Looking for the best restaurants to eat with kids around RVA? Richmond has plenty of restaurants and cafes that are family-friendly, but I've found some spots that take it up a notch. I've rounded up RVA restaurants, breweries and cafes that offer something extra while you dine. Each RVA restaurant on my list offers something special like games or activities for kids (and adults) to try before, after or while you dine!
*Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram and TikTok for things to do with kids in Richmond and around Virginia!
Restaurants with Entertainment for Kids around RVA:
These Richmond area restaurants have food, cocktails... and arcades, bowling, mini-golf or other fun activities for the family to enjoy while they dine!
1.The Park RVA: Located in Scott's Addition, this indoor wonderland spans 55,000 square feet with food, treats, drinks & entertainment! You can play Wonderball - 18-hole indoor putt putt with Insta-worthy decor. The 18 lanes of Duckpin Bowling comes with full service, so you can eat & drink while playing. Adults can also enjoy the self-serve drink stations in the beer garden, karaoke & virtual golf. It also has the longest bar in Virginia - 60 feet! The best part? You can visit for just one activity or make an entire day of it!
Serves: Dinner on weekdays, and Lunch and Dinner on weekends
It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. After 7pm on Thursdays-Saturdays, its 21+ up only.
*Check here for my full review.
2. Unplugged Games Cafe: Located in Midlothian, Virginia, this cafe serves up snacks, lunch, dinner & drinks. But what makes this one of the most unique cafes in town is the games! Unplugged Games Cafe has play passes that allow you access to over 900 board & card games. You can play as many games as you want for as long as you want! Games range from low complexity to high complexity, so it’s perfect for a family date night or a grownup one!
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
It's closed on Tuesday.
*Check here for my review.
3. CineBistro: If you haven’t seen a super saver movie at CineBistro, you need to add it to your list! It's located in Stony Point Fashion Park, so you can explore the mall and run around in the play space before or after your movie, too.
CineBistro's early movies are very kid friendly & tickets are $5 each. Once you arrive, you head straight to your seats, and a serve takes your order. You need to arrive 30 minutes prior to your movie starting to order food.
Serves: Snacks and Dinner
*Heads up: Before 6 pm, the theater is open for children 3 and up. After 6pm, you must be 21 or older to watch movies.
*Check here for my review.
4. Draftcade: Located in Short Pump Town Center, this brewery has pinball, classic arcade games plus family-friendly food. You can order everything from Buffalo Chicken Dip and wings to burgers and salads. There's even 60 different beers on tap! The biggest hit for kids at Draftcade is the games. There are over 75 classic arcade games, and you can play them all day with an unlimited wrist band ($10). You can even leave and come back - perfect if you have other errands around the mall!
Serves: Lunch on Friday, Saturday & Sunday and Dinner nightly
*Heads up: This spot is 21 and up after 7pm nightly.
5. River City Roll: This locally owned bowling alley is off Boulevard near the Scott’s Addition breweries. I like River City Roll because it's more than just a bowling alley! While there are bowling lanes & other games, the food is delicious, there's a pet-friendly outdoor space, and they typically have live music on the weekends. If you're a competitive bowler or just like a challenge, River City Roll is one of 8 bowling facilities in the world to have HyperBowl. Reservations are encouraged.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
It's closed on Monday.
*Heads up: This venue is 21+ only after 7 pm nightly.
*Check here for my review.
6. Uptown Alley: Located in Midlothian, the family-friendly bowling alley offers so much more than bowling! Besides the 38 bowling lanes, Uptown Alley Richmond has a restaurant & sports theater, an arcade, billiards and virtual reality arena. They offer daily specials so you could create a family date on a budget or go all out! Uptown Alley Richmond also hosts birthday parties & school events.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
*Check here for my full review.
7. Bottoms Up Pizza: Located less than a block from Main Street Station, Bottoms Up Pizza is a family-friendly restaurant with inside seating and a patio next to the railroad tracks. Trains come through frequently, so you are almost guaranteed to see one during your meal – a huge plus when dining with kids.
This pizza joint also serves Italian food, burgers and brisket, including vegan and gluten free options. It has a casual environment with quick service, even if you’re dining with a crowd.
Heads Up: This restaurant technically doesn't have any games or activities, but it made my list because of the VIEWS! It is the only spot in the city where you can watch trains and have dinner. I like it because it is such an easy spot to dine with kids – warm atmosphere, family-friendly food, and constant excitement for the trains to pass by.
8. Ukrops Market Hall: Opening in 1937, this Richmond tradition is one of our favorite spots for family meals! Ukrops Market Hall serves breakfast pizza, fried chicken, potatoes wedges, slidinis, take & bake meals and more. The also have a delicious bakery with cakes & cookies.
I love that families can eat inside or on the expansive patio. The patio has covered seating and picnic tables. Children can play on the climbing structures and run around the green space while they eat. This is such a great spot for a casual meal in Richmond.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
*Check here for my full review.
9. Dave and Busters: Located in Short Pump, this well-known spot is an arcade, sports bar and restaurant all in one! You can play arcade games, tabletop games or air hockey, while you watch the big games. My kids also love that you can earn tickets at each game, and then you can get a prize when you leave.
Visit the Short Pump location on Wednesday for 1/2 price games!Half price games are every Wednesday from open to close!
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
10. Art Factory Play Cafe: Located in Brandermill, this indoor play space and art studio is for babies through teenagers. While you can always drop-in for open play time, The Art Factory also offers a Little Explorers class for preschoolers, summer camps for all ages, and events for the family. Little Explorers and Musical Storytime with Mr. Beatman are for children 5 and under, and these classes costs $16 and $12 respectively for the parent/child pair. Little Explorers and Musical Storytime fill up quickly, so make sure you sign up online in advance.
Serves: Coffee, snacks, light items
Hours: It’s open on Mondays through Fridays from 7am-6pm and on Saturdays from 7am-4pm, and on Sundays from 8am-4pm Sundays.
*Check here for my full review.
The Best Restaurants for Sports Fans around RVA (kid-edition):
1.Glory Days Grill: Located in The West End, this sports themed grill has apps, entrees and sandwiches. You'll find giant TVs and screens playing all of the games and cartoons. Kids will love cheering on their favorite team in this lively restaurant as much as they will love seeing all the LOCAL teams on the walls. From Tuckahoe Little League and Richmond Strikers to Godwin High School football and Deep Run Cheerleaders, every local sports team is feature on the walls - jerseys, pictures, bats, helmets & more.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
The Best Breweries and Wineries to Visit with Kids in Richmond, Virginia:
While these RVA breweries and wineries are known for the adult beverages, they serve delicious food and have a kid-friendly atmosphere. From live music and yard games to family-centric pop-ups, these Richmond area spots are fun for the whole family!
1.Brambly Park Winery: Opening in 2020, this urban winery is the perfect spot to visit for live music, wine, and special celebrations. Located in Scott's Addition, Brambly Park is our go-to local winery because it has a really good restaurant and a beautiful park.
Bari, the restaurant, has an elegant interior dining area and a covered pavilion or you can choose to eat in the outdoor space. It’s on a two acre park, filled with picnic tables, open green space, yard games, and a small garden. They also host family-friendly brunches like their Santa Brunch and Mother’s Day Brunch.
Serves: Brunch, Lunch and Dinner
It is closed on Mondays.
*Check here for my review.
2. Courthouse Creek Cider: We visited The Farm in Maidens, and it was a great family experience! Courthouse Creek Cider is a family owned orchard & farm. Liza and Eric have four acres of apple trees and farm animals. They follow low impact & sustainable practices & they are the only cidery in Virginia to produce all of its ciders!
It was such an easy & fun experience for us: everything was spaced out, we could run around the farm & see animals, and there was live music. There are ducks, chickens, goats and a mule! All the picnic tables are surround by apple trees. They offer a specific menu each night like pizzas or burgers.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
*Check here for my full review.
3. Hardywood West Creek: We love everything about the West Creek location - the atmosphere, the greenspace, and the food trucks! Hardywood West Creek has 24 acres next to the peaceful Tuckahoe Creek, and the outdoor space has a lawn, a large concrete patio, a natural play area with swings, a see saw and hammocks, plus there are two regulation-sized bocce courts!
You don't need reservations to visit, but you can reserve a tent, burly fire pit, or gazebo. This is the first brewery we visited with a baby & this is also where we held my husband's most recent birthday.
Serves: Lunch and Dinner with food trucks (these rotate daily)
4. Upper Shirley Vineyard: This vineyard is in Charles City, next to the historic Shirley Plantation . Upper Shirley is a 14,000-square-foot Low Country winery, surrounded by open green space, vineyards, horses, the river & the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. Upper Shirley has delicious food, live music, lots of space to run , horses & special holiday events! We've celebrated many special occasions here.
Serves: Brunch, Lunch and Dinner
*Check here for my review.
Need more places to eat with kids around Richmond, Virginia? Check out my guide to Everywhere Kids Eat Free in RVA!
For more details on these getaway spots and more Virginia adventures, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!
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