Summer 2023: A Guide to the (Actual) Most Child-Friendly Restaurants in Lagos
Let’s face it, in this part of the world, the Summer doesn’t really summer. There’s almost non-stop rain, traffic (as a result) and the cycle of chaos in Lagos remains uninterrupted. I think the only true tell of “Summer” in Nigeria is that kids are out of school for such an extended period of time, and for a lot of families, this means eating out more often.
This can be a little bit of an uphill task since the bulk of the Lagos dining scene isn’t particularly family-friendly, and even the ones who claim to be aren’t nearly as prepared for children as they think (with loud music, no menus for children or activities to keep them engaged). It’s not all bad news though; there are a couple of spots doing what they do reasonably well.
Here’s a round-up:
THE OGs:
Image: instagram.com/cactuslagos
Cactus
where: 20/24 Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island
damage > N7000-N10000
Cactus has established itself as one of the more well-known family-friendly restaurants in Lagos. What, with the decadent ice cream, an assortment of sugary baked goods and bite-size meals for little tummies, it’s a top choice for groups with children.
Their kids’ menu features a special Happy Kids meal, as well as a variety of pasta options, mini pizzas and more — all priced between N5000 and N7500 (exclusive of taxes). There’s also quite a nice outdoor play area for your mini-mes to burn off some of that excess energy.
Hard Rock Café
where: Landmark Village, Water Corporation Road, Oniru, Victoria Island
Damage > N5000-N10000
While this rock-and-roll themed restaurant may be popular for its classic American burger offerings and party vibes, it’s also a pretty fun place to take the kids to. Their kids’ (or “Hard Rock Roxtars”) menu has classic things you’d expect — pizza, mac n cheese burgers and more, all capped at a price of N4500 (inclusive of taxes).
Each meal comes with a colouring sheet and crayons — something to keep the little ones occupied while they eat — and you can pair their meal with a milkshake, ice cream and well-loved drinks like Ribena. At the weekend, children get the opportunity to play video games as well (for a fee) and get involved in fun activities like building Lego blocks and hopping on a slide, amongst other things.
Rufus & Bee
where: Twinwaters Entertainment Centre, Okunde Bluewater Scheme, Lekki Phase I
damage > N5000-N10000
Now, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Rufus & Bee. Their motto is literally “Eat Drink Play” and when it comes to food, there’s something for both adults and kids on the menu. Think Jollof rice, mini pretzel dogs, sliders and chicken tenders, topped off with ice cream or candy floss for dessert.
In the same space, there’s a bowling alley and an arcade with over 90 games lined up for the whole gang.
SOMETHING FOR THE ADULTS TOO:
Image: instagram.com/lachaumiere.lagos
where: 1384 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island
Damage > N5000-N8000
La Chaumiere, meaning “the cottage” in French, provides just the right atmosphere for the entire family to dine and unwind. The establishment has a restaurant, a fully functional bakery, which makes the cutest-looking cakes, and an outdoor play area for children.
The restaurant’s kid menu is impressive — waffles, popcorn chicken, burgers, etc. — and all the meals, priced at around N5000/N6000, are inclusive of either a scoop of ice cream or a juice pack. On their regular menu, you’ll also find loads of dessert options, milkshakes and mocktails suitable for kids.
If your child is at that age where they’re more into video games, that works too because La Chaumiere has a bunch of them (think: Mortal Kombat, FIFA and even Virtual Reality (VR) games) available to play for N2000 per game. The restaurant also hosts kids’ birthday parties on request.
The Wine Lab
where: 11A Goriola Street, Off Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island
Damage > N5000-N10000
Yes, The Wine Lab is as ‘adult’ as adult gets, but you’d be surprised at its odd family-friendly charm. The children’s menu has traditional meals like hot dogs and mini pizzas, but also more interesting offerings like chicken goujons, at prices ranging from N5000-N7000 (exclusive of taxes).
Between 10am and 4pm on weekends, The Wine Lab hosts a ‘playdate’ where children are welcome to enjoy time in the well-equipped outdoor space and enjoy meals at a fixed price of N5000. The only condition is that a maximum of 2 kids’ meals must accompany an adult meal.
Ci Gusta
where: 2 Ibiyinka Olorunbe Close, Off Amodu Ojikutu, Bishop Oluwole, Victoria Island
Damage > N5000-N8000
This Italian joint is another ideal spot for a proper family dining experience. Alongside their popular gelato and pastry offerings, Ci Gusta has a kid’s menu featuring the kid’s favourites — burgers, nuggets, fries, fish fingers and mac n cheese —all priced at N5000. On their regular menu, you’ll find crepes, waffles and mocktails that are sure to catch your kid’s eye.
They also have a colourful playroom, right next to the dining area, that’s pretty perfect for play time.
Ci (🥲) our review of Ci Gusta.
Image: instagram.com/crepawaynigeria
where: 1089 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island
Damage > N8000-N12000
The main attraction of this casual dining joint is its dedicated kid’s corner, which serves as both a play area and an event centre. With an entry fee of N5000, your younger tag-alongs can have a swell time getting stuck into all sorts of fun games and activities — even including rock climbing.
On the food front, the little ones can enjoy Crepaway’s burger, mini pizza and chicken tender combo meals, which all come with a glass of juice and are priced at around N8000-N12000.
Jollof by Jara
where: 33 Fola Osibo Road, Lekki Phase I
Damage > N4000-N6000
Aside from their mission to put an end to the Jollof Wars, by serving Nigerian, Ghanaian and Senegalese Jollof all in one space, Jollof by Jara is also keen on providing a suitable space for family dining — with seating arrangements for large groups, highchairs for younger children, a kid’s menu and a play area.
Their kid’s menu is pretty limited — with only rice options and fries — but it’s worth the mention nonetheless. All the kid’s meals are capped at N4000, barring additional charges like taxes and a 2.5% service charge, and as for drinks and dessert, they can enjoy the special “Child’s Chapman” served in a fun cup, milkshakes or ice cream.
When the kiddies are done with their meals, they can head right out to the play area, dubbed “Ronnie’s Yard”, annexed to the building, open until 7pm daily. Bonus points for not having to yell over the background music in the restaurant.
P.S: We spilled all the deets on Jollof by Jara in our latest review.
GET YOUR THEME ON:
where: 5 Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island
Damage > N7000
Amazonia doesn’t have a play area or a kid’s menu — but who needs that when there’s a whole jungle the kids can run wild in? The decor at this rainforest-themed restaurant is immersive and nicely thought-out, but be warned: You might occasionally be taunted by someone in a gorilla costume, which may or may not work for the kids.
As for the food, the whole family can enjoy Amazonia’s selection of meals from around the world — like seafood, noodle dishes and tacos.
Alice Garden Restaurant
where: 57 Oduduwa Way, Ikeja GRA
Damage > N3000-N5000
Again, at this dine-in restaurant, there’s no kid’s menu or play area in sight, but the entire restaurant shouts fun. If you hadn’t already guessed, the restaurant takes its theme from the classic Alice in Wonderland. Their overly-cute aesthetic, which you’ll find in both presentation and decor, appears to go down very well with the kids. There’s even a giant teddy bear lurking around that kids can snuggle or grab a pic with.
As for the food, Alice Garden’s cuisine is primarily Chinese, but you’ll also find a few good Nigerian offerings. The Chinese cuisine — primarily noodles, rice and sauces — is generally made to share and comes in decent portions, but beware of their sneaky 6% service charge.