Looking for somewhere to keep the kids entertained while you eat? We take a look at some of our favourite family restaurants
Introduction
We’ve all been there. After hoping for a tranquil meal out with all the family, with visions of well behaved children and polite conversation flowing, the reality turns out to be something quite different! Sometimes kids just aren’t that great at sitting still.
The solution? Something to keep the kids entertained during your meal, like toys or a soft play area. Here we take a look at some of our favourite family restaurants with indoor play areas in Costa Blanca. These all have play areas that are free for children of customers to use.
Don’t want to be inside? Also take a look at our best family restaurants with outdoor play areas in Costa Blanca.
Not so worried about the food? See our best indoor play areas for kids in Costa Blanca. These will tyically have an entrance charge for children to use, with less of an emphasis on food, serving drinks and snacks only.
#1 Side Street Cafe, La Zenia
Open 9am – 5pm, 7 days a week
See their website for details
Located near to the popular Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, Side Street Cafe is a lovely cafe run by a very friendly team. They serve a tasty menu of breakfast and lunch options, from healthy bowls to sandwiches, bagels and home made cakes. Various specials also help to keep the menu fresh for repeat visitors. There are a range of vegetarian options and all food is prepared freshly on the premises.
For kids, there is a children’s menu of hot and cold food, as well as delicious pancakes to have as a treat.
The cafe is divided into 2 interconnecting sections – 1 half contains most of the seating, with additional chairs outside for when the weather is nice, while the other half has a children’s play area consisting of slide, ball pit, basketball hoop and various toys. There is plenty to keep younger kids entertained while you enjoy your food.
Access to the play area is free for any children of paying customers.
#2 Muerde la Pasta, La Zenia
Open: Mon-Thurs 12:30-16:00 & 18:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:30-22:00, Sun 13:00-16:00 & 18:00-22:00
See their website for details
Located on the first floor of the Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, Muerde la Pasta (or Pasta Park as it is also known), is a chain buffet style restaurant serving primarily Italian food. Paying to enter allows gusets to enjoy unlimited pizza, pasta, meat, fish, vegetarian and dessert dishes, as well as a selection of unlimited drinks that includes beer and wine.
Being a buffet style restaurant, the food is not always brilliant or made to the highest standard, with some dishes definitely being much better than some of the others. That said, the pizzas are quite good when they come out fresh, and nobody should leave hungry. The price of the buffet varies depending on the day and time of your visit, so plan to visit outside of peak times for a better deal.
The best part of Muerde la Pasta is not the food, but the large indoor play area that is provided for free for kids. There is a good sized soft play cage with long slides and a ball pit to play in. It is almost too much fun for kids as you will struggle to get them to sit still at your table for long enough for them to eat anything!
#3 Bar El Marcapáginas, Los Montesinos
Open Tues – Sun 11:00-23:00
See their website for details
Located in the town of Los Montesinos is this hidden gem. Offering a menu of typical Spanish style food, all of which is well prepared, the restaurant also has both indoor and some outdoor seating.
To allow you to enjoy the delicious food, kids are well entertained with a good size indoor soft play cage. This features slides and a ball pit. There are also other games tables and entertainments, inlcuding a table football table.
The opening hours can be a little erratic and are not always what is advertised, so it is best to check ahead that they are open before visiting. The whole experience makes it well worth the effort though.
#4 de Bassus, La Zenia
Open Sun-Thurs 12:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00
See their website for details
Also located near to the Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, de Bassus is a restaurant with its own micro brewery. Lovers of beer will be sure to leave happy!
For food, the menu is mainly made up of German style dishes, which vary somewhat in quality. Some of the food is pretty tasty while other dishes are quite disappointing. Kids have a choice of standard children’s menu options. Vegetarians are not well catered for.
Upstairs in the restaurant there is a kid’s indoor play area, consisting of a soft play cage. This is fun for keeping younger children entertained during a meal. The soft play area is free for the children of paying customers.
Sometimes when the restaurant is not busy, they are reluctant to open the upstairs where the play area is situated, so it is always best to call ahead to check if it can be used before visiting.
Leave a reply