A few weeks back a reader pointed out that my list of the best family restaurants in Cape Town was a bit out-of-date and could do with an update. And he was totally right!
This list was first published back in 2012 so I recently spent some time updating this list and now it’s updated for 2018!
Read on to find out the best family restaurants in Cape Town – City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard incl Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay
If you’re interested I’ve also shared posts featuring a few favourite family-friendly places to eat in Cape Town across the Northern Suburbs, the West Coast, the Southern Suburbs & the South Peninsula.
Here is my list of Best Cape Town restaurants for parents and kids (in no particular order)
The Best Family Restaurants in Cape Town – City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard & Hout Bay
City Bowl
Deer Park Cafe
Located in Vredehoek this restaurant is a firm favourite due to it’s location right next to a fully-enclosed play park filled with fun things to do – huge slide, roundabout, swings and jungle gym – that keep kids entertained for hours. This is a great spot for leisurely French-inspired breakfasts with a view. The baker produces a variety of cakes and freshly squeezed juices are made on demand. They have a great kids menu too.
2 Deer Park Avenue, Vredehoek
Tel: 021 462 6311
Web: www.deerparkcafe.co.za
Email: deerparkcafe@tiscali.co.za
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: 8am – 8pm (Lunch from noon, Supper from 5pm)
Café Paradiso
Another perennial favourite of City-living parents this restaurant states that ‘Children are not only welcome, they’re invited’! Café Paradiso is part of the magical Madame Zingara collection, and the restaurant has gone out of its way to design an eating experience that allows adults to enjoy their meal while the kids are entertained and occupied. They even offer organised kids activities that allow the little ones to get their hands dirty in the bakery making pizza, ginger bread men, cupcakes or cookies while parents eat. The projects run daily until 8pm.
110 Kloof Street, Cape Town
Tel: 021 422 0403
Email: cafeparadiso@madamezingara.com
Web: www.cafeparadiso.co.za
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8am – 10pm
Sunday: 10am – 10pm
Public Holidays: 10am – 10pm
Company’s Garden Restaurant
Within the Mother City’s richly historical Company’s Gardens, lies a restaurant built for children, families and visitors alike. “Inspired by nature and by tales rooted in the past, this gentle space offers a point of peace within a buzzing urban metropolis.”
Serving a selection of light meals, all time teatime favourites as well as a variety of traditional South Africa fare from early in the morning until late in the afternoon. You’ll love the food and the kids will love the giant chessboard, nest-like play pods and squirrels!
15 Queen Victoria St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001
Tel: 021 423 2919
Email: gardens@madamezingara.com
Web: www.thecompanysgarden.com
Opening hours:
Open daily 7am – 5pm
Sundays: 9am – 5pm
Sea Point
Franky’s Diner
Franky’s Diner is an authentic 50’s style diner in the heart of Sea Point. Serving up delicious hamburgers, fries and shakes, this diner couldn’t be more 50’s if it tried. Customers can relax and enjoy some hound-dog music while sitting on the comfy red vinyl stools at the counter or they can choose to snuggle up in the back booth. Franky’s Diner is certainly a trip back in time to an era long gone but never forgotten.
A great spot to take the family for a meal, Franky’s Diner offer an indoor kiddies play area, a dedicated 20 seater kids table for parties and a pretty affordable kids menu.
303 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Tel: 021 433 0445
Email: info@frankysdiner.co.za
Web: https://frankysdiner.co.za/
Opening hours:
Open 24 hours a day
Strolla Restaurant
Located just off Sea Point’s busy promenade, alongside the Peninsula All-Suite Hotel, Strolla offers a relaxing meeting place for friends and family to catch-up, free WiFi in picturesque surrounds to get some work done, and convenient kids’ facilities to keep little ones entertained.
With a dedicated area that lets them put on their own chef’s hat and apron on and make pizzas, kids are well catered for.
There’s also a fully-equipped games room complete with bean bags, games, colouring books, a PS4 and a DVD player/DSTV with a range of child-friendly movies. It’s the perfect spot for fun family time, whether the grown-ups choose to enjoy a signature cocktail, nachos on the Corona Sunset Deck, or tuck into Strolla’s famous Portuguese Steak on the terrace or inside the restaurant.
313 Beach Road Sea Point, 8001 Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: 021 430 7778
Email: info@strolla.co.za
Website: http://strolla.co.za/
Opening hours:
7am – 11pm daily (Kitchen closes 10:30pm)
Primi Piatti
Primi is a casual and comfortable family restaurant, inspired by Italian tradition. The food is fresh and fast and the atmosphere is energetic. This isn’t a relaxing choice for families but what you are assured of is that everyone will finish their food! Primi at the Waterfront offers kids the chance to make their own pizzas and enjoy being part of the dining experience. The Sea Point branch also came recommended.
Waterfront
Shop 7226, V&A Waterfront
Tel: 021 419 8750
Email: va@primi-piatti.com
Web: www.primi-world.com
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday 9am – 11pm (Lunch/ Supper from noon)
Sea Point
51 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Tel: 021 434 5529
Email: seapoint@primi-piatti.com
Web: www.primi-world.com
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday 7:30am – 10pm (Lunch from noon, Supper from 7pm)
Camps Bay
The Roundhouse
Situated high up in Camps Bay this spot offers incredible views. I have yet to explore this yet so I can’t feedback about how child-friendly it is but from what I’ve heard it’s a great spot for families. Set amongst 300-year-old pomegranate trees, The Rumbullion is a relaxed venue that allows you to relax on landscaped gardens. Enjoy fresh gourmet sandwiches, platters of cheese and charcuterie, and crowd-pleasers like burgers, fish and chips, and wraps. I think I need to do a review soon to give you more feedback about it!! What do you reckon? 
Round House Road (off Kloof Road), The Glen, Camps Bay
Tel: 021 438 4347
Email: info@theroundhouserestaurant.com
Web: www.theroundhouserestaurant.com
Opening hours:
Breakfast: Friday to Sunday 9am – 11:30am
Lunch: Tuesday to Sunday 12 noon – 4pm
Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday 4pm – 8pm, Sunday 4pm – 6pm (sundowners)
Ocean Basket
The Camps Bay branch is a restaurant that I haven’t yet visited but it came with a few great reviews from my reader. It has a great playroom & a child minder as well as a TV plus it’s right on the Camps Bay beachfront so comes with awesome views!
Brompton Court, 51 & 53 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Tel: 021 438 0062
Email: campsbay@oceanbasket.com
Web: https://oceanbasketcampsbay.business.site/
Hout Bay
Suikerbossie
Probably the Cape Town restaurant I have the most emotional connection to, this iconic spot was where I had my wedding reception! With magnificent views overlooking the valley of Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak and Llandudno beach you can’t ask for a better location! This is a great spot for families to enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch as their buffet’s are hard to beat! And they have a great outdoor play area for kids too! We definitely need to make a return visit soon!
1 Victoria Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Tel: 021 790 1450
Email: dave@suikerbossie.co.za
Web: www.suikerbossie.co.za
Opening hours:
Daily A’la Carte: Tuesday – Friday: 9am – 4pm. Breakfast, lunch and tea are on offer.
Sundays & Public holidays Breakfast buffet: 9am – 11.30am & Lunch buffet: 1pm
Dunes
Situated almost on the beach, this spot has been a hit with the parents of Cape Town for years. The massive sand pit, jungle gym and swings keep kids entertained making this a great place for a casual lunch of seafood or burgers & chips. Just try to pick a wind free day to avoid the stinging sand!
1 Beach Road, Hout Bay
Tel: 021 790 1876
Email: bookings@dunesrestaurant.co.za
Web: www.dunesrestaurant.co.za
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 11:00 – 23:00
Saturday, Sunday 9:00 – 23:00
Spiros
A great little Greek spot in Hout Bay this restaurant is decorated with the fresh, clean colours of the Greek flag, and offers an authentic, family friendly dining experience. There is a comfortable deck area where guests can relax on couches (under duvets if its cold) plus a kids playroom, swings & climbing frames outside and dress up corner inside along with a child minder. I’ve heard great things and am adding this to my “must visit” list now!
30 Main Road, Hout Bay
Tel: 021 791 3897
Email: spiroragavelas@gmail.com
Web: www.spiroshoutbay.co.za
Opening hours:
From 3pm
Massimos Pizza Club
Massimo’s are renowned as the best pizza place in Cape Town and I can attest to the most delicious thin-based pizza’s. The atmosphere is lovely and it is a very welcoming, homely environment. There is a separate kids menu and a jungle gym out the front for the kids to play on. And adults don’t forget to try Massimo’s delicious limoncello!
Oakhurst Farm Park, Main Rd, 7806 Hout Bay
Tel: 021 790 5648
E-mail: info@massimos.co.za
Web: www.pizzaclub.co.za
Opening hours:
7 days a week for lunch and dinner from 12pm – 9pm
Fish on the Rocks
Located right in middle of a working harbour with the most majestic view over Chapmans Peak this is a great casual spot for a quick bite to eat. Serving traditional fish & chips to the people of Cape Town (& beyond) for over 25 years this is a spot most of us visited as kids! The benches outside allow you to feel the salt air on your skin, the wind in your hair and hear the signature sound of tug boats, fishing trawlers and seagulls. And don’t forget to pop into the vibrant Bay Harbour Market across the road after your meal to indulge in some shopping and a few sweet treats for the road back home!
1 Harbour Road, Hout Bay Harbour
Tel: 021 790 0001 or 021 790 1153
Email: info@fishontherocks.com
Web: www.fishontherocks.co.za
Opening hours:
Summer daily 9am – 8:30pm
Winter daily 9am – 8pm
There you have it – my favourite restaurants for families in the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard of Cape Town.
Thank you to all who contributed to this list. I really appreciated all your input and loved being reminded of all the beautiful places out there to enjoy a meal with kids in tow!
Looking for the best family restaurants across Cape Town? Click the links below for my lists of favourite family friendly restaurants in the Mother City.
Best Family Restaurants in Cape Town – City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard & Hout Bay
Best Family Restaurants in Cape Town – Northern Suburbs
Best Family Restaurants in Cape Town – Southern Suburbs & South Peninsula
And if you know of any other places suitable for kids in this area, please let me know in the comments below. I am always looking for new destinations for our weekend wanderings around the Cape Peninsula.
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Images: Supplied, Deer Park – Cape Town Daily Photo, Fish on the Rocks – Firefly Africa
