When you’re looking to spend a night out on the town with the family, there are endless options in Austin. You could start with an activity, like a project at Art Garage or Mini-Golf, and follow it up with dinner at one of the spots on our list of Restaurants with Playgrounds. You could see a show together and follow up with food trucks, or you could grab a slice at a Favorite Pizza Shop and follow it up with Boba or a Cold Treat. Read on to hear some of our go-to Ideas for a Night Out with the Kids.
— Head to a kid-friendly spot for dinner
If you’re looking to treat the family to a dinner out in Austin, we have lots of options for you to consider. Whether you’re looking for something more formal or somewhere the kids can nosh and play at the same time, check out our roundups below for the best of the best the city has to offer:
- The Best Kids’ Menus in Austin (Are Not Where You’d Expect!)
- Restaurants with Playgrounds
- Restaurants Where You Can See Animals
- Restaurants with a View
- Best Gluten-Free Options in ATX
- Our Favorite Food Trucks For Kids
- Kids Eat Free Deals in Austin
- 10 Great Places for Soup
- Best Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Austin
- Family Favorites: Pizza in Austin
- The Best Dang BBQ in Austin
- Best Family-Friendly Italian Spots
Decided to stay in, but don’t feel like cooking? Order in from one of our Favorite Takeout Spots in ATX.
— Book Something Creative
- Painting with a Twist | Check out their events, where you get to paint your own creations. Most are ages 6+
- Upstairs Circus ATX | With more than 25 DIY Projects to choose from, Upstairs Circus is a bar and creative space where you can create things like distressed wood art and beautiful bracelets. While they don’t specifically cater to kids, all ages are welcome with an accompanying adult, and kids can pick their own pprojectsto create. Reservations are recommended, and you can book yours here.
- The Art Garage Austin | With tons of options for folks of all ages, The Art Garage Austin also has a walk-in option where you can paint your own pottery, fuse glass, or make mosaics. This makes it easy to do something creative on your own time and make a day out of it with brunch with the kids and a trip to Art Garage afterward!
More Activities to Extend Your Outing:
- Places for Makers in Austin: Experiments, Tinkering, and Other Science Fun
- Have a blast with the family at Escape Game Austin
- Hit up one of Austin’s Family-Friendy Arcades
- Check out Where to Mini-Golf in ATX
- Drive-In Movie Theaters in Austin
- Top 10 Austin Museums for Kids
— See a Show or Some Live Music
There are so many family-friendly shows and theatres in Austin, and you can keep up with upcoming events on our calendar here, as well as our FREE events calendar here. For even more ideas, check the list below:
- Austin’s Children’s Theatre Roundup
- Music Stuff: Family-Friendly Festivals and Concerts
- Music on the Patio @ Central Market
- Driftwood Nights @ Vista Brewing
— Grab Some Dessert
Austin has no shortage of delicious desserts, from churros to ice cream, and tons of bakeries and candy shops, too. Check out some of our faves for the cherry on top of your night out!
- Ice Cream in Austin
- Where to Get Great Boba in Austin
- The Most Delicious Sno Cones in ATX
- Cupcakes in Austin
- Where to Get Cold Treats in ATX
- The Best Cookies in Austin
- Austin’s Sweetest Candy Shops
- Where to Get Great Boba in Austin
Anything you’d add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
