The Best Austin Restaurants With Playgrounds, According to a Local Mom

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 4, 2025

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As a mom of two young boys, I’ve learned that the easiest way to enjoy a family meal in Austin is to choose a restaurant with a playground. When the kids have a place to run and play, my husband and I actually get to relax and enjoy dinner.

Luckily, Austin has no shortage of kid-friendly restaurants with playgrounds. The problem? Most lists are filled with fast-food chains and basic burger spots.

If you’re looking for Austin restaurants with playgrounds that serve real food and have that authentic Austin vibe, these are my favorites — the places I take my kids again and again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.

Austin Restaurants With Playgrounds

1. Sour Duck Market

This is one of the BEST Austin restaurants for farm-to-table, responsibly sourced cuisine...and it has an adorable kids play area.

Dining with kids here is easy because each table has a QR code where you can order, tip, and close out. Enjoy beer and wine, amazing salads, tacos, burgers, and more. They have a good kids menu, too.

sourduckmarket.com | 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702

2. Home Slice (North Loop)

Home Slice is the OG pizza spot in Austin. We all love that delicious New York-style pizza and the famous Italian sub.

While the original South Congress location doesn't have a playground, the North Loop location does. They serve pizza, incredible sandwiches, cocktails, beer, and wine. It's a great Austin restaurant for families!

homeslicepizza.com | 501 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

3. Jester King

If you're new to Austin, don't miss Jester King! It's an award-winning brewery, restaurant, and farm on the border between Austin and Dripping Springs. They have an awesome playground and tons of space for kids to run free.

The wood-fired pizza is easily among the best in Austin, and their beer is obviously INSANELY good! I also never visit without ordering a chocolate chip cookie.

jesterkingbrewery.com | 13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736

4. Phil's Ice House/Amy's ice Creams

I'm not a huge fan of the many fast-casual burger spots with playgrounds in Austin, but I actually DO love Phil's! The location on South Lamar shares a space with Amy's Ice Creams, a beloved Austin ice cream mini chain.

The playground here is awesome, and there's a big shaded patio where parents can eat burgers + sweet potato fries while kids play nearby and burn off the sugar from the ice cream cones.

philsicehouse.com | 2901 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

5. Fast Friends

Fast Friends is a pizza restaurant + brewery that has a massive indoor/outdoor space.

It's an easy place to dine with the family because it's pretty loud and casual, so kids can just run in and out and play while parents enjoy a beer.

fastfriendsbeerco.com | 7313 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd NB, Austin, TX 78744

6. Meanwhile Brewing

Every parent in Austin knows that Meanwhile is THE place to hang out on the weekends! Their playground is epic, and there are always more than enough tables and chairs in the sprawling outdoor space.

There are a whopping FIVE food trucks on site, and the options are so good, including a Michelin-rated BBQ truck and the best ice cream in Austin.

Prepare to park far away! Like I said, it's a popular spot on the weekends so you'll need to park on the street and walk. Bring a stroller if your kids are young.

meanwhilebeer.com | 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744

7. Doc's Backyard Grill

Doc's Backyard isn't going to "wow" you with it's cuisine, but if you just need a good burger or a salad + a great playground that the kids will love, it's a solid Friday night option.

eatdrinkdocs.com | 5207 Brodie Ln #100, Sunset Valley, TX 78745

8. Mandola's

If you're craving Italian food and want an Austin restaurant with a playground nearby, Mandola's is your best option.

The Cedar Park location of Mandola's has a playground adjacent to the restaurant so you can eat your eggplant parm while watching the kids.

(The Triangle location is often mentioned in this type of guide, but in reality the playground is shared with the entire shopping center and not within view of the restaurant.)

mandolas.com | 12100 W Parmer Ln #200, Cedar Park, TX 78613

9. Hat Creek Burger Co

Ok ok, I know I shamed the fast casual burger concept, but this local Austin chain has WINE!

All the Hat Creek Burger Co locations have playgrounds, so you can just search for one near you. They also have beer + wine for the adults, and lots of various diet-friendly options like salads, bowls, and gluten-free buns.

hatcreekburgers.com | lots of locations

10. Hays City Store

Hays City Store is way down in Driftwood, but we love stopping by on our way home from day trips to Blue Hole in Wimberley!

They have one of those cool tree net things, and the kids LOVE it! They always have good drinks, cold beer, and a great menu of kid-friendly options.

hayscitystoretx.com | 8989 Ranch to Market Rd 150, Driftwood, TX 78619

11. St Elmo (Springdale)

We go here ALL THE TIME because my kids love the playground so much! St Elmo Brewing's north location has a really cool play structure, excellent beer (duh), and two food trucks on site.

Pueblo Viejo is "meh" (definitely not the best tacos in Austin) but Spicy Boys has the best fried chicken sandwiches in Austin.

stelmobrewing.com | 8110 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78724

Looking for more options? Here's a map I created with LOTS of Austin restaurants with playgrounds! Use it to find one near you.

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