In the vibrant heart of the City of Lights, where love and gastronomy intertwine, lies a delicious truth many tourists miss—eating out with kids in Paris can be just as magical as dining à deux. Forget the clichés and the eye-rolls from snobby waiters—this city knows how to feed its smallest guests with flair. I’m Chef Tris, and I’ve spent over a decade in Paris, part of that raising my daughter (now 6) among a wonderfully chaotic clan of French nieces and nephews. This isn’t some glossy guidebook fluff—this is your inside scoop from someone who’s navigated Parisian family-friendly restaurants with a cranky toddler and come out smiling.
From noisy guinguettes to chic cafés with room for a pushchair, this guide cuts through the nonsense and shows you how to actually enjoy family dining in Paris. No meltdowns, no menu regrets—just real advice for real families who want to discover the best kid-friendly restaurants in Paris and eat like locals.
“Eating out with kids in Paris isn’t a nightmare—it’s a secret joy locals have been keeping for years.”
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For more family travel advice, don’t miss our full Family Travel Planning Tips guide and our Paris Food Guide for Families.
Restaurants “en famille” in Paris
Forget what you’ve heard—French dining isn’t all starched linens and hushed whispers. Real Parisian families eat out regularly, and they bring the whole gang—from gurgling babies to grumpy teens. That old-school image of a long, lazy lunch with four generations at the table? It’s not just a postcard—it’s Paris on a Sunday.
Whether it’s a swanky brasserie with a kids’ entertainer or a humble pizzeria with crayons on the table, restaurants in Paris know how to handle enfants terribles. And it’s not because kids are magically better behaved here—it’s because dining out is part of everyday life. Practice makes perfect, non?
I learned to love French food around those same tables on family holidays, and now I’m doing the same with my daughter. What I’ve found over the years is this: if you go in with the right mindset (and snacks), eating out with kids in Paris isn’t just doable—it’s bloody delightful.
So before you get caught in a tourist trap or stress about a tantrum at a tiny table, let’s get you prepped. Follow these next tips and you’ll be dining like a local family in no time.
“Family dining in Paris isn’t about kids’ menus—it’s about raising tiny food lovers one croque monsieur at a time.”
Family Restaurants in Paris That Actually Welcome Children
Knowing what kind of place to aim for can make or break your Paris dining experience with little ones. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the different styles of restaurants in Paris—what to expect, who they suit, and why they work well (or not) for families.
Café, Brasserie, or Bistro
Style: Casual, lively, and quintessentially French—these spots blend together in Paris and offer traditional fare in a relaxed setting.
Best For: Families with children aged 4+, often equipped with highchairs and sometimes a kids’ menu.
Food Highlights: Croque monsieur, steak frites, roast chicken, côte de boeuf.
Insider Tip: Lunchtime between 12:30 and 14:00 is peak chaos. Get there early for space and service.
Guinguette
Style: Open-air restaurants often found along the Seine or in parks. Rustic charm, picnic tables, and a festive atmosphere with music.
Best For: Young kids who need space to roam while you enjoy a chilled glass of rosé.
Food Highlights: Pizza ovens, food trucks, casual snacks.
Bouillon
Style: Classic, buzzing French dining halls. Think retro tiles, paper menus, and big portions at small prices.
Best For: Kids who can handle a bit of noise and hustle—great for a quick, affordable meal that still feels très Français.
Food Highlights: Oeuf mayo, steak haché, chocolate mousse, and a slice of culinary history.
Restaurant Gastronomique
Style: High-end fine dining with white tablecloths and tasting menus.
Best For: Older kids or teens who enjoy a formal setting—or maybe a special treat for parents while the kids stay with a babysitter.
Cave à Vin
Style: Intimate wine bars that serve small plates.
Best For: Parents with older children or a rare grown-up lunch date.
Food Highlights: Cheese boards, charcuterie, terrines, and a glass of something lovely.
Crêperie
Style: Always a crowd-pleaser. Simple, affordable, and universally loved by kids and adults alike.
Best For: All ages. Many crêperies cater to dietary needs with gluten-free galettes and veggie-friendly options.
Food Highlights: Sweet and savoury crêpes—Nutella, ham and cheese, goat’s cheese and honey, the lot.
Restaurant Rapide/Snacking
Style: Fast, casual dining with global influence.
Best For: Hungry kids, short attention spans, and a quick refuel between sightseeing.
Food Highlights: Often overlooked gems—Turkish kebabs, Vietnamese pho, Lebanese wraps. Street food quality at street food prices.
Still unsure where to start? Don’t miss our full Paris Food Guide for Families for more insider tips and recommendations to help you choose like a local.
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Tips for Eating Out with Kids in Paris
These tips come from years of schlepping buggies through cobbled streets and bribing tired toddlers with frites. Whether it’s your first time in Paris or your fifteenth, these insider tricks will help you avoid the tourist traps and tantrums—and actually enjoy eating out with your little crew.
1. Choose the Right Style of Restaurant
Paris has over 16,000 restaurants, but the secret isn’t in picking the fanciest one—it’s choosing a style that works for your family. Skip the haute cuisine temples unless you want your kid to declare war on foie gras. Go for brasseries, bistros, guinguettes, or modern food courts. The goal: good food, casual vibes, and space to breathe.
Need a primer? Check out our Paris Food Guide for Families for styles, tips, and our favourite go-to spots.
2. Choose the Right Time
Avoid the peak-hour madness. Dine early (12 PM lunch, 7 PM dinner) and you’ll dodge the crowds—and the glares.
3. Look for Outdoor Seating
Terraces are gold. More space, more fresh air, fewer stares if your toddler chucks a crayon. Just keep an eye out for smokers.
4. Bring Entertainment
French restaurants don’t do crayons and colouring sheets. Bring your own arsenal: sticker books, toy cars, a tablet (headphones mandatory). It’s survival, not shame.
5. Be Mindful of the Menu
Avoid multi-course tasting menus unless your child is a culinary prodigy. Stick to places with simple fare and flexibility.
6. Kids’ Menus Are Not Always the Best Deal
They’re often an overpriced plate of nuggets and chips. Order a starter or share your main—it’s cheaper and tastier.
7. Order Kid-Friendly Meals
French food isn’t scary—croque monsieur, steak haché, pasta, roast chicken, pommes frites. Ask the waiter what’s mild and child-friendly. Most will offer a workaround.
Custom Kid’s Meals: Don’t be shy—many places will happily reheat baby food or do plain pasta if you ask.
8. Baby Changing Facilities Are Rare
Bring your own mat. Get used to changing nappies on a park bench or your own lap. Parisian bathrooms aren’t built for babies.
9. Manage Meal Stress
Talk to your kid. Tell them where you’re going and what to expect. A bit of pre-meal storytelling goes a long way.
10. In an Emergency, Go to the Bakery
French bakeries are a lifesaver. Warm baguette, ham sandwich, pain au chocolat—sorted. Just avoid overpriced chain bakeries like Paul.
11. Practise Dining Out
French kids behave at restaurants because they eat out a lot. Do the same back home before your trip. The more they practise, the better they’ll do.
How to Teach Your Kids to Eat Like a French Child
French kids aren’t born with refined palates—they’re raised with them. Dining isn’t just about getting fed—it’s a ritual, a pleasure, a cultural cornerstone. Want your little ones to eat like les petits Parisiens? Here’s how to sprinkle some of that culinary magic into your mealtime routine:
- Try Everything – In France, tasting is a sign of respect. Even if they don’t like it, trying a bite matters. It’s how kids learn to appreciate flavour, texture, and the story behind each dish.
- Eat Slowly and Enjoy – Meals aren’t a race. Slow it down, savour the moment, and show your kids that food is meant to be enjoyed—not inhaled between activities.
- Balanced Plates, Always – A proper French meal is about harmony: vegetables, protein, carbs, maybe a cheeky cheese to finish. Kids grow up with this balance on every plate—it’s a lesson in nutrition without being preachy.
- No Endless Snacking – The French don’t graze all day. With defined meal times and a single goûter (afternoon snack), kids arrive at the table hungry and ready to eat—no battles, no bribes.
- Polite Table Manners – It’s not just about food. Saying “s’il vous plaît” and “merci”, sitting properly, and waiting until everyone’s served—these rituals make dining feel special and respectful.
Want more on this? Dive deeper in our guide: How to Eat Like a French Child.
Best Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Paris for Dining Out
Here’s the truth: if you want better food, fewer tourist traps, and a more authentic Parisian vibe, skip the pricey central hotels and head where actual Parisians live, eat, and raise their enfants. From leafy parks to buzzing local cafés, these are the areas we’d pick every time for relaxed, flavour-packed family meals.
Quai de Seine
On sunny days, the guinguettes and cafés along the Seine—especially during Paris Plages—are a dream. Riverside tables, sandpit play areas, pop-up snack bars, and a glass of chilled rosé—it’s the kind of laid-back summer dining that Paris does best. Perfect for family picnics, boat-watching, and letting little legs run free without the usual restaurant fuss.
Canal Saint-Martin (10th Arrondissement)
Trendy yet totally chilled, this canal-side stretch is packed with local charm. Think shady benches, low-key cafés, indie shops, and plenty of green space for toddlers to tumble. It’s stroller-friendly, hipster-lite, and perfect for an afternoon stroll and a bite.
Batignolles (17th Arrondissement)
Forget the tourist hordes of Montmartre—this is where local families really hang out. Batignolles is leafy, villagey, and packed with organic markets, cute terraces, and the gorgeous Square des Batignolles. There’s a pond, a playground, and even an old-school carousel. Pure family magic.
Place d’Italie (13th Arrondissement)
Underrated and full of flavour, the 13th is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Brasseries buzz with local families, and the Asian food scene is top-notch. It’s budget-friendly, diverse, and full of character.
Buttes-Chaumont (19th Arrondissement)
This sprawling park is the lungs of the northeast. Bring a picnic, rent a pedal car, or just enjoy the views. The surrounding area is full of cafés and casual spots perfect for kids, with ample room to roam.
Belleville (20th Arrondissement)
Bold, boisterous, and full of flavour—Belleville is the soul of multicultural Paris. Playground-lined parks and mom-and-pop restaurants keep it wonderfully real. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into local life, not a postcard.
Boulogne-Billancourt (Western Suburb)
Techincally just outside the centre, but worlds better for families. Boulogne offers wide sidewalks, open green spaces, and a calm, classy vibe. It’s well-connected to central Paris but feels like a breath of fresh air—ideal for those travelling with young kids.
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Paris (Chosen by a Chef Dad)
If you were to go out for lunch with us and our now-six-year-old, we’d head to one of these trusty spots where the food’s good, the vibe’s easy, and no one bats an eyelid if your child drops a chip on the floor.
1. L’Île
A charming riverside restaurant with a posh touch and a menu that pleases both adults and enfants. Sunday lunch is extra special—they bring in a kids’ entertainer while you sip your wine in peace. It’s not cheap, but the setting and ease make it worth it.
2. Tanguy
This low-key crêperie in the centre of Paris is one of our go-to spots. Reliable, delicious, and casual enough for a wriggly child who just wants their Nutella crêpe fast.
3. Ground Control
Part food court, part cultural playground. Ground Control serves up street food with serious flavour in a huge industrial space that’s ideal for families. There’s room to move, lots to eat, and nobody glares if your child wants to explore while you finish your beer.
4. Rosa Bonheur (Vincennes or Javel)
A classic Paris guinguette with a family-friendly twist. Rosa Bonheur dishes out pizzas, snacks, and a lively terrace atmosphere perfect for letting kids roam a bit while you relax. Located in park settings, it’s ideal for a post-lunch runaround.
5. La Recyclerie
Housed in a converted railway station, this eco-friendly gem is beloved by locals. It’s got veggie-friendly food, a playful vibe, and a mini urban farm kids will love. Bonus: a chilled crowd that welcomes the chaos of family life.
Want more ideas—and to see everything mapped out for easy trip planning? Head to our full blog post: The Ultimate Map of Family-Friendly Restaurants in Paris.
Final Thoughts
Eating out with kids in Paris isn’t just possible—it can be an absolute joy. You just need the right spots, the right mindset, and maybe a baguette or two in your day bag. From playful parkside cafés to cultural food halls, there’s something here for every taste and tantrum level.
Fancy more inspiration? Check out the Michelin Guide’s list of top family-friendly restaurants in Paris for even more solid picks. And don’t be afraid to step into a classic bouillon—these old-school dining halls dish up speedy, affordable French comfort food in a setting that’s lively enough to drown out any whiny moments.
Still planning your foodie adventures? Check out our full blog post with The Ultimate Map of Family-Friendly Restaurants in Paris to plot your perfect family meal route.
For even more practical, real-life travel wisdom, dive into our Family Travel Planning Tips and our Paris Food Guide for Families in Self Catering Accomadation—everything you need to survive and thrive in the City of Light with little ones in tow.
And if you want to skip the guesswork and eat like a local from day one, let me show you around personally. Book one of our bespoke family-friendly food tours in Paris—designed with kids in mind, but full of flavour for grown-ups too.
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From the bustling streets of Paris to the heat of a professional kitchen, my life has always revolved around food. A Brit who moved to France at 16, I trained as a chef in a Parisian palace kitchen at 18 and have spent decades cooking, eating, and living like the French.
By day, I run kitchens and events, but Eat Like The French is my side hustle—a way to share my passion for French food through writing and food tours. After a detour into tech recruitment, I returned to what I love most: cooking and storytelling—one dish, one tour, and one bite at a time.
FAQ: Eating Out with Kids in Paris
Do restaurants in Paris provide highchairs?
Many casual bistros, brasseries, and cafés do offer highchairs, but not all. It’s worth calling ahead if you’re heading somewhere specific. Bringing a portable booster seat or clip-on travel chair can be a game-changer.
Is it okay to breastfeed in public or in restaurants?
Absolutely. Breastfeeding in public is totally accepted in Paris. You might get a few glances, but it’s not frowned upon. Just find a quiet corner or terrace seat if you prefer privacy.
Do restaurants mind if you bring baby food or snacks?
Not at all—most places are understanding. Many will even reheat baby food for you if you ask politely. Just avoid bringing a full picnic into a sit-down restaurant and you’ll be fine.
Are kids welcome at dinner time or just lunch?
Both! Parisians often dine later, but many families eat out at lunch or early dinner (7 PM is a great time to beat the rush). Daytime dining is generally easier with kids, but you won’t be out of place in the evening.
Can you dine out with a sleeping baby in a stroller?
Yes. In fact, many parents in Paris do exactly that—especially at terrace cafés. Just make sure there’s space to park your stroller without blocking walkways or exits.
Are there child-friendly desserts on most menus?
Definitely. Expect treats like ice cream, chocolate mousse, crêpes, or even profiteroles. Don’t hesitate to ask the waiter for something simple if your child’s not into fancy fare.
Is it worth booking restaurants in advance when dining with kids?
Yes—especially for weekends or popular spots. A reservation ensures you won’t be turned away and gives you a chance to request highchairs or a terrace table in advance.
What’s the best area to stay in Paris with kids for dining out?
Boulogne-Billancourt, Batignolles, and Buttes-Chaumont are excellent family-friendly areas with great dining options and a relaxed, local vibe. See our full guide above for neighborhood tips.
What’s the best French food to introduce to kids?
Start with croque monsieur, roast chicken, steak haché, pommes frites, and sweet crêpes. Most kids fall in love with pain au chocolat, fruit tarts, or a scoop of gelato. French food is rich in variety—there’s something for every palate.
What’s the etiquette if my toddler cries or gets noisy in a restaurant?
Don’t stress—Parisians are used to kids, and occasional noise is part of family life. What locals do differently is respond calmly: if things escalate, they’ll quietly take the child outside or have a calm word. No yelling at the table, just low-key parenting in action. You won’t be judged for a toddler meltdown, but you’ll earn respect for handling it gracefully.
Is it horribly rude if my child drops or throws food on the floor?
Not at all—it happens! Especially with toddlers. Servers have seen it all before. Just do your best to tidy up a bit or acknowledge it politely. A kind smile or a little extra tip doesn’t hurt either. You’re not the first (or last) parent to navigate the flying baguette phase.
What about strollers—are they okay in restaurants and on public transport?
Paris isn’t the most stroller-friendly city—tight spaces, cobbled streets, and narrow bistro doors can make things tricky. You’ll have a much easier time with a baby carrier or rucksack. If you do bring a stroller, opt for a lightweight foldable one. On public transport, it’s common to fold it down on the metro. Buses are more accessible and often easier with a kid in tow.
How can I help my child adapt to dining out in Paris?
Practice makes perfect. Start before your trip by eating out more at home—teach your child to sit at a table, try new foods, and enjoy mealtime as a shared experience. In Paris, keep things positive with small bribes—an Orangina, a pain au chocolat, or a trip to the playground after lunch.
What if I need to step out of a Paris restaurant with my child?
Do it confidently. Parisians won’t judge you for excusing yourself to manage a tantrum. In fact, you’ll likely get a supportive smile. Most parents here take a child outside, have a quiet word, and come back when things are calmer.
Any bonus tips from a local chef parent about eating out in paris restaurant with children?
Yes! Always carry a stash of lollies—for ear pressure on flights, for travel sickness, or to gift to kind strangers. And don’t skip the bouillon—it’s fast, affordable French comfort food, and the lively vibe makes it perfect for dining with kids.
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