Eating out has definitely changed since we’ve had a kid. If you’re anything like us, you’re probably eating dinner about two hours earlier and researching the kids’ menus more than the happy hour menus these days. Fortunately, living north of the city, we have a ton of great kid-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh, PA to choose from. That means we don’t have to sacrifice a good meal and fun atmosphere just because we have a toddler in tow. (Even if our go-to spots are a little more casual now.)
Our favorite kid-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh have a few things in common: 1.) Locally owned places with creative menus, 2.) Margaritas and/or a great list of beers for Mom and Dad (because, sometimes we need to be a little selfish) and 3.) A kids menu or at least something our picky-ish eater will like.
Read on below for our picks, most of which have multiple locations in the Pittsburgh area.
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Mad Mex
This “funky fresh cal-mex” restaurant was one of our favorite place to go to in college at Penn State. And it continues to be one of our favorite casual restaurants in Pittsburgh. Obviously these days there is more food eating than margarita drinking. (Most of the time at least.) Although we frequented the Penn State location for years, the restaurant first opened in Pittsburgh and there are several Mad Mex locations in the area.
In addition to the expansive menu offerings, they have an awesome kid’s menu. (Let’s be honest though, I’d be totally fine if our son just ate tortilla chips for dinner if it means I can get my Mad Mex fix.) You can’t go wrong with any Mad Mex burrito, but the entire menu is yummy. The decor inside is just as unique as the menu, and there’s so much to look at to keep even the littlest babies and kids entertained.
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs & Booster Seats// Changing Table// Crayons & Coloring Menu
- Kid’s Menu: $6 for an entree that comes with a side and a drink. Plus carrots, celery and ranch dressing are brought out early so your kids don’t go crazy while they’re waiting for their food. Mad Mex is also one of the few places that includes dessert with their kid’s meals.
- Locations: Canonsburg, Cranberry, Monroeville, North Hills (our go-to), Oakland, Robinson, Scott Township & Shadyside// plus locations in Erie, State College & Philadelphia
- Website: madmex.com
Stack’d Burgers
After Stack’d opened a location in Hampton in 2018, it quickly become a new favorite for us. The restaurant has corn hole and a bocci ball “court” inside as well as plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. It’s super kid-friendly, with an extensive kid’s menu and tablets loaded with games to keep your kids entertained. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that their burgers are really good and there are tons of TVs for sports watching. There’s also a huge selection of beers on draft at Stack’d, along with great happy hour specials. Note: There’s a spacious family restroom with a changing table, which is the first time I’ve seen a designated family restroom in a Pittsburgh restaurant. (Thank you, Stack’d!)
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu, High Chairs// Changing Tables// iPads with games, Bean Bag Toss and Crayons/Coloring for entertainment
- Kid’s Menu: $5-6 for the meal, side & drink plus $2 dessert options AND their meals come in a frisbee to take home. Kids eat free on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Hampton and Wexford locations with the purchase of an adult entree.
- Locations: Hampton (our go-to), Wexford, Shadyside & Oakland
- Website: www.stackdburgers.com
Over the Bicycle (OTB) Cafe at North Park
We love OTB Bicycle Cafe for the atmosphere more than anything. (Although the food and drinks are great too!) It’s located in the Boathouse along the lake in the middle of the North Park, with great outdoor seating during warmer months. It’s a perfectly casual spot to go to before or after exploring one of the many playgrounds or biking/walking/running as a family. (In other words, you won’t look out of place if you go there in workout pants.)
Our favorite meal here is breakfast on the weekends, and it’s also great for a casual lunch or dinner. While we love OTB during the warmer months, they’re also open all year round. Tip: Reservations aren’t accepted, but you can use the Yelp App to avoid long waits that are common on weekends in the summer.
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs// Changing Tables// Crayons & Coloring Menu (plus there’s a lot to walk around and look at if they need to take a break from the table.) OTB North Park also has Kids Eat Free on Tuesday nights in the winter.
- Kid’s Menu: $6 or $7 for a cheeseburger, grilled cheese, corn dog or chicken fingers, side and a drink. Meals are served on a fun frisbee for kids to take home.
- Locations: North Park (our go-to) and Southside
- Website: www.otbbicyclecafe.com
Burgatory
Burgatory is another favorite for us when it comes to kid-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh. Not only to they have great burgers, but the milkshakes are super yummy and creative too. We’ve been going to Burgatory ever since the first location opened at the Waterworks in Fox Chapel, and it’s consistently one of the best places for burgers in Pittsburgh. Tip: Reservations at Burgatory aren’t accepted, but you can use the Yelp App to get in line before arriving. This place is always packed- for good reason!
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs // Changing Table
- Kid’s Menu (known as the Little Angels & Devils menu): $6.50 for kids meals that come with chips on the side. Drinks cost extra, but if your kids finish their plate they get a cherry coke ice cream float for FREE.
- Locations: McCandless Crossing, Fox Chapel (Waterworks), Robinson (The Pointe), Homestead (Waterfront), Murrysville (Blue Spruce), Cranberry, PPG Paints Arena & Heinz Field
- Website: https://burgatorybar.com
The Oven Pizza Co.
I first tried out the Oven Pizza Co. for their amazing gluten free crust when I was dabbling in gluten-free living. One of the great things about this Wexford-based pizza location is that they have several options to accommodate food allergies, including dairy-free and gluten-free options. They also have a kids menu with a number of options that include a side and drink. (Perfect if you have a picky child and want to get one of the more unique pizzas offered.) Tip: Reservations aren’t required here due to the quick service model. Just order at the counter and pick a seat until your order is called.
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs // Changing Table
- Kid’s Menu: $5 for the “kids oven” which is geared toward little eaters and includes either a pizza slice, grilled cheese, breadsticks or meatball with a side of chips, hummus and pita or fruit plus a drink.
- Location: Wexford, PA (Village at Pines)
- Website: www.theovenpizzaco.com
Emiliano’s Mexican Restaurant
This is our favorite place for some of the most authentic Mexican food in Pittsburgh. (The Molcajete Cabo pictured below is AMAZING, and the only other place I’ve had it was on a family trip to Cancun, Mexico.) They also bring out homemade chips and the freshest salsa to hold the family over until the food comes. And of course the fact that our son loves Mexican food makes makes Emiliano’s even better. Reservations are accepted here.
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs // Changing Table// Crayons & Coloring Menu
- Kid’s Menu: $5.99 for the meal, side and drink. They have one of the biggest kid’s menus I’ve seen, with a number of healthy side and entree options.
- Locations: Gibsonia (our go-to), South Side, Cranberry & McCandless Crossing
- Website: www.emilianos.net
Atria’s
If you’re looking for a local staple with a lot of variety in the menu, Atria’s is a great option. There’s something for everyone, making it one of the best family friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh for all generations. While the dining room area can a feel a little more formal, each location has casual seating near the bar as well. We especially love our local Atria’s in Richland, and the servers have been great with our son since he was a baby. Atria’s is also perfect for families with little kids around the holidays, with events like Breakfast with Santa and Brunch with the Easter Bunny. Reservations are always accepted at Atria’s.
- Family-Friendly Offerings: Kid’s Menu // High Chairs // Changing Table// Crayons & Coloring Menu
- Kid’s Menu: $4.99 for a meal and a side. Drinks are $.99 extra (which is perfect for us since our son usually drinks water with dinner at this age.)
- Locations: Richland, Mt. Lebanon, O’Hara, Norwin, Pleasant Hills, Peter’s Township, Murrysville and Morgantown (WV)
- Website: www.atrias.com
More Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Downtown Pittsburgh
While of our favorite, family friendly Pittsburgh restaurants listed above have locations throughout the Pittsburgh suburbs, there are so many more options in the city as well. Below are a few of our favorite cafes and restaurants in downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods that are great stops while exploring Pittsburgh. We’ve also included some of the best bakeries and ice cream places in Pittsburgh for an after dinner treat.
- Emporio: A Meatball Joint is one of our favorite kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Pittsburgh with a yummy selection of meatballs.
- The Yard in Shadyside and Downtown Pittsburgh has an awesome grilled cheese menu.
- The Grand Concourse in Station Square has an upscale brunch buffet in Pittsburgh with views of the trains going by. (Kids under 3 are also free.)
- Federal Galley (North Side) or Smallman Galley (Strip District) has cafeteria style dining from several innovative chefs.
- Ineffable Caffe in Lawrenceville has amazing coffee and food with a great kids play area.
- Commonplace Coffee is one of the best coffee shops in PIttsburgh, PA with locations in the Mexican War Streets, Point Breeze and Squirrel Hill. Each location has a selection of games and toys for kids as well.
- Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh’s North Side and serves awesome German food to compliment their craft beer list.
- Church Brew Works is another one of several unique breweries in Pittsburgh, PA with a great food menu for the whole family. And it’s located in an old church!
- Grist House Craft Brewing and Strange Roots Experimental Ales are two of the best breweries in Pittsburgh, PA with great outdoor spaces for families. (Both are technically more in the suburbs- but I had to mention them!)
- Baby Loves Tacos for Mexican food in Bloomfield or Millvale. This is one we haven’t been to yet but are planning to try soon. (They have a kids play area at their Millvale location!)
- Pittsburgh classics like Eat’n Park and Primanti Brothers are always great with kids as well.
Best Places for Dessert in Pittsburgh
We can’t forget about dessert! If you’re looking for some of the best ice cream in Pittsburgh, we recommend these spots:
- Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Shadyside, Downtown Pittsburgh & Lawrenceville
- Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor in the Strip District
- NatuRoll Creamery in Lawrenceville, Robinson & Cranberry
- Churn Homemade Ice Cream in Gibsonia, Fox Chapel and Cranberry
- Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream in Aspinwall
- Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches offered at several locations in Pittsburgh
- The Milkshake Factory in the South Side, Downtown Pittsburgh, East Liberty and more
Best Bakeries in Pittsburgh
In addition to ice cream, Pittsburgh has so many great bakeries. Below are some of our favorites.
- Oakmont Bakery in Oakmont
- Prantl’s Bakery in Shadyside, Downtown & Greensburg
- La Gourmandine Bakery in Lawrenceville, Downtown & more
- Colangelo’s Italian Bakery in the Strip District
- Bella Christie and Lil Z’s Sweet Boutique
- Priory Fine Pastries in the North Side
- Gaby et Jules in Squirrel Hill & East Liberty
Visiting Pittsburgh with Kids
Planning to visit the Pittsburgh with kids? We have a few recommendations for family-friendly Pittsburgh hotels. Although we live here, we’re all about a staycation in Pittsburgh!
- The Westin Pittsburgh has an indoor pool a family suite that’s great for families. It’s located right next to the Pittsburgh Convention Center and conveniently near some of the best restaurants in downtown Pittsburgh.
- The Embassy Suites Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh is a newer, all-suite hotel with awesome free breakfast and an indoor pool.
- The Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburgh- Downtown is located in the Strip District. (It’s right next to the Heinz History Center- a must see in Pittsburgh.) It offers free breakfast and an indoor pool.
- The Sheraton Hotel in Station Square Pittsburgh is located across the river from downtown Pittsburgh and has amazing views of the city. There are several family-friendly restaurants in Station Square as well as the Gateway Clipper and nearby Duquesne Incline. It also has an indoor pool.
This post captures many of our favorite things to do with toddlers in Pittsburgh (or kids of any age): The Best Things to do in Pittsburgh with a Toddler
You can also check out our page on Pittsburgh with kids here or follow us on Instagram for more inspiration.
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