The Greens North Sydney: Sydney’s Best Cafes For Kids

Of course, we should have got here long ago. The Greens North Sydney is a truly family-friendly Sydney dining establishment, and in such a good spot too.

I’ve been following the Greens on Instagram for ages but only got down here just recently. Finally!

The Greens North Sydney is a large and spacious cafe/restaurant. There are many different areas inside and outside too.

This venue used to be known lovingly as North Sydney Bowlo, and indeed the bowling greens are still there and in use. And, yes, you can join as a member  and bowl to your heart’s content.

Come along, I’ll take you on a tour.

The wide outdoor spaces seat well over 100 people. My kids warmed up their hands on the fire, pit. Lovely views too from here.

Plenty of pretty, homely decor scattered here and there.

Lots of space and lots of variety in where to sit and eat.

We visited mid-week out of school holidays and The Greens was pretty quiet. You can bet it’s much busier at the weekends, especially on Sundays when they have a petting zoo there for the kids’ delight.

Indoors there are several adjoing areas, each with its own style.  Above is the room I’d sit in if I was with my Mum.

The main space had plenty of room, here’s a mothers’ group taking over a few tables.

Love this groovy dining space.

My guys chose the tall tables, handily close to the bar, cheers kids.

There were lovely views out over the bowling greens. This area of North Sydney is very high up above the Harbour, lovely.

The Greens North Sydney

50 Ridge St, North Sydney NSW 2062

02 9245 3099

The Greens website is here

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11.30am – 11pm

Frinday:  11.30am – midnight

Saturday & Sunday: 9am – 11pm

Kitchen Opening Hours:

Breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays:  9am – 11.30am

Lunch from Monday – Friday:  12pm – 3pm

Lunch on Saturdays and Sundays: 12pm – 5.30pm

Dinner every day: 5.30pm – 9.30pm

This large and spacious cafe/restaurant is a winner for families and for meeting up with groups of family and friends. The Greens welcomes kids and aims to make sure they are kept happy and well fed. The atmosphere is a bit old-fashioned and vintage and a bit cool and modern and groovy too. I loved that mixture.

If you think that it might remind you of the famous Grounds in Alexandria, you are right. It has a similar feel and appeal to families.  The Greens North Sydney still operates as a bowling club, and diners have to sign in as is usual in NSW clubs.

The Greens menu has plenty of healthy options, like the breakfast milkshakes The Greens Breakfast Jar with granola, yoghurt, lemon curd and pomegranate jelly.  But there are also the usual brekky favourites too, plus chips and doughnuts too.

Drinks include juices and smoothies, plus coffees, hot chocolates. There’s a bar here too.

The main meals menu includes barramundi, burgers, pork belly and steak. For lunch we tried all three meals on the Little People’s Menu: cheeseburger and chips, fish and chips and roast chicken and salad.  These were demolished by the hungry twins.

I tried the roasted pumpkin salad with cranberries, almonds and wild rocket pesto. This was excellent, tasty and with sweet and sour flavours plus plenty crunch.  A starter of grilled halloumi with olive-fennel tapenade, shaved radish and apple was also tasty.

There’s a specialist Crustacean cabana area outdoors with its own seafood menu.

The Greens has its own vegetable garden which provides food for the kitchen and to make the jams and chutneys which are sold.

Orders are placed at the cafe/bar and then brought to the tables.

Toilets/Baby change: Baby change in bathrooms

Highchairs: Yes

Children’s menu: Yes, three items only though

Mum’s report:  Come when it’s not too busy so that the kids have space to move around. 

Extra: The Greens is within St Leonards Park and right beside North Sydney Oval. There’s heaps of space to run around afterwards in the park. Also close to North Sydney Library.

North Sydney Produce Market takes place beside the library on the first and third Saturday of each month from 8am to 12 noon.

Read more about bowling at The Greens on the website here.

Parking: There is small carpark at The Greens, follow the marked roadway from Ridge Street. Otherwise there is meter parking on Ridge Street and surrounding streets.

Bus stop nearby: Yes

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This is the car park right beside The Greens, it’s reserved for The Greens customers only.

Checking out the views over the Harbour after our lunch.

Disclaimer: We were kindly hosted by The Greens, all opinions are our own.