This spring-like weather has us eager to head outdoors to meet up with friends for patio dining and drinks. There are SO many wonderful family-friendly breweries, distilleries, and restaurants in the Austin metro area that have Texas-sized yards, fields, trails and playscapes with plenty of room to roam, so get out there and check em’ out!

Take a look at our list of top park-like spots for food and drink and plan a relaxing outing with the family.

— Jester King Brewery
13187 Fitzhugh Rd.
Take a stroll on Jester Brewery’s 2-mile trail after enjoying a slice of pizza and an ice-cold beer. On this 165-acre ranch property located in southwest Austin, you can expect to meet some furry friends — and we’re not talking dogs, though they’re welcome, too!  Your kids will be delighted to see goats roaming around. Jester King is a very kid-friendly destination with plenty of seating options, and delicious pizza, too. They’re no longer taking reservations except for parties of 25+ but you can check their hours and options here.  Read about our visit.

Say “hi” to the young goats while you’re at Jester King.

— Beerburg Brewing
13476 Fitzhugh Rd.
Just down the road from Jester King, you’ll find Beerburg Brewing. On 15 acres of land, this sprawling location includes an outdoor beer garden, onsite dog park, sites for future gardens, and a large indoor taproom and live music every Friday evening. Their beer features locally foraged ingredients, and their onsite restaurant, Taqueria la Violeta, serves up traditional Interior Mexican street food. At Beerburg, all are welcome including four legged friends and kids of all ages. Open Monday through Saturday, 11am-8pm and Sundays 11am – 7pm.

Photo courtesy of Beerberg Brewing

— Family Business Beer Co.
19510 Hamilton Pool Rd.
Drive over to Dripping Springs for a visit to the Family Business Beer Co., a family-friendly taproom with a spacious outdoor seating area and playscape for the kiddos. Sit back and enjoy some live music, pizza, and a variety of beer and wine to choose from.  Walk-ins are welcomed and they’re open Thursday through Sunday with varying hours here.

Photo from the Family Business Beer Company’s website

— Treaty Oak Distilling
16604 Fitzhugh Rd.
Let the kids run at this 28-acre ranch in Dripping Springs. The distillery is complemented by Alice’s Restaurant, serving brisket burgers and daily specials like tacos, smash burgers, appetizers and more.  They also have a Family Movie Night on Thursdays with sliders, beer, and a movie playing inside and on the stage starting at 6pm.  You can check out more events, specials and classes here.

Photo from the Treaty Oak Facebook page

— Vista Brewing
13551 FM 150
For a great, relaxing setting in Driftwood, head to Vista’s Brewing Beer Garden. In addition to great drinks and food, you can take your family to roam 21 acres of beautiful Texas hill country.  When you get hungry, drop in for their seasonal menu Wednesday through Sunday.  Also check out their Sunday brunch that’s served a la carte ALL DAY from 11am – 6pm, with live music from 12pm – 2pm.

Photo from the Visa Brewing Facebook page, photo credit: @downright.social

— 12 Fox Beer Co.
4700 W Fitzhugh Rd.
This small batch European inspired craft beer spot in Dripping Springs has been recommended by many readers for its huge lawn, playscape, food trucks, beer, wine, cider, live music, and more.  They also serve traditional Texas BBQ by Gummies and have super cute on-property events listed on their Facebook page here.  They’re also kid and dog, friendly!

Photo from 12 Fox Beer’s Instagram

— Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery
101 Co Rd 409
Bring your Wolf pack to Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery in Spicewood for music, games, activities and 15 acres of fantastic views.  You can catch live music every weekend, as well as pop-up markets and tons of family-friendly events here. They’re also in the process of expanding to add indoor seating, more live music and cocktails.  You can read more about that here.

Photo from the Iron Wolf Ranch Facebook page

— 5 Soul Wine Co. & Frontyard Brewing
4514 Bob Wire Rd.
Another great spot in Spicewood includes lawn space shared by both a brewery and a winery. At Frontyard Brewing and 5 Soul Wine Co., you can sit back in a lawn chair and watch the kids play in the yard or on-site pickleball courts!

Photo from the 5 Soul Wine Co. Facebook page

— Mesa Rosa Mexican Restaurant
15515 Ranch Rd 620 N.
Located in North Austin, this spot has a great playscape as well as a sprawling lawn and outdoor patio. With more than three acres of land, it’s easy to relax and let the kids play while the grownups enjoy margaritas and great Mexican food on the patio.

Photo from Mesa Rosa’s Facebook page

— Bouldin Acres
2027 S Lamar Blvd.
This indoor/outdoor space on South Lamar resembles a hearty neighborhood block party, with an abundance of lawn games, pickleball courts, and a playground. Bouldin Acres also welcomes friendly pups to play in their backyard.  You can order from their food truck, CM Smokehouse, which has a great kids’ menu.

Photo from the Bouldin Acres Facebook page

— The Hive
10542 Menchaca Rd.
This South Austin spot serves coffee, food and cocktails for adults, and features awesome kid-friendly choices like bagels, muffins, sandwiches and breakfast tacos.  The Hive is buzzing with family friendly events including a Kids’ Maker’s Market the last Sunday of each month.

Photo from The Hive’s Facebook page

— Doc’s Backyard Grill
5207 Brodie Ln #100
Make plans for a trip to Doc’s Backyard Grill and enjoy one of their signature cocktails while the kids have fun in the play area. Doc’s does a great job of making you feel as if you’re in your own backyard — if your own backyard had delicious burgers and enormous chicken tenders.

Photo from the Doc’s Backyard Facebook page

— Dreamland Dripping Springs
2770 US-290
Dreamland has everything you’d want for a family outing, including mini-golf, pickle ball, live music and art.  (And don’t forget the Splash Pad, though it’s currently closed for repairs according to their website).  With a food and bar to supplement the fun, this place sounds like a dream, but it’s yours for exploring in Dripping Springs.

Photo from Dreamland’s Facebook page

More Park-Like Spots for Food, Drinks & Playtime:

— Domain NORTHSIDE
The lawn at the Domain Northside is a spacious and a perfect spot to let the kids get their energy out, while you stop for a quick shopping break or a meal. There are lots of neighboring restaurants like Culinary Dropout and JOI Asian Bistro to order take-out and a lawn picnic, or dine on their patios to let the kids run around where you can see them.

— The Triangle Park 
The Triangle park is located near many family-friendly restaurants, all of which offer to-go options, making it easier to enjoy a bite to eat while watching the kids on the playscape.

— Central Market North Lamar
This is a great choice for relaxing in a fun, outdoor setting. With live music, a playscape and a duck pond, your kids will have a great time while you relax and enjoy lunch or dinner with the whole family. It’s a bonus that you can pop into the Market to pick up some groceries while you’re there, too.

— Wildflower Café at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has so many fun events that keep us moving that we forget to appreciate the cafe. Located at the corner of the Courtyard by the Observation Tower, Wildflower Café serves salads, snacks, desserts, and beverages (including beer and wine.) Take the kids to learn about native Texan plant life and leave with dessert.

—  Spread & Co. at Laguna Gloria
Order a sandwich or cheese & charcuterie board from the on-site restaurant, Spread & Co. to enjoy on the lawn of this beautiful museum.  Take a day to enjoy several unique art-in-nature exhibits, and browse the museum shop before leaving.

Let us know your favorite spots to spread out and enjoy a drink and a bite with the kids in tow! Hit us up in the comments below to have yours added to our list.  

*Many thanks to Sabrina Macias for contributing to this article