Coming to Barcelona with a young family? Scratching your head about what family-friendly restaurants in Barcelona you should go to? Well, put your worries aside, relax and let me give you the same tips I give to parents on my Kids and Family tours. It should make for a fun and stress-free meal with the young ones while on holiday.
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Outdoor eating with the kids
Terrace culture in Barcelona is massive because of our climate and, trust me, Barcelonan families with kids take full advantage of outdoor eating. They will generally choose child-friendly restaurants next to playgrounds, the fun Barcelona beaches or enclosed terraces so a close eye can be kept on their wards while relaxing at the table. Children, in turn, get to socialise and burn up all that excess energy
Bar del Convent
If you like Gothic cloisters, Bar del Convent is right up your alley. Beautiful arches, combined with ample playing space, makes a great lunch setting. It is typical trendy cafe food, including salads, pasta and cakes. And if it rains, well, inside is a sofa area with a small box of toys and a drawing table.
Frederic Marès Museum
If touring the Gothic quarter is on your itinerary, then take a well-deserved break here. Set in the old patio of an antique palace at the heart of the old city, the little ones have lots of room to roam around. The food on offer is basic (pastries and sandwiches) so I would recommend it only as a refreshment break (coffees are nice and reasonably priced).
Chiringuitos
Chiringuitos are the names given to restaurants that are temporarily set up during the tourist season on Spanish beaches. They pop up on the sands of Barcelona from Barceloneta to Bogatell beach and make a buzzy setting to have drinks and grub while watching your children build their sandcastles. However, be warned that the food can vary in quality a lot and are quite pricey. Sal Cafe is one of the better ones (there is even a climbing frame in front for the braver ones).
Picnics and takeaway bars
Another great option is to go picnicking with your family. From parks to beaches, there are many options. Two famous parks well worth visiting are Park Güell and Ciutadella, both have playgrounds and comfortable picnic areas with tables and chairs. If you don’t fancy packing sandwiches, there are many takeaway counters in the city (most markets have one) that serve tasty cooked dishes to go at very reasonable prices.
Cooking classes including children
Kids love getting their hands dirty, and learning how to cook traditional Spanish dishes can be a fun-filled family activity. There are many cooking schools in the city but I would recommend Barcelona cooking. I have tried their classes myself and have always had a great time!
Semproniana
This child-friendly restaurant has a fresh take on Catalan and French cuisine and their Monday to Friday set lunch menus are great value. They also offer (at a price) kids cooking classes (Catalan only) on Saturdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, while you relax in the dining room eating the delicious fare.
Churros and chocolate in Barcelona
I have met very few children in my life who are not crazy about chocolate. Luckily, dunking fried and baked pastries into hot chocolate is a tradition here for morning and evening time snacks. Here is a list of some great family-friendly establishments:
Chocolateria La Nena
This family-run cafe was one of the first child-friendly restaurants in the city. Famous for their great drinking chocolate, they also offer homemade cakes, rolls and salads. There is a small play zone equipped with toys and the décor is a delight as antique toys dress the walls.
Granja Viader
There is no kids zone here but they are certainly used to families coming through their doors. This is one of the oldest churrerias in the city and its setting is quintessential.
My Family-friendly restaurants in Barcelona
Pudding
From blackboards, with dartboards, to kid-friendly tablets, board games and a special kid’s zone, this restaurant offers it all. It is one of the most child-friendly cafés in the city! Homemade cakes, sandwiches, salads, quiches and burgers are on offer here so there is a little to tempt everyone.
Double zero
If your kids love sushi, give this place a go. They have set menus designed especially for the little ones. There are three branches but it is the restaurant Zeroo Born in El Born, and Zeroo Maresme in El Masnou that offer kids spaces and monitors to watch the children while you eat your food. This service is only available on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays from 13.30 to 17 h.
Idò DO Balear
Refreshingly modern with a focus on cuisine from the island of Mallorca, this hip cafe (and activity space) comes equipped with a special area for children. There are big tables made from blackboards so the kids can have great fun writing while they munch.
Mussol
It is a chain restaurant but it does focus on Catalan food and they welcome children. It is good value and you will have all the facilities you need to enjoy a family meal here (no kids zone though).
I hope this helps all you families looking for child-friendly restaurants in Barcelona. Now that the kids have been fed you can check out our recommendations of what to do with kids in Barcelona. Bon profit!
Photographs by Pudding Barcelona, Barcelona Cooking, Ricard Aparicio and Granja Viader
A very nice list, Anne-Marie! Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome! 🙂
Hello, on this website, there is the picture of the carnival looking restaurant that, looks magical. What is the name of that restaurant?
The main image on the post is from Pudding café. Unfortunately, it closed down recently (I still have to update this post) and reopened at another location at Avinguda Diagonal, 515. The new place doesn’t have the same decoration ad the old one but it is also really nice (in a different way) You can take a look at photos online.
There is another café opened at the old location called Alice Garden but I haven’t been there yet and I don’t know if they kept the original decoration.