# Kid-friendly restaurants in Gainesville

Restaurants in Gainesville that work with kids in tow. See which ones have high chairs, a changing table or a kids' menu before you go. 45 listed.

Last updated 2026-10-12, from the newest confirmation among these places.

## The list

1. [Adam's Rib Co.](https://ourplayday.com/places/adam-s-rib-co-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Barbecue with smaller plates of ribs and pulled pork for under-12s.
2. [Chuy's Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/chuy-s-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Tortillas rolled by hand, and when the station's going, kids can watch. A bright, colorful room for Tex-Mex.
3. [Cracker Barrel Old Country Store](https://ourplayday.com/places/cracker-barrel-old-country-store-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A peg puzzle on the table, checkers on the porch and a store full of toys to browse while you wait for the food.
4. [Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Pub](https://ourplayday.com/places/crafty-bastards-restaurant-pub-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A neighborhood pub with board games at the tables, so kids have something to do while the food comes.
5. [Culver's (SW 30th Place)](https://ourplayday.com/places/culver-s-sw-30th-place-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Burgers and frozen custard, and every kids' meal ends with a scoop.
6. [David's BBQ & Catering West](https://ourplayday.com/places/david-s-bbq-catering-west-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Smoked meats and classic sides, with grilled cheese or a hot dog for the kid who won't touch barbecue. It can get busy and smoky.
7. [Midpoint Park and Eatery](https://ourplayday.com/places/midpoint-park-and-eatery-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Several kitchens around one lawn, with hammocks, cornhole and room to run while you eat in the shade.
8. [Samba Brazilian Kitchen](https://ourplayday.com/places/samba-brazilian-kitchen-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Brazilian food in a relaxed room: counter service at lunch, the easier time with a wiggly kid, and table service later on.
9. [4 Rivers Smokehouse Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/4-rivers-smokehouse-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Counter-service barbecue with brisket and pulled-pork sliders sized for kids, a cookie on the side.
10. [BENTO Asian Kitchen + Sushi (Newberry Road)](https://ourplayday.com/places/bento-asian-kitchen-sushi-newberry-road-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Pan-Asian plates and sushi, with a Little Dragons menu of smaller meals, so your kid gets their own bowl while you order rolls.
11. [Buffalo Wild Wings (Oaks Mall)](https://ourplayday.com/places/buffalo-wild-wings-oaks-mall-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Wings, plus grilled cheese, chicken dippers and mac and cheese for kids who don't do wings.
12. [Da Vinci Pizza and Pasta](https://ourplayday.com/places/da-vinci-pizza-and-pasta-gainesville) (pizzeria, Gainesville). Wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta.
13. [Jalisco Town Modern Mexican Grill](https://ourplayday.com/places/jalisco-town-modern-mexican-grill-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Kids' plates of tacos with rice and beans, quesadillas or chicken and rice.
14. [Mi Apá Latin Café](https://ourplayday.com/places/mi-apa-latin-cafe-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Empanadas, chicken and rice, and a case of pastries: a gentle first go at Cuban food, with familiar sides for the picky one.
15. [MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company (Celebration Pointe)](https://ourplayday.com/places/midici-the-neapolitan-pizza-company-celebration-pointe-gainesville) (pizzeria, Gainesville). An open kitchen where kids can watch the dough get stretched and slid into the oven.
16. [Pepper's Mexican Grill & Cantina - Newberry Road](https://ourplayday.com/places/pepper-s-mexican-grill-cantina-newberry-road-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A sit-down Mexican menu of tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas.
17. [Perkins American Food Co. Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/perkins-american-food-co-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A diner with Perky Bear pancakes and rainbow pancakes for kids, plus French toast and chicken strips for the ones who won't do pancakes.
18. [Steak 'n Shake (SW 13th St)](https://ourplayday.com/places/steak-n-shake-sw-13th-st-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes: a simple burger-and-shake stop that most kids will say yes to.
19. [SweetBerries Eatery & Frozen Custard - 5th Avenue](https://ourplayday.com/places/sweetberries-eatery-frozen-custard-5th-avenue-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Fresh frozen custard with fruit, cookie or candy on top, and sandwiches and wraps if you need an actual meal first.
20. [The Flying Biscuit Cafe](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-flying-biscuit-cafe-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Brunch with pancakes, eggs and French toast, and the kids' side of the menu covers everyone up to twelve.
21. [Tinker Latin Restaurant - Main Street](https://ourplayday.com/places/tinker-latin-restaurant-main-street-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Latin street food made for sharing, arepas and empanadas, with plain sides for a cautious eater to pick at while you try the rest.
22. [Applebee's Grill + Bar (NW 13th St)](https://ourplayday.com/places/applebee-s-grill-bar-nw-13th-st-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Chain bar and grill with the usual kid lineup: tenders, cheesy pizza, a quesadilla, mac and cheese, grilled cheese.
23. [Arby's (SW Archer Road)](https://ourplayday.com/places/arby-s-sw-archer-road-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Drive-through with sliders and chicken tenders sized for kids, and applesauce or milk on the side.
24. [Burrito Factory & Cantina](https://ourplayday.com/places/burrito-factory-cantina-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A sit-down Mexican spot with a proper kids' meal, so a small eater gets something plain while you have the burrito.
25. [Goldie's Burgers](https://ourplayday.com/places/goldie-s-burgers-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Burgers with an arcade and putt-putt on site, and a big park next door for whatever energy is left.
26. [Haile Village Bistro](https://ourplayday.com/places/haile-village-bistro-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A sit-down bistro where kids get mac and cheese, buttered pasta or mini burgers while you eat properly.
27. [La Fiesta Mexican Grille](https://ourplayday.com/places/la-fiesta-mexican-grille-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A casual sit-down Mexican place, easy for a weeknight dinner with kids in tow.
28. [Leonardo's Pizza of Millhopper](https://ourplayday.com/places/leonardo-s-pizza-of-millhopper-gainesville) (pizzeria, Gainesville). Deep-dish pizza, garlic knots and baked pastas made to share, in a relaxed room where a table of three generations fits right in.
29. [Miller's Ale House Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/miller-s-ale-house-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A lively sports bar, and every kids' meal (burgers, mac and cheese, chicken Zingers) comes with a side, a drink and dessert.
30. [Northwest Grille](https://ourplayday.com/places/northwest-grille-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Burgers, seafood and chicken on one menu, so a picky eater and an adventurous one can both order something.
31. [Satchel's Pizza](https://ourplayday.com/places/satchel-s-pizza-gainesville) (pizzeria, Gainesville). Eat in a van, under a plane or in a greenhouse, with slides and swings outside, so kids play between slices.
32. [SquareHouse Pizza](https://ourplayday.com/places/squarehouse-pizza-gainesville) (pizzeria, Gainesville). Square, cheesy Detroit-style pizza and waffles from a food-park counter, with outdoor tables and cornhole. Gluten-free and vegan options for a mixed table.
33. [Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe (Butler Plaza)](https://ourplayday.com/places/taziki-s-mediterranean-cafe-butler-plaza-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Grilled cheese, chicken and rice or a turkey melt on the kids' side of a Mediterranean menu.
34. [The Top](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-top-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Eclectic American dinner in a relaxed room, and on family night a magician and balloon animals work the tables.
35. [Up2U Nutrition Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/up2u-nutrition-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Fruit bowls and waffles piled with fruit to share at a table.
36. [BAMBUU Asian Eatery Gainesville](https://ourplayday.com/places/bambuu-asian-eatery-gainesville-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Asian-fusion bowls at the counter, with a kid-size bowl so your kid eats what you're eating, just less of it.
37. [GainzVille Hub](https://ourplayday.com/places/gainzville-hub-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Açaí bowls and waffles, with Jenga, Uno and a Pac-Man machine to keep kids busy while you finish your smoothie.
38. [Sonic Drive-In - NW 39th Avenue](https://ourplayday.com/places/sonic-drive-in-nw-39th-avenue-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Drive-in with an outdoor playground for young kids, so they can climb while the order comes out.
39. [Spurrier's Gridiron Grille](https://ourplayday.com/places/spurrier-s-gridiron-grille-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Cornhole and a football toss on the promenade outside, for burning off energy before the food comes.
40. [Ballyhoo Grill](https://ourplayday.com/places/ballyhoo-grill-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Seafood and steak, and a bananas foster cooked at the table that gives kids a little fire show with dessert.
41. [Cymplify](https://ourplayday.com/places/cymplify-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Local cafe with a spacious patio and family-friendly evenings of live music and food trucks.
42. [Harvest Thyme Cafe](https://ourplayday.com/places/harvest-thyme-cafe-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Health-minded cafe with sandwiches, wraps and smoothies kids like, in an unhurried room.
43. [The Bagel Bakery - Millhopper](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-bagel-bakery-millhopper-gainesville) (bakery, Gainesville). Bagels baked in-house every day, so a plain one with a spread is the easy order for a picky kid. Egg bagels and sandwiches for everyone else.
44. [The Paper Bag - Downtown](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-paper-bag-downtown-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). A deli with a simple grilled cheese for kids and real sandwiches for grown-ups.
45. [Thornebrook Chocolates](https://ourplayday.com/places/thornebrook-chocolates-gainesville) (restaurant, Gainesville). Cases of hand-dipped chocolates and specialty candy.

## Other lists for Gainesville

- [Cafés](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/florida/gainesville/cafes) (44)
- [Hotels](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/florida/gainesville/hotels) (25)
- [Playgrounds and things to do](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/florida/gainesville/playgrounds) (144)

## About this list

Every place here is a listing on Play Day, and a place is listed only when something positive is known about it for kids. Each listing carries the kid facts (high chairs, changing tables, kids' menus, wheelchair access) A list needs at least three places to exist.

Page: https://ourplayday.com/united-states/florida/gainesville/restaurants. All of Gainesville: https://ourplayday.com/united-states/florida/gainesville