18 Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles (Upscale Picks Parents Love)
Every LA parent knows the feeling: you want a genuinely great meal, the kind with a wine list and seasonal produce, but you also have a four-year-old who considers buttered noodles a food group. The good news is that some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles are surprisingly welcoming to families, if you know where to go and when to show up.
We put together this guide to the best family-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles for parents who don't want to settle for a chain. Every spot below was open and verified on its official website, and we've been honest about which ones actually post a kids' menu (spoiler: it's rarer than you'd think at this level) and which simply make families feel at home.
Quick Picks: Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles
Best official kids' menu: Jon & Vinny's
Best garden for curious kids: Manuela in the Arts District
Best ocean view: Malibu Farm on the Malibu Pier
Best splurge breakfast: Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel
Best for pizza-loving kids: Pizzana
Best early-bird dinner: Lawry's The Prime Rib (4 PM opening on weekends)
Westside & Beach Cities
11938 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cuisine: California-Italian
Kids' menu: Yes, including Butter & Parm Spaghetti ($16.95) and Cheese Pizza ($18.95)
Other locations: Studio City, Fairfax, Beverly Hills, Calabasas
Jon & Vinny's is the rare buzzy LA restaurant that posts an official kids' menu, and it's a good one: Spaghetti Pomodoro, Shells & Cheese, Cheese Pizza, and a 6 oz Chicken Cutlet. Grown-ups can go for the "LA Woman" burrata pizza or the rigatoni carbonara. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
Parent tip: Breakfast service makes Jon & Vinny's an easy weekend-morning outing. The Breakfast Pizza 2.0 is a family-table crowd-pleaser.
11712 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cuisine: Neo-Neapolitan pizza
Kids' menu: No, but kids love the Classic Cheese, Margherita, and Pepperoni
Reservations: Resy, with some seats kept for walk-ins
Chef Daniele Uditi's pizzas are some of the best in the city, and Pizzana is refreshingly practical for families. Staff can leave toppings like basil off a pie for picky eaters, and the Cacio e Pepe pizza is a must for the adults. Brentwood opens at 4 PM on weekdays and noon on weekends.
Insider tip: Pizzana runs kids' pizza-making classes where children stretch and top their own pies alongside a pizzaiolo. Watch the events page for upcoming dates. Other LA locations include Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, West Hollywood, and Marina del Rey.
1604 Pacific Ave
Venice, CA 90291
Cuisine: Coastal California café with Australian roots
Hours: 8 AM–10 PM daily
Reservations: Walk-in only 8 AM–4 PM; reservations from 4 PM
Great White is breezy, bright, and effortlessly LA, which is exactly the energy you want with kids in tow. The menu runs from wood-fired roast chicken and steak frites to a simple Margherita pizza that works for younger diners. Venice and West Hollywood have garden and terrace seating.
Parent tip: Daytime is walk-in only, so arrive early on weekends.
225 26th St #25
Santa Monica, CA 90402
Cuisine: California farm-to-table
Reservations: Resy
Tucked inside the Brentwood Country Mart, Farmshop pairs a polished restaurant with a bakery and market. Weekend brunch is the move: think Brioche French Toast, housemade pastrami and eggs, and shakshuka. The Country Mart setting makes it easy to stroll before or after.
Parent tip: The market is handy for grabbing a snack for little ones while you wait. The website recently noted temporary hours, so call ahead to confirm.
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Cuisine: Produce-forward New American
Reservations: SevenRooms
Gjelina is a Venice institution, and its pizzas (the Pomodoro and the Mushroom) are an easy bridge between what the kids want and what you want. Lemon Buckwheat Ricotta Pancakes make weekend brunch (9 AM–2:30 PM) a treat.
Insider tip: The afternoon menu runs from 2:30 to 4:30 PM, a perfect post-nap window when the dining room is calmer.
220 Rose Ave
Venice, CA 90291
Cuisine: Southern California
Café: 7 AM–5 PM daily
Reservations: Dinner only; weekend brunch is walk-in
The Rose's airy space and café counter make it an easy, relaxed stop for families, especially earlier in the day. Chef Jason Neroni's menu leans seasonal and Californian.
Parent tip: Weekend brunch doesn't take reservations, so show up early. The bill includes a 4% health-benefits surcharge, which can be removed on request.
23000 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
Cuisine: Farm-to-table with ocean views
Hours: Sunday–Friday 9 AM–8 PM, Saturday 9 AM–9 PM
Reservations: Dinner on OpenTable; brunch is first-come, first-served
There's something magical about eating Swedish pancakes over the Pacific. Malibu Farm sits right on the Malibu Pier, and while there's no official kids' menu, the pancakes and simple sandwiches are an easy fit for most kids.
Parent tip: Arrive at the 9 AM opening for brunch, since it doesn't take reservations. The separate Pier Café at the end of the pier is another option if the restaurant is full.
Beverly Hills & Mid-City
9641 Sunset Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Cuisine: Classic American
Breakfast: 7–11 AM daily
Sunday jazz brunch: $165 per person (three courses plus a drink)
For a special family occasion, nothing says Old Hollywood like the Polo Lounge. The McCarthy Salad is legendary, and the Lemon Blueberry-Ricotta Pancakes ($30) make breakfast feel like an event. Children under 12 are exempt from the dress code.
Insider tip: Breakfast is the most kid-practical meal here, and it's a lovely way to celebrate a birthday or a big report card. Book through SevenRooms.
100 N La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Cuisine: Classic steakhouse, since 1938
Dinner: Opens 5 PM weekdays, 4 PM Saturday and Sunday
Dress code: Business casual (no athletic wear or flip-flops)
Kids love the theater of Lawry's: prime rib carved tableside and the famous Spinning Bowl Salad. It's a wonderful choice for a grandparents' dinner or a holiday outing, and the dining room has a festive, old-fashioned warmth.
Parent tip: The 4 PM weekend opening is ideal for an early family dinner. Reservations are on OpenTable and require a credit card; valet is available.
624 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Cuisine: French bakery-café and restaurant
Café: 8 AM–2 PM daily
Built by Charlie Chaplin in 1929, République is one of LA's most beautiful rooms, and the daytime café is where families shine. Pastry chef Margarita Manzke won a James Beard Award in 2023, so let the kids pick a pastry while you order the Brioche French Toast or the Ricotta Toast.
Parent tip: The café is the family move; save the dinner service for a date night.
8350 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Cuisine: Café, marketplace, and bakery
Hours: 8 AM–8 PM daily
Also in: Studio City (12059 Ventura Pl)
Joan's is part café, part gourmet market, and entirely easy with kids. The founder names the Macaroni & Cheese as a favorite, and communal tables and a counter-service setup mean nobody has to sit still for long.
Parent tip: Pick up picnic supplies from the marketplace for a park day afterward.
Eastside & Downtown LA
907 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Brunch: Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–2:30 PM
Reservations: SevenRooms
Manuela is one of our favorite answers to "where can we eat well and let the kids explore?" The restaurant grows its own fruit, vegetables, and herbs and keeps a flock of chickens for fresh eggs, and its courtyard and garden seating feel worlds away from downtown traffic.
Insider tip: Book weekend brunch in the garden, order the Cast Iron Cornbread with honey butter for the table, then wander the free Hauser & Wirth gallery and its open-air courtyard.
2128 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Cuisine: Italian-American
Weekend brunch: 9 AM–3 PM
Reservations: Resy
This cozy Los Feliz neighborhood spot is a longtime Eastside family favorite. Ricotta-Blueberry Pancakes and the weekend French Toast Soufflé are the kind of brunch dishes kids and parents happily share.
1929 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Cuisine: Café and bakery
Hours: Opens 8 AM on weekends, 9 AM on weekdays
Setting: Garden patios with a fountain
Alcove's garden patios wrap around a 1916 Spanish duplex and an 1897 Craftsman cottage, complete with a fountain that little ones love. It's a relaxed, beautiful place for a family breakfast or an afternoon treat.
Pasadena
40 W Green St
Pasadena, CA 91105
Cuisine: Modern American and a cheese shop
Brunch: Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–2 PM
Reservations: OpenTable
Agnes brings a warm, polished feel to Old Pasadena, with a patio for families and a cheese counter that makes a great grab-and-go stop. Weekend brunch is a local favorite, and Sunday dinner wraps at 8 PM, which suits families.
146 S Lake Ave, Ste 103
Pasadena, CA 91101
Cuisine: Fresh pasta made in Bologna
Hours: 11:30 AM–10 PM daily
Reservations: None, first-come, first-served
Pasta is the universal language of children, and UOVO's is flown in fresh from Bologna. Other locations include Santa Monica, Studio City, Mid-Wilshire, and Marina del Rey.
Parent tip: Because UOVO doesn't take reservations, go right at the 11:30 AM opening or for an early dinner.
South Bay
1142 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Cuisine: Shared plates by chef David LeFevre
Brunch: Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–2:30 PM
Reservations: OpenTable
MB Post's shareable plates are perfect for families who like to order a little of everything, and its biscuits are famous for good reason. Pair brunch with a walk down to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
1148 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Cuisine: Seafood and oyster bar (Michelin Guide listed)
Hours: Opens 11:30 AM daily
Reservations: OpenTable
This tiny, 32-seat seafood spot is a treat for families with adventurous eaters, and the lobster roll and crab cakes convert even skeptics.
Parent tip: With so few seats, an early lunch is the easiest time to go with kids.
How to Dine Out Upscale With Kids (and Actually Enjoy It)
Go early. A 5 PM dinner (or a 4 PM weekend opening) means a calmer dining room and a happier kid.
Choose the café, not the tasting menu. Many top restaurants run daytime cafés that are far more relaxed.
Ask for the patio. Outdoor seating gives wiggly kids room to breathe.
Pack a small activity kit. Stickers or a mini sketchbook buy you time between courses.
Ask for simple swaps. Plain pasta, a pizza without basil, or a side of fruit is usually an easy yes.
Want even more ideas? Browse our 50 kid-friendly restaurants and family eats and our favorite kid-friendly restaurants with great patios in Los Angeles.
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Takeaway
The best family-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles prove you don't have to choose between a great meal and happy kids. For an easy win with a real kids' menu, head to Jon & Vinny's. For a garden adventure, book Manuela. For ocean views, it's Malibu Farm. And when the occasion calls for something truly special, breakfast at the Polo Lounge is pure Hollywood.
Go early, ask for the patio, and don't be shy about ordering the buttered noodles. Nobody's judging.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which upscale LA restaurants have an official kids' menu?
Jon & Vinny's is the standout, with a posted kids' menu that includes Spaghetti Pomodoro, Butter & Parm Spaghetti, Shells & Cheese, Cheese Pizza, and a Chicken Cutlet. Most other restaurants in this guide don't post a kids' menu but can usually accommodate simple requests.
2. What's the best time to eat out with kids at popular LA restaurants?
Go right at opening. Lawry's opens at 4 PM on weekends, Pizzana at 4 PM on weekdays, and UOVO at 11:30 AM daily. Daytime cafés like République (8 AM–2 PM) are also much more relaxed than dinner service.
3. Which family-friendly LA restaurants have outdoor space for kids?
Manuela has a garden with chickens and courtyard seating, Alcove Café has garden patios with a fountain, and Great White's Venice and West Hollywood locations offer garden and terrace seating.
4. Do I need reservations for family brunch in Los Angeles?
It depends. Malibu Farm brunch and The Rose's weekend brunch are walk-in only, and UOVO never takes reservations. Manuela (SevenRooms), Little Dom's (Resy), and MB Post (OpenTable) do take reservations.
5. Where can I celebrate a special family occasion at a nice LA restaurant with kids?
The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel (children under 12 are exempt from the dress code) and Lawry's The Prime Rib are classic choices. Both feel celebratory without being stuffy for younger guests.
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