Every parent knows that finding the right place to eat can make or break a family outing. It has to be somewhere with food that’s simple enough for kids but still tasty for adults, an atmosphere that’s not too overwhelming but loud enough to mask the chatter of children, and have prices that don’t break the bank.

If you’re wondering where to go with kids to eat, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite family-friendly restaurants across Nelson, Kaslo, Castlegar, Trail, and the Slocan Valley.

Let us know your picks in the comments below!

Nelson

The General Store Restaurant (Hume Hotel)

The General Store Restaurant has always been one of our go-to spots for a nice meal with the whole family. 

With a motto of “Family Feast. Happy Kids. Welcoming Atmosphere”, it’s a spot where families should feel confident taking kids of all ages. 

They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and their menu has plenty of family favourite dishes that will satisfy the picky eaters in your family. The General Store has lots of great sandwich options, burgers, bowls, and pastas. They have a full size menu of traditional and modern favourites, and everyone from kids to grandparents will have an easy time picking out something they love here!

The ambiance is casual enough that the usual chatter and energy of small children is welcome, and the decor is interesting for kids to look at, with interesting windows and historic dining room features from the hotel’s heyday.

The service at The Hume is also perfect for kids! The hotel treats their team like family, and many have been serving at The Hume for many years now. They’re a friendly bunch and do a really great job prioritizing the kids to make sure their meals arrive quick enough to make a meal here a great experience!

Address: 422 Vernon St, Nelson
Phone: 1-877-568-0888
Website: humehotel.com/general-store-restaurant/

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Jackson’s Hole

Similar to the General Store, Jackson’s Hole has the perfect vibe for families, with a dedicated family-friendly side of the restaurant and plenty of space for larger groups.

Their menu is fairly traditional pub fare, but don’t let that put you off, because Jackson’s Hole has been one of our favourites for many years! Family favourites like burgers, nachos, chicken sandwiches, salads, and appies make this an easy choice for the whole family.

They’ve even got an authentic shawarma rotisserie for Halifax-style wraps filled with delicious beef, veggies, and sauce.

The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with enough separation between tables to feel like a cozy family dinner. You won’t have to worry about your kids being noisy, as there’s a separate side for adults only where diners can get away for a quiet meal if they choose.

Address: 524 Vernon St, Nelson
Phone: (250) 354-1919
Website: instagram.com/jacksonsholegrill/

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Vienna Cafe

How about a meal where your older kids can go shop for a used book after brunch? Let me introduce you to the Vienna Cafe!

Serving up breakfast, brunch, and lunch, the Vienna is a great spot to take kids for a meal. It’s affordable, with several items appearing on our article featuring menu items under $12.

They’re one of the best breakfast places in Nelson, with tasty breakfast sandwiches, French toast, and omelettes. They’re equally excellent at lunch, with tons of soup-and-sandwich combos under $15.

Once you’re done with your meal, head over to the used bookstore section of the cafe and browse for a book to take home. It’s entertainment and lunch all in one convenient package.

Address: 411 Kootenay St, Nelson
Phone: (250) 354-4646
Website: theviennacafe.com

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Leo’s Pizza & Greek Taverna

Pizza and pasta are usually surefire hits with kids, and Leo’s has a great menu of family favourites in both areas.

With a casual dining room suitable for the whole family and staples like spaghetti and meatballs, fabulous handcrafted pizzas, and the best greek salad in town.

If your kids are old enough to appreciate Greek food, their sampler platter has been a family favourite for many years, and includes chicken and beef souvlaki, dolmades, pita and tzatziki, greek salad and rice

Their pizzas are phenomenal (especially the Greek Special), and priced well. They’re served up piping hot, big enough to share, and will have the whole family leaving happy.

Address: 712 Nelson Ave, Nelson
Phone: 250) 352-3232
Website: leospizzaandgreektaverna.com

Kaslo

Corked Fork Restaurant 

Right downtown Kaslo, this breakfast and lunch spot has it all: every version of eggs you can imagine, smoked meat sandwiches, smash burgers that will knock your socks off, and fish and chips.

The Corked Fork might not be open for dinner, but it’s hard to beat their selection of breakfast and lunch options. They’re very family friendly, with smiling faces that recognize most of their local customers by name and are more than happy to meet new faces.

There’s plenty of easy to love dishes here for the whole family, from breakfast wraps or eggs benny to Grandpa’s Grilled Cheese and Banh Mi sandwiches, there’s lots to love at this family kitchen style restaurant.

Address: 419 Front Street, Kaslo
Phone: (250) 353-2955
Website: https://www.corkedfork.com

Castlegar

Wayback Burgers 

If your family is in the mood for burgers and shakes, Wayback Burgers offers a classic, casual diner experience that’s a step up from your usual fast food.

Burger joints are always a hit with the kids, and this one is a fun place to visit, with its retro styling and simple menu making it an easy recommendation here.

Located right downtown, you’ll find great burgers, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, grilled cheese, dogs, and other favourites here. We think they’re good value (especially considering the price of traditional fast food these days), and are a hit with all ages.

Address: 1502 Columbia Ave, Castlegar
Phone: (778) 460-2225
Website: https://order.koomi.com/wayback-burgers-bc-jgKPYEk3eM/en

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Maple Mirch

Castlegar Burger Month champion Maple Mirch is our pick for families looking for a more adventurous culinary experience.

It’s got plenty of safe options for the picky eaters in your family (salads, burgers, fried chicken etc), but their menu has plenty of other things to offer!

There’s naan flatbreads with Indian fusion sauces, sausage and apricot or BBQ chicken and bacon. Their menu goes on with fried chicken tacos, Bombay Cobb salad with paneer and cumin herb ranch, and mango chicken sandwiches.

If that sounds too adventurous for your kids, don’t worry – there’s a kids menu for them, with plenty of safe options like fried chicken, pasta, sandwiches, and more.

For the picky adults in your group, there’s baby back ribs, award winning burgers, and staple sandwiches like the chicken club and ham and brie.

We’d wager this is a place where the entire family can find something to love, and those looking for a little adventure will leave happy too!

Address: 4370 B Minto Rd, Castlegar
Phone: (778) 460-1940
Website: maplemirch.com

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The Bombi

For breakfast and lunch in Castlegar, you’d be hard pressed to beat the Bombi for price and selection. It’s a perfect place for families, with casual decor, a large menu of family favourites, and a pleasantly surprising price too!

This how diners used to feel – an affordable place to grab some eggs and pancakes or a burger, wrap, or sandwich. It’s quick, no fuss casual food for the whole family, and one of our recommendations for planning a day trip to Castlegar!

Address: 1983 Columbia Ave #100, Castlegar
Phone: (778) 460-2644

Trail

The Colander Restaurant 

One of our picks for the best restaurants in Trail, The Colander Restaurant is famous for its family style service and its traditional Colander Special.

This classic favourite, featuring salad, buns, all-you-can-eat spaghetti with meatballs, chicken, and jojo potatoes, has always been priced with the aim of making it affordable to everyone, and it’s still a great deal in 2025!

For the kids, they have “Children’s Spaghetti & Meatball” prices for different age groups (4-6 and 7-10 years old), making it an easy recommendation for this list. Kids have been eating at the Colander for generations, and it’s as good today as ever.

The atmosphere is very kid friendly, with chalk paintings of classic characters adorning the walls, family-style tables, and plenty of tables for families of any size. Give us any excuse to visit The Colander and we’ll jump in the car right away!

Address: 1475 Cedar Ave., Trail
Phone: 250-364-1816
Website: colandertrail.ca

Slocan Valley

Frog Peak Café (Crescent Valley) 

A standout gem in the Slocan Valley (located in Crescent Valley at the south end of the Slocan Valley Rail Trail) is the Frog Peak Café. 

This isn’t just a place for the family to eat; it’s a place kids will keep asking to come back to. Housed in a restored heritage building dating back to 1896, the café is a busy community hub.

Perfect for parents, it has a dedicated play area for children and a beautiful outdoor patio and gardens in the summer.

Serving a full breakfast/brunch menu, paninis, soups, salads, treats, and specialty drinks, it’s a perfect spot for a relaxed family meal where kids can burn off some energy. The welcoming atmosphere and dedicated space for kids makes this a top pick if you’re wondering where to go with kids in the Slocan Valley.

Address: 1418 BC-6, Crescent Valley
Phone: (250) 359-7261
Website: frogpeakcafe.com

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Sleep is for Sissies

Head a little further up the valley to Winlaw and you’ll find Sleep is for Sissies.

Open for breakfast and lunch all week, and dinner service Fridays and Saturdays, this hidden gem has all the ingredients for a great family meal.

Their dining room is one-of-a-kind in the area, with vaulted ceilings, wood beams and lots of windows. With all the wood features and high ceilings, it reminds us of a Scandinavian style hall – perfect for dinner with the whole family.

It’s a place that embraces the village feel of the valley, with friendly faces and warm service. It’s not uncommon to chat here with other locals, and you’ll see plenty of other families trying out new dishes all year long. The atmosphere is well suited to family chatter and enthusiastic kids, so you’ll fit right in!

The menu is impressive too, with breakfast bowls, wraps, and sandwiches, as well as classic American style breakfast dishes and eggy benny. There’s a full slate of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and salads, as well as mains like steaks and fish and chips on offer here.

It’s even got some international dishes that are totally awesome, such as their falafel bowl if you’re in the mood for something outside of the ordinary.

Address: 5622 BC-6, Winlaw
Phone: (250) 226-7663
Website: facebook.com/p/Sleep-Is-For-Sissies-100057400451957/

A Few Tips:

Go Early: It’s amazing what a difference going a half an hour early can make. Going for dinner? Try going at 4:30 for a quieter restaurant with speedier service times.

Pack a Few Distractions: While some restaurants offer activity packs, having a couple of small, quiet toys or colouring books on hand can be a lifesaver.

Call Ahead: Especially in the summer, and in tourist cities like Nelson and Kaslo, expect to wait for a table if you haven’t made reservations. Call ahead if you know you’re planning a visit. All the restaurants in this guide are big enough they should have reasonable wait times, but a reservation never hurts!

Going out with kids can be a challenge – good for you for taking the first step! Picking a restaurant where noise isn’t an issue and the menu appeals to kids is the hardest part, so if you know of other spots that aren’t on our list let us know in the comments below!