Child-Friendly Restaurants

We have posted so many bits of information about child-friendly restaurants in the Geneva region both on the blog and our facebook page that the time has come to tidy it all up into a simple list. This should make for straightforward browsing and hopefully help you find what you’re looking for at the click of a button.

This is set to be an ever-growing list so make sure you check it regularly to see what’s been added, tested & recommended! If you read French, the Petits Gourmands website lists some great child-friendly boltholes too.

For more info about Sunday Brunch with kids and Sunday brunch in the sun, take a look at our previous posts – we’ve included plenty of photos that will give you a good idea of what the restaurants look like. Please let us know if you have more child-friendly restaurants to recommend!

Geneva: child-friendly restaurants with indoor play area

• Wolfisberg ($) Café & Pâtisserie in Carouge has a small indoor climbing frame, ideal to give you respite whilst savouring some delicious buttery pastries. Open everyday from 6.30am to 7pm, closed on Wednesdays, Christmas Day and New Year’s. Open on Sunday (lunch only). Highchairs available.
• Un R de Famille ($$), welcoming, homely and relaxed – perfect for a family breakfast, lunch or Sunday brunch. Open from 8am to 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 8am to 8pm on Thursdays and from 10.30am to 4pm on Sundays. You can see photos and find out more about it in our previous post. Open on Sunday (lunch only). Highchairs available.
• Restaurant Le Barocco ($$) located on the lower ground floor of the Musée d’art et d’histoire serves up French-style cuisine made with local produce as well as delicious pastries and cakes. In summer, grab one of the tables in the inner courtyard while the children play in the MAH Family area right next to the restaurant. The indoor MAH Family area offers a selection of books, puzzles, games and colouring materials (thank you Clara for the tip!). A little warning: no cards accepted, only cash payments. Don’t forget you can also visit the museum or take part in one of their family visits, story times or fun workshops for kids. Open for lunch Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. Open on Sunday (lunch only). Highchairs available.
• Pizzeria Luigia ($$$), authentic Neapolitan pizza and delicious Italian food. Open every day for lunch & dinner at 2 locations in town: Rue Adrien-Lachenal 24 and chemin de la Tourelle 2. You can read more about it in our previous post. Open on Sunday (lunch & dinner).Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant de la Plage du Reposoir ($$$) in Chambésy nestles on the lakeshore overlooking the Jet d’Eau and is famous for its strapline: “A partir d’ici vous êtes en vacances”. Indoors, they have a small corner with books, a small climbing frame and some toys, but when the sun comes out the children can play on the beach below or the nearby playground. Bear in mind however, that they won’t be visible from the restaurant so you will have to keep an eye on them when they leave the building. Open for lunch & dinner, closed on Tuesdays. Open on Sunday (lunch & dinner). Highchairs available.
• La Réserve Genève ($$$$$) in Bellevue is a 5-star luxury hotel with 5 sterling restaurants and a staffed playroom open everyday from 9am to 6pm. In summer, the children can have a blast in the outdoor play area with a large wooden structure and tree houses. Open on Sunday (playroom open only until 6pm). Highchairs available.

Geneva: child-friendly restaurants with outdoor play area

• Aéro bistro ($) in Meyrin serves up unpretentious but delicious Thai food for lunch and dinner except on Sundays, when they only serve dishes from their Swiss menu. Swiss dishes and kids menus are available everyday. They have an outdoor play area but the main attraction is watching the planes take off and land at Geneva airport! Find out all about it in our previous post. Open on Sunday (lunch only). Highchairs available.
• Le Pyramus ($) is the restaurant of the Geneva Botanical Gardens, hence one of the best places to dine al fresco while the little ones play undisturbed. After lunch, you’re already set for a great afternoon walk in the Botanical Gardens: the children will love the small zoo, wooden play area and surrealist merry-go-round. Open everyday from 8.30am to 7pm in summer and from 9am to 4.30pm in winter. Open on Sunday (lunch only). Highchairs available.
• Restaurant du Parc des Bastions ($$) in the heart of Geneva is a charming Art Deco building sitting right next to the park’s playground. Unfortunately, you can’t see the playground from the restaurant tables, so you’ll have to get up to keep a close eye on your little ones, but it’s still a great place for a family meal serving French cuisine with a modern twist. Open for lunch & dinner Monday to Saturday and for brunch on Sundays. Highchairs available.
• Café de l’aviation ($$) in Vernier is famed for its steak & chips and Swiss cuisine. Their lovely terrace & small outdoor play area make it ideal for a family meal, especially when the sun is out. Highchairs available. Open for lunch & dinner everyday except Sundays.
• Auberge Communale de Grand Donzel ($$) in Vessy is right next door to the Centre Sportif and faces a large outdoor playground equipped with fantastic swings, slides, climbing frames. If you book a table outside, you can watch your little ones run amok as you finish your meal in peace. Open for lunch & dinner, closed on Mondays and Sunday nights in winter. Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant de la Plage du Reposoir ($$$) in Chambésy nestles on the lakeshore overlooking the Jet d’Eau and is famous for its strapline: “A partir d’ici vous êtes en vacances”. Indoors, they have a small corner with books, a small climbing frame and some toys, but when the sun comes out the children can play on the beach below or the nearby playground. Bear in mind however, that they won’t be visible from the restaurant so you will have to keep an eye on them when they leave the building. Open for lunch & dinner, closed on Tuesdays. Open on Sunday (lunch & dinner). 
• The Restaurant La Pointe à la Bise ($$$) in Vésenaz faces the beach, a  small playground and paddling pool. You’ll have to keep an eye on your little buttons as the area is not supervised. Reserve a table on their lovely terrace to make the most of the restaurant’s fab location, if you decide to sit indoors they have pencils and colouring materials for little guests. Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week from 9am to midnight. Highchairs available.
• La Réserve Genève ($$$$$) in Bellevue is a 5-star luxury hotel with 5 sterling restaurants and a staffed playroom open everyday from 9am to 6pm. In summer, the children can have a blast in the outdoor play area with a large wooden structure and tree houses. Open on Sunday (playroom open only until 6pm). Highchairs available.

Canton Vaud: child-friendly restaurants with indoor play area

• The self-service restaurant at Parc Pré Vert ($) is perfect for a relaxed family day-out: you can grab a bite and then enjoy the park’s great attractions and playgrounds. The self-service restaurant has been renovated not long ago and currently has a small area indoors where the children can draw and play with building blocks, but plans are in place to reinstate the much-loved indoor play area which made it a family favourite for so many years. Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week. Highchairs available.
• Il Pulcinella ($$) Italian restaurant & pizzeria in Rolle has a small indoor play room with toys, colouring materials, DVDs and books. Very popular with families and teeming with little ones at the weekend. Open everyday for lunch & dinner. Read all about it or salivate over some food photos in our previous post. Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant la Nautique ($$) in Nyon serves filets de perche & chips and other traditional Swiss staples. In the summer, grab a table on their “floating” terrace, while the kids play on the small lake beach nearby or the playground just across the road (keep an eye on them!). Indoors, they have a selection of children’s books and small sofa where the children can get all cozy. Open for lunch & dinner Tuesday to Saturday and for lunch on Sundays. Closed on Mondays. You can see some photos & read our previous post here. Highchairs available.
• Luigia ($$-$$$) has recently opened in Nyon! With their (small) cinema room and table football for kids, this is a great place for a family meal — and while the children play, you can truly savour their delicious Italian food and wood-fired pizza.
• The Auberge du Chalet-des-Enfants ($$$) in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (VD) is so popular you will need to book days in advance to get a table, but you’ll be glad you did as they have an indoor area with wooden toys and drawing material for the little buttons as well as a great outdoor playground with swings, carved animal statues and a wooden hut made out of branches. Open everyday for lunch & dinner. Highchairs available.

Canton Vaud: child-friendly restaurants with outdoor play area

• The self-service Manora Restaurant ($) at the Chavannes-de-Bogis shopping centre is a classic we never tire of: the food is lovely and the outdoor playground is just the bee’s knees. Perfect for a family meal, a playdate or just to meet friends. Open Mondays to Saturdays from 9am to 7pm and until 9pm on Fridays. Highchairs available.
• The self-service restaurant at Parc Pré Vert ($) is perfect for a relaxed family day-out: you can grab a bite and then enjoy the park’s great attractions and playgrounds. The self-service restaurant has been renovated not long ago and currently has a small area indoors where the children can draw but plans are in place to reinstate the much-loved indoor play area which made it a family favourite for so many years. Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week. Highchairs available.
• Buvette du Port du Crans-près-Céligny ($-$$) is right next to the plage de Crans where the Caribana music festival takes place every summer. With beautiful lake views, a large outdoor space with swings, slides and other playground delights this is a lovely spot to relax and enjoy a family meal. Some people have not enjoyed the food as much as they would have hoped and service can be slow but it’s still worth adding to our list for its sterling lake views and play area. Open for lunch & dinner from the 1st of March to the 31st of October from 8am to 11pm. Closed on Mondays during the months of March, April & October. Open on Sundays.
• Le Petit Moulin ($$) pizzeria & Italian restaurant in Signy has a small terrace and outdoor playground overlooking the Jura mountains. Very popular with local families and little diners, it’s open everyday for lunch & dinner. Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant la Nautique ($$) in Nyon serves filets de perche & chips and other traditional Swiss staples. In the summer, grab a table on their “floating” terrace, while the kids play on the small lake beach nearby or the playground just across the road (keep an eye on them!). Indoors, they have a selection of children’s books that can come in handy. Open for lunch & dinner Tuesday to Saturday and for lunch on Sundays. Closed on Mondays. You can see some photos & read our previous post here. Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant de la Plage ($$) in Nyon overlooks Lake Léman and sits right next to a fantastic playground we’ve raved about here. The restaurant has recently changed hands so we’re looking forward to trying it out this summer!
• Les Abériaux Restaurant ($$) in Prangins has a lovely terrace facing the lake and is next door to a large playground (& Prangins’ football field). The decor looks a bit dated but don’t be put off: here you will find the best marinated baby pork ribs in the area as well as other traditional Swiss dishes. Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week from April to the end of September.
• The Restaurant de la Plage ($$) in Gland has a large outdoor terrace overlooking Lake Léman and a large outdoor play area with slides, swings and 2 fantastic wooden play-houses. The restaurant is famous for its filets de perche and the outdoor space, right next to the small plage de la Falaise in Gland is its greatest asset. Open for lunch & dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Open on Sundays. Highchairs available.
• The Restaurant La Croix Verte ($$-$$$) in Vich has a small but perfect outdoor play area, fenced all around and kept secure with a small gate. Open 7 days a week.
• Basseruche ($$-$$$) in St-Cergue has an outdoor playground plus other great outdoor atractions. They serve local dishes and fondue, read more about it in our previous post.
• The Relais de l’aérodrome ($$$) in Prangins has a vast garden, an outdoor play area and first-row views over the propeller planes that take off right opposite the restaurant. Our favourite bit is that parents can truly relax on the terrace whilst keeping en eye on the young ones (the garden is fenced and they can’t run off). The restaurant is renowned in the area for its delicious meat and fish dishes. Open for lunch & dinner Monday to Saturday. Highchairs available.
• The Auberge du Chalet-des-Enfants ($$$) in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (VD) is so popular you will need to book days in advance to get a table, but you’ll be glad you did as they have an indoor area with wooden toys and drawing material for the little buttons as well as a great outdoor playground with swings, carved animal statues and a wooden hut made out of branches. Open everyday for lunch & dinner. Highchairs available.

Neighbouring France: child-friendly restaurants with indoor play area

• CrocO’deal Coffee ($) in Divonne-les-Bains is a second-hand kids store with a lovely café and indoor play area for children and babies. This is more of a coffee shop, but perfect for lunch, a play date or meeting with other mum friends. Take a look at some photos in our previous post. Highchairs available.
• Gastro-Mômes ($) in Douvaine is another great coffee shop-cum-take away with a lovely indoor play area for little ones. Our guest blogger Michelle Levesley has written about it here!
• The B Com Brasserie ($$) in Archamps is a firm favourite with young families. The open kitchen, modern decor and healthy kids menu choices are clear indicators that you’re onto a winner – the indoor play area with IKEA play-kitchen, stuffed toys and DVDs is just the gilding on the lily. You can find out more about it in our previous post. Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner. Highchairs available.

Neighbouring France: child-friendly restaurants with outdoor play area

• Central Park ($) in Divonne-les-Bains sits in the middle of a vast, fenced playground. As all seating is outdoors, you will need to check their opening times when the weather isn’t great (tel. +33 (0)6 07 60 39 69). Read all about it in our previous post.
• La Taverne des Ecuries ($) in Grilly (Pays de Gex) is part of a large riding stable so it’s the perfect lunch destination if your little ones are horse-crazy. The restaurant itself is chalet-style charming with wooden panels, wooden floors & cozy seating. They serve up salads, hamburgers and kids menus every day at lunchtime, bookings can be made in the evenings for large groups.

Last but not least, you can – of course – enjoy a family meal at selected Coop and Migros restaurants where a small play area is usually available, but with the above list we’ve mainly focused on independent restaurants in the Geneva, Vaud & Neighbouring France region.