rippin’ meal out.
10 :: Native Grace Nursery
Yep, that’s right, a nursery!
It’s not just a fantastic place for kids to explore plants [both edible and non-edible] but it’s also where you’ll find the Robbo Donut Van.
Everyone, young and old, can’t resist those deliciously doughy treats. With a beautiful playground, a cool fire pit, and fun activities and games for the kids, it’s the perfect spot for a learning and munching adventure.
And whilst you’re there, why not take some herbs or other fresh greens home to kickstart your own family culinary adventures in the kitchen?
Fingers crossed these options keep our mini gourmands happy for a while.
For more fantastic cafes, restaurants, and eateries in the Highlands, check out our directory here.
If you discover any other fantastic kids’ menu choices on your family culinary adventures, let us know! At The Fold, we’re all about keeping locals well-fed, and the more awesome choices, the merrier.
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This piece is sponsored by Explorers Learning Academy and is proudly endorsed by The Fold Southern Highlands. The Fold team is excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses and we want to say a BIG thank you to you for supporting our sponsors who help make The Fold possible. We strongly believe in the businesses and all the information we share with you on The Fold.
