After several years of being a Mummy with young kids in and around Annecy, a popular family tourist destination, it has always surprised me that there is such a complete lack of truly «child friendly” places to eat with your children. As a mother of three young kids…I know this can «make or break» a pleasant dining experience as a family. Despite the fact that Annecy is renowned for its gastronomy and multitude of family friendly activities – few restaurants seem to have deemed it important to create family friendly dining spaces…
Often the children’s menu is the same old steak haché/frites, there are no changing facilities and one, if any high chairs for the whole restaurant, never mind the option of anything to entertain the children.
Luckily the situation seems to be changing slowly but surely…With the help of fellow “Mummies in the mountains ” (thank you ladies) and the network http://www.mamanwinneuses.com I have started compiling a list of restaurants that welcome families.
Please bear in mind that this list is evolutive and most probably not complete at all – please do send me your recommendations so that I can update/modify the list. This list is meant as a starting point. I also hope it will encourage restaurants to integrate changing facilities and become more family friendly 🙂
ANNECY
PEABERRY & CO. – ANNECY
Galerie des Sorbiers, 13 Rue Royale, 74000 Annecy, 06 67 17 08 09 (Recommended by Mara Lynn)
“There is a new cafe in central Annecy called Peaberry and Co. it’s totally designed for children. Big play room, soft play room for little ones, downstairs has a skate ramp etc, it’s great. Has baby changing etc.”
I agree with Mara Lynn and have been to Peaberry a few times now. It’s a venue with the most incredible play areas for children. They have three different areas for three different age groups from babies to pre-ados, which breaks away from the traditional family coffee shop concept which caters primarily for babies/toddlers. What is particularly appealing is the fact that the play areas for the wee ones are sound proofed with a glass wall…so you can keep a close eye on them AND have a conversation with whoever you’re with. FABULOUS 😊 They do apero evenings too. My eldest daughters have also taken part in different activities organised here from skate boarding lessons to crafting. We have never eaten more than a snack – muffins and drinks. The menu seems quite simple and adapted to kids. Check the opening times as they seem to vary.
LITTLE ITALY – ANNECY
16 rue Sainte Claire, Annecy 74000 – 04 50 52 92 78
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday 12:00 – 2:00 PM – Eat in or take away. (Also recommended by Johanna Fihman who visited recently with her kids and told me to check it out)
Located in the old town, they specialise in absolutely, delicious pizzas, made with fresh Italian produce. Please note they ONLY do pizza – so if you don’t like pizza this is not the best option!! They have recently renovated and doubled the size of the restaurant (a sign that business is obviously doing well 😉). They have a kid’s menu (menu bambino for 10 €) and they have changing facilities in the bathroom (Yay). There also seems to be enough space to park a pushchair or two. We went there without kids recently so I don’t know if the pizzas are shaped for kids or if they provide anything to entertain the kids with…However they get big thumbs up for integrating a changing table 😊 Deco Italian/American style pizzeria.
LE SAPAUDIA – ANNECY
12 Fbg Sainte-Claire, 74000 Annecy – 04 50 45 24 03 www.lesapaudia.fr /Open 7/7 offers pizzas, salads, pasta and traditional Italian dishes. You can eat in or take away.
A great Italian restaurant in Annecy located in the old town. Exists since 1977 and uses fresh Italian produce. They are good with kids. The service is quick and pleasant. They have a kid’s menus – (9,50 € pasta, pizza, nuggets…) with a rabbit shaped pizza (big success with my girls). I’ve heard they provide colouring in & pens (we weren’t offered any however). They have high chairs for little ones and will willingly help you find somewhere to park your pushchair! The service was quick and the children served first. Deco modern.
No baby changing facilities and the toilets are small – very difficult to change nappies.
LE TANOUE – ANNECY
3 Rue de la Paix, 74000 Annecy – 09 81 88 83 50 – http://letanoue.com/ Eat in or Take away.
Recently opened and fabulous. A great variety of sweet and savoury crêpes, using good quality ingredients (a lot of which are sourced locally – Fromage Gay – cheese, famille Mary for the honey, etc.). The crepes and galettes are good value for money. The kid’s menu is 8,50 € including a savoury & a sweet crepe and a drink. The staff are both charming and helpful (the owner is a fellow mummy ) and the service is quick. Cider is also given the respect it deserves and served in proper glasses – allowing for a nice indulgence. For all us “Mummies in the Mountains” – they actually have baby changing facilities, high chairs and they provide paper & pens for youngsters… Yay. The location is ideally located in central Annecy and relatively calm considering its just off the rue Carnot and 2 mins from Courrier…Perfect if you’re shopping. Book though as they fill up very quickly! We’ve been many times and yet to be disappointed…. Deco stylish & modern.
CRESCENDO AT THE GALLERY LAFAYETTE – ANNECY
Galeries Lafayette, 25 Avenue du Parmelan, 74000 Annecy 04 50 51 15 71 http://www.crescendo-restauration.fr/restaurant-annecy-22.html (Recommended by Kady Duffy)
“It is well equipped for kids, and is a good solution for lunches on the run.”
BARGAIN: Prices that challenge any other competition : 4, 25 € (1 hot meal, breaded chicken aiguillettes, or salmon escalope, or pizza, or hamburger, or steak haché and unlimited vegetables + 1 dessert + 1 drink + 1 surprise). The set-up is very cafeteria style and cheap & cheerful.
http://www.crescendo-restauration.fr/espace-enfants.html
HIPPOPOTAMUS – ANNECY
4 Quai Eustache Chappuis, 74000 Annecy – 04 50 45 09 38 https://restaurant.hippopotamus.fr/restaurant/annecy/447 (Recommended by Amber)
“It has a small children’s area. Okay good high chairs and I think a changing table. It’s a chain…but it has a kid’s area!!”
Kids menu 7,50 € Large choice: Beef Brochettes, Burger, Chicken, Fish & Chips & choice of Dessert from fruit compotes, to ice creams etc.
BRASSERIE DES EUROPEENES – ANNECY
5 Quai Eustache Chappuis, 74000 Annecy – 04 50 45 00 81 http://www.brasserie-des-europeens.com/
Good brasserie in central location – something for everyone and large enough to cater for large groups. Welcomes families. Kids menu 12,30 € – Fish & Chips or Steak with Chips & Ice Cream. They do quite good seafood & moules/frites. We enjoy coming here either over Christmas when the Christmas market is on and you get cold watching the Christmas illuminations or on the terrace in the summer. The kids can play in-between the restaurant and the church on the pavement if they get bored in the summer.
ANNECY LE VIEUX
LE BEL ABRI – ANNECY LE VIEUX
5 av. de Chavoires, Annecy-le-Vieux +33 (0)4 50 23 31 10 – http://le-bel-abri.com/. Open everyday except Tuesdays – lunchtime & evenings
This is one of my favourite family friendly restaurants in the summer with a great terrace. They have just renovated to have a nice dining room overlooking the terrace and the lake. The food is extremely good, the location fabulous (ideal for a post swim, bike ride lunch spot) and they are very kid friendly. The owners have young kids. In the summer, there is often a little kid’s play area next to the bar where little ones can play and there is plenty of space to park pushchairs. The kids menu is 9,50 € and actually has a few healthy options and alternatives to the usual steak haché frites (which they also offer) …they offer fish, vegetables and rice too 😊 (as well as the usual suspects – nuggets and ham) and of course an ice cream.
At the moment, there are no baby changing facilities. There is a large disabled toilet and the owner informs me he is investigating putting a changing table in there too subject to the regulations.
LE WYN – ANNECY LE VIEUX
– Avenue du Petit Port, 74940 Annecy-le-Vieux, 04 50 27 62 05 wynrestaurant.fr (Tested by mamanwinneuse)
“We tested the Wyn, a restaurant located in Annecy-le-vieux on the shore of Lake Annecy. The atmosphere is relaxed, children are welcome. As for cooking, you will find Côte de boeuf, entrecote, rump steak, Wyner burger, etc … and there is the baby burger, a children’s menu at 10 euros – chicken or beef burges.
My kids ate the burger. It was really good.
The decor is original and the waiters are bearded (hipster style with tattoos). On the other hand, think of booking because this restaurant is super popular. The must … if one day the avenue of the small port is closed to cars, (the day of the fête du lac for example) go as you will have the view of the lake without the noise of cars. After a short stroll on the paquier, go along the lake via the cycle path and have lunch at the Wyn!”
Kids menu: 10 €
I would just add a few things as our girls love it here and it’s one of our locals. Please note that on an evening, they don’t take food orders until 20h. We tend to get there for 19h30 – let the kids get settled, choose their food etc. but this can be late for some families. The toilets are large but they don’t have baby changing facilities. The restaurant is large enough for pushchairs to be stored away. They have very mixed reviews on tripadvisor…we have always had great experiences but I would say pre-book and make sure you have enough time on your hands if they are super busy and remember it’s an American diner – French style 😉
LA REINE DES PRES – ANNECY LE VIEUX
7 av. de Chavoires – 74940 Annecy le Vieux – 04 50 23 50 48 http://www.lareinedespres.fr (Recommended by Kady Duffy & Jenna Van Oostendorp)
“Definitely have high chairs, changing facilities and kid’s menus. No French Fries, though. Gratin”
The location is stunning – lakeside. The place is run by Carine Veyrat – the daughter of Michelin starred local chef Marc Veyrat and is renowned for the quality of her patisseries. The kid’s menu is 15,50 € – a choice of a burger or fish served with either a gratin or vegetables, dessert is a cookie or apple tart served with a soda or a “sirop”. I do feel it’s my duty to mention that the reviews on tripadvisor that are very mixed regarding the service. Read them for yousleves.
L’ASSIETTE ROUGE – ANNECY LE VIEUX
34 Avenue d’Albigny, 74000 Annecy 04 50 23 02 46 http://www.creperieannecy.com (Recommended by Marie Tourne)
“L’assiette rouge it’s a creperie in Annecy le vieux (Albigny) most of the ingredients are organic and they are really great with kids !”
Great location and the deco looks nice from the website with what looks to be a nice little terrace.
AROUND ANNECY
TWEEDLE TEA – MENTHON ST BERNARD
499 Route de St Bernard, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, 74290 – 04 50 60 47 61
Super friendly tea shop/coffee shop run by the most delightful English lady Jenny & her French husband Vincent who is the Pastry chef. You can pop by for a cup of tea/coffee and indulge in one of their beautiful, delicious cakes, macarons or scones (all homemade) or you can have lunch from Tuesday – Saturday included. Fellow Mummy in the Mountains, Laure Thompson, has informed me that they now have a kids menu – ham or steak haché with chips 🙂 I can vouch that they are very accommodating and adapt everything to make it kid friendly. We had a lovely lunch when I went. The tea shop has recently moved to larger premises (literally a few doors down) and even has its own corner for local creators – you can buy interior design products from hjem or Powdermates clothing, doodle art etc. etc.
SUMMER – CHALET DU PORT – MENTHON SAINT BERNARD
580 Prom. Philibert d’Orlye, 74290 Menthon-Saint-Bernard – 04 50 60 05 83
http://business.google.com/website/le-chalet-du-port/
Great location and relatively good value for money with a varied menu. Particular thumbs up for their salads. You can pop by for an ice cream or have a nice lunch/diner in what can only be described as an idyllic location. Good option with kids as they can play on the grass next to the restaurant if they get bored.
Need to investigate if they have kids menus/changing facilities.
SUMMER – LA SAVOYARD – TALLOIRES
Route du Crêt, 74290 Talloires-Montmin, 04 50 60 71 54
Amazing view over the lake from the terrace. High chairs and kids menus. Fabulous location for the kids to have a run around after lunch on the beach (paid entrance in the summer).
SUMMER – LE PETIT PARADIS – PLAGE D’ANGON
Plage d’Angon, Talloires, 04 50 65 21 70, http://petitparadisdici.com/
As its name suggest, Le Petit Paradis is a little paradise in a fabulous location. The prices aren’t the cheapest but the location really is extraordinary and the food is delicious – so it is a good option for a special treat. You are literally on the lake and can arrive by boat which is idyllic (if you have one 😉 or use the water taxis if you don’t ). There is a large garden area with a lounge area, sofas in the shade and a bar…There is plenty of space for kids to play and there are even paddle boards available for customers to use. The staff are friendly and eager to make everything as comfortable as possible offering sun hats if it’s too hot, games for kids if they need entertaining… You can spend a full afternoon at this place easily.
SUMMER – LE SPINAKKER – DUINGT
590 Route d’Annecy, 74410 Duingt 04 50 88 24 88 http://www.le-spinnaker.com
Lakeside restaurant with its own private beach. This is great for kids…the restaurant looks over the private beach. So once your kids have finished eating they can play on the beach whilst you leisurely finish lunch 😊 There is a pontoon too so you can arrive by boat or water taxi. We once did this a few years ago with another family and came by water taxi http://www.water-taxi.fr/ and had a fabulous afternoon.
Food wise it’s relatively expensive but we have always enjoyed the food. The recent reviews on tripadvisor aren’t great however – indicating staff problems. I’d recommend investigating them…
STEFFS WEE COFFEE HOUSE – ST-JEAN-DE-SIXT
431 Route d’Annecy, 74450 Saint-Jean-de-Sixt 04 50 64 10 53 ( Recommended by Jess Turner)
“Stef’s Wee Coffee House doesn’t have high chairs or changing facilities (annoyingly), but it is really family friendly, very laid back, has a basket of colouring books/pens/sticker books and a blackboard with chalk for them to draw on and he doesn’t mind them wandering around or making noise or a mess!! His kids are often in there so he’s very amenable. oh, and he doesn’t do specific kids menus but has jacket pots as standard fayre so very easy to have a small one with whatever you like really.”
THE CROIX ST MAURICE – GRAND BORNAND
29 place de la grenette, 74450 Le Grand-Bornand, 04 50 02 20 05 – http://www.hotel-lacroixstmaurice.com/restaurant-chinaillon.html (Recommended by Jess Turner)
“The Croix St Maurice in Grand bornand is a great size, it does have the kids menu but I always order small portions of adult food for mine as it’s better, plus they have changing facilities and high chairs, the service is quick and they seem ok with noise and kids(!!!)”
LE FOLY – LAC DES CONFINS LA CLUSAZ
4340 Route des Confins, 74220 La Clusaz, 04 50 02 42 86
Le Foly is one of our favourite, family-friendly restaurants in the area. Its location is simply fabulous, located up at les confins overlooking the lake and surrounded in every direction by mountains. Whatever season you go there – the food, the service and the location never disappoint us. In the winter, you are greeted by a roaring open fire and a true, cosy, Alpine chalet feel. Our favourite dish in the winter is of course the fondue – which has become a firm favourite of my eldest daughter.
L’OUTA – LA CLUSAZ
88 Route des Grandes Alpes, 74220 La Clusaz, 04 50 02 45 35 http://www.restaurant-louta.fr (Recommended by Jess Turner)
“L’outa in la clusaz has a kid’s menu and high chairs and a changing mat but they treat the kids like mini adults which I like. They’re very kid friendly and do excellent pizza and pasta so always lots for the kid’s to eat.”
We too ate here this winter and I completely agree with Jess. The kids menu is 12,50 € for a steak with either gratin or pasta and an ice cream…There are lots of other things to choose from on the menu as Jess mentions – pizza etc.. The service was quick and super friendly for us too. There are booths to sit in which are great for kids – especially tired ones after skiing – who can have a wee sleep. They do great “gouters” too with crepes and waffles for post skiing snacks. Great reviews on Tripadvisor.
FISHFARM – PISCICULTURE – THONES
http://www.pisciculture-montremont.fr/ 04 50 02 00 85 La pisciculture de Montremont
74230 Thônes.
Full article here on this place which is fabulous !
Check their website for opening times, days. They are open from mid June – September.
B COM BRASSERIE – ARCHAMP
300 Route de Collonges, 74160 Archamps, 04 50 31 23 23 http://www.bcombrasserie.com/contact-et-acces Recommended by Bethany Bouchet
“It’s a little drive from Annecy, but B. com Brasserie in Archamp is fantastic. Great food (former chef de Bocuse, but this restaurant is more modern) and they have a play room as well as diaper changing station; kid’s menu’s includes fish, steaks, free range chicken etc.).”
PIZZA PEPONE – MEYTHET
1 Rue du Vieux Moulin, 74960 Meythet, 04 50 22 74 90 http://www.pizza-pepone.fr/ Open lunch & evening everday except Sunday & Monday. Recommended by Solenne Guibert
“Pizza Pepone in Meythet is a full service restaurant (not just a pizza pick-up) and they have a games room upstairs with a pinball machine and other arcade type games for older kids, plus a play area for smaller kids. They have a changing table in the bathroom as well as a couple high chairs…
The service is friendly, the food is good and affordable (average €15) …”
Restaurant Le Marilyn – VALIERES
625 Route de Val de Fier, 74150 Vallières, 2 km from Annecy – 04 50 62 10 60 http://www.lemarilyn.com (Tested by mamanwinneuse http://www.lesmamanswinneuses.com)
“Kids love it: they spend their time jumping on the trampolines and running around safely. And during this time, adults can eat quietly watching them from the terrace. It’s a real paradise for the family!
The welcome is very kid-friendly: the children are usually served first not to wait; the dishes are generous and of good quality even if they are simple. For information, the campsite “Les Charmilles” is also a nice place for holidays with its heated swimming pool.”
