Best Restaurants in Downtown Pittsburgh to Take Kids
A Guide to eating in Downtown Pittsburgh with your family
Some venues are not kid-friendly and frown upon bringing your family along to eat. Other venues don’t offer kid friendly food options. The best restaurants to take kids out to eat offer a kid friendly menu, booster and high chair options, have plenty of background noise to drown out any louder conversations, and even entertainment for kids from coloring books to electronic games at the table.
Downtown Pittsburgh has a wide range of dining options, many of which are too high-end to bring the kids in tow. We’ve narrowed down the best kid-friendly venues for a meal in Downtown Pittsburgh below.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for your favorite family with small children, getting them a gift certificate to a family-friendly restaurant is a great option! Consider purchasing a Gift Ya personalized gift to any one of the kid-friendly restaurants below is an easy way to gift a family with an enjoyable dining experience with the kids.
Gift Ya allows you to buy a gift certificate to any venue or retailer and send the gift along to the recipient right from your phone via text. They can then link it to their debit card so they don’t have to worry about remembering to bring the gift card along on their next family outing.
Smallman Galley
A unique dining experience incorporating new & local dining concepts
Smallmangalley.org | 412-517-6100
54 21st Street
Sun 7am-3pm | Mon 7am-12pm
Tues-Sat 7am-5pm
This food court style dining hall offers high quality, yet accessible, dining options making it a quick easy meal while still providing foodie-quality dishes. You seat yourself at any of their tables, available in large community style tables or intimate smaller tables, reducing the wait time to get seated. They offer highchairs for little ones, and several of the vendors have some kid-friendly options from delicious pizza at Iron Born to yummy tacos from BA-CO.
The large hall atmosphere allows for louder conversations, so you won’t be constantly begging your kids to “use their inside voices” throughout the meal. If you’re looking for fast quality dining for the whole family head to Smallman Galley.
“Ah-maze-ing!! If you haven't checked out this gem in the Strip, you're missing out! There is a cool, industrial feel when you walk in, with plenty of long tables and seating available. Ordering is done cafeteria-style, with the choice between four different restaurants with a wide range of options. Ordering is quick and efficient, and they give you a number to take to your table and bring the food out to you….I cannot rave enough about both meals - they were served quickly and with the freshest ingredients. The portions were generous, with enough for leftovers the next day. They also have a bar with a wide array of beers, wine, and cocktails. We loved everything about this place - the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the service!” - Jaclyn Yelp Review
Gaucho Parrilla Argentina
BYOB South American Restaurant offering an extensive authentic Argentinian menu
Eat-gaucho.com | 412-709-6622
1601 Penn Ave
Tues-Thurs 11:00AM-9:00PM
Fri-Sat 11:00AM - 10:00PM
Gaucho is famous for its around the corner lines during peak hours, and the food is definitely worth the wait! If you can make it when the line is shorter (try lunch or during colder weather) the set up makes it easy to order quickly and get seated with your little ones. When you enter you can review the large menu on the wall, make your order and typically quickly get seated.
The menu offers ala carte dishes with some simple delicious steak options, including some kid friendly cuts, yummy Argentinian side dishes, all available in family style to share. The owners have small children so despite the foodie level fare, they welcome families with open arms.
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“AWESOME food!! You place your order from a large chalkboard right as you walk in but they do have seating. There is always a line so be prepared to wait a bit. Everything that I've ever had here has been great. All of the staff is very friendly and super helpful if you have questions. Don't forget the sauces! They have multiple homemade sauces that you can add to anything. You will not leave this place hungry!” - Rebecca Yelp Review
Emporio: A Meatball Joint
Cafe & Bar offering a unique menu specializing in gourmet meatballs
Emporioameatballjoint.com | 412-281-2810
942 Penn Avenue
Sun–Tues 11am-10pm
Wed– Sat 11am-12am
Emporios hits almost all the marks for the perfect family friendly eatery. Typically you can get seated quickly, so no long waiting for restless kiddos. They offer high chairs and booster seats, coloring pages, and a range of delicious meatballs kids can order with their favorite sauce and sides. Meals come out super quickly, so again restless little ones can dig right in. They’re located right by the Convention Center, so if you happen to be enjoying an event there, it’s a close spot to grab a bite afterwards.
Buy a GiftYa To Emporio: A Meatball Joint >
“First place I visited while in Pittsburgh to eat and I was MORE than impressed. This place is the bomb.com! I wish we had a place like this at home. Our server was awesome! He was very helpful in picking out good food for us! We split the Buffalo meatball things. AMAZING! I swear they melted in my mouth. I got the that's a spicy meatball dish. It was honestly one of the best meals I had while in Pittsburgh. It was so good. It was full of flavor and had some kick to it. My husband loved his meal as well. My kids even ate everything! Would highly recommend while here!” - Becky Yelp Review
BRGR
Traditional American Bar and Restaurant serving gourmet burgers and much more
Brgrpgh.com | 412-362-2333
535 Liberty Avenue
Mon-Thurs 11:30am-10pm
Fri & Sat 11:30am-11pm
Sunday 11:30am-9pm
What kid doesn’t love a burger, fries and milkshake? BRGR offers fancy gourmet burgers and spiked shakes for parents, and kid’s favorite comfort foods, so everyone is happy! They can provide seating for little ones, and some coloring for entertainment. Enjoy will leave happy after this classic American meal!
“Spiked Shakes and Kobe Burgers!!!!???? Are you kidding meee??
BRGR has, in my opinion, come across something totally mind-bending in their spiked milk shakes, and they are AWESOME. It's like being an adulterated child.
Remember all those times you went through the dairy queen drive thru and wish your blizzard had alcohol in it. Well, BRGR has done it my friend, fear no more.
Their Kobe burger was amazing, as well. I think I inhaled that piece of delicious meat and bread in less than 3 minutes if I'm not mistaken. And their fries are crispy and perfectly seasoned with garlic and salt??
I love BRGR and will come back with some meat and shake lovers and totally blow their minds.” - Nick Yelp Review
Primanti Bros
Signature Pittsburgh Restaurant known for their famous french fry stuffed sandwiches
Primantibros.com | 412-261-1599
2 S Market Square
Sun - Thu 10am-12am
Fri - Sat 10am-2am
You can’t go wrong at this Pittsburgh institution! Quick, simple sandwiches topped with fresh cut fries right in the heart of the city in Market Square. They can customize your kiddos order if they prefer to leave off the traditional slaw from their sandwich, though they may rag them a bit for not being a true Yinzer.
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“I have to admit I can see why they are so popular and are a local institution. The freshly hand cut bread is grilled and stuffed with meat, coleslaw and fries which is in fact a delicious combo! All sandwiches are served in paper wrap as no knives, forks or even plates are given! We really enjoyed our meal here and next time we are in the area we would definitely be back for more.Well done Primanti Brother's! You are my kids second favorite brothers after the Mario Bros now! Haha!” - Wei Yelp Review
Bea Taco Town
Authentic Mexican Restaurant in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh
Beataqueria.com | 412-471-8800
Mon-Fri 11:00am-8:00pm
Sat 11:00am-6:00pm
Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or everyone is just in the mood for classic mexican street fare, Bea Tacos is the place to eat. Tacos have all the basic food groups and are fun to eat, making them the perfect kid friendly treat! The service is quick and the prices are affordable, making it a great stop with the family for an authentic Mexican meal.
“This location is just like the others-pure perfection. Authentic, traditional Mexican food packed with goodness and flavor. Prices are very reasonable. Bea and her family are the best at what they do, and that's cooking with love.I've never had a less than perfect visit here or less than perfect food. Addicted to the tacos. All of them.” - Karla Yelp Review
Burgatory
A friendly joint that makes the best burgers and shakes you ever had!
Burgatory Bar | (412) 586-5846
342 North Shore Drive
Sun-Thru 11:00am-10:00pm
Fri-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm
Another classic burger joint with elevated ingredients, Burgatory offers a special kids menu and coloring when you bring the family out to eat. Located in the heart of the North Shore, it’s a quick and easy spot to grab a meal before or after a baseball or football game with your kiddos.
“We love going to Burgatory! Food is consistently good at each location, and service is great. My kids love their food, and there's a wide variety for adults. Fast service, hot food, amazing shakes, and the atmosphere is fun! Definitely go!” - Erika L Google Review
Bluebird Kitchen
Bakery café and caterer who services to both corporate and private clients
Bluebird Kitchen | 412-642-4414
221 Forbes Ave
Mon-Fri 7:00am-3:00pm
If you’re in town for breakfast or lunch and want a home-cooked meal that’s quick and easy stop by Bluebird Kitchen. Kids can enjoy a healthy smoothie or oatmeal for breakfast or a yummy sandwich or soup for lunch. Parents can enjoy more sophisticated options like delicious frittatas or hot Cuban sandwiches. Everyone will enjoy one of their freshly made pastry treats for desert!
“A place to remember mamas cooking from the good ol' days. Typical southern home breakfast cookin to remind you of real cookin! Homemade meals, hospitality, and a glimpse of the past that's preserved in the present. A real remembrance of what you hope and pray your grandma or ma's cooking would be like. Very nostalgic!” - Leslie K.
Wiener World
Serving hot dogs, sandwiches, grilled specialties, salads and fresh soups
Wiener World | 412-471-3013
626 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh
Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm
This unassuming hot dog joint offers some unique gourmet options for parents and adventurous kiddos, along the standard hot dog no kid can resist. There’s counter ordering and self-seating to make it an easy quick meal when you are on the go. There’s no better place to grab a dog in downtown than Wiener World.
“BEST PLACE! I have a great hot dog place I would usually frequent in my hometown so whenever I moved to Pittsburgh I was determined to find a new place that made me think of home. Wiener world is THAT place! Since then my coworkers and I have ordered lunch from this place more than a handful of times!’ - Stephanie R. Yelp Review
Eating out with kids doesn’t need to be hard. If you find a kid friendly restaurant that still offers quality dishes for grown ups, everyone wins!
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