Variety is the spice of life, and this counts no less for children. Kids’ menus aren’t what they used to be and the range of entertainment options available is enviable. From farm animals to kids’ discos – with their own DJs – the City of Gold has it all. Here are eight establishments that are the cream of the crop.

Picolinos (Fourways)

This Italian family-friendly restaurant features rustic elements and offers incredibly delicious pizzas. Perfect for the whole family, and hosted events.

Play area: The play area includes jungle gyms, slides, see-saws,  and a garden area where your little ones can run around.
Kids’ menu: The kids menu offers kids favorites.
Changing facilities: Baby changing station in bathroom.
Child minders: None.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Picolinos (@picolinos_restaurant)

Nostimo by Mythos (Waterfall)

This restaurant offers amazing service, delicious food and oh so fun experience for the entire family with their pottery studio where the kiddos can explore and paint their own ceramics.

Play area: Outdoor play area and jungle gym.
Kids’ menu: The kids menu offers Greek spaghetti bolognese, chicken souvlaki and chips and ice cream with parties for dessert.
Changing facilities: They offer baby changing stations in the bathroom.
Child minders: No 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mythos Greek Restaurants (@mythos_greek_restaurants)

Smoke Daddy’s (Fourways)

The ultimate family destination, with great food, amazing experience and wonderful play are for the kiddos. Except for a scrumptious menu for both adults and kids and an awesome dining experience overall.

Play area: Outdoor play area and jungle gym.
Kids’ menu: They have a great kids menu with a lot to choose from.
Changing facilities: Offers changing station in the bathroom.
Child minders: Yes

AJ’s in the Park (Craighall Park)

Proud of its tasty flame-grilled chicken, enormous outdoor play area for children and no-technology games policy, AJ’s is all about good old-fashioned outdoor fun to encourage vitality and physicality in its most adoring patrons: the kids.
Play area: There’s a partly covered outdoor play area, and an indoor option in case of rain. Outside, there are jumping castles, jungle gyms, YBIKEs to teach children balance, ponds, complimentary kites, soccer and rugby balls, cricket bats and frisbees – all to use in the huge open space. There’s also a football field for kids to run. Inside the restaurant is a kiddies’ library.
Kids’ menu: There’s one big standard menu, but kids love the 100% pure beef or chicken mini burgers and the wood-fired pizzas.
Changing facilities: There’s a separate changing facility where parents of young children can use complimentary baby powders, wet wipes and a nappy bin. There are also changing mats.
Child minders: There are three childminders who are on duty on the same shift on weekends.

View this post on Instagram

OUR NOW FAMOUS WOODFIRED PIZZAS #bestpizzaintown #bestpizza #woodfiredpizza #woodfired #ajspizzas

A post shared by AJ's in the Park (@ajsinpark) on Feb 16, 2019 at 3:24am PST

Anderson’s Nursery & Coffee Shop (Norwood)

Good coffee, pizzas, tramezzinis and other café fare – plus a tipple for the adults while the kids play – are all things to expect at this spot popular for after-school meals.
Play area: Inside, there’s a craft centre and outside – fenced off, with a wall and covered – there’s an area for children to play with Lego blocks, as well as jungle gyms and slides. Parents have a clear view of their children from where they’re seated. There’s also a gazebo where kids can play in inclement weather.
Kids’ menu: There’s a separate kids’ menu that includes breakfast dishes and tasty treats for lunch, such as toasted cheese, hotdogs with chicken and cheese sauce, fish fingers, and mac and cheese. Each is served with either chips or salad.
Changing facilities: There’s a separate room near the restrooms with changing mats for babies and parents to have some privacy.
Child minders: One full-time child minder.
Other: In the craft centre, children can create art by painting frames and flower pots. All staff here are well-trained and accustomed to dealing with children. They are open, friendly and accommodating to kids. Pets are also welcome here.

Bambanani (Melville)

Expect a scrumptious breakfast and a pizza menu that delights the senses, as well as all hands on deck to every child’s needs. At Bambanani, parents and children are so greatly at ease that the grown-ups can even leave their little ones to play while they run errands.
Play area: The outdoor play area has a four-storey jungle gym. There’s also a TV room with games. A sweet-and-toy shop with many imported toys ­sweetens the deal.
Kids’ menu: Children have their own set menu that includes all the favourites, such as mac and cheese, hot dogs, burgers and chicken nuggets. Kids get lucky packets.
Changing facilities: In both male and female restrooms.
Child minders: Three or more on each shift.
Other: All staff members are exceptionally good with kids and there are special activities for kids three times a week, such as puppetry, magician shows, a mobile zoo and a kiddies disco with its own DJ.

View this post on Instagram

Friday already? Bring on the weekend with our four-storey covered jungle gym, specialized toddler play equipment, a dress-up area, sand art and more! #kidsactivities #kidsfun #playarea #kidsdressup #sandart #familyfriendlyrestaurant #kidfriendlyrestaurant #bambanani

A post shared by Bambanani (@bambanani_restaurant) on Feb 1, 2019 at 12:03am PST

Dimples Cafe (Woodmead)

This is a haven for kids, who’ll be kept busy for hours. The café is located at the World of Golf.
Play area: The next-level play area is 2km² and is often described as state of the art. There are jungle gyms suitable for little ones from age two to early teens, and a multi-purpose sport arena offering activities like soccer, basketball, netball and, of course, golf.
Kids’ menu: The pizzas (which the kids can build themselves) are exceptional, but other favourites include croissants with Nutella, chicken strips, fish bites and mac and cheese.
Child minders: Yes.
Changing facilities: Located in the disabled toilet at the clubhouse.
Other: Dimples is a popular party venue and offers daily activities such as sand art, face-painting, colouring in, biscuit decorating and more.

Gia’s on Montrose (Morningside)

Gia’s on Montrose is beloved for superb coffee and food, its wonderful nursery and its laid-back and enchanting ambience.
Play area: There’s an outside play area, under awnings that can be opened to let in the winter sunshine. It’s very secure and parents are able to keep an eye on their children while they play at all times. The play area has a sand pit, a jungle gym and a Wendy house.
Kids’ menu: It’s part of the standard set menu and has yummy treats like cheesy hot dogs, chicken nuggets, grilled chicken strips and beef bangers – each served with chips – as well as penne Napoletana and sweet treats.
Changing facilities: Yes. There’s also a changing table made of a solid granite block.
Child minders: No.
Other: Parents are encouraged to organise their own kiddies’ activities to enjoy in the large space that they’re afforded by this lovely, large and energising setting.

The Green Room (Greenside)

Located at the Pirates Sports Club and overlooking the bowling greens, The Green Room is an ideal spot for a relaxed breakfast or lunch with the kids tagging along.
Play area: There’s an outdoor play area featuring a range of activities and jungle gyms. Older children can also explore the gardens around the bowling greens. Other activities such as cupcake decorating are also available.
Kids’ menu: The dedicated menu offers drinks such as babychinos, homemade ice tea and mini milkshakes, and meals like eggy bread, pizza, chicken strips and cheesy pasta.
Child minders: Yes, there’s a friendly child minder to keep an eye on your little one so you can relax and enjoy your meal.
Changing facilities: Located near the ladies’ restroom, accessible to moms and dads.
Other: You can bring your furbabies along too, as the restaurant is pet friendly. And, if you need to work, WiFi and plug points are available.

Gioia Trattoria by the Lake (Zoo Lake)

With activities to stimulate children’s development both inside Gioia and outside in the vast play area, as well as slush puppys and soft-serve ice cream on offer, this is an ideal child-friendly spot.
Play area: There’s a large covered outside section where kids can play. It comes complete with slides, great obstacle courses for the kids to try, as well as a shaded outdoor seating area for the kiddos to enjoy a meal at, or do an activity with a friend or family member.
Kids’ menu: Gioia boasts a kiddie’s menu with delicious options of Kiddies Bolognaise, Kiddies Mac & Cheese, Kiddies Tortellini, and much more.
Changing facilities: There are female and male bathrooms and a separate, unisex changing room.
Child minders: There are two childminders on duty daily.

The Place2B (Lanseria)

With race tracks, farm animals, a creative kids’ menu and child-minders on request, this is indeed the place to be if you have kids.
Play area: There’s a jungle gym and race track outside, a shaded area with toys and an indoor section of the restaurant where there’s a TV, games and colouring-in books. Push-bikes and sand pit toys are available in the play area and patrons are welcome to bring their own bikes and balls. The outdoor play area is enclosed within a secure fence and gate.
Kids’ menu: The Place2B has a separate children’s menu, the highlights of which are Spag Bol, beef or chicken cheeseburgers with wedges, and cheese grillers with potato smilies. There are also creative desserts like the Magic Snowball (an ice-cream ball with meringue and popping candy) and the Cookie Monster (a chocolate-chip cookie with marshmallow and chocolate sauce).
Changing facilities: Yes. Separate, near the restroom.
Child minders: They are arranged on request and for big group bookings of 30 or more. As the restaurant faces out onto a wide open area, parents can keep an eye on their children all the time.
Other: There are some farm animals. Children can feed the goats and horses, which are very friendly, and there are also rabbits and a pot-belly pig. There’s also a soccer field – which is full size!

Farm animals at The Place2B. Photo supplied.

Tres Jolie (Ruimsing)

Here you’ll find the types of cute dishes that kids love and idyllic, bucolic bliss in the city. A touch-and-feed animal farm and pony rides are just a few of the many extraordinary activities available for kids.
Play area: There’s a shaded outdoor play area.
Kids’ menu: Tasty menu options for kids include toasted sarmies, viennas and chips, chicken strips, burgers, pizzas and chicken drumsticks grilled in a BBQ sauce.
Changing facilities: Yes. The bathrooms are unisex, so men and women can access the facilities.
Child minders: No, but the seating area is close to the playground, so parents can keep an eye on their children as they dine.
Other: On offer are pony rides, camel rides, a fairground, sand art, face-painting, a touch-and-feed animal farm, sand pits, slides, swings, jumping castles, and lots of space for children to run free.

The jumping castle at Tres Jolie. Photo supplied.

Have we missed your favourite child-friendly spot in Jozi? Tell us about it in the comments section.