French · Nottingham
A proper French bistro tucked into the city centre, with the cosy, slightly grown-up feel of a family restaurant on the continent — beautiful decor, unhurried service that leaves you alone until you wave. It's more date night than soft play, but there are high chairs, a children's menu, buggy access and outdoor tables when the weather plays along, and vegan options too. The set menu du jour on the blackboard (around £25 for two courses) keeps it affordable; the steak frites with peppercorn sauce is the thing to order, the terrine comes with proper fresh baguette, and the café gourmand and crème brûlée are worth the extra. Food can arrive fast — they put on extra chefs on theatre nights. One snag: it's snug and calm rather than boisterous, so it suits older children or a well-timed early lunch better than a wriggly toddler at 7pm.
A little something creative for your next meal out. Filled with colouring, simple drawing prompts for cute animals, origami and conversation starters designed to bring more play, laughter and connection to the table. 3 free printable packs for toddlers, preschoolers and primary-aged children.
Central Italian where children can watch wood-fired pizzas being made — generous portions, ground-floor baby changing, and worth booking at weekends.
Relaxed Nottingham spot for shareable West African and Afro-Caribbean food, rated 4.6 across nearly 1,000 reviews.
Warm, easy pizza stop with high chairs, kids' menu and fast weekday lunches — pricey, but service is friendly and quick.