Over the last few years many chains and independent restaurants have done their best to provide a welcoming atmosphere for their young visitors. We've hand-picked our favourite child-friendly eateries around the island, taking into consideration the most important factors for families – the menu and the nutritional value of the foods served, service and facilities, price and location.
By Paul Malaos
PAPHOS
Sienna, Chrorakas
Sienna is a family eatery where children are always welcome. Junior portions are available and there is a large grassy garden (around 1000 square metres) and play area to the rear of the restaurant with swings, slides and a see-saw for the kids. The master chef prides himself on using the freshest of foods and adds extra special flavours to his dishes with fragrant herbs freshly gathered from the restaurant's own herb garden.
Would mum approve? The menu features traditional Cypriot and International cuisine in kids’ sized portions and of course salad is an option too.
Tip: The chefs are happy to please even the fussiest eaters by preparing dishes that aren’t even on the menu.
Price: A meal for a family of four (two adults and two children) will cost around €65.
Where: Chlorakas Avenue.Panareti 3 Court, Paphos, 26 931505Sophie’s Theme Restaurant
Sophie’s Theme Restaurant in Peyia is set just a minute’s walk from the centre of the village, and boasts a large indoor and outdoor seating area, high-chairs, changing rooms and a kids’ menu. Every day is a different culinary experience with Indian, Mexican, Cypriot, Chinese and a traditional carvery buffet on offer.
Would mum approve? As the buffet is always an option, there are plenty of healthy foods such as salads, grilled meats and vegetarian dishes.
Tip: The all you can eat buffet is great value for money for big eaters.
Price: A family of four can expect to pay €44 for a buffet meal or around €32 for a la carte.
Where: 14 Synergatismos Street, Peyia, Paphos, 26 621100
Colosseum
Based on the premise that Italians know how to eat and have fun, the Colosseum promises great food in a laid-back environment. Colosseum Italian restaurant is located in the Kato Paphos area on a panoramic garden terraza blooming with flowers, making it an ideal location for a summer meal. An extensive kids’ menu, changing rooms and high chairs are available for young visitors.
Would mum approve? Italian recipes are versatile; kids love them and they have even been praised by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for their nutritional value.
Tip: The Colesseum has been rated by local newspapers as having the most ‘bargainous’ set menu in Kato Paphos.
Price: A family of four will pay around €48.
Where: 101 Danaes Street, Olympian Complex, Kato Paphos, 26 913278
McDonald’s
High chairs and changing room facilities are on offer, as is a kid’s play area featuring slides and stationary rides which are all safety approved.
Would mum approve? While still serving the traditional favourites customers love like Big Mac and French fries, McDonald’s has added some tasty low fat menu items for adults and children including chicken salads and garden salads and low-sugar soft drinks.
Costing: A family of four can expect to pay around €20.
Tip: The happy meal always includes a free toy inspired by a new movie release.
Where: Nationwide, 22 220 520
LARNACA
Art Lounge Restaurant
Keep the kids happy and the parents will have a great time; that's the thinking behind the Art Lounge Restaurant. This child friendly eatery boasts a great play area for the kids, with cushions, toys and puzzles and provides also provides young visitors with pads and pencils for drawing.
Would mum approve? The Art Lounge prides itself on its home made food which is prepared on the premises. The kid’s menu features freshly made mini-burgers, chicken fingers and kebabs.
Tip: Children’s art competitions are hosted regularly! Just ask the friendly staff for more info!
Price: A family of four can eat here for around €40.
Where: Pilagiale Avenue, Larnaca, Mckenzie are, 24 622880.
Dreamland
Dreamland Play and Leisure Centre in Tersefanou is set on a sprawling 10,000 square metre plot and ticks all the boxes when it comes to kids’ activities and facilities.
Packed with activities, the fabulous playground provides lots of fun for all ages.
Bouncy castles, video games, swimming pool, climbing wall, slides and toys are just a few of the things on offer.
Would mum approve? The restaurant serves sandwiches, souvlaki and burger style foods – sure to be popular with the kids and no harm as an occasional treat.
Price: Entrance to Dremland is completely free but a meal at the restaurant will cost around €35 for a family of four.
Tip: The huge outdoor function area with seating for 500 is a perfect venue for kids’ birthday parties or christenings.
Where: Follow the signs for Mazotos and Tersefanou, then take the Tersefanou turn-off on your right after about 1km, 24 425 318
Marzano
This restaurant strikes a winning combination of good food and great entertainment for children. Lunchtime on Sunday’s are designated for children with a clown, entertainers, face painting and games on offer. The children’s menu is in the shape of a pizza which the kids can stick sticker toppings on while waiting for the food to arrive. High chairs are available on request and the restaurant also has changing facilities.
Would mum approve? Freshly cooked Italian pizzas and pastas are on offer as are a choice of fresh salads.
Tip: One for the adults! Make sure you try Italy’s most popular beer, Peroni!
Price: A meal for a family of four will cost around €45.
Where: Makarios Avenue and Kalograion 4, Larnaca, 24 657000. Also in Nicosia and Limassol.
Hobos
This Larnaca landmark offers great steak meals to families in off the beach. There’s a separate kids’ menu, a play area in the back with garden toys, high chairs on request and a spacious changing room.
Would mum approve: The steaks are all freshly grilled and come in 130g child portions.
Price: A meal for a family of four will cost around: €70.
Tip: Hobos is located on the Finikoudes seafront promenade so there’s plenty of entertainment for the kids after the meal.
Where: Finikoudes Promenade, 700 00 888
AYIA NAPA AND PROTARAS
Seasons
Seasons is a family restaurant and adventure play centre designed with children and adults in mind while also being famed for serving some of the best American barbeque food and crepes in Ayia Napa.
Children can join you for a meal in the restaurant or run riot in the play zone which includes an 18 hole mini-golf course, a miniature quad bike track (for 3 years and up), video games, and go-carting facilities.
Would mum approve? The ingredients are top quality and freshly prepared! The kids menu includes mini steaks, classic burgers and don’t forget there’s a range of delicious sweet and savoury crepes for desert.
Costing: A meal for a family of four will cost around €50.
Tip: The entertainment facilities are supervised by attendants and meet all safety standards.
Where: Nissi Avenue 3, Ayia Napa, 23 735100
NICOSIA
Wagamama
Great food prepared quickly, plenty of space, facilities and entertainment for children.
Kids are provided with colouring books and pencils while they eat and the menu has six varied child options. High chairs are available as are spacious changing rooms.
Would mum approve? Meals include grilled chicken noodle, mini chicken katsu and ebi rice. Most dishes are served with plenty of vegetables.
Price: A family of four can expect to pay around €45 for a meal with ice cream included for children.
Tip: If you like Wagamama you can also join their online community with exclusive benefits such as fun games to play noodle news and member offers!
Where: Themistokli Dervi 16, Nicosia, 22 870140
Iraklis Ice Cream ParlourOld Nicosia’s historic ice cream parlour in Ledra Street is a perfect place for a very reasonably priced family meal during the summer holidays. Facilities include a spacious play area with slides, swings and toys, high chairs and video games.
Would mum approve? Popular favourites are on offer such as burgers, chicken nuggets and pasta dishes.
Price: A family of four can eat here for around €25.
Tip: Iraklis is available for children’s parties and offers a varied buffet.
Where: Ledra Street, Old Nicosia, 22 664198
Goody’s
If you fancy a fast-food meal out, Goody’s offer a varied kids menu and great facilities and play areas. High chairs are available on request; there is spacious changing room at every outlet and the play rooms include slides, play houses and toys.
Would mum approve? There’s no denying that Goody’s is exclusively a fast food outlet but let’s face it, most kids will love the junior menu which offers chicken sandwiches, burgers and nuggets.
Price: A family of four can expect to pay around €23 for a meal.
Tip: Don’t forget that each child gets a free toy with every purchase of a junior meal.
Where: Eleftheria Square, Nicosia, Call: 22 872 420 and Islandwide: 77 777 788.
Pizza Mia
One of Nicosia’s most-lauded restaurants for family-friendliness, there are child-changing facilities, highchairs and an indoor playroom with toys and a large screen TV to provide cartoon entertainment.
Would mum approve: Pizza Mia has an extensive children's menu balancing pizza and mini-burgers with salads and mini spaghetti portions.
Price: A meal for a family of four costs around €35.
Tip: Don’t forget to ask about the special value combination meals, for 2, 3 or 4 people.
Contact: 28 Spyros. Kyprianou, Nicosia, 22 374444
Ikea
Anyone who has shopped at Ikea will know about the cafeteria which, in just a short time, has built a reputation for great food at budget prices. The child menu costs exactly half of the adult menu and kids also get free ice cream and a drink. Kids’ facilities here are great and include a huge play area, with toys and rides, a changing room, high chairs and facilities for warming baby food.
Would mum approve? Healthy grilled salmon is available on the kids menu, as are Ikeas famous Swedish meatballs and a range of salads.
Price: A family of four can eat here for just €15.
Tip: Ikea also offers a child-minding facility free of charge.
Where: Verginas 1, Strovolos, Nicosia, 22 502502.
Fanoush
Freshly cooked Lebanese food served in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Families are welcomed, highchairs are available and as the restaurant is located in a pedestrian street in Laiki Gitonia, it’s safe for the kids to play outside.
Would mum approve? There’s a huge choice of hot, cold and vegetarian starters, grills, kebabs, and fresh fish dishes, Mediterranean deserts and fruits.
Price: A family can eat here for around €45.
Tip: For kids that aren’t big eaters, the restaurant offers free nibbles, including nuggets, smileys and chips.
Where: Solonos 7C, Laiki Gitonia, Nicosia, 22: 666663
Café La Mode (Marks & Spencer)
Marks & Spencer has been a by-word for quality for many many years and it is well demonstrated in their eatery. The well constructed menu offers plenty choice with it’s selection of tasty international dishes and there are plenty of healthy options too. The menu also indicates which dishes are vegetarian or frozen. The upper seating area is where you want to sit if you’ve got active kids with you as that is where the play area is situated.
Would mum approve? All their favourites can be found and all are made with good quality ingredients. They will even bring out the kids’ meals first if they need help eating so that you can eat yours while it is still hot.
Price: A family can eat here for around €50 with drinks.
Tip: If you need to do some shopping you let them play in the play area while you whiz around and get what you need. There are also changing facilities for babies in the toilets.
Where: 106 Limassol Avenue, Nicosia, 22 871787 and islandwide
LIMASSOL
Galactica
Although the kids will probably be too distracted by the abundance of entertainment options at Galactica, the restaurant also serves great food.
There are 24 bowling lanes, kid’s indoor and outdoor playgrounds, videogames and billiards on offer.
Would mum approve? The children’s menu is sure to be a big hit with the kids if they can tear themselves away from the games for a few minutes. Favourites such as burgers, chicken nuggets and salads are available.
Price: Around €36 for a meal for a family of four.
Tip: A free bowling game is included with the cost of each child meal.
Where: Archbishop Makarios Street, Limassol, 25 728 888
Bennigans
Contemporary décor, good food and friendly service make this an ideal restaurant for a family meal. Kids can have healthy options from their own menu and the restaurant has high chairs available on request, a changing room and a great outdoor play area with a kids’ castle.
Would mum approve? The Bennigans chain of restaurants offers nutritious meals like tortilla chicken, junior salad and home-made chicken fingers.
Price: A family of four can eat here for around €65.
Tip: Mondays is kids’ day and for each adult meal purchased a child can have a meal for free. (Applies after August 1)
Where: 15A, Promachon Eleftheria Ayios Athanasios Square, Limassol, 25 329590
Holiday Inn – Pool Parlour
With its friendly and buzzing atmosphere, this is a great place for families. Kids are kept busy with the abundance of activities available, including a video games room, play area with swings, billiards and ping-pong tables. High chairs and a changing room are also available.
Would mum approve: Sure! The kids’ menu offers burgers, which are home-made and fresh, and spaghetti dishes while the chef will cook prepare dishes not on the menu for fussy eaters.
Price: A family of four can expect to pay around €60 for a meal.
Tip: The pool parlour offers great smoothies and non alcoholic punch for kids, made with fresh fruit.
Where: 28th October Avenue, Limassol, 25 851515.
Terrace Restaurant – Santa Marina Retreat
This sporting and leisure facility offers a slice of action for the kids and a great selection of casual food at its restaurant. For a €3 entrance fee, kids have access to a range of entertainment on the grounds. The castle of Troy is a safety approved play area and the kids will love the Minotaur’s labyrinth, which tests their skills for navigating an obstacle course whilst blindfolded.
Would mum approve? Burgers, chicken nuggets and other snacks are available on the menu. Best of all, once the kids have finished lunch they can burn off the calories on one of the many adventure courses that are available.
Cost: A meal for a family of four will cost around €30.
Tip: Kids under the age of 16 can enter the retreat for free!
Where: Limassol to Nicosia highway junction 21 (sign-posted Pyrgos anParekklisia), 99 545454
T.G.I Friday’s
They’ve got the formula pretty much spot on. The food tastes great, there’s plenty of variety and always a lively atmosphere created by the young energetic staff. The kids can work up an appetite in the play area while the parents can relax with their drink and wait for the food. They also provide a little activities and colouring book with crayons to keep those little minds occupied after they’ve eaten.
Would mum approve? TGI’s are renowned for the quality of their Burgers, and the chicken nuggets and pasta dishes are simple and tasty. When there are kids the staff will ask if you prefer their food served without added salt – a nice touch.
Cost: Expect to pay between €40-€50 with drinks
Tip: At birthday parties the staff assemble en masse around your table when they bring the cake to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. There are also changing facilities for babies in the toilets.
Where: 28 Octovriou, Limassol, 25 583355. Also: Phinekoudes, Larnaca, 24 816666; 12 Diagorou Street, Nicosia, 22 674411; The Mall of Cyprus, Latsia, Nicosia, 22 815744