Finding the best family-friendly restaurants in Taupo is mostly about kids’ menus, room to move and food the adults actually want to eat. Family restaurants in Taupo range from lakefront pubs with outdoor decks to a pub garden with its own playground, with children’s meals, colouring-in and kids’ desserts on offer. Dixie Browns on Roberts Street and Mavericks Gastropub at Wharewaka are two good places to start.
1Dixie Browns
Dixie Browns is a Roberts Street restaurant in central Taupo that opens early for breakfast and runs through lunch and dinner every day. Its dinosaur-themed kids’ menu for children up to 10 comes with puzzles and a colouring-in page, which suits families who want a relaxed sit-down meal at almost any hour.
Services
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus
- Kids’ menu for children up to 10 years, including spaghetti meatballs, pizza, chicken nuggets, fish bites and burgers
- Dessert menu and kids’ sundaes and milkshakes
- Takeaways and online ordering
- Functions and online table bookings
Highlights
- Kids’ menu doubles as an activity sheet with spot the difference, a word search and a colouring-in page
- Open seven days from 6am to 10pm
- Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
- Sister restaurant on Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui
Location & Contact
Name: Dixie Browns
Address: 38 Roberts Street, Taupo
Phone: 07 378 8444
Website: dixiebrowns.co.nz
2Mavericks Gastropub
Mavericks Gastropub sits in The Landing development on Lake Terrace at Wharewaka, with a vintage aviation theme and a replica WWII US Navy spotter plane hanging above the dining room. The menu runs from small plates and poké bowls to slow-cooked lamb shoulder, and its all-in-one kids’ meals make it an easy choice for families with younger children.
Services
- Small plates, big plates and platters
- The Butchers blocks and Green House menu sections
- All-in-one kids’ meals with fruit, cheese and crackers, corn chips with guacamole, a main and a drink
- Cocktails, mocktails, wine and beer
- Conferences, events and Christmas functions
Highlights
- Aviation-themed interior with a replica WWII US Navy spotter plane
- Kids’ meals include an optional dessert or a classic spider
- Conference facility on site alongside the gastropub
- Located at The Landing, Wharewaka, on the southern side of town
Location & Contact
Name: Mavericks Gastropub
Address: 650 Lake Terrace, Wharewaka, Taupo
Phone: 07 377 3543
Website: mavericksgastropub.co.nz
3Ploughmans Restaurant and Bar
Ploughmans is an English-style pub and restaurant at Rainbow Point, Two Mile Bay, about three minutes south of town off State Highway 1. It serves British comfort food such as bangers and mash and venison pie, and children can use the pub’s own playground while parents relax in the garden or beside the open fire.
Services
- Lunch and dinner with British pub classics, including fish and chips, bangers and mash and venison pie
- Children’s menu
- Set menus for groups
- Functions and upcoming events
Highlights
- Children’s playground on site
- Pub garden for summer and a large open fireplace for winter
- Plenty of on-site parking
- Happy hour Tuesday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
- Specials board alongside the main menu
Location & Contact
Name: Ploughmans Restaurant and Bar
Address: 45 Charles Crescent, Rainbow Point, Taupo
Phone: 07 377 3422
Website: ploughmans.co.nz
4Lone Star Taupo
Lone Star Taupo is the local branch of the Kiwi restaurant chain, in a purpose-built restaurant on Roberts Street with views over the lake to Mount Ruapehu. Its Kiwi Kid’s menu, ribs and generous mains make it a practical option for bigger family groups and celebrations.
Services
- Kids’ menu with mini hot dogs, chicken strips, burgers, ribs, fish and chips and minute steak
- Legendary ribs, steaks, burgers, chicken and seafood
- Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options
- Functions in the private upstairs mezzanine for 40 to 55 guests
- Online ordering and table bookings
Highlights
- Every kids’ main comes with a free kid’s drink and a choice of chips, mash or rice
- Lake and Mount Ruapehu views from the dining room
- Sunday lunch from 12pm, with dinner from 4pm on weekdays
Location & Contact
Name: Lone Star Taupo
Address: 24 Roberts Street, Taupo
Phone: 07 378 2353
Website: lonestar.co.nz/restaurants/taupo
5Jolly Good Fellows
Jolly Good Fellows, known locally as Jollys, is a British pub-style restaurant and bar on Lake Terrace with indoor dining and a large outdoor deck facing the lake. Alongside pub classics it has a kids’ menu and kids’ desserts, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, which suits families out for a lakeside walk.
Services
- British pub classics, including beer-battered fish and chips and beef and Guinness pastie
- Kids’ menu with macaroni and cheese, fish and chips, cheeseburger and crispy chicken strips
- Kids’ desserts, including ice-cream sundaes and brownie
- Weekend brunch from 10am
Highlights
- Outdoor deck with lake and mountain views
- Dog-friendly outdoor dining with fresh water bowls
- Live rugby, Tuesday quiz night and weekend live music
- Open seven days, closed Christmas Day
Location & Contact
Name: Jolly Good Fellows
Address: 80 Lake Terrace, Taupo
Phone: 07 378 0457
Website: jollygoodfellows.co.nz
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Taupo at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Dixie Browns | Kids' menu doubles as an activity sheet with spot the difference |
| Mavericks Gastropub | Aviation-themed interior with a replica WWII US Navy spotter plane |
| Ploughmans Restaurant and Bar | Children's playground on site |
| Lone Star Taupo | Every kids' main comes with a free kid's drink and a choice of chips |
| Jolly Good Fellows | Outdoor deck with lake and mountain views |
How to Choose the Right Family-Friendly Restaurant in Taupo
- Kids’ menu and age range: check whether children’s meals include a drink or dessert, and what age the kids’ menu is aimed at.
- Something to do: activity sheets, colouring-in or an outdoor playground make the wait between ordering and eating much easier.
- Space and seating: outdoor decks and pub gardens give young children room to move, while indoor dining with a fire suits winter evenings.
- Opening hours: some family restaurants open early for breakfast, while others open mid-afternoon on weekdays, so check before you plan an early dinner.
- Dietary needs and group size: look for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options, and book ahead for larger family groups or celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taupo Family-Friendly Restaurants
Which Taupo restaurants have a playground?
Ploughmans at Rainbow Point has its own children’s playground next to the pub garden. Most other family restaurants in Taupo rely on kids’ menus, activity sheets and outdoor seating rather than play equipment.
How much does a kids’ meal cost at a family restaurant in Taupo?
Children’s mains at Taupo restaurants generally range from the low teens to around twenty dollars, and some include a drink or dessert in the price. Check the restaurant’s own menu for current prices.
Where can I find a family restaurant near the Taupo lakefront?
Roberts Street and Lake Terrace in the town centre face the lake and hold several family restaurants. Further south, Wharewaka and Rainbow Point at Two Mile Bay are a few minutes’ drive from town and have easy parking.
Do family-friendly restaurants in Taupo take bookings?
Most do, and many offer online booking through their website. Booking is a good idea during school holidays, summer weekends and major events, when Taupo gets busy with visitors.
Can I get breakfast with kids in Taupo?
Yes. Some family restaurants in Taupo open from early morning for breakfast, while pub-style restaurants tend to open from late morning or midday, and some offer weekend brunch.
Are there gluten-free and vegetarian options for families?
Many restaurants in Taupo mark gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian dishes on their menus or can adapt meals on request. If a child has an allergy, mention it when you book and again when you order.
Can I bring my dog to a restaurant in Taupo?
Some lakefront pubs welcome well-behaved dogs in their outdoor dining areas. Dogs are generally not allowed inside, so ask for an outdoor table when you book.
Which Taupo restaurants can host a children’s birthday or family function?
Several restaurants in Taupo offer function spaces, private areas or set menus for groups. Contact the restaurant directly to ask about numbers, set menus and whether they can accommodate a cake.
How We Chose the Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Taupo
Every business in this guide was found by searching for family-friendly restaurants in Taupo, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Taupo, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.