Pollen Café at the Australian National Botanic Gardens is a hit with kids and parents. Image: Tourism Australia
01 April 2025
Canberra has so much to offer when it comes to café culture, and that extends to the smallest community members as well.
A babycino is well and good, but when little tummies rumble, these are some of the cafes serving up seriously yummy fare:
Southern Cross Club Woden
If you’re after lunch or dinner, the Southern Cross Club Woden offers a large range of options for kids.
The kid’s menu boasts 10 different options. Choices range from items like chicken nuggets and a wagyu beef burger to things like rice paper rolls, a whole foods tasting plate and make your own tacos.
There are also kid-friendly sweet treats. Options include strawberry or banana fondue, yoghurt crunch, and gelato.
Mains are $13 for members (or $15 for non-members), while desserts are $5 for members ($6 for non-members).
Café Stepping Stone, Dickson and Strathnairn
Café Stepping Stone’s seasonal and locally sourced menu extends to kids.
Options for children include toast, and cheese toasties with or without tomato. There’s also hummus and carrot sticks or a bowl of yoghurt.
Prices start at just $5.
There are also toys in the cafés and room for them to roam.
Kitchen Garden at Rodney’s, Pialligo
This picturesque café, located in Rodney’s Plants Plus, has a good range of adults and kids’ options.
Their kid’s menu includes eggs and bacon on toast and pancakes. There’s also spaghetti bolognese, fish and chips or a ham and cheese pizza. The lunch box option includes a sandwich, sultanas, cheese, a fruit box and a chocolate treat.
There’s a playground next to the café and lots of space to play.
Prices start at $12.
Pollen Café, Australian National Botanic Gardens
A trip to the Australian National Botanic Garden is always fun for kids. A stop in at Pollen Café helps fill little bellies for big adventures.
During the school holidays, Pollen offers a Bilby Bites menu item that includes vegetable sticks, bilby-shaped toast, fresh fruit and a sweet treat for kids.
Pollen’s regular kids’ menu includes dippy eggs and a mini hot dog. An optional fruit juice popper, shortbread cookie or paddle pop ice cream can be added to both.
Prices start at $13.90.
As the café is sit within the Australian Botanic Gardens, there is plenty to see and do including a children’s discovery walk.
Café Gather, Braddon
Café Gather’s menu of colourful, healthy food includes a selection for kids. Choices include a toad in the hole, a mini hashbrown with avocado and egg, a bacon and egg roll, and a crumpet with honey and blueberries.
All options are $12.
Sweet Bones, Scullin and Braddon
This vegan café features an all-day breakfast menu at both the Scullin and Braddon locations. The kid’s menu has a blueberry pancake with coconut whipped cream, a sandwich with cucumber, avocado and hummus, or carrot sticks with peanut butter or hummus.
Prices start at $6.
Two Blind Mice, Curtin
Locals love this family-friendly spot, not least because of the weekly meal specials.
On Thursday, kids eat free with every $50 spend. The lunch and dinner kids’ menu includes a cheeseburger and chips, ham and cheese pizza or spaghetti napoletana.
On the weekends, the kids breakfast menu offers toast and jam, a hotcake, or a bacon and egg roll.
Prices start at $7 for breakfast, or $15 for breakfast and lunch.
Penny University, Kingston
The kid's menu at this inner south spot has a range of options. Choose from a ham and cheese toastie, egg and ham, or a chicken burger. There’s also a brekkie plate with porridge, yoghurt and fruit, a lunch box with a toastie, fruit and a brownie, or crisp barramundi bites.
Prices start at $8.
Did we miss your favourite? Send us an email at ourcanberra@act.gov.au.
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