Which St. Louis restaurants are good for kids?

A Delmar Loop restaurant, a root beer restaurant and a pizza place on The Hill are family favorites. Check each place before you go, and for larger groups, book ahead, since casual places often take walk-ins but a table for eight needs notice.

Is the South Grand frozen custard stand worth a visit?

A St. Louis frozen custard stand is a staple, with a South Grand store that local TV has featured, and a popular family stop. A concrete is frozen custard blended with toppings until it is thick enough to hold upside down.

Is the Boathouse open?

Confirm before you go. Restaurant status in a park can change, so check the park's page before you plan a meal there, and have another lunch stop in mind near the zoo and the art museum. Paddleboats and a lakeside stroll are the draw for children either way.

What's the best way to keep track of kid-friendly spots in St. Louis?

Mosey is a food app for keeping track of where you have eaten, rating it by the dish and sharing the good places with friends. Rate each St. Louis meal by the dish, add a tag such as Kid-Friendly, and share a list. Follow friends to see what they rate.

The park is free to enter, and the zoo and several museums are free too. Check each site for special exhibits, and bring snacks, since children get hungry between the sites. Casual places often take walk-ins.

City guide

Family Friendly Restaurants in St. Louis: Where to Eat

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Family friendly restaurants in St. Louis make a day with children easier, because the city has so many free attractions that families end up hungry. The zoo, the art museum and the science center cluster around Forest Park. Look for a Delmar Loop restaurant, a root beer restaurant and a pizza place with a kids' menu.

Forest Park is free to enter, and so are the zoo and several museums, so the food budget goes further. Book ahead for larger groups, and keep snacks in the bag for the walk between sites.

What are the best family friendly restaurants in St. Louis?

St. Louis Magazine, Explore St. Louis and local parent sites publish long lists of family stops. The Delmar Loop is a family favorite, with a dining room known for root beer and old-fashioned sodas, and The Hill, the Italian neighborhood, has kids' menus with pizza, chicken fingers and toasted ravioli.

Before you commit, make sure the restaurant has what your family needs, such as high chairs and booths.

Where can you find Forest Park food?

Forest Park food includes cafes inside museums and a few restaurants on the edge of the park. The Boathouse is the lakeside spot guides have long pointed to for a park outing, where children can feed ducks and ride paddleboats in warm weather. Confirm whether its restaurant is serving before you plan a meal there.

The zoo is free to enter, and the museums are mostly free. That leaves more of your day for a meal, and you can pack a picnic as well. A picnic spot near a playground is the best budget plan.

Why is St. Louis frozen custard a family tradition?

St. Louis frozen custard is a ritual for generations of families. A South St. Louis stand is the name that comes up in nearly every guide. One parent site calls it a must for frozen custard in summer, and another notes that it has been a St. Louis staple for generations.

Frozen custard is denser than ice cream and sold as cones, sundaes and the signature concrete, a custard so thick that it is served upside down. Children enjoy the show, and parents enjoy the quiet.

What is Delmar Loop dining like?

Delmar Loop dining is a mix of casual restaurants, record stores, theaters and shops along a lively street. The anchor restaurant has a collection of pop culture memorabilia, and the root beer restaurant sits nearby with its own bottled sodas. The Loop is walkable, and a stroll between stops can burn children's energy before a meal.

Parking can be tight on weekends. Use a garage or a lot, and give the family time to reach the restaurant before the kids get restless.

How should you plan a day with kids?

Eat early. Children are happier when meals are not delayed, and restaurants are less crowded before the noon rush. Bring a snack for the car, and a small activity for the table. Ask about booths, high chairs and kids' menus when you arrive, and check for outdoor seating if the weather is good.

A good day might begin with the zoo, continue with a picnic or a casual lunch and end with a stop for custard. Keep it simple, and leave time for a rest.

What other tips help families dining out?

Order a few dishes to share, such as a pizza and a salad. Ask for water right away, and request boxes early, so leftovers do not wait on the table. If a child has an allergy, tell the server at the start, and ask whether the kitchen can handle it.

Be flexible. A restaurant that welcomes noise and mess is a better choice than one with a sophisticated menu. Many families find that casual places, such as pizza counters and diners, work best.

Which St. Louis dishes work best for children?

Toasted ravioli are a perfect children's dish, because they are crisp, bite-sized and served with a dipping sauce. St. Louis style pizza, with its thin crust and cheese that melts evenly, is another favorite, and the square cut makes it easy to share. Frozen custard needs no introduction.

For picky eaters, look for restaurants with plain pasta, chicken fingers or burgers on the menu. For adventurous eaters, ask about the city's local dishes and let children try a bite. A family table is a good place to practice tasting.

Ask your server for a cup of water with a lid and an extra plate for sharing. Most staff in the places named here are used to families, and a little preparation keeps the meal calm.

What else should you eat around St. Louis?

For an adult dinner, read the Hill St. Louis restaurants guide. The St. Louis markets guide covers weekend stalls, and food worth a drive in Missouri is for a road trip. The US guides page lists more cities.

How do you keep track of family-friendly restaurants in St. Louis?

A table that works for kids is worth remembering. Rate the dish, then add Family Friendly or Kid-Friendly when the room welcomed the children, and write a short note about booths, noise and speed.

Make a St. Louis family list and share its invite link with other parents, so everyone can add the places that worked.

A family meal is a memory in the making. Download the Mosey app, rate each stop by its food, its service and how well it welcomed the kids, and build a St. Louis list that helps you plan the next outing.

Questions

Common questions

Which St. Louis restaurants are good for kids?
A Delmar Loop restaurant, a root beer restaurant and a pizza place on The Hill are family favorites. Check each place before you go, and for larger groups, book ahead, since casual places often take walk-ins but a table for eight needs notice.
Is the South Grand frozen custard stand worth a visit?
A St. Louis frozen custard stand is a staple, with a South Grand store that local TV has featured, and a popular family stop. A concrete is frozen custard blended with toppings until it is thick enough to hold upside down.
Is the Boathouse open?
Confirm before you go. Restaurant status in a park can change, so check the park's page before you plan a meal there, and have another lunch stop in mind near the zoo and the art museum. Paddleboats and a lakeside stroll are the draw for children either way.
What's the best way to keep track of kid-friendly spots in St. Louis?
Mosey is a food app for keeping track of where you have eaten, rating it by the dish and sharing the good places with friends. Rate each St. Louis meal by the dish, add a tag such as Kid-Friendly, and share a list. Follow friends to see what they rate.
Is Forest Park free?
The park is free to enter, and the zoo and several museums are free too. Check each site for special exhibits, and bring snacks, since children get hungry between the sites. Casual places often take walk-ins.