One of the largest vacation spots on the East Coast of US, Ocean City in Maryland is a resort town on the Atlantic Ocean. Its easy accessibility from the Baltimore-Washington area makes it a hot tourist destination in the summer. From exploring the attractions like the Boardwalk, Ocean City Beach, Jolly Roger Amusement Park to treating yourself to luxurious sessions at spas, to enjoying the nightlife at clubs and casinos, there are myriad entertainment options for everyone. Visitors are also rewarded with amazing accommodation options like 2-bedroom hotels and Vrbo rentals. But Ocean City is not just for adults, there are so many attractions for kids too – amusement parks, play areas, parks and museums. Adventurous families can even indulge in fun water activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, wading in the shallow pools or just lazing around on the beach. The famous Ocean City Boardwalk is the epicentre of shopping and dining venues in the city. There are over 200 restaurants in Ocean City and a lot of them have suitable dining options for kids too. Some even have dedicated kid’s areas so that parents can dine in peace. Come and check out our recommendations of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Ocean City, Maryland.
1. Fish Tales
Located in the famous Bahia Marina, Fish Tales is a family-friendly casual beachfront restaurant. Children are always welcome at this restaurant, and in fact, Fish Tales has a large enclosed playground with a pirate ship as its central attraction. Parents can enjoy drinks and dinner while keeping an eye on the kids. There is even a boardwalk-style games arcade and a face painter for kids of all ages. The restaurant’s kids menu, titled ‘Lil Skippers’ has a variety of options like cheeseburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, pizza, etc. and the food is served on a frisbee that the kids get to keep after the meal. Apple slices, goldfish cookies, and a juice box or soft drink are also served with every meal.
Fish Tales
Address: 22nd Street Bayside Ocean City Maryland
Website: Fish Tales
Opening hours: 11am - 2am (daily) [seasonal]
2. Ropewalk Restaurant
Established in 1788 in Baltimore, the Ocean City franchise of Ropewalk restaurant is a seafood eatery that is suitable for the entire family. Situated on the bayfront, Ropewalk restaurant has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options. For the kids, there is a dedicated pirate-themed play area with slides, games and a sandy playground. The kid’s menu is also quite comprehensive and offers classic favourites like the hot dog, grilled cheese and hamburger along with interesting versions of crispy shrimp, pasta marinara, etc. All kids meals are served on a souvenir frisbee and a fishbowl slushie is also available with fountain drinks.
Ropewalk Restaurant
Address: 8203 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, Maryland 21842
Website: Ropewalk Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 10pm; Fri: 11:30am - 12am; Sat: 10am - 2am; Sun: 10am - 10pm [seasonal]
3. Dead Freddies Island Grill
Started in 2010, Dead Freddies Island Grill is a waterfront restaurant serving everything from seafood to burger to fresh salads. The kid-friendly features of this restaurant include a separate playground that has a pirate ship to play in while the adults can enjoy drinks and meals closeby. The restaurant also has a special kid’s menu titled ‘Little Pirates Menu’ that has ample choice for the kids with fun items like chicken planks, quesadilla, soft tacos, cheeseburger, etc. And all the meals are served with fries, sliced apples or apple sauce. There’s also a separate fun kid’s desserts menu where children can customize their ice cream which is served in a souvenir bucket and shovel.
Dead Freddies Island Grill
Address: 105 64th Street Bayside, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Dead Freddies Island Grill
Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 11am - 2am [seasonal]
4. The Bayside Skillet
Well-known as a pet-friendly restaurant, The Bayside Skillet is a fantastic dining option for kids too. Children of all ages are welcome here, with a special section in each menu – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – dedicated to the kids. At Bayside Skillet, the whole family can enjoy an early breakfast on the sunny deck, a lazy lunch after a dip in the ocean or just chill out over dinner while enjoying fabulous views of the bay. Kids can choose from a variety of crepes at breakfast time, and chicken tenders, nachos and grilled cheese for lunch or dinner. And the mouth-watering desserts are a must not just for the kids but adults too! After dinner, your family plus your furry friends can go back to your pet-friendly rental and call it a day.
The Bayside Skillet
Address: 7701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: The Bayside Skillet
Opening hours: 7am - 2pm (daily)
5. Layton's Family Restaurant
Open only for breakfast and lunch, this Ocean City restaurant is very popular with the locals. Besides being a family-owned restaurant, it is family friendly too and even has a special section on its menu for the kids. Besides breakfast favourites like their speciality doughnuts, pastries, muffins or Belgian waffles, children have the choice of silver dollar pancakes, French toast, fish fingers, peanut butter and jelly sandwich with smiley fries, and much more.
Layton's Family Restaurant
Address: 1601 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Layton’s Family Restaurant
Opening hours: 6am - 2pm (daily)
6. de Lazy Lizard
Enjoy bay water views of de Lazy Lizard restaurant’s private marina and let the kids run wild in the pirate-themed playground while you sip a cool beer watching the kids play nearby. This family-friendly restaurant has a cosy indoor dining room, sandy beachfront dining, and even an open-air bar. On the children’s menu, kids can choose from cheeseburger, hot dogs, nuggets, etc. They can even have cool drinks like ‘Kid’s Slushy’ served in a souvenir palm tree cup or a ‘Fish Tank’ served in a souvenir coconut-shaped cup.
de Lazy Lizard
Address: 305 1st St, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: de Lazy Lizard
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 11am - 2am [check for changes]
7. Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant
A friendly neighbourhood Italian food restaurant, Trattoria Lombardi’s is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. Known for their soups, salads, pizzas, and pasta prepared with a variety of different sauces, Trattoria Lombardi’s pays attention to its ‘little’ customers too. Of course, the whole family can enjoy pizzas together, but the restaurant also has a special kid’s menu with burgers, chicken fingers and pasta if your child prefers it.
Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant
Address: 9203 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Trattoria Lombardi’s Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 4pm - 9pm; Thu: 4pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm (closed on Wed)
8. Happy Jack Pancake House
Operating as a family-owned restaurant since the past 56 years, Happy Jack Pancake House is the go-to place in Ocean City for a big weekend family breakfast. Try one of their 20 different varieties of pancakes or omelettes, French toast, healthy options or gluten-free options. For the little ones, there is a separate kid’s section on the menu that has pancakes (with the option of adding M&Ms as a topping), eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, and fresh fruit and yoghurt cup options. And a drink comes free with every kid’s meal!
Happy Jack Pancake House
Address: 2504 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Happy Jack Pancake House
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 7am - 12:30pm (closed Mon - Fri)
9. Barn 34
With a renovated restaurant that is done up in a contemporary style, Barn 34 offers guests dishes that are their take on East Coast classics in a modern dining room, loft and bar. Barn 34’s signature Captain Crunch French toast is a must-have – for both adults and kids. On the kid’s section of the menu, there are pancakes, eggs, and toast for breakfast, while mac and cheese, chicken fingers etc. make up the lunch and dinner section.
Barn 34
Address: 3400 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Barn 34
Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 7:30 am - 10pm; Sun: 7:30am - 1:30pm
10. Mother's Cantina
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Popular for their simple Tex-Mex fare and delicious margaritas, Mother’s Cantina serves flavourful food made from fresh, organic ingredients. This kid-friendly restaurant welcomes children of all ages and offers a special menu created just for the little ones. Kid tenders and fries, mac and cheese bites, Kid Dilla and hand-patted kid burger and fries are just some of the options on this special menu. And the delectable desserts at Mother’s Cantina are a treat for the whole family!
Mother's Cantina
Address: 28th Street Plaza, 2810 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, MD 21842
Website: Mother’s Cantina
Opening hours: 12pm - 2am (daily)
Family-time in Ocean City
From pirate-themed playgrounds to face painting artists to souvenir frisbees and drink cups, restaurants in Ocean City go all out to woo the kids! Apart from the city’s family resorts and popular festivals, these family-friendly restaurants make sure that kids and adults are guaranteed a good time in the fabulous coastal city of Ocean City, Maryland.
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