Nappies aren’t actual naps (for you) and burpees aren’t for workouts. Kitchen cabinets have more sippies than pints glasses. But parenthood doesn’t mean abandoning your beloved microbrews. Los Angeles is home to beer spots that are not just kid friendly, but go above and beyond to cater to families. Here the 10 best spots in town where you can grab a growler and grub with the whole fam. photo: Diana B. via yelp This place is hipster family heaven. Tattooed waitresses and fedora wearing bartenders are friendly and ready to serve up kiddie favorites to the tots and cold microbrews to the parents. Can’t decide on just one pint? Order the popular beer flight of six different brews. The whole family will love the made to order wood fired pizzas that come with a variety of organic toppings. They don’t mind special orders, which is great for picky eaters. Mohawk Bend even earned special mention by kids when we asked about their favorite meals in town! Good to know: Try going for an early dinner.
The place is pretty empty, and the service is snappy. photo: Scott W. via yelp Golden Road Brewing Company They might have been purchased by Anheuser-Busch, but Golden Road hasn’t lost Its laid back neighborhood vibe. Walk into this place and the first thing that hits you is the sheer number of parents with wee ones. Heck, this place even has a kid’s menu and lawn games when sitting still becomes too tough. The 32,000 square-foot brewery and pub houses a 15-barrel and 50-barrel system in a former Southern Pacific switching station. You can still catch a train going by every now and again—a great attraction for the kids. Try the hand crafted Bavarian Pretzel with a side of spicy mustard and a tall pint of Golden Road Hefeweizen. Did we mention there’s a doggie patio? You can bring Fido along too. They’re currently at work on a new spot in DTLA. Good to know: Make use of the valet parking. It’s free and beats parking a few blocks away. Self parking is scarce.
5410 West San Fernando Rd. They play bean bag toss outside, you relax in or out with a drink—24 beers on tap, always rotating. (That’s at the Burbank location; our favorite when you’re with the kids.) And if you’re looking for something more than suds, there are also 10 wines and divine drinks where everything from bitters to tonics is made in house. And the food isn’t an afterthought. It’s local, organic, and sustainable—all the things you’re looking to feed your kids, in a casual and welcoming atmosphere. Superb sourced drinks, and a place where kids love to play (and then clean their plates). Simmzy’s Pub can be found at the original Manhattan Beach spot, in Long Beach, Burbank and Venice. Check the website for directions and hours. photo: Rock and Brews facebook page Rock and Brews El Segundo See all those kids in soccer uniforms and t-ball jerseys? This is a popular post-game hang for parents. Take in a game on over four big screens, while the kids run circles around your table or climb the toddler jungle gym.
They just added a new slide too. (We told you it was kid friendly!) Discover hard to find beers on tap—there’s a list of over 39 draft beers and even more in bottles. Try local favorites like the rotating El Segundo brew or the Eagle Rock Manifesto. Share a pizza or a basket of cooked to order wings with the fam. Kid menu and crayons included. Atwater Village is known for its laid-back vibe and family friendly atmosphere. Links n Hops is no different. Tons of high chairs, a kid’s menu that pleases everyone, plus a pretty impressive vegan menu—what more is there to love about this place? How about the dozens of beers on tap, and they change regularly based on season and availability so there’s always something new to try. Let the kids help you choose brats or bangers from the meat counter, then watch as your dogs are grilled to order. EB’s Beer and Wine in the Original Farmers Market Most people know the Farmers Market for its variety of cheap eats, but hidden in the morass of Cajun, Thai, French and Mexican food stands is EB’s Beer and Wine Bar.
Show up on a Friday or Saturday night and enjoy live music and drink specials. There’s always a new beer on tap including local favorites from Golden Road Brewery. And the place is also right next door to a yummy Italian stand, where they sell pizza by the slice and small pasta plates for kids. The beauty of this spot is that the kids can roam while you sit back and enjoy the open air space. Pack a deck of cards or your favorite board game and settle in for an impromptu family game night; anything goes at the Farmer’s Market. EB’s Beer and Wine 333 W 3rd St. photo: Heidi De Vries via Creative Commons Wurstküche Dogs and Brew In the mood for some of juiciest brats, links and dogs you’ve ever tasted? Head to the German inspired Wurstküche, purveyor of exotic grilled sausages. Be adventurous with a grilled rattlesnake and rabbit link, but get the old-fashioned brats or vegetarian links for the kiddos. Located in Downtown Los Angeles arts district, you’ll be hanging with the hip crowd.
With over 24 imported beers on tap, you’ll be able to find something you like, and trying to find that perfect pint is half the fun. The extra crispy Belgian fries with homemade dipping sauces are sure to please everyone. Family style tables are great for crowds. Wurstküche Downtown Dogs and Brew 800 East Third St. Bludso’s Bar and Que This place boasts not one but three large screen TVs so you never miss a game (or presidential debate?!). Mix that with some of the best barbecue food in the city, cold suds, kiddie favorites like mac and cheese, and you’ve got a great family meal in the making. The place is always hoppin’ so a big family table of rowdy kids and parents goes virtually unnoticed. Try going during the lunch hour, instead of dinner, because they’ve been known to run out of brisket, which is the best meat on the menu. As for the beer, the taps never run dry. Also, kids love that’s practically the only green things on the menu are pickles and collard greens that are drenched in yummy fats.
Healthy, no, but tasty and taste bud pleasing: oh, yeah! 609 N La Brea Ave. photo: Owen T. via Yelp Awesome food, from the team behind Starry Kitchen. Retro pricing, where each token is a quarter, just like the good old days. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food choices. And a killer selection of beer. Parents love the tofu balls, Brussels sprouts and garlic noodles, while kids devour the mac and cheese and bacon, burgers and fries alongside the suds. Kids are welcome until 9 p.m., but we find it’s best to bring kids on the early side (they open at 4 p.m. on the weekends and 5 p.m. on weekdays) before local hipsters takeover the joint. Bonus: you get to introduce them to your favorite arcade classics, and then sit back and sip while they stay entertained for hours. 1931 W. Sunset Blvd. Coming Soon: Firestone Walker Brewery, Venice Slated to open later this spring, Firestone Walker Brewery Venice is going to be the next go-to family friendly beer spot in town.