Small children friendly restaurants? Are there any?

by Ashleigh
(Estepona, Malaga, Spain)

Entertaining the troops!

It was my other halfs 30th birthday at the weekend and we wanted to go out with a group of friends for a lovely lunch, bringing our kids along too! All our kids are small - under 5, so we wanted somewhere where they wouldn't get bored too quickly, hopefully somewhere with a play area.

I was so disappointed to hear the The Black Horse Tavern in Benamara had closed, it was such a perfect place to bring small children.
We were looking for somewhere that the adults could enjoy some great food (and a glass of wine or 2) but where our small people could run around as well (without getting in everyones way and receiving disapproving looks from other diners).

Does such place exist anymore? Apart from Kidz Kingdom (which I must say is brilliant and their food is lovely) but we wanted somewhere where the adults would enjoy too, as Kidz Kingdom gets super busy on the weekend, and we fancied table service and a getting a little bit spoiled! lol.

We racked our brains and finally opted for TGI Fridays in Puerto Banus - mainly because they give the kids colouring pencils and paper to draw on. The food was good, but the kids quickly bored of colouring in, so we couldn't stay for long! The staff were great and put up with our little hooligans (just about)but it was more suitable for a quick bite to eat rather than a long leisurely lunch.

Is there a restaurant that opens for lunch that fulfills all of these requests or am I asking for too much? I have heard there is something in Mijas - have no idea what it is called - can you help? Any ideas for the next time would be great - anywhere between Gib and Malaga would be worth the trip!

Thanks in advance,

Ashleigh

ashleigh@theicingonthecakespain.com

Comments for Small children friendly restaurants? Are there any?

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Apr 10, 2016
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Bar Los Arcos is the best
by: Anonymous

Hi Bar Los arcos now has a brilliant restaurant which is open daily .

It's nice and cosy in the winter and also shows live sports on 5 screens.

I had a carvery on sunday and it was amazing only 9.95 euros.
They have menu del dia every monday 3 courses for 9.95 as well and a steak night on a Thursday 2 steaks and a bottle of wine for only 25 euros.

They also do kids and adults parties.

For more great places to visit, check out the complete restaurant guide at: Family Friendly Restaurants

Mar 09, 2015
Rating

Streets of London la Cala de Mijas
by: Jade

Streets is a family run restaurant with a menu to suit all! We have a secure back garden with bouncy castle and claiming frame and are open all year round from 12 till late x

Dec 15, 2014
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yamas
by: Anonymous

Yamas is a greek restaurant in Marbella which has a kids playroom with a DVD player with movies and an x box etc...

Jan 04, 2014
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La cala de mijas
by: Streets of London

Family bar restaurant with beer garden and bouncy castle, climbing frame somthink for everyone

Oct 02, 2013
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bar los arcos benavista
by: Anonymous

A wonderful friendly bar in benavista. It has a great children's area out the back with climbing frames, swings etc. They also have a football pitch with goals which is fenced off. You can enjoy a few drinks while the children play amongst themselves.

The friendly staff are quick and efficient and all good with the children running around them.

They also have a burger van that I had one of the best burgers iv ever had from so you can get some snacks or dinner while your there.

My kids and I love it here great for after school meetings with other mums.

You can find them at the end of benavista if u take exit Km 167 off the main road. Open from 4pm everyday.

Jul 15, 2012
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FUNKY FOREST the place to go
by: Mother of 3

Hi, I´ve found the ideal place, FUNKY FOREST At Benamara, km 167 estepona, The food is great, kids play around for hours and don't get bored, they have rabbits, the service and the food high quality. www.funkyforest.es if someone wants to check out, and they were celebrating a birthday on a reserved area at the same time. It's a place to go with or without children.

Oct 05, 2011
Rating

Very nice cuisine and child-friendly restaurant in San pedro
by: Frederique COUE

I went to this little restaurant called Ke + Da in San pedro and have been surprised by the food they were serving: very good! Being French, I am always a bit fussy with food, but there i happened to be pleasantly surprised.

My little toddler of 20 months has been given a black board to draw on it and this has entertained him during our lunch.

It was really nice! I highly recommend it.
Buen provecho!

Jul 22, 2011
Rating

Benahavis - Sabores del Mundo
by: LindsayinSpain

Hi, I would wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant in the pueblo of Benahavis, Sabores del Mundo on Calle Malaga. My 7 year old went with her Grandma and my sister two weeks ago and they all came back raving about it, business card in hand!

On arrival kids are greeted with a seperate menu printed on a puzzle sheet, and pencils. The place is equipped with board games such as dominoes, chequers, and other old favourites, and they are able to sit at a spare table to amuse themselves playing games and given lots of lovely attention by the staff. My daughter chose a yummy home made lasagne and apparently wolfed it down, very rare! All the food is delicious, wholesome and home made, with nibbles and dips to start they call it a "Gourmet Delicatessen".

Hope to visit myself one day!!

Jun 29, 2011
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Restaurants for Kids
by: Anonymous

June 29, 2011

The Oak is a new restaurant where the Black Horse Tavern used to be. They have a mininature golf course in the back for kids, but no bouncy house anymore.

Robin Hood recently got taken over by new owners. There is no longer a pool table. Our kids did not really like the menu.

We like the Hard Rock Cafe in Puerto Banus.

And the beach restaurants are good for kids.

La Canada also has good places for kids to eat.

We also like the Passion Cafe and McDonalds.

We wish that there were more places for kids!!

Mar 29, 2011
Rating

kid and adult friendly
by: Caroline- mum of 3

Your best bet is Galaxia in Guadalmina.

It is paradise for the kids and you can relax knowing they are safe, but last time I went I had lunch and was very pleasantly surprised.

The menu is not huge, but everything is home made and fresh, and you can sit outside on the lovely sofas or they have tables outside with very comfy chairs. The house wine was very good, and I noticed they had some other popular wines too.

The owner did mention that they will start doing BBQ´s outside soon at the weekends, so i hope that is soon!

Antway, I highly recomend it!

Dec 07, 2010
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Le papillon, not-so-child friendly
by: Anonymous

we ve been recently at Le papillon restaurant in elviria with 2 kids, 3 years and 4 months old. They seated us on a kind of a closed terrase, which was fine, until they seated on the table next to us a group of loud and smoking people! when we asked the camarero what this is supposed to mean, he said this was a smoking place and there was nothing to do! very strange they don't care about these 'details'..needless to say, this was our last ever visit!

Feb 11, 2010
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STREETS
by: Anonymous

there is a fantastic place in la cala the original Streets of London now has a bouncy castle and play park safe for kids an quality food

Dec 02, 2009
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Restaurants good for children
by: Anna

Better than TGI's is the Hard Rock Cafe in Puerto Banus. Kiddies meals are 6.95 euros and you get the colouring pencils too.
Another idea, but I haven't been there for a long time is the Robin Hood pub by the Cancelada exit. Pub that serves very traditional English food and has a small garden outside which might be handy for little ones.

Or in La Canada shopping centre there are plenty of restaurants and little ones can run around the terraces perfectly safely and there are a few rides that they could go on too. They have a recently opened Chinese buffet there that would be a nice sit down meal and if you sat near the back of the restaurant you would be able to supervise your little ones as they ran around. Older children would like this as they could walk to the bowling alley and play on some of the arcade games, table football/air hockey.

Nov 16, 2009
Rating

Kid Friendly restaurants in Marbella and Costa del Sol
by: Marbella Family

Although restaurants around Marbella are usually child-friendly, we do understand the difficulty of finding a place where you can relax and eat well while small kids are kept entertained with something other than coloring pens.

We would normally recommend a chiringuito (beach restaurant) as kids can play on the beach while the adults enjoy their food. But if you are looking for something a bit more secure and enclosed, without the worry of the kids running into the sea, then you will have to look elsewhere.

We have asked around and done a bit of research. We found that the following restaurants could match your criteria:

1. Le Papillon - Elviria (Marbesa)
2. Los Arcos - Estepona
3. Hard Rock Cafe - Marbella
4. Robin Hood - Estepona
5. El Gamonal - San Pedro Alcantara
6. La Taberna del Alabardero - San Pedro Alcantara
7. Passion Cafe - San Pedro Alcantara
8. Terra Sana - Marina Banus
9. Mc Donalds - San Pedro Alcantara and La Cañada exit (AP7) have playgrounds
10. Peggottys - Marbella & Estepona

Personally, we haven´t been to all of these restaurants. However, they all came highly recommended by friends with little kids, as good food places with an area for kids to play around. If you try them, let us know what you thought as your comments will be helpful to others.

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