It's an odd, but very widespread belief, that once you become a parent, or you want to socialise with someone who has a child, or be around anyone under ten, then you no longer have the right to go out for good food. For too long, parents – and especially mothers – have been made to feel that fine dining isn't for them. Children should be happy with a bag of chips, pregnant women should be happy with water if they're not drinking alcohol, and any mother who wants to breastfeed her child should be swiftly covered with a napkin (and should feel happy about it).
But times are definitely changing. This could be due to the rise of women in the restaurant industry or the massive influence of mothers on social media like Slummy Single Mummy. Or it might just be because restaurants have realised there are over 18 million families in the UK and many of them would like to have more options than a Happy Meal. So we've found our favourite spots in London for all mothers who love good food, whether they are accompanied by their little ones or not.
Granger & Co
Best For: Feel-Good Meals For All The Family
Australian import Granger & Co has brought sunny, Sydney inspired dining to London. Each of their three beautifully designed London locations offers not only light, modern dining rooms but also menus based around fresh, feel-good food. Though now famous for their brunches, especially their lust-worthy ricotta hot cakes, there is more to this antipodean favourite. Dishes like their bondi bowl, bursting with buckwheat, quinoa and fresh vegetables, and their courgette chips, a slightly lighter option for those who still want a crispy snack, are perfect for those who love to eat out, and love their veggies.
Parent-Friendly Location
All three locations in King's Cross, Clerkenwell and Notting Hill have buggy access and welcomes younger diners. However, the Clerkenwell location is certainly the easiest for anyone with children. Not only is it the only location that takes reservations, it is also just across from the famous Clerkenwell Green, which offers a beautiful open space for play between courses.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Granger & Co has recently added to their already impressive list of alcohol free options. These include juices and frappes, like the citrus topped watermelon and lime, but also 'power smoothies' which combine superfoods and home-made almond milk bases to provide a hit of health in every sip. For those looking for something sparkling you can indulge in one of their homemade grown-up sodas, from traditional vanilla cola to tropical hibiscus and lime.
Children's Menu
Granger & Co's fuss-free approach to good food means almost all of their dishes are child friendly. If you're taking out a little one with a big appetite perhaps you could tempt them to prawn, chilli and ginger linguine or sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach & bacon? But, just to be safe, there is also always the option of their grass-fed beef burger served with french fries. We hope that means more sweetcorn fritters for us!
Granger & Co
Locations in Notting Hill, Clerkenwell and King's Cross
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Courtesy of Granger & Co.
Stepney City Farm
Best For: Learning About (And Eating) Delicious Food
If you were ever a country kid and are now raising children in the big city, you may have felt there was a distinct lack of farms around the place. Well, luckily we have the remedy for you! Stepney City Farm is a fully working farm nestled in the London borough of Tower Hamlets which has been raising chickens, growing veggies and keeping pigs since the 1970s. Entry to the farm is completely free and any young visitors can take part in great events like their annual harvest festival and pig fest. The best part is that if you do get peckish while you're there the Stepney City Farm café offers an ever-changing menu of seasonal goodies cooked fresh from the farm's produce.
Parent-Friendly Location
Stepney Farm is home to a menagerie of large and small animals, from donkeys and guinea pigs to ferrets and actual pigs. These are sure to keep young visitors entertained, and finding all of their homes across the farm is a great way to work up an appetite. Once you're good and hungry you can find the café, which was voted 'Best Eatery' at the Urban Food Awards and honoured by Time Out. Stepney Farm, and all their staff, are incredibly welcome to families and make themselves as accessible as possible to all visitors.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Stepney Farm's ethos is to keep things local, so though they aren't able to grow their own coffee and tea in East London they still like to incorporate the neighbourhood. Their coffee comes from Climpson and Sons who source and roast their own coffee in nearby Hackney. If you prefer a cuppa you can enjoy Joe's Tea, premium, organic tea bags which are picked high in the hills of Sri Lanka. Quite a way from the bells of Stepney we will admit, but it tastes good enough to be worth it.
Children's Menu
A visit to Stepney City Farms café is great for anyone trying to teach kids about where their food comes from and the importance of sustainability. Luckily, it's also delicious. Famous for their Sunday brunches, featuring Stepney Farm free range eggs of course, they also have great weekday options including a children's meal deal, freshly made cakes and home cured bacon. If you are one who prefers not to have any animals on the menu they do also offer vegan and vegetarian options which are sure to please.
Stepney City Farm
Stepney Way, London E1 3DG
020 7790 8204
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Via @lundmayldn.BIRD
Best For: A Treat For All The Family
Even if you're dedicated to keeping your kids' meals healthy 99% of the time, there will always be occasions when making sure they eat their greens is a little less important. Whether it's a family day out, a treat for passing an exam or an easy win when you're just trying to do your best, there's no shame in sharing a plate of chips with your kids every once in a while. When you do decide to indulge, BIRD serves up some of the tastiest fried chicken in London and, as it's founders are the parents of four small children themselves, is sure to be a hit with diners of all ages.
Parent-Friendly Location
The bright, clean design of all three of BIRD's London locations is definitely Instagram-worthy, without having to worry about your little ones knocking over a display of vintage records or getting a splinter from an untreated, rustic table. Younger patrons will enjoy clambering over the diner-style booths, while you can enjoy the custom neon signs and industrial chic decor. It's the perfect mix for when you want to please the kids but not feel as if you're spending your evening out inside a Happy Meal box.
Non-Alcoholic Options
At BIRD, even if you're not drinking alcohol you can still indulge. Choose from their wide selection of milkshakes and floats with fully grown-up flavours ranging from black cherry soda to salted caramel. If you're looking for something lighter, there's a daily slushie, craft cream soda and old favourites like Ting and Jamaican ginger beer.
Children's Menu
The joy of BIRD is that even the fussiest little eater almost always loves chicken nuggets, and here they're all ethically sourced from a singly Somerset farm, halal and gluten-free. For £7, younger diners have their pick of boneless fried tenders, a mini chicken burger or, for the adventurous, a kids' version of their famous chicken and waffles. All these come with chips, easy-to-eat veg and a dessert of a freshly baked doughnut or ice cream, and are sure to go down well with your little ones while you explore the adult options on the menu. Cheesy Korean fries with coconut jerk wings anyone?
BIRD
Locations across London
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Benugo - The Victoria & Albert Museum
Best For: Rumbling Tummies On A Cultural Day Out
Cultural institutions and children don't alway mix, as my own mother learnt when I was six and was kindly asked to leave one London museum for continually setting off the alarms by touching all the exhibits. But when the cultural institution is the V&A, who offer free programmes for families throughout the year, and you have Benugo there to provide delicious food when you need it, it's a combination made in heaven.
Parent-Friendly Location
Not only does The V&A offer a vast array of temporary and permanent exhibitions for curious, young minds it also offers lots of space to play. In the summer the fountains in their main courtyard make a perfect paddling pool for your family to build up an appetite in. Benugo offers three locations throughout the museum - their main restaurant actually sits in side the William Morris designed 'Refreshment Room', the site of the world's first ever museum café. Otherwise if the weather permits (at any time of year), you can sit in the world famous garden at the centre of the museum or in their courtyard café. Whatever the season and whatever your appetite you're sure of a good meal.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Benugo is known for their award winning coffee and now they've stepped up their tea game too. You can of course grab a quick cuppa, but if you have time to linger try out their new Victorian Tea menu. Made in collaboration with a food historian, this give you and your little ones the chance to try Mrs Beeton's own cucumber sandwiches and lemon cakes as they would have tasted in the 1890s. If you're in a rush then grab something fresher like their freshly made juices, aqua frescas or, of course, a signature hot chocolate when the temperatures start to dip.
Children's Menu
If you're after a quick snack to silence any grumbling tummies then the fresh, British produce from Benugo will certainly hit the spot, either with a suitably stuffed sandwich or a freshly made cake. For something more substantial head to Benugo's hot food counter which offers special children's meals and half portions for smaller tummies. The home inspired cooking includes dishes like shepherd's pie and mac and cheese which are sure to please even the pickiest little eaters.
Benugo V&A Café
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Wahaca
Best For: Bright Mexican Food For Every Age, All Over London
Thomasina Miers, founder of Wahaca and mother of two, knows her onions....and avocados...and tomatoes. She really knows guacamole is what we're trying to say. For years hungry Londoners had despaired at finding a decent quesadilla or a great burrito. But now with sixteen branches across London and satellites in other cities across the UK as well, it's comforting to know that great Mexican food is always close at hand.
Parent-Friendly Location
Whatever your day out in London involves, you are sure to be close to a Wahaca. Taking train obsessed tots to the London Transport Museum? There's Wahaca Covent Garden. Soaking up the sights on the London Eye or treading the ancient deck of the Golden Hinde? Wahaca Southbank is just next door. Getting out of London to paddle on Brighton beach? Wahaca has just opened a location there too. Wahaca makes an effort to be as accessible as possible too – great for those with buggies.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Though Mexican cuisine may be famed for tequila and cerveza, there are plenty of non-alcoholic options to enjoy along with your tortilla chips. Try one of their delicious mocktails, suitably priced and served straight up. Alternatively you could try a traditionally agua fresca flavoured with hibiscus flower or horchata. Should you be with any mothers who need to avoid anything other than alcohol, Wahaca is great for those with dietary restrictions with special menus and wonderfully attentive staff.
Children's Menu
Wahaca has specially adapted their menu to be great for small tummies and tight budgets. For £5.25 you can pick between build your own tacos or quesadillas bursting with cheese as well as a drink, including fizzes and agua fresca. Afterwards you can claim your free babyccino or, for an extra £1.20, get a scoop of their artisan ice cream. All of this comes along with a side of humanitarianism; 20p from each meal is donated to Open Air Classroom projects that put creative learning around growing & gardens at the heart of school curriculum.
Wahaca
Locations Across London.
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Via @wahaca.
Bear + Wolf
Best For: Kids To Play And Parents To Unwind
Tufnell Park favourite Bear + Wolf was founded by a dad who, despite being a serious restaurant insider after running both a raw food café and a gastropub, couldn't find anywhere to eat with is toddler. Now he's created a space to please everyone, airy sharing tables sit at the front for weary parents while they're back room has been transformed in to a play room to please their younger clientele. Perfect for families looking for space to spread out, no more dads (or mums for that matter) need to despair about where to get a coffee with their toddlers.
Parent-Friendly Location
Perched between Kentish Town and Tufnell Park, this café is walking distance to Hampstead Heath so works wonderfully for families who have been flying kites on Parliament Hill or using the park's famous playground. If you're a family looking for even more activities then Kentish Town's city farm is also only just round the corner, and free for all visitors whatever their age. Once at the café you can park buggies (and children) in the back playroom before you settle down to enjoy the food.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Bear + Wolf was designed to be a place for those with kids to be able to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee, so of course the coffee had to be some of the best. East London coffee roasters Ozone see to that, ensuring that every cup is fresh and full of flavour. If you're looking for something fruitier you could try one of their freshly made smoothies, our favourite is the orange, strawberry and ginger with a kick of Thai basil. If you're in need of a sugar hit then check out their daily selection of freshly made baked goods, and indulge with a steaming cup of fresh mint tea.
Children's Menu
Each item on Bear + Wolf's menu is simple but satisfying, and their breakfast dishes are a special treat. Start your whole family's day off right with buttermilk waffles topped with banana or a bacon roll stuffed with roasted cherry tomatoes and aioli served on an onion brioche. If you get there later in the day then don't despair. You and your brood can tuck into their excellently made shepherd's pie, pick a up a grilled halloumi sandwich or check out their tart of the day.
Bear + Wolf
153 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HR
020 3601 1900
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Courtesy of Bear + Wolf.
Clipstone
Best For: A Night Out For New and Expectant Mums
This Fitzrovia favourite is the more informal sister to the Michelin-starred Portland, making it perfect for foodies who want to keep their hand in the fine dining game without the formality. Their talent for combining innovative cooking techniques with the freshest seasonal ingredients, like their mussels cooked in Sake and fried baby leeks served with sauce gribiche, as well as their smiling, attentive service are the ideal cure for those parents tired of eating at home.
Parent-Friendly Location
Set across one floor, Clipstone is completely buggy accessible especially at lunch when it's slightly quieter. Though it can be a bit of a squeeze when they're fully booked, this corner site boasts twice the usual amount of outside tables, which are perfect for those with prams. Their central location, in walking distance to five different tube stations, makes it a perfect spot for those who have to rush home to a babysitter and, because it's on a quiet street, it is very useful for anyone with a sleeping baby.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Though already known for their innovative wine list and inventive cocktails, there are plenty of freshly made and tasty non-alcoholic options at Clipstone. Anyone for a yuzu-ade or a watermelon ice tea? We certainly are.
Children's Menu
Clipstone doesn't offer a specific children's menu and some of their dishes, like the mouthwateringly fresh crudo of raw tuna, could prove a little challenging for young palates. However, the menu takes full use simpler dishes like ravioli stuffed with hay-baked carrot & ricotta. If you want to make sure to please your youngest guests then check out their Saturday lunch menu - that's sure to please anyone.
Clipstone
5 Clipstone St, London W1W 6BB
020 7637 0871
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Courtesy of Clipstone.
Craft London
Best For: Great Food Overlooking A Great Park
South London's Peninsula Garden made history last year by becoming the first new park to be created in the capital for a hundred years. Now it's being put on the culinary map by café, restaurant and cocktail bar Craft London. Pop in to the ground floor at any time of day to see their ever changing menu of freshly made food, go up one floor up for their critically acclaimed restaurant and try the very top to see a cocktail bar boasting 360 views of London. Wherever you are in Craft, you're sure for a warm welcome.
Parent-Friendly Location
Craft's café level offers outside seating right in Peninsula Garden, perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy their flat white in comfort while watching over children playing in the park. For families wanting to travel to any of the higher levels there's a pram friendly lift to take you up there. Though a cocktail bar might not usually be where you take your kids, the stunning 360 degree views will certainly leave them impressed.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Coffee, otherwise known as the best friend to anyone who has been kept up all night by a screaming child and then had to play at being Batman, is a speciality at Craft London. Not only do they roast their own coffee in the building, they also offer Aeropress to make sure each cup is perfectly made. If you're looking for a refreshing drink without the caffeine boost you can always try one of their freshly pressed juices, made with only the finest seasonal fruits.
Children's Menu
Craft's café level is perfect for those wanting to please younger diners, offering freshly made sourdough pizzas and one of the finest selection of baked goods we have ever seen. If pizza and cake aren't your thing (just to be clear, they are definitely our thing) you can also check out their daily salad offerings, full to the brim with delicious, fresh ingredients. Head up to the restaurant if you're after a more hearty meal, including clay baked duck and fireplace potatoes.
Craft London
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0SQ
020 8465 5910
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Courtesy of Craft.
Zest @ JW3
Best For: Families To Try New Flavours And Activities
Zest can be found nestled in the courtyard of JW3, North London's newly built Jewish community centre which hosts year round activities for Jewish and non-Jewish families to enjoy. Pop in and you can try modern Isreali cooking at it's best, first at their café section where you'll find stacks of freshly baked sweet treats, salads crammed with flavour and mouth watering savouries all with a middle eastern twist. If you're in need of a sugar rush, make sure to try their traditional poppy seed stuffed rugelach and pomegranate seed studded Victoria sponges. If you're after something more filling you can head through to their restaurant for freshly made mezze or brunch dishes like shaksuka and challah french toast. All of these can be enjoyed while overlooking their courtyard, which hosts an ever changing rotation of seasonal activities.
Parent-Friendly Location
As you might expect from a location especially built for families, both JW3 and Zest offer a lot for mums. First it's completely accessible - with a walkway and lift from the street for those with buggies. It also offers a full calendar of activities to keep younger guests occupied, from the baby café every week with soft play mats for infants, the cinema which screens the latest children's films and it's community hall for group activities like family music time. Sitting in the café you also have easy access to the courtyard, which in summer hosts outdoor activities like mini golf and in the winter is transformed in to an ice rink - perfectly formed for little skaters. Whatever the age ranges in your family there is sure to be an activity to please them, even if it's just sitting back with a coffee and cake.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Though perhaps not what is first thought of when you hear Jewish cuisine, Zest has quite a list of Middle Eastern inspired cocktails like the Tel Aviv Collins and Zest On The Beach. Try one of these, easily made virgin by their excellent bar staff, or one of their new homemade ice teas if you need to avoid alcohol. If you're trying not to eat other things then you're in luck, all of Zest's dishes are pescatarian and labelled for those wanting to avoid dairy and gluten.
Children's Menu
Getting kids to try new flavours has never been easier at Zest, take their signature Zest burger which provides a healthier tempura battered haddock patty and a citrus tang from pickled cabbage on the inside. They also have a daily menu of specifically designed kid's options. We recommend enjoying these on Sunday's when their bottomless brunch menu operates. Adults can enjoy bottomless food along with unlimited teas, coffees and either pomegranate mimosa's or harissa bloody mary's. Kid's can enjoy treats like challah toasties and hot chocolate while colouring in their own menu. Keeping everyone happy suddenly couldn't be easier.
Zest @ JW3
341-351 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ET
020 7433 8955
All restaurants included in this article have an active, friendly policy to breastfeeding mothers.
Photo: Via @jw3london.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Asian Restaurants Everyone In London Is Raving About
Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Talks Cheese, Funny Food Memories & His Next Big Project
Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski On How To Throw The Perfect Royal Wedding Viewing Party