Family restaurants in Chester | Places to eat with children

Hickory's Smokehouse on the Groves, a red brick building with a covered terrace, the city walls behind — Hickory's Smokehouse, on the Groves.

Hickory's by the river, for younger children

Small faces press to the window as the boats drift past on the Dee.

For younger children, Hickory's Smokehouse sits on the Groves beside the river. It has a children's menu, activity packs and a movie room, so every age has something to do while the food arrives.

A highchair or a table near the door can be asked for when you book. Afterwards the riverside is right outside, so little legs can stretch along the promenade and count the boats before bedtime.

Each restaurant here was picked by our family with little ones in mind, and none of them paid to be included.

St Werburgh Street leading to Chester Cathedral, quiet early in the day — St Werburgh Street, home of Ristorante Sergio.

Sergio and Artezzan, an early supper everyone agrees on

A puff of flour, a bubbling crust, and the whole table suddenly goes quiet.

When the whole family agrees on pizza, Ristorante Sergio is a family run Italian on St Werburgh Street beside the Cathedral, with freshly cooked pizza among the simpler dishes. An early table suits small children best, and allergens are worth a word before anyone orders.

For a longer menu, Artezzan on Pepper Street is locally owned, with dishes from Spain, France, Italy and Greece for the grown ups and a children's menu of their own.

A street food stall with wicker lamps along a timber aisle inside Chester Market — Street food stalls inside the Market.

Chester Market's food hall, one table for every age

Everyone heads off in a different direction, then meets back at one long table.

In Chester Market's food hall, each person chooses their own lunch and everyone still sits together. Teenagers can wander the counters while grandparents keep the table.

Traders change from time to time at Chester Market, so a favourite stall may have moved on since your last visit. For coffee and cake rather than a meal, our cafés in Chester guide has the quieter tables.

The big clock in the Market hall

The counter, plants and green tiled wall of The Kitchen inside Storyhouse — The Kitchen at Storyhouse.

The Kitchen at Storyhouse, before a family show

Pudding finished, programmes in hand, and the theatre doors only a few steps away.

Before a family show, The Kitchen inside Storyhouse puts dinner and the theatre under one roof, so nobody has to rush their pudding. The building has lifts and wheelchair access throughout.

Enjoy the Pause is a family friendly holiday home with two bedrooms, in a quiet corner inside the city walls. Stay with us and The Kitchen is an 11 minute walk from your front door, so a late curtain still means an early bed.

On a night when a grandparent is home with the children, our pubs and bars guide has the old inns of Lower Bridge Street.

The carved stone reading pulpit high in the wall of the Refectory at Chester Cathedral, with its arched stair beside tall windows — The monks' reading pulpit in the Refectory.

Café 1092, lunch for three generations in the monks' dining hall

Three generations at one long table, under a roof where Chester's monks once ate while one of them read aloud.

For a family lunch with grandparents, Café 1092 sits inside Chester Cathedral, in the monks' old dining hall, the Refectory. High in its south wall is a stone reading pulpit from about 1300, reached by a stair hidden inside the wall itself, a detail that's easy to miss over lunch.

Lunch and cakes are served through the day, and a child's afternoon tea can be booked two days ahead, so a birthday treat can happen in the very room where the monks ate.

Northgate Street in sunshine, with black and white and red brick fronts and the Storyhouse tower behind — Northgate Street, home of Chez Jules.

Moules A Go-Go and Chez Jules, for a celebration

Candles on a cake, a card on the table and someone doing their best to look surprised.

For a birthday or a grandparent's treat, Moules A Go-Go on Cuppin Street is one of Chester's longest running bistros, family owned and known for its mussels. Younger guests have their own Mini Moules menu, with something sweet to finish.

Chez Jules on Northgate Street is a long running French bistro with a daytime set menu and a Sunday one, best for an earlier grown up meal.

For a plant based meal, Shrub has a step free way in from Godstall Lane, a narrow lane of small shops strung with lights.

Godstall Lane, the way in to Shrub

The white kitchen at Enjoy the Pause with a wooden worktop, hob and window — Your kitchen, ready for supper.

An easy supper at home

The oven warms, a small helper climbs the step stool and supper smells drift up the stairs.

Some evenings, supper at home is easiest. Your kitchen has an oven, hob, microwave and dishwasher, a round table for four, and a step stool for small helpers, ready when asked for before you arrive.

Tesco Express on Pepper Street is a 3 minute walk for supper basics. Or a stocked fridge, or a cake surprise for a birthday, from our stay extras, is waiting when you walk in.

After a busy day around Chester, a quiet supper at home lets the youngest eat early while the grown ups linger at the table. When your dates are set, booking direct keeps it simple.

The round table, set for four

Keep exploring

History and culturePlay our free Chester games Pin it, Connections and more, new daily

History and cultureThe Chester walking map 66 places, each with its walking time from the front door

The Eastgate Clock arch over the street on a winter day

Parks, river, seasons and days outWinter in Chester Short days planned well, with warm stops

Family restaurants in Chester.