Six great child friendly restaurants in Ballito
Eating out with your children can either be a nightmare or fun for everyone, depending on where you choose to go.
Ballito and surrounds is fast becoming one of the country’s most popular places for families with young children – both to live and to visit on holiday.
But going to a restaurant with young children can be challenging.
So to make your selection easier we have selected six of our favourite places to eat out with the little rascals in tow.
So here there are, in no particular order.
1) La Piazza
When the question was posed on the Courier’s Facebook page our followers named a variety of local eaterys but La Piazza definitely stood out as one of the favourites.
This is probably because the Italian restaurant has successfully created a classy adult dining experience that caters for children without making parents feel like they have compromised on a great night out.
The restaurant’s play area received high praise from parents as it is it is close enough to keep an eye on the kids.
The bambini/ kids menu includes pizza, pasta and old favorites like kiddies ribs and chicken strips.
Children love the play station and movie room, the fake tattoos and other games on offer.
Get In Touch
Located at the The Well in Ballito. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Contact: 032-5863565 / 032-9461527
2) MammaG’s
Also hugely popular in Ballito is another Italian pizza joint, MammaG’s.
Ballito resident Candy Ann Zore summed it up nicely: “MamaGs is by far our family favourite. The kids can enjoy making their own pizzas (who doesn’t like making their own pizzas?), ride their bikes, play on the jungle gym and now and again have a movie night on the astro turf, last time they put on Frozen! And every day they have different colouring-in print outs for kiddies to colour in.”
The waiters will also bring your kids some fresh dough to play with to keep them busy while you wait for your order to arrive.
Get In Touch
Located at the Ballito Junction shopping Centre. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Contact 032-9462000 / 214
3) Sugar Rush
The Sugar Rush Precinct, at Collisheen Estate, is a fairly new family destination.
Probably known best for their MTB cycling trails; Sugar Rush has made a huge effort to cater for children.
They have an incredible Toddler Zone suitable for kids under five years old where you can also host birthday parties.
A definite highlight is the little train, pulled by a small tractor for the children to ride.
For the older kids there is the Forest Trail and Pump Track, designed by Eben Combrinck from Xscape Pump Tracks.
How it works is that riders propel themselves through the track by shifting their body weight, or “pumping”, in conjunction with the track contours, a fun workout.
Entry into the kids areas is R20.
Sugar Rush will also be hosting a cycling academy from next week, every Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm.
You can also take your kids to the family oriented Park Run, a 5km trail run every Saturday at 8am.
Sugar Rush has a basic coffee shop, with a limited menu but the food is tasty, with a few kiddie options.
You can also buy fresh flowers from the Floriculture Centre and explore the Ilembe Winery on site.
Get In Touch
Located on Esenembe Road (next to Collisheen), just outside Ballito.
Cycling Trails open from 5.30 am to 4pm daily in summer and 6am to 4pm in winter.
Coffee Shop open from 7 am to 4 pm (Wednesdays to Sunday).
Contact: 087 351 2954 or email: gill@sugarrush.co.za
4) Wonderland Coffee
Wonderland Coffee at LINC campus in Foxhill Lane, Salt Rock deserves a mention for the best children’s jungle gym.
The enormous jungle gym is every child’s dream, and some adults too.
Called a Vortex 3000, there are only a few in the country like it, so it is well worth a visit.
Though not suitable for very small children it will keep your little monkey’s entertained for ages.
This vibey cafe has plenty of floor space for prams and because its generally quite laid back its a lovely place to go with a new baby.
The coffee, a Malawi bean sourced from Double Shot in Johannesburg, has also already gained quite a local reputation and the food is great value for money and delicious.
Get In Touch
Located at LINC campus in Foxhill Lane, Salt Rock.
Open for breakfast and lunch.
Contact 083 705 6439
5) Burnedale
Burnedale is must visit. The farm animals will enthrall the kids but best of all are the child minders!
For a small fee of R10 you can enjoy your coffee in peace while someone else entertains your children (up until age six) and pushes them on the swing for as long as they please in the fenced play area.
The kids will clamor to do sand art and you can even get your pedi done while they play.
There is also a larger jungle gym for the older kids and a small kiddie menu.
The picturesque farm style coffee shop is set among shady trees with a lush green lawn, and the odd chicken will probably come scratching for the crumbs under your table.
There is also a lovely selection of boutique style shops on offer.
Get In Touch
Just outside the Umhlali Village.
Open for breakfast and lunch.
Contact 032-9470133
6) Sage Cafe and Deli
It would be remiss of us not to mention Sage.
This is one of the long standing favourites with the yummy mummies, and everyone else for that matter.
The food is top notch and so is the children’s play area (sand art is one of the fun activities they have on offer).
A number of boutique style shops offer beautiful hand made jewelry, home décor, kids toys and of course there’s the Salt Rock clothing outlet.
Moms can indulge in a few beauty treatments while the children play under the watchful eye of a child minder.
The kids menu has a lovely selection, from French Toast to Sausage and chips.
For people of all ages the baked nougat cheesecake is a specialty, if you have not tried it, do yourself a favour and make a stop there soon.
Get In Touch
Located at Old Fort Road, Salt Rock.
Open for breakfast and lunch and Friday evenings.
Contact: 032-525 8059.
>>> For more events this holiday check out our Events calender.
>>> Need some ideas for things to do? Check out Holiday Vibes.
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