From brilliant kids’ menus to relaxed spaces for prams, these family-friendly restaurants in Manchester make eating out with little ones feel easy.
Whether you’re planning a full family day out or just fancy skipping the cooking, a meal out is one of the simplest ways to keep everyone happy. The best family-friendly restaurants don’t just tolerate kids – they welcome them, with high chairs, quick service, space to settle in and menus that work for both picky eaters and adventurous little diners. Here’s our pick of the best places to eat with children in Manchester.
If you’re making a full day of it, you might also want to bookmark our guide to terrific things to do with toddlers in Manchester, plus the best toddler-friendly cafes in Manchester for coffee breaks with play areas. And when you need a guaranteed energy-burner, these are the best soft play centres in Manchester.
New Century
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New Century’s food hall is a brilliant family option – loads of choice, plenty of space for prams, and a relaxed, come-as-you-are vibe. The resident kitchens specialise in kid-friendly street food, with everything from pizza to mac & cheese up for grabs.
There’s a fantastic option for families too – visit on a Sunday or a school holiday and you can get a free kids’ meal with every paying adult when you order from the same vendor. Will you go for cheese-loaded parmos, Vietnamese banh mi or freshly-cooked pizza?
Where is it? New Century, 34 Hanover Street, Manchester, M4 4AH.
Good to know: Laidback social-style dining, and children can eat free during school holidays with every paying adult.
Bab
Credit: Bab
Bab’s reinvention of the humble kebab has been hugely popular in Manchester, but did you know they’re a great place for families too? Adults can indulge in ‘babs with all manner of fillings, including the epic Bab Sharer – which is big enough to feed a family, believe us.
The kids’ menu includes one option – the build-your-own kebab. They’ll get a flat bread, stuffed with salad, fries, sauce if they want it and their choice of crispy chicken, falafel or halloumi bites. Served with fruit juice, it’s one of the best value kids’ meals in Manchester.
Where is it? Bab, 14 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR.
Good to know: The build-your-own kids’ kebab is great value for little appetites.
Gusto
Elegant Gusto has it all – authentic Italian food for the adults, a refined-yet-accessible atmosphere and a dedicated menu for the little ones. It’s £11 for two courses or £13.25 for three, with garlic dough petals to start, followed by a choice of tasty mains.
The highlight has to be the interactive make-your-own pizza option. Kids will be served a fresh pizza base, ready to decorate with up to three toppings. Once they’ve perfected their masterpiece, it’s time to hand it back to the chef to cook. There are puzzles on the menu too!
Where is it? Gusto, 4 Lloyd Street, Manchester, M2 5AB.
Good to know: Kids can make and decorate their own pizza at the table.
Bill’s
With a relaxed, homely atmosphere, Bill’s is one of the most child-friendly restaurants in Manchester. Visit for breakfast and kids can start the day right with the likes of beans on toast, buttermilk pancakes and the Little Bill’s Breakfast – a full English for tiny bellies.
Lunch and dinner serve up two kids’ courses for just £7.45, including burgers, fish finger butties and vegan meatball pasta. Children are welcome any time of day, and there are high chairs, baby changing facilities and colouring packs aplenty. Need a hand? Just ask a team member and they’ll be more than happy to help.
Where is it? Bill’s, 3 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB & The Trafford Centre, M17 8EH.
Good to know: Children are welcome all day, with colouring packs, high chairs and baby changing facilities.
Indian Tiffin Room
Indian Tiffin Room’s colourful First Street home is perfect when you’re hankering for a curry but you need a child-friendly option for the kids. Step inside and you’ll find vibrant interiors, alongside attentive service and mouth-watering street food-style dishes.
The adult menu is huge, and you’ll find a larger-than-average menu for children too. It’s filled with kid-friendly selections from the main menu – think battered paneer and chicken lollipop to start, followed by cheesy dosa and creamy curries. It’s perfect for easing them into the world of Indian cuisine.
Where is it? Indian Tiffin Room, First Street, Manchester, M15 4RL.
Good to know: A larger-than-average kids’ menu makes it easy to introduce little ones to Indian flavours.
Mackie Mayor
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Home to six indie kitchens, a coffee shop and a well-stocked bar, Mackie Mayor offers plenty for the grown-ups, but did you know it’s also super kid-friendly? That’s right – visit with the little ones and they’re sure to love the cosy play area that’s tucked away beneath the stairs.
There’s also lots of space to park the pram, alongside two baby changing areas and loads of high chairs. While there isn’t a dedicated children’s menu, the variety of food should satisfy even the pickiest of eaters – pizza and chips is always a failsafe.
Where is it? Mackie Mayor, Smithfield Market Hall, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU.
Good to know: There’s a small play area under the stairs, plus plenty of space for prams.
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay takes the stress out of family meals with a brilliant kids-eat-free offer. When an adult spends £15 or more, one child can enjoy a free meal from the kids’ menu – ideal for relaxed lunches and early dinners packed with Caribbean flavour.
The Little Turtles menu features child-sized burgers, mild chicken curry, Mo’bay pasta and mini hand-stretched pizza. Each option comes with unlimited soft drinks, from fruity favourites to fizzy classics.
Where is it? Turtle Bay, Oxford Street (M1 4WB), Oldham Street (M4 1LE) & The Quays (M50 3AH).
Good to know: You can get a free kids’ meal when an adult spends £15 or more.
Wazuzhi
Credit: Wazuzhi
If you’ve got adventurous eaters in your brood, why not introduce them to sushi? Wazuzhi serve theirs conveyor belt-style, and kids will love watching the colourful dishes pass by and picking their favourite. The concept is simple – pick as many plates as you like and they’ll tot up the total at the end.
If sushi’s a step too far, there are bao buns and accessible starters like chicken katsu and gyoza. While the kids get to dip their toe in all things Japanese, you can tuck into all your favourites – from slurpable ramen to ultra-fresh sushi bowls, there’s a huge selection to choose from.
Where is it? Wazuzhi, 63 Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FF.
Good to know: The conveyor belt sushi is a hit with adventurous eaters and curious kids.
Piccolino
At Piccolino, bambini are taken seriously. Kids aged 11 and under can order from their very own gigantic menu, making the popular Italian one of the most family-friendly restaurants in Manchester. It’s not the cheapest, but when you want a venue that doesn’t compromise on quality, this is it.
There’s crunchy vegetable sticks, bruschetta and dough bites to start, followed by a slew of options to suit all tastes. There’s pasta aplenty, build-your-own pizza and even steak and chips. Wash it all down with a fruit juice, happycino or a made-for-kids mocktail. They’ll feel all grown up.
Where is it? Piccolino, 8 Clarence Street, Manchester, M2 4DW.
Good to know: A huge kids’ menu includes mocktails and build-your-own pizza options.
Kargo MKT
Situated in Salford Quays, Kargo MKT combines street food with family-friendly entertainment for an unforgettable experience. There are 18 amazing traders to choose from, taking you on a whistle-stop tour around the world, all without leaving the city.
With everything from burgers and pizza to sushi and colourful dumplings on offer, there’s bound to be something for even picky eaters. What’s more, kids eat free during the holidays, there’s a sandpit and a packed lineup of family activities, including mini discos and craft workshops.
Where is it? Kargo MKT, Central Bay, MediaCity, Salford Quays, M50 3AG.
Good to know: Kids eat free during school holidays, with family activities and a sandpit on site.
Banyan
Popular with adults and kids alike, Banyan is a great choice when you need a child-friendly restaurant in Manchester. Their main menu is huge, spanning everything from flat iron steak to chicken schnitzel, while their kids menu serves up a main meal and a side for just £7.
The carefully-curated menu includes classics like cheeseburger and fish and chips, alongside dishes packed with hidden veg so the kids can get one of their five a day without even knowing. You can go big for an extra £1 – perfect for older children – and the menu comes packed with puzzles and colouring.
Where is it? Banyan, Corn Exchange, Manchester, M4 3TR & Spinningfields, M3 3PL.
Good to know: The kids’ menu includes hidden veg and puzzles to keep little ones busy.
HOME
Credit: Paul Karalius
Not only is HOME a hub of independent art, theatre and film, it’s also wonderfully child-friendly. You can attend an interactive workshop, catch a family film or introduce the kids to the magic of theatre, while the creativity corner on the ground floor is the place to go for free crafting.
When they get peckish, head to the first floor restaurant to fuel up with pocket-friendly eats. Kids can tuck into three courses for as little as £8.95, with soup, build-your-own-pizza and ice cream all up for grabs. For grown-ups, there’s pizza, salad bowls and chargrilled meats.
Where is it? HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, M15 4FN.
Good to know: Free creative activities often run alongside a great-value kids’ restaurant menu.
Yard & Coop
Yard & Coop have not only perfected their buttermilk fried chicken, they’ve also fine-tuned their approach to keeping the kids entertained. Under 12s can tuck into nugz, a chicken mayo burger or vegan fried chicken, served with chips, mac & cheese or salad, followed by ice cream, all for just a fiver.
When the ice cream arrives slathered with sauce and sprinkles, they’ll be grinning from ear to ear. Throw in LEGO and crayons and you’re onto a real winner. But here’s the best bit – visit during school holidays and you can get a free kids’ main, dessert and cordial for free when you order any adult main. Score!
Where is it? Yard & Coop, 37 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HW.
Good to know: Kids eat free during school holidays when an adult main is ordered.
Tampopo
Manchester’s answer to Wagamama, Tampopo has been serving hungry diners of all ages for almost three decades now. Adults can enjoy everything from steaming bowls of ramen to fragrant curries, while the kids menu is split into two sections – junior and adventurous explorers.
Juniors can enjoy picky bits like corn fritters and popcorn chicken, while the more adventurous can branch out with the likes of pad thai and katsu curry. And then there’s the Buddhist Monk option – a free plate and their own cutlery so they can dig into the grown-ups’ food, a great choice if they just want to pick at bits.
Where is it? Tampopo, Albert Square (M2 5PF), Corn Exchange (M4 3TR) & The Trafford Centre (M17 8EH).
Good to know: The menu is split into junior and adventurous options for different ages.
The Black Friar
A modern pub with a rich history, The Black Friar is a hit with both adults and kids alike. While the grown-ups enjoy a range of British fare and pub classics, younger diners can order from the Little Tuckers menu, digging into a host of bite-sized treats designed for smaller appetites.
There’s cheesy garlic bread or hummus and sticks for starters, followed by the likes of hotdogs and chicken wraps. For pudding, there’s ice cream sandwiches and churros. They’ll even find puzzles and colouring activities on the back of the menu, keeping them quiet at the table!
Where is it? The Black Friar, 41–43 Blackfriars Road, Salford, M3 7DB.
Good to know: The Little Tuckers menu includes puzzles and colouring to keep kids entertained.
