As summer approaches, families across the D.C. region looking for outdoor dining that’s both tasty and kid-friendly will find no shortage of options.
Throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, many restaurants pair great food with fun atmospheres, family activities and space to unwind.
From pizza and playgrounds to patios with plane views and live music, here’s your guide to the best places to eat outside with kids in the DC area.
To create this guide, we conducted thorough research and reviewed feedback from parents and local sources across platforms like Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Facebook. Every place mentioned was carefully vetted to ensure it offers a fun, family-friendly experience and includes up-to-date details that help parents plan with confidence.
Kid-Friendly Patios in Washington, DC
Founding Farmers
While Founding Farmers doesn’t offer a designated kids menu, it features plenty of regular menu options that are kid-approved, including mac and cheese, chicken tenders, hot dogs and baby cheeseburgers. The DC location offers an expansive patio with umbrellas and heaters.
Location: 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (202) 822-8783
All-Purpose Pizza
All-Purpose Pizza has rooftop seating in addition to a lovely patio, outfitted with colorful umbrellas and a view of the waterfront. They have an easygoing, kid-friendly vibe. Nearby is the Nationals Park and the Audi Field.
Location: 79 Potomac Ave. SE
Hours: 5–9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (202) 629-1894
Boardwalk Bar & Arcade
View this post on Instagram
When you’re not indoors enjoying the many games — including skeeball, pinball and arcade classics like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” or “X-Men” — the spacious exterior is right on the waterfront at The Wharf. The kids menu has pizza, tacos and mac and cheese, plus special desserts like cotton candy and an Oreo ice cream sundae. Parents note that this is a great choice for birthday parties in the DC area!
Location: 715 Wharf St. SW
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (202) 481-0044
Firefly
Located in Hotel Madera, Firefly is a cozy restaurant with outdoor seating available on their terrace. The kids menu offers a smaller version of their Firefly burger, in addition to more traditional meals like chicken tenders and mac and cheese. Take a seat on a swing connected to a large indoor tree — a fun touch kids tend to love.
Location: 1310 New Hampshire Ave. NW
Hours: 7–11 a.m. and 4–10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5:30–10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (202) 296-7600
Comet Ping Pong
As the name suggests, Comet Ping Pong offers free access to ping pong tables and regularly hosts live music. Outdoor seating on their patio is available, and families can enjoy pizza, wings, garlic knots, fried mac and cheese bites and more. With a fun game for the kids and plenty of good food, Comet Ping Pong is an ideal dining destination for families.
Location: 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW
Hours: 5–9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; Noon–10:45 p.m. Friday; 11:30 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (202) 364-0404
Open City
Open City triples as a diner, coffeehouse and bar. They’ve got classics like pizza, burgers, wraps and pastas for lunch and dinner. Families can enjoy their all-day breakfast, which includes bagels from Bullfrog Bagels. Open City has trivia night every Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m.
Location: 2331 Calvert St. NW
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Phone: (202) 332-2331
Kid-friendly Patios in Maryland
Pizzeria Paradiso
View this post on Instagram
Pizzeria Paradiso really is a pizza paradise, offering patio service and even a small playground. Their kids menu offers personal-sized pizzas, plus pasta and grilled cheese. At their Hyattsville location, kids eat free on Mondays!
Location: 4800 Rhode Island Ave., Hyattsville
Hours: 5–9 p.m. Monday-Friday; Noon–9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Phone: (240) 467-3210
Featuring Southern cuisine, Milk & Honey has a shaded patio and a variety of menu options, like the award-winning shrimp and grits, Carolina gumbo and salmon BLT. Many customers enjoy dining here for breakfast or brunch.
Location: 10280 Baltimore Ave., College Park
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Phone: (301) 477-2195
This dining spot features a large, beautiful garden for families to immerse themselves in. Many of the menu items are prepared with ingredients directly from the garden, making for a unique dining experience.
Location: 9201 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Phone: (301) 704-6653
Named after the co-founder, an adorable Goldendoodle, Café Sophie is located in the Montgomery County Airpark. Parents and kids can watch planes take off while enjoying breakfast or lunch. This is definitely a unique dining spot.
Location: 7940 Airpark Rd., Ste. 201, Gaithersburg
Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily; closed Tuesday.
Phone: (240) 261-4189
Burtons Grill & Bar provides great American cuisine, including wings, steaks and in-house classics like the wild mushroom ravioli or chicken Milanese alfredo. Kids get to create their own meals by selecting a main, like grilled chicken, steak or a hamburger, plus sides and a drink.
Location: 109 Commerce Square Place, Gaithersburg
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (240) 798-2021
Kid-Friendly Patios in Virginia
The Harbour Grille
The Harbour Grille is located on the Occoquan river bank and has a large patio for the kid-friendly waterfront dining experience. There is a kids menu available with popular meals like burgers, tenders and fish and chips. Visit Saturdays for live music!
Location: 13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:30–12:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday with brunch from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Phone: (703) 548-0088
The Secret Garden Cafe
Family-owned and located in Historic Old Town Occoquan, this restaurant has an inviting garden patio and a kid-friendly menu. The building was originally constructed in 1840 by a pharmacist — talk about a transformation! Parents love the atmosphere, and say shrimp and grits are a menu standout.
Location: 404 Mill St., Occoquan
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (703) 494-2848
Rustico Alexandria
Rustico is a family-friendly establishment that offers great hearth-fired pizzas, plus plenty of wines and spirits for parents to choose from. The patio is flush with the brick wall exterior. The specialty pizzas have fun names like Fungitown and Sgt. Pepperoni.
Location: 827 Slaters Ln., Alexandria
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday
Phone: (703) 224-5051
Sweetwater Tavern
View this post on Instagram
Relax on the patio while you enjoy Southwestern cuisine. Parents can look forward to handcrafted beer from their award-winning microbrewery. The service is frequently praised by visiting families.
Location: 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Phone: (571) 434-6500
This atmospheric restaurant offers interesting kids meal options like the new cheesy pizza sticks or the chicken teriyaki and steamed rice. Parents should check out the fan-favorite BBQ bison meatloaf.
Location: 14333 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday-Sunday
Phone: (571) 616-9093
Seafood lovers rejoice! This family-friendly beach-themed restaurant has plenty of outdoor space and live music. It’s also a great spot for dog owners.
Location: 130 N Washington St., Falls Church
Hours: 4–8:30 p.m. Monday; 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (703) 532-9283
Seth Hagler is a freelance writer and an intern with Washington Parent. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
