Restaurants with Play Areas in Ontario: 6 Spots Where Parents Can Actually Sit Down
We moved to Canada from India in 2019 and have been exploring Ontario ever since, these days usually with kids in tow and a constant search for places where everyone stays happy.
When was the last time you and your partner had a conversation that wasn’t interrupted by “Mama!”, “Dad!”, a snack request or someone needing their diaper changed?
For us, it had been… embarrassingly long.
So when we discovered a spot where the kids could play in a dedicated open play area right beside where we were sitting, we knew we had to share it with other parents. That discovery sent us looking for more restaurants with play areas across Ontario, so this guide pairs our farm date with other kid friendly restaurants with play areas where parents can eat within sight of the fun.
Planning a whole weekend around these stops? Browse our ready-made Canada travel itineraries and skip the planning.
1. The Perth Farmhouse, Perth East
Welcome to The Perth Farmhouse in Perth East, Ontario, a family-friendly spot that might just have solved one of the biggest problems of dating after kids: finding somewhere everyone can enjoy while Mom and Dad actually get to talk.
4596 Wilmot Easthope Road, Perth East, Ontario
The Parent Date We Didn’t Know We Needed
Having kids changes the definition of a date.
Before kids, a date might mean dressing up, going out for dinner and spending hours talking.
After kids?
Sometimes a date means sitting down for 20 uninterrupted minutes while someone else keeps the children entertained. And honestly, we’ll take it.
That’s exactly what made our visit to The Perth Farmhouse so special.
The kids had a dedicated open play area right beside the seating space, so they could stay busy while we sat nearby.
Why This Is Such a Great Date Idea for Parents
If you have young kids, you know that finding time together can be tricky.
You want to go out, but arranging a babysitter isn’t always possible. You want to enjoy a meal, but keeping little ones entertained can turn a relaxing outing into a cardio session.
That’s why places designed with both parents and kids in mind are such a win.
At The Perth Farmhouse, the setup lets parents stay close to their children while still getting a little breathing room.
The kids have a space to play.
Parents have somewhere to sit.
Everyone gets to enjoy the outing.
That’s our kind of family date.
It’s More Than Just a Farm Visit
The Perth Farmhouse also gives you that countryside escape that makes an afternoon feel a little different from your usual weekend routine.
Instead of another trip to the mall or another playground, you can make a visit here part of a relaxed family outing.
Bring the kids, grab something to eat, let them play and take your time.
There’s something wonderfully simple about it.
No elaborate itinerary required.
2. Snyder’s Family Farm, Bright
Snyder’s Family Farm sits just outside Kitchener-Waterloo and is one of the biggest seasonal farm attractions in the area. Its Fun Farm includes pirate play ships, a tree fort play area, jumping pillows and a petting zoo, and the farm runs its own bakery and Eats & Treats food stands, so lunch is never far from the play zone.
We have already written a full Snyders Family Farm guide, and our tip is to plan your food break beside the play areas.
Address: 936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright, ON N0J 1B0
Hours: Seasonal. The 2026 fall season opened on the September 12 weekend
Confirm open days and ticket prices on the official website before visiting.
3. Bingemans FunworX, Kitchener
FunworX at Bingemans describes itself as the region’s largest indoor playland, with a three-level play structure for kids aged 2 to 12, a ropes course and an arcade. Outside food is not allowed, but there are concession and beverage stations, and tables run along the outside of the play structure so parents can sit close by.
Our tip is to pack socks for everyone, because they are required on the play structure, and to remember that staff do not supervise the play area, so one adult should always keep an eye on little ones.
Address: 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener, ON N2B 3X7
Confirm current hours before visiting, since they change by season.
For another big family day in the region, see our guide to African Lion Safari in Ontario.
4. Recharge & Play Wellness Café, Waterloo
Recharge & Play combines an indoor playground, a small café and a family wellness clinic. The play area is designed for kids up to 12, the café carries allergen friendly options including gluten free and dairy free choices, and the whole space is nut free.
We would choose this one as a rainy day option for toddlers, since the playground washrooms include a small toilet and a lowered sink for little ones. If you bring your own snacks, make sure they are nut free.
Address: 550 Parkside Drive, Unit B13, Waterloo, ON N2L 5V4
Confirm drop-in play times and pricing directly with the café before visiting.
For more easy outings with little ones, browse our things to do with family in Toronto and the GTA guide.
5. Storybook Gardens, London
Storybook Gardens is a storybook-themed park in London’s Springbank Park, built for young children. It has themed playgrounds, a jumping pillow, sand play, a splash pad in summer and a skating trail in winter. Food service runs during the summer season, and a BeaverTails concession opens for winter skating.
Our tip for families with babies is that children under 24 months get in free, and the cheaper twilight hours are calmer than June mornings full of school groups.
Address: 1958 Storybook Lane, London, ON N6K 4Y6
Hours: Summer 2026 opening was 10 am to 6 pm daily, with later closing on summer Fridays and Saturdays. Public skating is set to begin November 28, weather permitting
Admission: Summer general admission $10.70 plus tax per person, twilight admission $6.20 plus tax, children under 24 months free
Parking: Free parking in front of the castle entrance on Storybook Lane, with overflow parking in Springbank Park
Confirm the current season and winter skating hours before visiting.
If London is part of a longer southwestern Ontario loop, our best resorts in Ontario guide has overnight ideas.
6. Brooks Farms, Mount Albert
Closer to the GTA, Brooks Farms is a sixth-generation family farm with a ten acre Barnyard Playland, pick-your-own fields and a farm market. It runs a bakery and café on site, and during the 2026 Fall Fun Festival the Farm Market Café and Playland Café serve items such as doughnuts, bagels, sandwiches and fries.
We featured Brooks in our animal farms near Toronto guide, and our tip is to eat at the cafés or at the picnic tables outside the Playland gates, since outside food is not allowed inside apart from baby food and water bottles. Some food stations are cashless, so bring a card.
Address: 122 Ashworth Road, Mount Albert, ON
Hours: Seasonal. The 2026 Fall Fun Festival runs on fall weekends and Thanksgiving Monday
Confirm dates, hours and ticket prices on the official website before visiting.
Best Time to Visit
Spring: Spring is when outdoor farm play starts to wake up. Storybook Gardens reopened for the 2026 season in mid-May, and Brooks Farms opens its playground in spring. We keep an indoor backup such as FunworX or Recharge & Play in mind, because April and May weather in Ontario can turn quickly.
Summer: Summer is the easiest season for outdoor playgrounds with restaurants. Storybook Gardens runs its splash pad and full schedule, and The Perth Farmhouse is at its best when you can sit by the pond under the willow trees.
Fall: Fall is peak season for the farms. Snyder’s and Brooks both run fall festivals from mid-September, and The Perth Farmhouse has a covered patio if the weather does not cooperate. Expect the biggest crowds around Thanksgiving weekend.
Winter: Winter shifts the focus indoors. FunworX and Recharge & Play are the dependable picks, while Storybook Gardens swaps its splash pad for a skating trail with a BeaverTails concession. Check The Perth Farmhouse website for winter hours first.
Restaurants with Play Areas in Ontario by Area
- Perth East and New Hamburg: The Perth Farmhouse sits between Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford, which makes it an easy add-on if you are looking up things to do in Stratford, Ontario with kids in the car.
- Kitchener: Bingemans FunworX is the indoor option for bad weather days, with concession food and seating around the play structure.
- Waterloo: Recharge & Play is the calmer, smaller play café choice, best for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Its nut free policy makes it a safer bet for families managing allergies.
- Bright, near Kitchener: Snyder’s Family Farm is a seasonal farm with several play areas, a bakery and food stands.
- London: Storybook Gardens is a park rather than a restaurant, but its summer food service and themed playgrounds make it an easy family day trip in Ontario.
- Mount Albert, York Region: Brooks Farms is the closest option for Toronto families. Its two cafés sit alongside a ten acre play area, which makes a good half day away from the city.
Free and No-Reservation Options
Walk-ins are welcome at The Perth Farmhouse for a tasting or a drink by the glass, subject to availability, and the farm suggests 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm as the best times to drop in. The full Sip & Graze and Flights & Goats experiences do need a reservation, so we book those ahead for weekends.
Storybook Gardens is free for children under 24 months, and parking in front of the castle entrance is free. At Brooks Farms, you can bring a litter-less lunch to the picnic tables outside the Playland gates instead of buying everything inside.
Recharge & Play offers drop-in play, which makes it useful when plans change at the last minute, and FunworX sells tickets at its admissions desk. None of the play areas are free, so we budget for admission or food.
Tips for Visiting with Kids or Toddlers
Check each venue’s supervision rules first: FunworX is an unsupervised play facility, and The Perth Farmhouse asks that children stay with a parent at all times, so plan on one adult being the spotter while the other orders food. Pack socks for indoor play structures and leave the dog at home for The Perth Farmhouse, where dogs are not permitted.
Food rules vary a lot. Outside food is not allowed at FunworX, The Perth Farmhouse or inside Brooks Farms, while Recharge & Play lets you bring your own as long as it is nut free. Dietary requests at The Perth Farmhouse must be made in advance. For more toddler friendly outings, our Toronto Zoo family guide covers the easy wins we rely on with little ones.
Staying overnight in Kitchener-Waterloo lets you fit two stops into one weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which restaurants in Ontario have play areas?
In southwestern Ontario, our list includes The Perth Farmhouse in Perth East, Bingemans FunworX in Kitchener, Recharge & Play Wellness Café in Waterloo, Snyder’s Family Farm in Bright and Storybook Gardens in London. Closer to Toronto, Brooks Farms in Mount Albert has two cafés beside its Barnyard Playland.
Where is The Perth Farmhouse?
The Perth Farmhouse is at 4596 Wilmot Easthope Road in Perth East, with a New Hamburg mailing address. It sits between Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford, about 15 minutes from The Boardwalk in Kitchener.
How much does The Perth Farmhouse cost?
Flights & Goats tickets are $25 per guest and Sip & Graze tickets are $48 per guest, adult or child, plus tax and processing fees. Children under 3 are admitted free, though food and drink are not included for them.
What is on The Perth Farmhouse menu?
The Sip & Graze box includes a chopped Italian sandwich, a green salad with pickled carrots and onions, seasonal fruit and vegetables, and assorted baked goods. Shared boards such as a Burrata Board, Charcuterie Board and Whipped Feta Dip can be added, and wine or cider is available by the glass.
Are there wineries near Stratford, Ontario?
Yes. The Perth Farmhouse is a family-run farm winery and cidery between Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford, offering wine and cider tastings as well as an alcohol-free Farmhouse Fizz.
Add This to Your Ontario Family Outing List
If you’re searching for unique date ideas in Ontario, family-friendly activities in Perth East or somewhere to take the kids where parents can also enjoy themselves, add The Perth Farmhouse to your list.
The Perth Farmhouse
4596 Wilmot Easthope Road
Perth East, Ontario
If you’re planning a family-friendly day trip in Ontario, save this spot for your list. Whether you start in Perth East or finish in London, we hope this list of restaurants with play areas in Ontario gives your family a few more outings where the parents get to relax too.
We have done the planning so you do not have to. Browse our tried and tested Canada travel itineraries and start your adventure.
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