The struggle is REAL when it comes to going out to dinner with kids. Especially when you have your hands full with multiple, very active children, like me. We’re always on the lookout for the best patios to relax while the kids play.
So – after doing a little online and in-person research (which was very serious research I can assure you), I created a list of restaurants with kid friendly outdoor areas in Atlanta. This list is ranked by Yelp reviews because sacrificing good food for kid friendly, is something I seldom do.
Check out Atlanta’s best patios for adults and kids!
East Atlanta
This East Atlanta beer garden in Benteen Park offers 300+ types of beer, great service, a large patio, yard games, amazing hot dogs, and a variety of snacks. Even the menu is kid friendly. Kids are sure to have a good time here, while allowing you time to relax. I’m not a beer drinker, but they also have a selection of hard seltzers and hard kombucha. Red’s Beer Garden is a great place for casual family outings with friends. They currently offer seating on the patio only, but who wants to eat inside anyway!?
Nestled in the Edgewood neighborhood, El Tesoro just doubled their outdoor lawn patio. They’ve added games to this increased space, giving The Littles even more space to spread out and run around. They have fire pits for cool evenings, perfect for relaxing, enjoying churros and sipping coffee or our family favorite, hot chocolate! The tacos are delish and the perfect size to try a few different ones. The burritos are huge and delicious, and even breakfast tacos are available on Saturdays & Sundays. My kids love the chips & queso, the Tinga de Pollo and The Freedom to Be Kids. This is a great patio option for adults and kids!
Das BBQ is known for its Texas and Georgia-style barrel-smoked meats and sides, such as beef brisket and creamed corn. The new Grant Park location (which is on my side of town – winning!) not only offers a large patio but also, yard games and fire pits. You can relax and enjoy an adult beverage (or more) from the full bar, while the kids play! There’s also a covered smoke bar at the smokehouse where the kids love seeing where the meat is cooked. The Collier location also has corn hole and serves beer & wine only. There may be live music at either location! Want to know more, check out their video feature yourself! I don’t know if there is a better patio in Atlanta for adults and kids than Das BBQ Grant Park!
Smack-dab in the middle of my neighborhood, East Atlanta Village, we have had many play-date meals here. You can often see neighbors and friends on the patio with their children. The Midway Pub is a very casual place with a large patio area, small green space in the tiki area, corn hole and Bocce ball. The food is a crowd pleaser with plenty of fried foods to keep the kids happy. Mine love the vegetarian corn dogs with fries. The only drawback here is that smoking is allowed on the patio. It’s kind of a bummer, but that hasn’t stopped us!
Midtown
If you have your mind set on a nice meal out, but are also stuck with your kids (I say this with love), Empire State South is a great option. This Midtown restaurant not only offers a long, covered patio for dining but a bocce ball court surrounded by a greenspace. Grab a seat and relax outside while enjoying food from the restaurant’s always-seasonal, southern menu. Pair your meal with a glass of wine or a cocktail as the kids play on the lawn.
Westside
Optimist has it all…ambiance, amazing food, and handcrafted drinks. The outdoor dining patio features golf clubs, a putting green and occasionally a live band. Kids meals are $7 and they offer fun coloring sheets! More than one way to keep The Littles entertained here!
Located in Underwood Hills, Howell’s is a great neighborhood gem and the perfect spot for dinner with the kids, or not. The ambience in the evening is a whole vibe, so definitely visit when you are childless as well! They have an excellent bar and the smoked mozzarella sticks are a family hit. Go ahead and get two orders of that! Howell’s has a spacious patio and bocce ball court so kids can have fun while you wait for the food to arrive.
Summerhill
I know, I know it’s probably cheating to include a whole neighborhood. However, Summerhill is home to many kid friend restaurants with patios, hot dogs, pizza, BBQ, bakery AND ice cream . This little development is casual with tons of patio space for the kids to spread out. There are fire pits and even cool street art to admire. You can easily spend a couple hours here enjoying the weather, the food and The Littles, making this a perfect patio for adults and kids.
Hot Dog Pete’s does gourmet hotdogs with regional favorites, and they do it well! The Chicago Hot Dog and the Green Thumb are two of my favorites, but they are all so tasty! The dogs have excellent “snap” when you bite in. What kids don’t like hot dogs?!
Junior’s is your local source for New York style pizza! Envision huge NY slices, crunchy edge pepperoni, and fresh herbs that are grown right there in the window. Junior’s is not currently open for indoor dining, but that’s okay, because we’re talking patios here!
This BBQ spot has a large shaded patio and boozy frozen drinks. They specialize in smoked meats, they even have a hot smoked salmon on the menu (Sat & Sun). That’s something you don’t see at your average BBQ joint!
Can you say “terrific tarts” three times? Our family favorite is the whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, and the croissants are to die for!
You can never go wrong with ice cream! Big Softie is serving up tasty soft serve on freshly baked waffle cones from their parent company, Little Tart Bake shop. This is definitely an after dinner must!
Old 4th Ward
This brewery features a full bar, beer tastings, and amazing rooftop views of the city. I would skip the roof with kids in tow, and hang out on the lower patio areas located right off The Beltline. They often have live music on the weekends, perfect for enjoying the ambiance, classic American fare, and drinks, all while The Littles play. There is plenty of space for them to kid around here!
Home to the Central Food Hall, Ponce City Market is one of the most vibrant food halls in the Southeast. There are options for everyone. Our family favorites include Minero (with its own patio area), Hop’s Chicken, and El Super Pan. Check out this video to see more about what the food hall offers. Ponce Market has public green spaces with chairs for relaxing. You can also bring a blanket and have a picnic. We usually grab treats from King of Pops Bar and relax while the kids play. You can also head up to the roof for added fun at Skyline Park.
Skyline Park is on the roof of Ponce City Market. The park offers carnival games, a three-story slide, putt putt golf, and a concession stand for snacks (roof closes at 5 pm for under 21). My Littles (7 and 4) love this place. If your kids are young like mine, relaxing may be out the window, but tap into your inner kid and play along! If you have older kids, sip your clever cocktails from The Sideshow bar, enjoy the views, and let them run free. Make sure you get the unlimited games pass, so they can keep playing and you can keep relaxing! It’s the perfect, splurge-worthy, family date, for well deserved children! Admission is $15/adult (over 12), $7 for kids, and FREE for kids under 3 (unlimited game play is extra).
Lady Grove sits right on The Beltline and has a huge outdoor area with a wide variety of games like corn hole, shuffleboard and Ping-Pong. One reviewer writes “Ladybird Grove in the Old Fourth Ward is the perfect outdoor spot for when you want to grab drinks and food somewhere that reminds you of summer camp.” That’s exactly the vibe here. Ladybird has an excellent cocktail menu, good food, and awesome space for The Littles to play.
Visiting Dallas? Check out our article on Dallas’s Best Patios to Relax While Kids Play
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