Our top 5 kid friendly restaurants in Dubai

Entertaining kids is not always easy, especially not during a 2 week school holiday! Here's a round-up of our top 5 favourite kid friendly restaurants and cafes in town, in random order. These are good value for money compared to traditional play areas considering access to the play area is complimentary for clients. Keep the kids busy and feed them lunch or dinner- win-win!

Cafe Confetti, JLT

Cafe Confetti is a very cute, small coffee shop in cluster U by the lake. It has a wonderful wooden play area, indoor and outdoor dining space as well as an outdoor play area.

Best for: toddlers and younger children

Best time to visit: lunchtime to afternoon

Pros:

- wooden play area and plenty of toys, all well-looked after

- affordable

- free filtered water

- must try: ice cream, strawberry waffles

- 20% discount for all Dirham Stretcher followers

Baker's Kitchen, Dubai Marina and SZR (2 locations)

Run by the legendary Sven, Baker's kitchen is an all-time favourite for breakfasts and cosy afternoons. Food is healthy, the bread amazing, the German cakes delicious. Sven is passionate about bread and all things sourdough and you will often see him walking from table to table, checking on his customers. The original location in Dubai Marina has a great wooden playground, the new location on SZR only a small basic play area for now. The Dubai marina branch has indoor and outdoor seating with Marina views. Make sure to book ahead to get a space next to the play area.

Best for: kids of all ages

Best time to visit: Breakfast and afternoon

Pros:

- large play area

- free underground parking

- every child gets a pretzel or pretzel stick after their visit

- must try: pretzel, breads, German cheesecake

- filtered water, pay once and get unlimited refills

- 25% discount for all Dirham Stretcher followers, for dine-in or take-away, in both locations

Schoko Fabrik, Bluewaters

Out of this list, Schoko Fabrik remains my sons' favourite place because of the massive play area. Located next to Dubai Eye, this eatery is good for an afternoon snack and walk along the Bluewaters promenade at sunset.

Best for: older kids (young children might get scared of the heights)

Best time to visit: lunchtime or afternoon

Pros:

- large play area with slide

- free underground parking

Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes

Reform Social & Grill is a British pub with an outdoor play area. Make sure to book a table outside so you can see your children playing.

Best for: children of all ages.

Best time to visit: late afternoon and evenings

Pros:

- chilled vibe

- licensed (if that's a criterium)

- free outdoor parking

- dog friendly

- must try: my kids' favourite treat is ice cream

Masha and The Bear Restaurant, JBR

Located within The Beach complex, Masha and The Bear Restaurant is 100% focused on children. Spend 100 dhs minimum to get 3 hours free parking and combine the restaurant visit with a swim at the beach or a trip to the beach playground.

Best for: children of all ages

Best time to visit: lunchtime and go for a swim afterwards

Pros:

- play area

- convenient location next to the beach and The Walk