The Best Family Restaurants in London

Whether you're a long-time Londoner raising a family in one of our apartments in London or you're visiting London for the first time with little ones, the capital has no shortage of places where the whole family can sit down, eat brilliantly, and really enjoy themselves.

We've put together our definitive guide to the best family restaurants in London. These aren't just places that tolerate children. These are places that genuinely welcome them, while still serving food that grown-ups will want to come back for.

The best family-friendly restaurants in London

AGORA - Borough Market

8 Bedale Street, London SE1 9AL

If there's one restaurant that captures everything brilliant about eating in London, it's AGORA. Tucked into the edge of Borough Market, one of the most exciting food destinations in the city, this Greek-inspired souvla bar is loud, lively, and absolutely brilliant for families. The fact that it's mostly walk-in is a genuine advantage when you've got young kids and plans that go sideways; just turn up, join the queue, and let the atmosphere do its thing.

The menu is all about sharing. There are incredible skewers, wood-oven flatbreads, and meze-style dips, which are ideal when you've got a table of different appetites to satisfy. The tahini spread and puffed flatbreads straight from the oven are a must, and the slow-roast pork souvlaki from the charcoal rotisserie is something else entirely.

One Tripadvisor reviewer who visited in July 2025 described the food as "a revelation; so fresh and accurately prepared and cooked," adding that they left "invigorated." That's exactly how a good family lunch should feel. The market stalls surrounding the restaurant also mean there's plenty to keep kids occupied before and after. Borough Market is a feast for the senses all on its own.

Bancone - Covent Garden

39 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DD

If you need to guarantee that everyone at the table is happy, including the most committed picky eater, Bancone is the answer. This award-winning fresh pasta bar near Covent Garden is one of the best Italian restaurants in London, full stop. The pasta is made by hand every single day, and the menu is short, focused, and very, very good.

The signature dish is silk handkerchiefs, a beautiful tangle of thin pasta sheets in walnut butter and confit egg yolk. It's one of those dishes you keep thinking about long after the meal is over. Time Out called it "simple, but delicious: soft sheets swimming in a rich sauce, with little chunks of walnut for texture." We couldn't agree more. There are usually eight or so pasta dishes on the menu at any time, and roughly half are suitable for vegetarians, making it a genuinely versatile option for families with diverse tastes.

What also makes Bancone work so well for a family outing is the setting: it's in the heart of Covent Garden, walking distance from theatres, street performers, and the true hustle and bustle of London. Plus, for curious kids, they can watch the chefs rolling pasta in the open kitchen, which is its own form of entertainment for young and old.

Dishoom - Kings Cross

5 Stable St, London N1C 4AB

Indian food is one of the great pleasures of eating out in London, and Dishoom does it better than almost anyone. Inspired by the Irani cafés of old Bombay, it really feels like a little escape. Each location is beautifully decorated, warmly lit, and buzzing with energy. There are now several London locations, including Covent Garden, Shoreditch, King's Cross, and Canary Wharf, so wherever you are in the city, there's a Dishoom within reach.

The children's menu is thoughtful and genuinely good, not just a handful of beige options, and the main menu has something for every palate, from mild and fragrant biryanis to the legendary slow-cooked black daal that's been on the stove for 24 hours. The Chicken Ruby (a rich, silky tomato-based curry) is a firm favourite, and the garlic naan is the kind of side dish you'll be ordering again before the first one is gone.

One Tripadvisor reviewer celebrating their husband's 50th birthday with their 9 and 6-year-olds called the Shoreditch branch "such an incredible restaurant with such warm and attentive staff," noting how much the children enjoyed the crayons and Etch-a-Sketch the manager brought out for them. High chairs are available across all branches, the diverse menu has clear spice indicators, and there are gluten-free options throughout. If your family loves Indian restaurants, Dishoom is the best of the best!

Brasserie Zédel - Soho

20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED

Brasserie Zédel is one of those London restaurants that never gets old. Located just off Piccadilly Circus, you descend a sweeping staircase into one of the most spectacular dining rooms in the city, a grand Art Deco space that looks like it belongs in 1930s Paris. Kids absolutely love the drama of it, and adults get to feel like they've discovered a hidden gem in the middle of central London.

The menu is classic French brasserie fare, like steak frites, French onion soup, duck confit and profiteroles. The prix fixe menu (two courses for under £17) makes it remarkably good value for a family meal in the West End. For the kids, there are high chairs, the team has been known to bring out colouring pencils for young diners, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised kitchen delivers consistently solid food.

The live music every evening adds to the atmosphere, and with a Lunch Rapide option delivering two courses in around 45 minutes, it's ideal if you need to keep things moving during a busy day of sightseeing near Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road.

Fallow - St James's

52 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RP

Fallow is one of those restaurants you read about in the food press and wonder whether it can really live up to the hype. It absolutely can. This Michelin-recognised restaurant in St James's has built its reputation on bold, creative British cooking with a serious commitment to sustainability. And brilliantly, it takes children just as seriously as it takes its food.

The "Mini Fallowers" children's menu is genuinely charming. Kids get to tick off what they fancy from a build-your-own breakfast or Sunday lunch, complete with colouring activities to keep them occupied. High chairs are available, and the relaxed atmosphere in the dining room means you can actually enjoy your meal without feeling like you're imposing. For the adults, highlights include the famous mushroom parfait, cod's head with sriracha butter (a dish that sounds confronting and tastes extraordinary), and the corn ribs that have earned their own cult following.

Fallow scores a commendable 4.7 on Google Reviews with over 10,000 customer reviews, and critics love it too. Jay Rayner of The Guardian called it, "some of the best food I've tried in London right now." For a Sunday afternoon treat, or a special family dinner in the West End, it's one of our very favourite spots.

Roe - Canary Wharf

5 Park Drive, Canary Wharf, London E14 9GG

From the same team behind Fallow, Roe is the kind of restaurant that makes Canary Wharf feel like a genuinely exciting destination for families, not just a business district. Set across three floors with a stunning wrap-around terrace overlooking South Dock, this 500-cover restaurant is one of the most impressive dining rooms in East London, with manicured lawns right outside where kids can run off pre-dinner energy.

The "Mini Roe's" children's menu is brilliant. Think cheeseburger or venison sausage with gravy, finished with ice cream for pudding. Meanwhile, grown-ups can work their way through the sharing plates menu: pork belly skewers with yakitori glaze, Devon crab flatbreads, and cuttlefish toast that the Good Food Guide called "chunky, juicy and sustainable."

The Michelin Guide has spotlighted Roe as one of London's standout restaurants, and Grace Dent in the Guardian called it "kind of mad, but also sheer bloody genius." With two London locations in spirit (Fallow in St James's and Roe in Canary Wharf), the team has figured out how to do genuinely great food at scale.

Circolo Popolare - Fitzrovia

40–41 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1HX

Walk through the doors of Circolo Popolare, and you're immediately in Italy. Run by a crew of 130 passionate Italians, this Fitzrovia restaurant is everything an Italian trattoria should be: loud, generous, warm, and completely joyful. The walls are lined with over 20,000 bottles of vintage spirits, the carbonara is served tableside in a giant pecorino wheel, and the Neapolitan pizzas are made with San Marzano DOP tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

Children and babies are genuinely welcome. High chairs are available, and the team takes it in their stride. The fresh pasta dishes are exactly the kind of child-friendly food that doesn't feel like a compromise, and the XXL zingy lemon pie for dessert is something the whole family will be fighting over.

It's worth booking in advance as this place is always busy, but if you're near Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus, it's an easy walk and absolutely worth it.

inamo - Covent Garden & Soho

11–14 Hanover Place, London WC2E 9JP (Covent Garden)

For a family meal that keeps kids genuinely entertained from start to finish, inamo is hard to beat. The concept is simple and brilliant: the entire tabletop is an interactive screen. You order your pan-Asian food by touching the table, play games like air hockey, memory, and Space Invaders, while you wait and watch the chefs at work via a live kitchen cam. It's the kind of thing that sounds gimmicky but completely delivers, especially with younger children.

The food is a mix of sushi, Asian tapas, and sharing plates from across Japan, China, and Thailand. It's absolutely delicious. The Dragon Roll sushi and the Bang Bang Cauliflower are both brilliant, and the children's menu has plenty of interesting options and safe alternatives.

Thanks to the great food and interactive table, inamo is one of the most child-friendly restaurants in London. They may never want to leave.

Da Mario - South Kensington

15 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4PP

There's a lovely story behind Da Mario. This cosy, family-run Italian restaurant near Kensington Palace is reportedly where Princess Diana used to bring her boys for dinner, and a mural of Diana and the restaurant's founder still graces the wall. It gives the place a warmth and character that's hard to manufacture.

The menu is exactly what you'd want from a neighbourhood Italian: proper pizzas with blistered crusts, fresh pasta that actually tastes homemade, and hearty Italian classics at prices that don't require a second mortgage. Children are treated like royalty here, in the best Italian tradition, and the relaxed atmosphere means a bit of noise and movement isn't going to raise any eyebrows. The chicken Milanese is a perennial favourite for younger diners who aren't quite ready for something more adventurous, while the pasta dishes give adults plenty to enjoy. It's a brilliant option if you've spent the morning at the Natural History Museum or the V&A, as it's within easy walking distance of both.

Wahaca - Multiple London Locations

66 Chandos Place, London WC2N 4HG (Covent Garden)

Mexican street food and families were made for each other, and Wahaca has been one of London's most reliably excellent and family-friendly restaurants for years. The build-your-own taco concept is a masterstroke when it comes to keeping kids engaged and entertained. Getting them to assemble their own food is a surprisingly effective way of keeping them occupied and excited about what they're eating.

The menu spans the best of Mexican street food, from grilled chicken tacos and enchiladas to vibrant vegetarian options and fresh guacamole made to order. There's a dedicated children's menu, and the relaxed, colourful atmosphere makes the whole experience feel fun rather than stressful. Wahaca has multiple London locations, so whether you're near London Bridge, Covent Garden, or elsewhere in the city, it's a dependable choice for a quick meal or a longer family dinner. Vegan options and gluten-free choices are clearly marked throughout the menu, too.

Homeslice - Covent Garden & Beyond

13 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP (Covent Garden)

Pizza might be the world's most universally beloved food, and Homeslice does it on a genuinely exciting scale. The pizzas here are enormous, 20 inches in diameter, and designed for sharing at the table. There's something wonderfully theatrical about a pizza that barely fits on the table, and kids absolutely love it.

The toppings change seasonally, but the quality is consistently high. Picky younger children can order individual slices if they're not keen on the group's choice of toppings, making it a brilliantly practical option for families. The brunch dishes at the Covent Garden branch are also worth noting for a weekend family outing. It's loud, it's informal, and it's the kind of place where everyone relaxes almost the moment they sit down.

Hard Rock Cafe - Mayfair

150 Old Park Lane, London W1K 1QZ

No list of the best family restaurants in London is complete without the Hard Rock Cafe. Yes, it's a global brand, but the London original, right in the heart of Mayfair near Green Park, is genuinely brilliant for families visiting London, and it delivers exactly what it promises: great food, rock memorabilia from floor to ceiling, and an energy that kids absolutely love.

The kids menu offers a meal and a drink for just over £10, with vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary requirements. The Classic Burger is a perennial winner, and the portion sizes are generous without being overwhelming. Sometimes the classics are classics for good reason. It's a particularly good choice during school holidays when you want something guaranteed to go down well, near the sights of Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus.

Find your perfect London base with UNCLE

The best way to explore London's incredible food scene as a family is to be right in the heart of it. At UNCLE, we offer beautifully designed apartments across London, from Elephant & Castle to Wembley, Colindale to Stockwell, where you can actually settle in, cook at home when you feel like it, and step out to brilliant restaurants when you don't.

If you're thinking about making London your home, we'd love to show you around. Book a viewing of an UNCLE apartment and see why thousands of Londoners choose to live with us.