Brooklyn
Brooklyn Bar and Bistro
One of the most kid-friendly venues in all of Wellington. Their whole front section given over to settees and a toy cabinet (a cabinet! A whole cabinet of toys). For more information, visit Brooklyn Bar and Bistro.
Penthouse Cinema
Has long been a haunt of the local Plunket in the Neighbourhood (PIN) groups and offers up a kid-friendly space in its front room with a basket of toys. Also hosts Babes in Arms sessions. For more information, visit Penthouse Cinema.
Churton Park
Simmer
This cafe has a $7 kid’s menu, a play pen and what are rumored to be the best cheese scones in Wellington! 103D Worchester Drive.
Courtney Place/Tory St
Big Dogs on Blair
On Blair St (hence the name) and comes Citywrigglers parent recommended, with yummy pizzas and a great kids’ menu. The kids’ menu can be coloured in with crayons, very family friendly. For more information, visit Big Dogs.
Cafe L’Affare
Nice little kids play area in the middle of the cafe with good toys. Don’t take the buggy in. Lots of highchairs available. 27 College St next to Brooklyn Café (above). View Map
Joe’s Garage
Joe’s Wellington Garage (there’s also a Joe’s Garage in Queenstown and Auckland), is on 5 Tory Street. They have a box of toys (and those cool vintage metal cars and trucks), some colouring-in tools, and a great kids menu. It pays to book for weekend brunch. View Map
Kazu
13 Tory St. A sushi resturant. Has a very cute kid’s meal that arrives on a small train.
Lone Star
Provides some kids colouring materials with the menu. 66 Tory Street, Central Wellington. View Map
Monsoon Poon
12 Blair St, off Courtney Place. Has a new special children’s menu.
Te Papa
Has a fantastic play area with giant Lego, trucks and other things. Pick-and-mix kids bags, including good food. Lots of high-chairs and change table in the parent’s room down the far end (the end opposite the children’s area, on the right as you enter the cafe). More on Te Papa here: Te Papa.
Cuba St
Flying Burrito Brothers
Offers coloring-in and smaller meals that are good sizes for kids.
Heaven Pizza
A few toys and some colouring, pens etc. Very friendly staff for more information, visit Heaven Pizza.
Martha’s Pantry
This cafe has a great box of toys, great food and fluffies and they do kids high tea parties. They are at 276 Cuba Street but the cafe entrance is actually at the very beginning of the motorway. There’s a small amount of parking just past the cafe. View Map
Wasabi
Run by the same company as Kazu – it’s sushi and they do the kids train meals too. They have a high chair and we think from memory a change table. 171 Cuba St.
Eastbourne
Chocolate Dayz
At Days Bay Beach in Eastbourne. Great kids menu. View Map.
Days Bay Pavilion
This cafe/pizzeria is in an idyllic park setting sheltered from the wind, with the Days Bay beach and wharf, duckpond and native bushwalks all very close by. On a good day you can enjoy a great coffee or a delicious meal out in the sun while watching the children eat ice cream, play on the grass and climb the trees, or on a not so good day you can warm up by the fire while the children enjoy a fluffy and play with the toys inside. Easy wheelchair and pram access. Largish venue so perfect for antenatal coffee groups and the like. View Map
Hive Cafe
Has a toy box, drawing, sunny backyard, good buggy access, kids menu. Kid friendly. Pool, library playground all in 5 mins walk. Located in the village, 16 Rimu Street, Eastbourne.
Island Bay
Blue Belle Cafe, Island Bay
Very kid-friendly, with the best pies in Wellington and great kids toys. View Map
Brew’d Bar
On Sunday evenings, children’s meals are free when ordered with an adults and the pub has children’s entertainment like face-painting or Zappo the Magician! 163 The Parade, Island Bay. More information: Brew’d.
Floyds
Has a small play area and children’s menu. Some great kids cabinet items, with highchairs and change table. View Map
Johnsonville
1841
At 1 Disraeli St, Johnsonville. A local Johnsonville pub with children’s menu.
Kaiwharawhara
La Cloche
A french cafe not far from Animates (between Spotlight and the BMW dealership). Wonderful french onion soup and chocolate mousse. Has a new children’s area with toys and a FANTASTIC ride on rocket ship. View Map
Karori
Karori Park Cafe
At Karori Park (used to be Recreation Cafe). Children’s menu and specials. Great children’s play area and toys.
Rata Cafe, Zealandia
Open to everyone (not just visitors to the park or exhibition). Has baskets of toys and has a free story-time on Tuesdays. Has a children’s menu you can order from. Has highchairs. View Map
Sweet Bakery & Cakery
Sweet Bakery & Cakery is in Karori’s Marsden Village. This eat-in or take-away cake shop offers a full range of sweet treats (cakes, cupcakes, brownies, slices, etc), coffees (including fluffies!) by Coffee Supreme, a tea menu by Harney & Sons, iced drinks and ‘Karma Cola’ cold drinks. Perfect for morning or afternoon tea and coffee groups, with high-chairs, mini-stools and a chalk-board for kids to get creative. For more information, visit Sweet Bakery.
Kelburn
Picnic, Botanic Gardens
No toys but children’s menu and felts and coloring-in and there’s the rose gardens and the Begonia House to play in. Has high chairs. View Map
Khandallah
Cafe du Parc
Has highchairs and toys. Next to the fabulous Khandallah Park and summer pool. More information: Cafe du Parc
Khandallah Trading Company
Corner of Agra Cres and Ganges Rd, Wellington. Children eat half price on Sundays. More information: Khandallah Trading Company.
Dunshea’s Deli
Kilbirnie
ASB Sports Centre Cafe
The indoor sports centre has a large Wishbone cafe with a play area for children, fenced off at the end. More information on the centre here: ASBSportsCentre.
Bunnings Lyall Bay
Bunnings in Lyall Bay has a fenced playground with a small cafe right next to it.
The Little Teapot
High Tea and other such treats, 29 Coutts Street, Kilbirnie. They also have a children’s room with changing facilities for little ones. On Thursday’s they offer free fluffys with any coffee purchased. For more information, visit The Little Teapot’s Facebook Page.
Lower Hutt
Benedicts Cafe, Maungaraki
This is a brilliant cafe for parents and caregivers. It has a fantastic play area for active kids (including a built-in lighthouse!), loads of room and great coffee roasted on the spot. It also has a small grocery store and post-office in the cafe. High chairs and great toilet with change table and stool for kids. View Map
Celcius
Small childrens play-area and selection of toys. Great kids menu and super-delicious food. High chairs and change table. 130 Hutt Road. View Map
Kensington Restaurant
Kensington Restaurant in the Petone Working Men’s Club. It’s a buffet, so kids can choose what they want from a wide selection of basic food well done, and kids are free on Sundays (with a paying adult). Great for celebratory family get-togethers as all generations will find something they like. Booking recommended but you don’t have to be a member to dine there. More information: Kensington.
Co ed on Queens
At the War Memorial Library on Queens Drive. Has highchairs and a couple of ride on toys.
Lone Star
Provides some kids colouring materials with the menu. Cnr Jackson and Buick Streets, Petone. View Map
Mitre 10
The cafe in Mitre 10 Mega in Alicetown is just across from the store’s large indoor playground.View Map
Bellbird Cafe (at The Dowse Art Museum)
Big basket of toys and fantastic food and coffee. More: Bellbird and The Dowse Art Museum.
Mo Town
Has a small play area indoors and slide outside. Is lovely and sheltered on a sunny day for more information, visit Mo Town. View Map
Rizzo’s
Located on Hutt Road, it’s a great family friendly place. High chairs. Generous kids packs. For more information, visit Rizzo’s.
Lyall Bay
Bunnings Lyall Bay
Bunnings in Lyall Bay has a fenced playground with a small cafe right next to it.
Elements
Lyall Bay. Has a basket of toys and nice food. On a busy road but has a lot of space to sit in “corners” with the kids. View Map
Maranui
Great kids meals and lots of noise to mask the screaming. Wonderful food and coffee. High chairs and change table (in the toilet downstairs). At the Maranui Life Saving Club, Lyall Bay.
The Spruce Goose
Great space with toys at airport end of cafe. There is also high chairs and friendly staff. Cnr Moa Point Rd & Cochrane St. More information: Spruce Goose.
Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli
Located on Queen’s Drive, this small lovely cafe has great food and coffee and awesome fluffies! There’s not much room for a buggy and there’s no high chairs, but great for a quick bite. There’s even a cool ride-on horse out the front. More information: Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli.
Miramar
Chocolate Frog
Located in the Palmers Garden store in Miramar. Has a playground picnic tables and toys. Even provides a ‘text’ order service if you are unable to leave the kids. You text them and they bring your order over to you. Go the Chocolate Frog! 69 Miramar Avenue, Miramar. View Map
Gasworks
11 Tauhinu Rd. Kids menu and high chairs. Kids dine free Mondays from 5pm. More information: Gasworks.
Cafe Polo
Has a big toy box, high chairs and super friendly staff and offers free fluffies. You’ll find them at 82-84 Rotherham Terrace. More information: Polo.
Park Kitchen
Offer a separate kids menu that can be colored in, highchairs available, a baby changing station in the restroom, courtyard and lounge for kids to be in, and they offer kids party packages with decorations, custom made cakes. For more information, visit Park Kitchen.
Newtown
Bebemos
This is a Brazilian resturant in Newtown. They have a big basket of toys and books and also provide drawing material for the kids. Also children are half price on Sundays. Corner of Riddiford and Hall St. View Map
Mojo at the Zoo
Great distractions for children. A play area with a few toys and large windows into the pygmy marmosets’ (Machu and Picchu) enclosure. You get 10% off with a zoo pass but be sure to ask for it because it usually won’t be “offered up” by the staff. 200 Daniell St Newtown. Has highchairs. View Map
Monterey
Southern soul food, games on the shelves, pencils out to draw on the paper tablecloths. 4 Rintoul St, Newtown. More information: Monterey.
Ngaio
Cafe Villa
61 Ottawa Rd. Small box of toys and some highchairs.
Ohariu
Saddleback cafe
In Ohariu Valley (517 Ohariu Valley Rd, Ohariu – the road between Makara and Johnsonville). Has a stream with eels in it. A slide to keep most kids amused. More information: Saddleback.
Oriental Bay
Beach Babylon
Great kids’ menu, lots of space, friendly staff, lots of dogs visiting the outside. Busy road, but lots of space inside too, and right opposite Oriental Bay Beach and down the road from the Freyberg playground and beach. More information: Beach Babylon.
Boat Cafe
Next to Freyberg Beach on Oriental Parade. No toys but kids love the location. More information: Boat Cafe.
Petone
Kensington Resturant
Kensington Restaurant in the Petone Working Men’s Club. It’s a buffet, so kids can choose what they want from a wide selection of basic food well done, and kids are free on Sundays (with a paying adult). Great for celebratory family get-togethers as all generations will find something they like. Booking recommended but you don’t have to be a member to dine there. More information: Kensington.
Lone Star
Provides some kids colouring materials with the menu. Cnr Jackson and Buick Streets, Petone. View Map
Mitre 10
The cafe in Mitre 10 Mega in Alicetown is just across from the store’s large indoor playground.View Map
Soprano Caffe
This restaurant in Jackson Street has a kids menu, activity packs, toy bucket, high chair, booster chairs, change table on request. More information, visit Soprano Caffe.
Porirua/Tawa
Peppermill
No toys but some books if you ask behind the counter. Highchairs and change table. 4 Norrie St, Porirua.
Kaizen
In the same building as Pataka. Has a children’s menu and high chairs. Very pricey fluffies.
El Porteno
With great coffee and a toy box for kids a win for parents and little ones! 139A Main Rd, Tawa, Wellington 5028
The Borough
They offer activity packs and kids can make their own ice cream sundaes. Lots of space out the back to sit in the sun on a nice day. For more information, visit The Borough.
Cake Society
A cute cafe and cakery located in Cobham Court in Porirua. For more information, visit Cake Society.
Scorching Bay
Scorch-o-rama
Right next to Scorching Bay Beach. Great kids meals. High chairs.
Shelly Bay
Chocolate Fish
Now in Shelly Bay. Great food, coffee and great ride-on toys – the cafe has a large selection of remodeled bikes and scooters and a big tarmac area to ride them on. Our recommendation – the bbq fish sandwich! Lots of high chairs and change table. More information: Chocolate Fish.
Te Aro
Preservatorium Cafe
39 Webb St, Te Aro. Very buggy and child-friendly and great food and coffee. View Map
Southern Cross
This pub caters specifically for kids. They offer numerous toy baskets and they are very tolerant of small children (and cleaning up the subsequent mess!). Great activities during the week (including free massage) and face-painting, crafts and kid’s photo-booth on Saturdays and Sundays. Book a table for weekends. 39 Abel Smith Street. Highchairs provided. View Map
Thorndon
Cosa Nostra
On Tinakori Road. Very child friendly. Has a basket of toys for the kids and a highchair. Great kids menu (who would have thought sausages could be made to look like octupus …). Lovely food. View Map
Home
While the cafe – located Ground floor of the National Library Te Ahumairangi in Molesworth Street – is popular for business meetings (there’s free Wifi), they also have a good-sized play area with toys for children and plenty of space for prams. The food and coffee is also de-lish, and the offer free fluffies with adult’s drink. For more information visit HOME cafe.
Wholly Bagels Thorndon
A big kids area but usually sparse for toys and you have to lift the kids in and out (and in and out, and in and out). Down the ramp/stairs from the Thorndon New World. View Map
Sipriana Cafe
Upstairs at Capital Gateway (where Cotton-on Kids is). This is an excellent cafe to visit with kids. There’s a great penned-off play-area with lots of toys, high chairs and change tables at the toilets nearby. View Map
Upper Hutt
Awaken Café
Awaken is run by a Community Trust. It is a non-profit café. Has a play area for kids to be entertained and great coffee. You are allowed to take your own food for the kids and they hold a “Tiny Tunes” session for kids on Tuesdays! See their Facebook page: Awaken.
Fig Tree
Super kid friendly and has a great play area for kids, located in Fergusson Drive, for more information, visit Fig Tree.
Wadestown
Wadestown Kitchen
Good toy basket and very good child-friendly food. 104 Wadestown Road. View Map
Wellington Central
Clarks
On the mezziene level of the Wellington Central Library. Great play area inside a “pen” open on one side. Good change room on the same level by the toilets. Good food and coffee. View Map
Nikau
No toys but they do a great boiled egg & soldiers. Free fluffies for kids with adult orders. Change table in the toilets and high chairs. View Map
Thunderbird
Not so much during the week but on Sundays Thunderbird has half price meals for the kids and colouring in etc. 154 Featherston Street, Wellington central. Has a big box of toys and high chairs
Verve
Probably the easiest cafe to get to on Lambton Quay, a big wide entrance and they have high chairs. While they don’t have toys, there is plenty of room for a buggy. They are at 250 Lambton Quay. For more information, visit Verve.
Wellington Waterfront
Crab Shack
Kids eat free on Sunday (from kids menu which doubles as activity sheet), good high chairs and beautifully clean toilets and change table. More information: Crab Shack.
Karaka Cafe
In located in Te Raukura – Te Wharewaka o Poneke (the Waka House) at the Wellington waterfront. Great for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Has a cool little play whare (house) for the kids to play in with books and toys, and you can sit on the tables outside and supervise the kids playing on the waka ramps. Prizes for a good fluffy too with min chocolate fish dunked in. Service can be slow though. Has high chairs and a change table. Opening hours and more info: Karaka.
One Red Dog
Provides some kids colouring materials with the menu. Steamship Building, North Queens Wharf. Has highchairs. View Map
Wagamama
No toys or play area but there are often lots of kids in the resturant and they commonly have specials for kids on the menu. 33 Customhouse Quay. View Map
Whitby
Co-op Kitchen & Bar
Has a great ‘conservatory’ area for families with couches, etc, and they bring the pens and paper out to keep the kids busy. Has a kids’ menu and kids dine free on Mondays. More information: Co-op.
Destination
Staglands Cafe
Staglands Café can be found at the entrance to Staglands Wildlife Reserve. It is a traditional log building constructed from local Douglas Fir with impressive wooden trusses and posts and a cosy open fire that blazes throughout winter.
Outside there are large decked seating areas set under shady trees with fantastic views of The Reserve and it’s residents. A static wooden trailer is also on hand, with plenty of seats to go around for the littlies to enjoy. Café is open to both the general public and visitors to The Reserve. Visit their website for more information.
