The best places to eat with kids in Wales

Going out to eat with kids is always an experience, when it goes right, it's an utter joy. They get to experience food from the four corners of the world, you don't have to cook, and sometimes you even manage a sneaky glass of wine in your hand and suddenly the trials and tribulations of parenthood feel a million miles away. But, lots of things need to come into place at the same time for it to be a truly remarkable meal.

Clearly, a kids menu is a start, but what really helps are activities to help entertain them while they wait, somewhere you don't feel like you've got to shush them every two seconds and food that arrives before any meltdowns happen. The secret in our family, is to find the sort of place both you, and they, get a good meal, which is freshly made, won't make you wince when the bill arrives and somewhere the staff don't make you (or your small people) feel like an inconvenience. If you can combine it with one of Wales' briliant beaches, or a muddy walk, or even an aircraft museum, then all the better.



There are so many options in Wales, from the holy grail of the soft play in Newport where the food is exceptional or chains which deliver a low-cost but tasty meal, and the places where kids can get a taste of foreign lands without the stress of a plane journey. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Included in this list is somewhere where the kids main is 95p - no what time of the year - or where your kids can tuck into one of the country's best Sunday lunches for just £8. There are places where nothing is too much trouble, even for kids covered in pizza sauce, and places you can combine with soaking in some of the most beautiful bits of our country for a weekend day trip, or holiday activity.

Enjoy! 1. Newport Market A food market serving some of the loveliest foods around which has a soft play in it and you can get a cocktail to your table? Parents, you're welcome. If you haven't heard of this place, absolutely get it on your list, especially on a rainy day.

If you're tactical, you can book the soft play for an hour's session, wear the kids out while you tuck into your food, and then move into the main food market area so you can have a restorative tipple, and they can tuck into some of the food options themselves. Newport Market is open Monday to Sunday, 9 am til 5 pm. Current food traders include Sloppy Joe’s, which offers a kids' meal deal for £7.

The Italian Job offers kids size portions including pared back dishes perfect for fussy appetites. Address: High St, Newport NP20 1FX Jungle Play soft play opening times: closed on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday to Friday open from 10am until 5pm, Saturday open from 9am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm 2.

Matsudai One of Wales' most acclaimed restaurants is in the Cardiff suburb of Grangetown and somewhere kids have no choice but to get involved because what's more fun for kids than slurping through a bowl of noodles and tring their hand at using chopsticks.? The venue has plenty of fab art on the walls to keep them entertained, and big enough you don't feel you need to keep the kids too quiet, and the food comes quickly - and is incredibly tasty and fresh. They offer a kids bowl for under 16s, which includes a small tori paitan (ramen), shoyu (soy sauce) or yasai paitan (protien topping of either pork, tofu or chicken) with one piece of chashu, half egg, spring onions.

Address: 183-185 Clare Rd, Cardiff CF11 6QS Opening hours: Monday: closed. Tuesday to Thursday: 5pm until 10pm. Friday: 5 pm until 10:30 pm.

Saturday: 12pm until 10.30pm. Sunday: 12 pm until 9 pm 3.

Botanist A chain venue with two branches in Cardiff, this offers a kids menu priced at £6.95. The highlight is the seaside jelly and ice cream sandcastle, which looks adorable, and kids will love.

The menu is made up of a main course, a mini salad, and a dessert. Mains include cheeseburger and chips, chicken burger and chips, scampi and chips, chicken fingers and chips or curly cumberland sausage and mash. Address: 5 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG.

Open: Monday to Thursday open 11am until 11pm, Friday to Saturday open from 10am to 1am, Sunday open from 10am to 11pm. The Cardiff Bay branch is at Mermaid Quay Unit 4, Cardiff CF10 5BZ- Cardiff Bay opening times: Monday to Wednesday open 11 am until 11pm. Thursday 11 am until 12am.

Friday and Saturday - 10am until 12am. Sunday - 10am until 11pm 4. Bar 44 With venues in Wales in Cardiff and Penarth (as well as Bristol over the border) the food at Bar 44 can't be faulted.

The newly rebranded kids menu includes kids cocktails at £2.50 (a big thumbs up for the vanilla milkshake) or a squash at 60p. If your little chico or chica fancies trying tapas, you can choose four items for £7.

50 from sourdough, olives, chorizo, carrots, tomato salad, fish of the day, chicken and potatoes. Vanilla ice cream is £2. On a Sunday their roast is exceptional - and a kids portion of the beef is £10, and the chicken roast is £8.

Address : 15-23 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10 1DD or 14 Windsor Rd, Penarth , CF64 1JH Opening times for both branches : Monday and Tuesday closed, Wednesday 4.30pm until 11 pm (kitchen closes 10pm), Thursday to Saturday 12pm until 11.30pm (kitchen closes 10pm), Sunday 12pm until 6pm (kitchen closes 4pm) You can see more here.

5. IKEA The Swedish furniture giant has a vast restaurant in its only Welsh store and it is supremely kid friendly. They offer so many touches that make a meal easier.

There are things like specially designed trollies to carry the many plates and a screaming toddler, and an overflowing changing bag. They provide plastic cutlery and cups, and on weekdays if you're an Ikea Family member you can get free hot drinks. And the food is incredibly cheap.

A three piece breakfast is £1.50, penne pasta with tomato and basil sauce if 95p, kids meatballs are £2.50 including mash and peas, while a sausage (meat or veggie) meal is £2.

50. They also offer a four-piece plant-based meal for £1.95.

Plus, the restaurant area is huge. The play area is also back open. Smaland is a free supervised play area, located at the entrance of the store.

You can't go in with the kids, but they can have a free 60 minute play session and you can either shop, or have a cuppa in peace. Address : IKEA, Ferry Rd, Cardiff CF11 0XR Opening times: Monday to Friday: 9.30 am until 7.

15pm. Saturday: 9am until 7.15pm.

Sunday: 10am until 4pm 6. Yo Sushi A main, side and drink for £7.50, plus the entertainment value of watching your food whizz past? Excellent.

The kids menu comes served in a Bento box, and the main includes options of chicken katsu or teriyaki, with a dip and drink. Chopsticks are optional (but plenty of fun) and you can add a dorayaki pancake for £1.50.

Plus, during local school holiday dates, kids eat free all day in their restaurants when dining with a full-paying adult (as long as the grown spends £10 minimum). Address: St David's Shopping Centre, 5 Bridge St, Cardiff, CF10 2EF. Open: Monday to Sunday from 11am until 9 pm 7.

Braf Braf in Dinas Dinlle is a picture perfect spot, beautiful brunches, on the seaside, and they offer bygi heini (buggy fit) classes if you fancy trying some postnatal recovery with small people in tow. Airy, healthy, tasty homemade food with the sea directly next door for you, or your kids to get some fresh air in their lungs before or after eating, yes please. You can read the review here.

Address: Dinas Dinlle, Gwynedd , Wales, LL54 5TW. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm. 8.

Franco Manca An absolute parenting staple for our family, because it's somewhere where kids aren't just tolerated, but welcomed for a brilliantly priced fill. They get a good, freshly cooked meal, and the food comes quickly, reducing the risk of any hanger-related meltdowns. For £8.

25 the small people in your life get a pizza, a drink and a scoop or ice cream or sorbet. The pizza menu says they are "made smaller" but they are a sizeable portion. Drinks included are apple juice or orange juice or organic lemonade.

They also get a colouring sheet to keep them entertained during the meal. Address : 11-12 Church St, Cardiff, CF10 1BG. Opening times: Monday to Thursday from 12 pm until 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11.

30 am until 11.30 pm, and Sunday from 11.30 am until 9pm.

Find out more here. 9. Honest Burgers A chain burger restaurant that offers plenty of good grub.

Informal and chilled, and a kids menu (including a drink) for £5.50? Definitely keep it up your sleeve. Food comes served informally on a tray, Kids' choice of veggie, beef or chicken burger with chips and a drink for £5.

50. Address : 10 Church St, Cardiff, CF10 1BG Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 11am until 11pm and Sunday from 11am until 10.30 pm.

Find out more here. 10. Secret Garden In the heart of Bute Park is this absolute gem of a café.

Everything is homemade, and parents can get any coffee for £2.30 if they take their keep cup. The kid friendly element (aside from the exceptional, seasonal and always glorious soft serve) is that you can sit with your coffee on the outdoor seating leaving the kids time to run around the huge section of grass in front of you.

There are trees to climb and always plenty of dogs to raise a smile. There's bike parking directly next to it, so you can make an adventure of it and for older kids, you can borrow the table tennis set for free at the adorable tables too. As you head back into the city, you can try out the wooden instrument trail.

Address: Bute Park Visitor Centre, North Rd, Cardiff, CF10 3ER Opening times : Monday to Sunday from 9am until 4.30pm 11. The Loungers chain Loungers actually has more than 250 sites across England and Wales including Welsh branches including in Penarth, Aberystwyth , Penarth, Swansea, Newport and Bangor .

Every lounge has a stack of books, toys, crayons and colouring pads to keep kids entertained and every one of their kids meals comes with a free snack pot of hummus, breadsticks and carrots and a free Cawston Press drink. They offer breakfasts, pizza, or pasta as well as mains. They also offer sides and ice creams.

Find your nearest branch here. 12. West Pizza Big portions of New York-style Pizza, suitable for all ages and available by the slice.

A fun, cosmopolitan experience in the heart of Canton in Cardiff. What's not to love? Address : 60 Glynne St, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9NS Opening times : Monday- closed, Tuesday and Wednesday open from 4pm until 9pm, Thursday to Sunday open from 12pm until 9pm. 13.

Caernarfon Airport Cafe If you have a child who is into their aircraft, add this to your list. You can tuck into well reviewed food while watching the aircraft come and go on the runway, just metres away. You can also combine it with a visit to the neighbouring museum, on the airfield of the former RAF Llandwrog, and offers the opportunity to get close up to some historic aircraft.

The sandwiches and toasties for adults are under £6 and the kids menu is all under £7 including egg, chips and beans or sandwiches served with crisps. Address : Caernarfon Airport Caernarfon Airport Dinas Dinlle, Dinas Dinlle, LL54 5TP Wales Opening hours: Every day, 9.30am until 4pm 14.

Brewdog The beer kings also do kids food - a way for you to get a tasty pint and keep the kids entertained. They offer a big cheese pizza (£4) or a DIY pizza including two toppings (£5.50).

You can also order a Hoppy Meal (get it?) which includes a main hamburger, cheeseburger or nuggets and dip, with a side of fries or dip sticks and a choice of kid's drink. It includes "awesome Brewdog goodies" and is £7.75 for kids.

Also worth remembering they also have a selection of board games in branches. Plus, you can win a free dessert for your table if you challenge your server to rock, paper, scissors. If you win, you get it for free.

Address: 31 Westgate St, Cardiff, CF10 1EH Opening times: Monday to Tuesday from 4pm until 10pm Wednesday to Thursday from 12pm until 11pm Friday to Saturday from 12pm until 12am Sunday from 12pm until 10pm Find out more here. 15. Dylan's Dylan's, in Conwy , Llandudno and Criccieth, are beautiful buildings offering lovely food in equally lovely settings.

Their kids menu is £8.25 for a main, with puddings at £3.50.

The options even include a portion of kids mussels, served with white wine, cream, shallots and garlic. They also offer linguine, a Baby Dyl's burger, chicken goujons or pizza. You can see the full menu online here.

Address: The Washington, East Parade, Llandudno LL30 1BE, Menai Bridge: St George's Rd, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EY. Esplanade Maes y Mor, LL52 0HU Opening hours vary 16. Founders A great street food venue in Swansea where you not only have you a number of options to keep everyone happy, but there's plenty of buzz and noise so you don't need to fear your kids ruining someone's meal.

The food is brought to your table, and this huge, city centre venue is perfect if you're taking a trip down to the beach to break it up for those little legs. Food options include Pizza Boyz for pizza or Mag (Meat and Greet) for burgers. They have a host of events, including arts and crafts (free) in half terms, and free LEGO sessions where kids can explore their imagination and there are shops inside the venue too, if you want a peruse.

Address: 24 Wind St, Swansea , SA1 1DY Opening times : Sunday to Thursday from 9 am until 12am, Friday to Saturday from 9 am until 1am 17. Chapter A Cardiff staple, this huge arts space, meets cinema meet cafe bar, has a lovely vibe if you've small people in tow. There's big communal seating (and smaller tables too) and you can feel smug in that everything you order goes directly supporting all the creative and community work they do.

There's always plenty of kids here, and the main menu includes dishes from £5. Address: Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Cardiff, CF5 1QE Opening times: Sunday to Thursday from 8.30 am until 10pm.

Friday to Saturday from 8.30am until 11pm. Find out more here.

18. Forage This farm shop just outside Cowbridge town centre has a fab outdoor space to run around before, after, or (let's face it), during your meal. The children's menu is served on weekdays until 3.

30pm during school holidays and until 4.30pm in term time. There's a price premium attached to having Welsh ingredients sourced from Penllyn Estate - a kids pasta bolognese is £9.

50, chicken goujons are £9.50 as are fish goujons, pork sausages and mini beef burger. Kids' breakfast options include the “Little Farmers Full Breakfast” for £4.

50, which comes with smoked bacon, butcher's sausage, beans and a choice of Penllyn estate eggs. Lunch options feature a Little Farmers Picnic, which is a choice of a ham or cheese sandwich, yogurt, fruit, crisps, and a juice box for £11. Address : Penllyn Estate Farm Llwynhelig, Cowbridge, CF71 7FF Opening times : Open seven days a week, with breakfast from 9am until 11.

30 am, lunch from noon until 3.30pm and from July, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm until 11pm. Find out more here.

19. Goodsheds Here's a suggestion for the summer - pop yourself along to Barry Island, soak in the sights, and then take a 22 minute walk to Goodsheds, a hive of independent food vendors, independent shops and local businesses. Options include Who Cult desserts, sandwiches from Mr Croquewich and Tukka Tuk vendor serves a kid friendly meal of chicken nuggets, fries, ketchup, a drink, and includes a little toy.

Address : Hood Rd, Barry CF62 5QU Opening times: Sunday to Tuesday: 8am until 7pm, Wednesday to Saturday: 8am until 10pm 20. Ffos Caerffili Burgers, pizza, brunch and Jake's ice cream - there's oh so many options at Ffos Caerffili. In the shadows of the castle, it's a lovely, family day out with communal tables for eating.

They run fun days and events, as well as live music events. Address: Cardiff Rd, Caerphilly , CF83 1FN Opening times: Closed Monday, Tuesday to Wednesday, 9am until 5pm. Thursday to Saturday from 9am until 10pm, Sunday from 9am until 6pm.