Kid-Friendly Dining in Baltimore
Skip the babysitter, bring the kids to eat with you.
Looking for a place in Baltimore to take the kids where you won’t have to worry about how loud or messy they might be? Charm City has plenty of casual restaurants with mighty good food so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.
Alexander’s Tavern
After a day spent exploring historic Fell’s Point, once the home of Frederick Douglass, unwind and rest your feet at Alexander’s Tavern, an upscale yet casual eatery offering twists on classic Baltimore comfort dishes. Think crab dip, chicken wings, boardwalk fries and loaded tater tots! The items on the kids menu are equally tempting, with your little one able to choose from a host of a child-friendly favorites like chicken tenders, quesadillas, mac and cheese and pizza—all for only $7. As a lighthearted joke, tell your child you’re ordering the “boiled squid, liver and brussel sprouts,” cheekily listed on the kids menu as a whopping $1000 entree. The menu also features several interactive activities, including tic-tac-toe, jokes, word searches and coloring.
Blue Pit BBQ
It’s no secret that this Hampden hot spot, equally named for the food it serves up and the owners’ beloved pit bull, is pup-friendly, but Blue Pit goes above and beyond to accommodate children as well. There’s a changing table in the gender-neutral restaurant on the upper level, and the friendly staff won’t cry over any pulled pork, baked beans or chicken thighs your little one may spill on the outdoor patio.
Golden West Cafe
Golden West Cafe has a takeout window for easy meals on the go.
With a bright, cozy interior that includes plush couches and houseplants and an expansive selection of comfort food favorites, Golden West Cafe is a great casual sit-down option for families. Kids have several delicious meal options, including vegan dishes, and are provided coloring pages and crayons. Good luck persuading your child they don’t need dessert—Golden West displays its mouthwatering brownies, cookies and cupcakes in the walk-up window by the front entrance.
Johnny’s
This relaxed Roland Park restaurant, co-owned by frequent James Beard Award nominee Chef Cindy Wolf, was designed with families in mind. It’s spacious enough to accommodate strollers and car seats, and high chairs, crayons and fun coloring menus are on hand to keep children comfortable and entertained. As for the food, the kids menu features classics like burgers, grilled cheese and grilled chicken breasts. They can even sip on “kid-uccino,” a warm vanilla milk while enjoying delicious made-in-house pastries.
Miss Shirley’s Cafe
When you get seated at this breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, little ones will get an activity mat with games and puzzles to keep them occupied throughout your meal. Plus the kids menu at Miss Shirley’s is a great deal—only $9 for an entrée and a healthy side.
Miss Shirley’s has locations in the Inner Harbor, Roland Park and BWI Airport.
Mindpub Cafe
As a mom to seven, Mindpub owner Nikki McGowen knows how chaotic dining out with children can be. That’s why she added a kid-friendly nook—complete with a baby gate—to her cozy Riverside cafe and stocked it with toys to keep your little one entertained long enough for you to enjoy your morning coffee and bagel sandwich.
Nick’s Fish House
Enjoy an authentic Baltimore crab feast at Nick’s Seafood in Port Covington.
With its open air wood deck and docks overlooking the water, Nick’s Fish House will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a beach town. Between watching the boats sail past the Port Covington restaurant and watching their parents pick crabs (or maybe even picking up the mallet themselves, with supervision of course), there’s lots to keep a kid’s senses engaged. As for the food, you can’t go wrong with steamed Maryland blue crab dipped in butter, smothered in Old Bay and washed down with a crush. But save some room for the tasty a la carte options or fresh catch of the day!
Papi’s Tacos
Picky eaters will thrive at Papi’s Tacos in Hampden or Fell’s Point, where you can build your own street tacos with all your favorite toppings. In addition to tacos, Papi’s menu includes all your favorite Mexican dishes, from enchiladas to fajitas. Top your dish with one of eight salsa options, and round out your meal with a heaping serving of Mexican friend ice cream or a plate of churros.
Peabody Heights Brewery
Yup, you read that right. On Friday nights, Peabody Heights’ taproom hosts a family-friendly happy hour, where you can enjoy a local brew while your kids make new friends. With bookshelves, toys and even arcade games, Peabody has everything your kids need to stay entertained. So go ahead, order another round.
R. House
R. House, a popular food emporium in the Remington neighborhood, is not just hopping with twenty-something foodies, it’s a hit with families as well. Order from one of the food stalls along the outer walls, grab a seat where you can and let your kids make as much noise as they want. They’ll be in good company with the adults.
Grab a delicious sweet treat at Taharka Brothers Ice Cream in R. House.
Union Craft Brewing
Anchoring Union Collective in Medfield, Union Craft Brewing is an employee-owned company that brews with reverence to Baltimore’s rich craft beer history. The expansive Union Hall & Beer Garden offers plenty of space for children to run around, while the in-house Carroll & Sons Fine Food restaurant serves up snacks and sandwiches to keep those hunger-induced tantrums at bay. For dessert, head down the block to The Charmery’s ice cream factory and see what innovative flavors they’re scooping that day!
Verde
Kids under 10 get free pizza at this Canton establishment on Wednesday nights and the restaurant will accommodate dietary requests, such as gluten-free, any night of the week. Verde indulges kids’ creativity by offering crayons at the table and chalk to draw on the sidewalks. Or, they can play with pizza dough and watch the experts cook up a pie in the downstairs open kitchen.
