Some days, cooking at home seems like a daunting task. Dining out feels like the reprieve we need, but eating at a restaurant with kids can also be stressful. So, finding a place where you can enjoy a great meal while your little ones play is a win-win!
Here is a list of restaurants with playgrounds and play areas in and around Collin County. There is something on this list for even the pickiest eaters!
Restaurants with Playgrounds
These restaurants have a designated playground for kids.
Central Market :: Plano :: While not a restaurant, Central Market offers yummy grab-and-go meals and snacks like sushi, breakfast tacos, and gelato that you can take to its small, outdoor playground.
Hat Creek Burger Company :: multiple locations :: Hat Creek has multiple locations in and around Collin County including Allen, Coppell, Little Elm, Richardson, Sachse, and McKinney. Each location has an outdoor play area with a jungle gym and slide. You can sit in the large, covered patio, or inside where it’s a bit cooler. Burgers and chicken tenders are the most popular items on the menu. Tuesday is Family Night! Take advantage of $2 off combos and $1 off kid’s meals from 5:00 p.m. to close.
Heritage Pizza :: The Colony :: Grab a pie while your kiddos play at Heritage Pizza in The Colony. Buy one pizza, get one on Thursday evenings after 4:00 p.m.; or you can enjoy a family meal any day of the week for $33. The family meal includes a large pizza, salad, cheese bread, and drinks.
La Vista Cocina + Cantina :: Carrollton :: Nosh on tacos and margs on the covered patio that’s attached to the playground with a seesaw and play structures for the kids.
Nicos Cocina :: Carrollton :: Nicos serves a brunch buffet on the weekends with $3 drink specials, and Tex-Mex favorites all week long. The covered patio is situated right next to a playground with slides and ramps, so you can keep an eye on your littles while you feast on delicious Mexican dishes and drinks.
Texas Truck Yard :: The Colony :: My kids always enjoy a visit to the Truck Yard, with its “truck museum,” open space, and play areas for both adults and kids. There is indoor seating and a bar, but all the fun is outside. Different food trucks park on the lawn selling all types of cuisine like barbecue and tacos, and you can enjoy live music every evening.
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The Yard :: McKinney :: An historic house in the heart of Downtown McKinney is home to The Yard. It serves up great eats and outdoor fun for the whole family. Kids can play ping pong, table tennis, and life-size connect four while you dine.
Watters Creek :: Allen :: There are lots of different restaurants to choose from at Watters Creek, plus a playground with a treehouse and turfed play space. Set your kids free on the treehouse, ambling up the bridges and down the slide while you enjoy a coffee at the nearby Frogg Coffee cafe. There is also a small pond with ducks.
Restaurants with Play Areas
These restaurants don’t have a designated playground like the ones mentioned above, but they do have space for kids to run around or games to play.
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Legacy Food Hall :: Plano :: Grab food from one of the many eateries, then head outside to the open area with board games and cards for the whole family to play. On weekends, you may find a live band on the stage overlooking the lawn.
Grandscape :: The Colony :: Visit one of the restaurants in the plaza for a meal, or grab an ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear. Then, stroll to the back to find an open grassy area for kids to run around, tucked behind Scheel’s department store, which also happens to boast an indoor Ferris wheel!
The Boardwalk Granite Park :: Plano :: Grab a burger at Chips, French cuisine at Edith’s, or a beer at Union Bear, then stroll the boardwalk and let the kids jump on the grassy mound.
The District at Willow Bend :: Plano :: Choose from a variety of eateries outside Willow Bend Mall where your kiddos can stretch their legs after in the outdoor area.
The Hub :: Allen :: Pull up a bean bag on the lawn at The Hub in Allen. Families can picnic on the field for sports watch parties or walk-in movies. The fun doesn’t stop outside, though — head inside for arcades at the Top Dog Arcade & Hotdoggery.
The Star :: Frisco :: Live out your fantasy of being a Dallas Cowboy for the day at The Star. Kids run and play on the large turf field before or after you grub at one of the many eating options within walking distance from this open area.
If I left your favorite place off the list of restaurants with playgrounds in Collin County, please share in the comments.
