Finding the best family-friendly restaurants in Napier means looking for places with a proper kids’ menu, room to relax and food the adults will enjoy too. These family restaurants in Napier range from harbourside bars and bistros in Ahuriri to a Marine Parade steakhouse and a winery restaurant in Bay View, with children’s meals, desserts and outdoor seating that make a family meal out easier. The Thirsty Whale and The Gintrap on West Quay are good places to start.
1The Thirsty Whale Bar & Restaurant
The Thirsty Whale is a bar and restaurant on West Quay in Ahuriri, overlooking Napier harbour and the marina, with a deck for sunny days and a fire inside for winter. Its menus draw on Hawke’s Bay produce, with breakfast, an all-day menu and dinner served seven days, and a dedicated children’s menu called The Little Whale Menu. It suits families after a relaxed harbourside meal, whether that is a weekend breakfast or an early dinner.
Services
- Breakfast, all-day and dinner menus
- The Little Whale kids’ menu, including mac ‘n’ cheese, fish and chips and a junior cheeseburger
- Kids’ desserts such as ice cream sundaes and banana splits
- Seafood dishes including chowder, mussels and fish tacos
- Private rooms for functions and group bookings
Highlights
- Outdoor deck overlooking Napier harbour and the Kaweka Range
- Open from 10am on Sundays for breakfast
- Harpoon Room seats up to 100 guests for family celebrations
- Online bookings available
Location & Contact
Name: The Thirsty Whale Bar & Restaurant
Address: 62 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier
Phone: 06 835 8815
Website: thethirstywhale.co.nz
2The Gintrap Restaurant & Bar
The Gintrap is a restaurant and bar on West Quay in Ahuriri, open seven days from 11am, with a sunny deck in summer and an open fire in winter. It describes itself as a spot for good times with family and friends, and runs a kids’ menu for children 12 and under alongside its lunch and dinner menus. Adults can explore a list of more than 300 gins while the children eat.
Services
- Lunch and dinner menus, seven days
- Kids’ menu for 12 and under, with chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, waffles and hotdogs, and creamy chicken penne
- Kids’ desserts including an ice cream sundae and chocolate brownie
- Private function room with its own deck
Highlights
- All kids’ meals served with a mini green salad
- More than 300 gins on the drinks list
- Gluten-free and dairy-free adaptable dishes marked on the menu
- Caters for birthday parties, reunions and wedding receptions
- Online reservations
Location & Contact
Name: The Gintrap Restaurant & Bar
Address: 64 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 835 0199
Website: gintrap.co.nz
3The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is a beach bar and bistro at Perfume Point in Ahuriri, open seven days from 9am on weekdays and 8am at weekends. The menu runs from burgers and sandwiches to seafood chowder, fresh fish and steaks from the grill, and there is a separate kids’ menu for children 10 and under. It suits families wanting an easy seaside breakfast, lunch or dinner without needing to book.
Services
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days
- Kids’ menu for 10 and under, including choc chip hot cakes at breakfast, mac and cheese and fish and chips
- Kids’ ice cream cones, mini sundaes and small drinks
- Seafood, steaks and burgers from the main menu
- Group bookings by phone
Highlights
- Seaside setting at Perfume Point, with a live surf camera on its website
- Bookings needed for groups only
- Coffee loyalty card shared with its associated venues
Location & Contact
Name: The Boardwalk Restaurant and Bar
Address: 8 Hardinge Road, Ahuriri, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 834 1168
Website: boardwalknapier.co.nz
4Lone Star Napier
Lone Star Napier sits on the corner of Marine Parade and Emerson Street and has been trading in Napier since 2006. The menu covers steaks, ribs, burgers and seafood, and the kids’ menu includes a free kid’s drink with every meal and a choice of chips, mash or rice. It suits families after a hearty dinner, with an outdoor area looking out to the ocean and a mezzanine that can be booked for family gatherings.
Services
- Dinner seven days, plus lunch from 11:30am at weekends
- Kids’ mains such as Road Runner chicken strips, Nipper’s Fish & Chips and a kid’s minute steak
- Kids’ Lone Star Mudslide dessert
- Mezzanine function space for up to 25 people
- Online ordering for takeaway
Highlights
- Free kid’s drink with every kids’ main
- Outdoor seating with ocean views
- Mezzanine popular for birthday celebrations and family gatherings
- Online table bookings
Location & Contact
Name: Lone Star Napier
Address: Corner Marine Parade and Emerson Street, Napier
Phone: 022 419 1397
Website: lonestar.co.nz/restaurants/napier
5Crab Farm Winery
Crab Farm Winery is a family owned winery and restaurant at Bay View, just north of Napier, on land the Jardine family has held for more than 100 years. The restaurant has a fire pit for winter and a sunny courtyard and shaded treehouse for summer, and offers a kids’ menu alongside its main menu. Lunch runs Thursday to Sunday with dinner on Friday nights, and bookings are essential.
Services
- Lunch Thursday to Sunday and Friday night dinner
- Kids’ menu including meatballs and pasta, fish bites and fries, and a chicken wrap
- Kids’ sundae for dessert
- Cellar door wine tastings
- Functions and weddings
Highlights
- First vintage under the Crab Farm label released in 1987
- Shaded treehouse and courtyard seating
- Kids’ quesadilla available dairy-free and gluten-free on request
- Regular live music events
Location & Contact
Name: Crab Farm Winery
Address: 511 Main Road, Bay View, Napier
Phone: 06 836 6678
Website: crabfarmwinery.co.nz
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Napier at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| The Thirsty Whale Bar & Restaurant | Outdoor deck overlooking Napier harbour and the Kaweka Range |
| The Gintrap Restaurant & Bar | All kids' meals served with a mini green salad |
| The Boardwalk | Seaside setting at Perfume Point, with a live surf camera on its website |
| Lone Star Napier | Free kid's drink with every kids' main |
| Crab Farm Winery | First vintage under the Crab Farm label released in 1987 |
How to Choose the Right Family-Friendly Restaurant in Napier
- Check the kids’ menu: look at the age limit, portion sizes and whether a drink or dessert is included with children’s meals.
- Match opening hours to your routine: some venues serve breakfast from 8am, while others open for lunch only on certain days or start dinner later in the afternoon.
- Think about space: outdoor decks, courtyards and seaside settings give restless children more room than a busy indoor dining room.
- Ask about dietary needs: many menus mark gluten-free and dairy-free options, and kitchens can often adapt a child’s dish on request.
- Book for groups and celebrations: birthdays and family gatherings are easier in a private room or mezzanine booked ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Napier Family-Friendly Restaurants
How much does a kids’ meal cost at a family restaurant in Napier?
Kids’ mains at Napier restaurants typically sit between about $10 and $21, depending on the venue and the dish. Some include a free drink or come with salad and chips, so check the menu before you go.
Where can I find family restaurants near Ahuriri?
Ahuriri has a cluster of family-friendly bars and bistros along West Quay and at Perfume Point on Hardinge Road, many with harbour or sea views. It is a short drive from the city centre and Marine Parade, and handy after a walk or bike ride around the waterfront.
Are there family restaurants in Napier open for breakfast?
Yes. Several waterfront venues in Ahuriri serve breakfast, some from 8am at weekends, with kids’ breakfast options such as hot cakes. Check opening hours directly, as breakfast times vary between weekdays and weekends.
Do I need to book a family restaurant in Napier?
It depends on the venue. Some only ask groups to book, while winery restaurants and popular weekend spots often require bookings year-round. For a birthday or large family group, booking ahead is always worthwhile.
Can restaurants in Napier cater for children with food allergies?
Many Napier menus mark gluten-free and dairy-free options, and staff can usually advise on ingredients. Always tell your server about a child’s allergy when ordering. The Ministry for Primary Industries has guidance on food allergies and eating out.
Is there a family restaurant in Napier with a function space for kids’ birthdays?
Yes. Several restaurants in Napier have private rooms, mezzanines or decks that can be booked for birthday parties and family celebrations, often with set menus or platters available.
What else is there to do with kids in Napier before or after a meal?
Napier’s waterfront, Marine Parade and Ahuriri are easy to combine with a family meal. The Napier i-SITE lists family attractions and activities on its official visitor website.
How We Chose the Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Napier
Every business in this guide was found by searching for family-friendly restaurants in Napier, 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 Napier, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.