There’s one question that we get asked a lot… What are our suggestions for family friendly restaurants in Berkshire? Eating out with children can be a stressful and daunting prospect, when it should be a fun family outing. Thankfully there are lots of restaurants and pubs in Berkshire that won’t have you wanting to hide under the table should a tantrum erupt over the colour of the cutlery, and we love these restaurants for their menus, activities, welcoming staff and outdoor play spaces.
So, here are our suggestions for eating out with kids in Berkshire and beyond, and we’d love to hear about yours if they haven’t made our list yet…
**Make sure you check with the restaurant as many currently need to be booked and may be subject to changes, closures or restrictions**
Eating out at restaurants and pubs with children in Berkshire
The Palmer Arms, Dorney
Best For… Outdoor play space with yummy food
Just on the Berks/Bucks border is The Palmer Arms in the pretty village of Dorney. Fantastic food, served in a relaxed and friendly environment. The children’s menu is varied and offers tried and tested favourites including macaroni cheese, sausage and mash, gammon egg and skinny fries, Palmer homemade beef burger, and much more. Outside there’s a play area in an attractive garden perfect for the whole family.
The Palmer Arms was winner of the Little Ankle Biters Awards for Best Family Friendly Place to Eat in 2021.
For more information, click here.
Peacock Farm, Bracknell
Best For… Outdoor space and great value kid’s meals
Peacock Farm in Bracknell certainly knows what it’s doing when it comes to family dining. The menu is great value and has lots of variety including favourites like; chicken goujons, kids’ mezze, cheese and bacon burger and fish and chips. There’s also a play frame outside for children to let off some steam. Peacock Farm was winner of the Little Ankle Biters Awards for Best Family Friendly Pub in 2019.
For more information, click here.
Bel & the Dragon | Cookham, Windsor & Reading
Best for… An all round great dining experience for families
Bel & the Dragon is a great place to eat with kiddies, and don’t just take our word for it – it’s an award winning restaurant for that very reason. Parents will feel far from short changed eating here! The menu is fantastic and the food top notch. You’ll be spoilt for choice. There’s a great children’s menu with options like sausage and mash, pasta bolognaise, homemade chicken nuggets, and a cracking Sunday Roast. What’s more, keep your eyes peeled for Kids Eat Free offers during some school holidays and children’s workshops, like create your own Eton Mess. And on a dry day why not enjoy some al fresco dining on the pretty terrace complete with a children’s play house at the Cookham restaurant.
Cookham was the Little Ankle Biters award winner for 2018 Best Family Friendly Place to Eat.
For more information, click here.
Fernygrove Farm Coffee Shop, Hawthorn Hill
Best For… Informal Al Fesco eating with outdoor play equipment
Tucked away on the back roads between Maidenhead and Ascot is Fernygrove Farm Coffee Shop, and boy it’s way more than just that. You’ll find everything from a fantastic hearty breakfast through to delicious lunches, cream teas, cakes and other treats, as well as a great range of hot and cold drinks. There’s also a fantastic children’s menu. What really establishes Fernygrove as one of our favourite places to hang out is great outdoor space, with play equipment for children, chickens and a spectacular view for lunching in the great outdoors.
For more information, click here.
The Shire Horse, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead
Best for…A great value meal all the family will love
A great family friendly pub on the A4 at Littlewick Green, just outside Maidenhead, The Shire Horse offers good value with loads of food choice and a pub garden to boot. There’s a dedicated kid’s menu with loads of choice and will cater for all tastes, plus they do a kid’s Sunday roast. There’s a large car park too making it super easy for families to drop in. Don’t forget to download their app and you can order straight from your table in the garden.
Find out more here.
The Royal Foresters, Ascot
Brunch and Prosecco with friends, Sunday roast with the family, or even just a coffee and a natter after a walk with the dog, The Royal Foresters in Ascot is a great option with a fantastic outside space. They also have a brilliant kid’s menu covering breakfast, starters, mains, sunday roast and deserts so the little ones will be just as well catered for.
To find out more and book a table, click here.
The Giggling Squid, Wokingham
Best For… Great value Thai tapas for adventurous taste buds
Giggling Squid offers great value Thai dining perfect for families looking for something away from the norm. Perfect for lunch on the go, the restaurant is right in the centre of Wokingham, making it easy to get to with plenty of parking nearby. The kid’s menu is great with varied meals that offer something different and delicious. We recommend especially the grilled pork skewers and the chicken noodle stir fry. And mummies and daddies, don’t miss the salt and pepper squid starter, yum!
As well as Wokingham, you’ll find Giggling Squid in Windsor and also not far from Berkshire in Marlow, Beaconsfield and Henley. To find out more, click here.
Shurlock Inn, Shurlock Row
Best For… Summer outdoor eating
A firm favourite of ours for a family meal, The Shurlock Inn is a bit of a hidden gem that you’ll be delighted you found. The food is delicious, eating here will be a treat for parents too, and the children’s menu is a big hit. We love the slightly more mature options for little ones like the minute steak while you’ll still find classics like macaroni cheese and cheesburgers. They also do a fantastic children’s Sunday roast, and naughty but oh-so-nice pudds. Outside there’s a nice garden making it a great choice on a warmer day.
For more information, click here.
Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen, Hungerford
Best For… Locally produced food in the fresh air
This fantastic farm shop in Hungerford has it all. There’s a great café serving home made, locally sourced meals, afternoon teas and cakes and snacks. Plus don’t miss the daily specials board and Sunday roast. On a dry day you can eat outside on the pretty garden terrace, where you’ll also find a great children’s play area. For wet days there’s an indoor play barn, so whatever the weather the little ones can burn off some energy before or after eating.
For more information, click here.
Flaming Cow, Eton
Best For… Super thick milkshakes
Burgers, hot dogs and deliciously thick and creamy milkshakes, the Flaming Cow in Eton is the perfect choice for lovers of the trendy American diner feel. Food is of a great standard and portions are on the generous side, you’ll certainly leave feeling satisfied. A firm favourite of ours.
For more information, click here.
Harvester Restaurants
Best for…Budget conscious meals
No family friendly dining guide would be complete without a mention for The Harvester. The Windsor Lad was our Friday night treat when we were kids, and my children love popping in now. The restaurants are relaxed and informal and well used to catering for families. The menu choices for kiddies are great and meals are split into ‘Smaller Bites’ ‘Bigger Appetites’ and ‘Harvester Recommends’. And you know you’ll be getting great value at the Harvester, something all families are looking for at the moment.
You’ll find Harvesters in; Windsor, Old Windsor, Langley, Bracknell and Reading.
Find out more and book your table here.
The Golden Ball Pub & Kitchen, Maidenhead
Best For… A specially designed, homemade menu for children
The ‘Busy Bees’ children’s menu at The Golden Ball in Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, has been developed thoughtfully to create a menu that will nourish and excite your little ones. The menu is all homemade by their skilled chefs using fresh & seasonal ingredients, plus kid’s can get their own Sunday Lunch (obvs on a Sunday). They’ll also get an activity sheet to keep them occupied. On a sunny day you can enjoy the lovely garden too. **Please check with the restaurant as it’s now under new management**
For more information, click here.
The Waterside Woodley
Best For… A great lakeside spot and fab kid’s menu
The Waterside at Woodley backs on to South Lake, and along with it’s perfect pub garden, it makes an ideal spot for a family meal. You’ll be greeted by a pretty pub with a thatched roof (it was previously called Thatchers) but inside has been given a contemporary makeover.
There’s a great selection of meals for all ages, our faves on the kid’s menu are the ribs & fries, you’ll also find classics like mac & cheese, bangers and mash and fish and chips.
You can find out more and book your table here.
The Ferry, Cookham
Best For… Riverside dining and a great kids menu
You’ll have no problems getting your favourite little people to clear their plates at The Ferry in Cookham. There’s a delicious range of mains, pudds, and Sunday roasts for children. Meals include; spiced coconut chicken curry, mac & cheese, pizza and cheeseburger sliders.
For more information, click here.
The Fox and Hounds, Englefield Green, Surrey
Best For… A lovely family walk followed by a great Sunday roast
Just outside of Berkshire over the Surrey border, you’ll find the Fox and Hounds nestled on the outskirts of Windsor Great Park. This is a warm and welcoming family (and dog) friendly pub with something for everyone. We love their roast dinners on a Sunday and they have a great children’s menu with things like; sausage & mash, fish & chips, pizza, and pasta. Kiddies can also have a roast dinner, yum. There’s plenty of seating outside for warm days and why not follow dinner with a great walk in Savill Garden.
For more information, click here.
Tummies, Slough
Best For… Children with an artistic streak
Tummies has long been a massive favourite of ours, from the awesome brunch all the way through to lunch and dinner, the food is as good as the name suggests. For the kiddies there’s a good menu, based on adults food cooked for kids. You’ll find things like; hickory smoked ribs, pasta bolognaise, Cumberland sausage and a cracking Sunday roast. While they’re at the tables don’t miss the opportunity for them to create an artistic masterpiece on one of the Tummies drawing pads, who knows they may make it up on to the wall/ceiling of fame!
For more information, click here.
The Pineapple, Dorney
Best For… Seriously amazing sandwiches
This is a great place to head if you’re a family with slightly older children. We’ve been going since ours were babies but be prepared to change a nappy in the car as there aren’t baby changing facilities. However, this is a great place to take kids. There’s a nice garden area for warm days, and you’ve got Dorney Lake and the Jubilee River minutes away if you fancy a family walk too. Menu wise The Pineapple is all about sandwiches, and they’re incredible. There are over 60 yummy sandwich combinations to choose from, and they also do a cracking roast dinner on a Sunday.
For more information, click here.
Cote Windsor
Best For… Pretending you’re dining by the Seine
Cote has restaurants across Berkshire, including Eton, Newbury, Wokingham and Reading. Their Menu Enfants offers a great selection of tasty meals that will appeal to even the fussiest of little eaters. You’ll find things like; risotto, croque monsieur and cod goujons. What’s not to love?
For more information, click here.
Bill’s Restaurants
Best For… Yummy breakfast for kiddies
Bill’s restaurants are guaranteed to be a hit with the kiddies. Children are catered for from breakfast through to dinner. If you’re out and about early doors little tummies will be spoilt for choice. Breakfast includes; buttermilk pancakes with fruit, bacon or sausage sarnie, eggs on toast and a Bill’s breakfast. For mains why not tempt them with steak and chips, a ham and cheese toastie, macaroni cheese or Little Bill’s Hamburger. You could make a day of it… we wouldn’t, wouldn’t we…? Bill’s is based in Windsor, Newbury and Reading.
For more information, click here.
Wagamama
Best For… Entertaining eating
A personal favourite with our little ones, Wagamama restaurants give children the opportunity to branch out and try new flavours, even having a go with some chopsticks. The mini Japanese dishes on offer include; mini ramen, katsu curry, cod cubes and grilled chicken noodles. And they’ll love the informal bench style dining. Wagamama can be found across Berkshire, in Windsor, Reading and Bracknell.
For more information, click here.
Yo! Sushi Restaurants
Best For… Yummy Japanese food in fun surroundings
With restaurants in Reading and Windsor, Yo! Sushi is a big hit with our little ones. The excitement of grabbing your food off a conveyer belt is almost too much for them to handle, and a water tap at the table… clearly it’s the little things that make us happy! But, if you have adventurous children this is a great place to take them.
For more information, click here.
**Have we missed one of your favourites? Let us know and we’ll happily go and check it out… all in the name of research! You can email us here**
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