Finding somewhere to eat with kids in Bangkok can be challenging. Anything too exotic can be unsettling for little ones who might already be suffering from sensory overload, street food always comes with a risk for delicate bellies, and fast-food franchises are hardly instilling your family with a sense of adventure. Thankfully, we can point you in the right direction so that even the pickiest eaters will have more than enough choice of what to eat.
These family restaurants in Bangkok are located all over the city; a combination of places where you can have a nice meal and they cater to children, as well as restaurants that you would visit because you want to give your children a special treat for being so well behaved (or trying to be, at least).
Helix at EmQuartier
Helix is the fancy, futuristic dining section of EmQuartier Shopping Mall and is a great choice for finding a family meal in Bangkok for several reasons. There are close to 50 restaurants in total, it’s completely suitable for pushchairs, there’s a nice combination of regional food – from fancy independent restaurants to more value-for-money franchises – plus, everyone will enjoy the artwork, hanging plants and cascading waterfall built into the mall.
Location: 693 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 269 1000
Benihana
Benihana Japanese Restaurant offers guests 2 of Japan’s most popular dining options with a fusion-sushi section and several cooking islands for teppanyaki (hot plate cooking). This restaurant is famed for its oversized signature sushi rolls and the larger-than-life teppanyaki chefs who entertain while they cook and offer a memorable show. Kids will certainly love the engaging cooking show, which sees the chef juggling with salt and pepper shakers and catching eggs in his chef’s hat.
Location: Ground Floor, Anantara Riverside Resort, 257/1-3 Charoennakorn Road, Thonburi, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Open: Daily from midday to 2.30pm and from 5pm to 10.30pm, Saturday brunch from midday to 3pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 476 0022
Hajime Robot Restaurant
Hajime Robot Restaurant is a Japanese-inspired barbeque restaurant that’s sure to amaze your children. When you order your food from the tableside digital menu, Hajime the Samurai Robot brings your food to you for you to cook. The menu includes typical yakiniku-style dishes of beef, pork, chicken and vegetables. It is one price for all you can eat, so arrive hungry and make sure you stick around for the in-house entertainment when the robot dances to pop songs to the delight of everyone.
Location: 3rd Floor, Monopoly Park, Rama 3 Rd, Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11am to 11pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 683 1670
Fun Café at Funarium Playground
Don’t expect fine dining at Funarium. But if you want to treat your children to a fun day in the ball pit, climbing frame or drawing room, then you can enjoy a simple meal of Thai or western dishes from Fun Café. The menu caters to adults and children, with particular favourites being the papaya salad and grilled chicken. The Funarium Playground is open to kids up to the age of 13.
Location: 111/1 Sukhumvit 26 Alley, Watthana, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Open: Monday–Thursday from 9am to 6pm, Friday–Sunday from 9am to 7pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 665 6555
Cabbages and Condoms
Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok is a restaurant with a difference. Using a quirky name to highlight a serious issue, it's a great place to enjoy some tasty Thai food knowing that part of the profit is going to a good cause.
Money from your meal is used to support development programmes initiated by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). The restaurant’s motto is, “Our food won’t make you pregnant” – one of the more unusual taglines seen in the city. The menu is huge, covering all regional Thai dishes, the staff speak good English and the courtyard is very popular with visiting families.
Location: 10 Sukhumvit 12 Alley, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11am to 10.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 229 4610
Siam Paragon 4th Floor
Siam Paragon is a great place to head for come meal times due to the pleasant air-conditioned environment, pushchair access, and the plentiful choices. The basement level of Paragon houses the largest amount of restaurants, but it can get rather crowded. Head up to the fourth floor and you'll find a far more relaxed dining experience more suitable for families.
Among the many restaurants there, you'll find a typical Thai venue with large dragon motifs, a couple of Japanese restaurants, an outlet of a famous seafood restaurant, along with many more.
Location: 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 610 8000
Ruan Songnaree
Ruan Songnaree is perfect for a nice family meal in Bangkok thanks to their impressive menu and experience in dealing with foreigners. The staff speak English, the menu is very authentically Thai but can accommodate western palates and the restaurant is easy to find on Sukhumvit Soi 33.
As well as a delivering an authentic (and totally delicious) menu, the restaurant’s décor also helps to create that traditional, old-age Siamese feel, with its various Thai art installations, silk tablecloths and warm, wooden tones throughout.
Location: 12/20 Sukhumvit Soi 33, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11am to midnight
Phone: +66 (0)2 662 2804
Bangkok pet cafés
Pet cafés in Bangkok are part of a growing trend across Asia, offering the chance to enjoy a drink and snack in the company of a furry friend. It started with cat cafés a few years ago and has now grown to include puppies and rabbits, too. The quality of the food may vary, but all of these Bangkok cafés promise a cuteness overload for visiting families.
Some of the best theme cafés in Bangkok include Lucky Bunny Café, a rabbit café in Lad Phrao, north of downtown Bangkok with many rabbits hopping around on astroturf. There’s also TrueLove at Neverland, a café with scheduled playtimes for their pack of Siberian Husky dogs.
Kra Thon Flying Chicken
Kra Thon Flying Chicken has a crazy name that’s matched by the unusual shenanigans at this popular Thai family restaurant on the outskirts of Bangkok. Picture the scene: freshly-cooked chickens are thrown from slings towards waiting staff balancing on unicycles who catch the chicken on spiked helmets and cycle them to your table.
Kids and grownups will remember the spectacle for a long, long time. The restaurant serves a typical selection of Thai soups, salads and curries too, but it’s the chicken that everyone comes for! There’s also a live band and karaoke. The restaurant is a bit of a gimmick, but it’s a lot of fun too.
Location: 99/1 Bang Na Trat Rd, Bang Na, Bangkok 10130, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5pm to 1am
Phone: +66 2(0) 399 3557
