Family Friendly Restaurants in Montrose: Patios, Kids Menus, Brunch
Date Published
Here's a Montrose parenting trick worth knowing: Niko Niko's phone line spells out 713-528-GYRO, and its kids menu has a dish called the Pitzza, which is marinara and mozzarella baked on pita bread. Hand that to a picky six-year-old and you've solved dinner. Montrose has a reputation for late nights and good bars, but in daylight it's one of the easiest inner-Loop neighborhoods to eat in with kids. It has patios, breakfast that starts at 7 a.m., and a handful of long-running family businesses that have been feeding the neighborhood since the 1970s and '80s.
This is our shortlist of family friendly restaurants in Montrose: eleven places where you can show up with a stroller, eat early and leave happy. Most have a kids menu, several open for breakfast, and a few are best for the 5 o'clock table with older kids.
How we define Montrose
People argue about where Montrose ends, so here's our line. For this guide, Montrose runs from Allen Parkway in the north to US 59 (the Southwest Freeway) in the south, and from Shepherd Drive in the west to Spur 527 and Bagby Street in the east. Every pick below sits inside those lines, along lower Westheimer, Fairview, Montrose Boulevard and Richmond Avenue. For the wider neighborhood, start with our Montrose area guide.
The quick list
- Best kids menu: Niko Niko's, with kid-sized gyros, falafel, hummus and the Pitzza.
- Best early breakfast: La Mexicana or Baby Barnaby's, both open at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
- Best special-occasion brunch: Hugo's Sunday brunch buffet, which has a separate price for kids 12 and under.
- Best patio with the dog along: Barnaby's Cafe or The Burger Joint.
- Best pastry bribe: Common Bond, which opened its first bakery in Montrose.
- Best dessert stop: Van Leeuwen at Montrose Collective.
How we chose
We looked for at least one real reason a parent would pick each place: a kids menu, an early opening time, a patio, or food that both a toddler and a food-obsessed adult will order happily. Every restaurant had to show its Montrose address and current hours on its own official website when we last checked. Kids menu details come from each restaurant's published menu.
Hours, prices and menus change, so treat everything below as "typically" and check the restaurant's site before you load up the car. Several of these places get busy on weekend mornings, and that's when early arrival helps most.
Breakfast and early starts
La Mexicana
Fairview, 1018 Fairview St · Mexican and Tex-Mex · open daily from 7 a.m.
La Mexicana started out in the 1950s as a little neighborhood grocery selling sandwiches and tacos. The Treviño family has run it as a full restaurant since 1982. Breakfast is served all day, every day, which matters more than you'd think when one kid wants chilaquiles at 4 p.m. and another wants a breakfast taco. The flour tortillas are handmade in house daily.
For kids: there's a kids plates section, served with rice and beans. A cheese quesadilla is the safe bet.
Best for: a 7 a.m. weekday breakfast before school or a lazy all-day-breakfast Saturday.
Baby Barnaby's
Fairview, 602 Fairview · breakfast · weekday mornings and weekend brunch hours
This is the little breakfast sibling of Barnaby's Cafe, right next door to the original. It typically opens at 7 a.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. on weekends, and it closes by early afternoon, so plan for a morning visit.
Insider tip: weekday breakfast typically wraps up at noon, so this one is a morning-only plan. The full Barnaby's Cafe next door picks up at lunch.
Best for: early risers with toddlers who are done sleeping by 6.
Empire Cafe
Lower Westheimer, 1732 Westheimer Rd · cafe · open daily from 7:30 a.m.
Empire Cafe has been the neighborhood's coffee-and-people-watching corner for years. It sits on the stretch of Westheimer the cafe itself calls Houston's legendary "curve." Breakfast runs until 11 a.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends, and the menu has a whole section for cereals, pancakes and fresh fruit, including pancakes and a French toast made with rustic Italian bread. Later in the day, there's pizza and pasta.
Best for: a mixed group where the adults want a real latte and the kids want pancakes.
Common Bond Bistro & Bakery
Lower Westheimer, 1706 Westheimer Rd · bakery and bistro
Common Bond opened its very first bistro and bakery in Montrose in May 2014. The pastry case does the persuading for you: butter, chocolate and almond croissants, morning buns and sticky buns. Parents can order a breakfast croissant or the breakfast tacos while the kids pick from the case.
Best for: a pastry bribe on the way to somewhere else. It's a short walk from Empire Cafe if you're making a morning of it.
Lunch and early dinner
Niko Niko's
Montrose Boulevard, 2520 Montrose · Greek · open daily from 10 a.m.
Niko Niko's has been serving gyros in Houston since 1977, and it's the most kid-proof restaurant on this list. The kids menu is long: a baby hamburger, chicken tender bites, a kids-size gyro, chicken kebob pita, falafel, fish, fried shrimp, a grilled cheese pita, soup, hummus with cucumbers and carrots, and the Pitzza. Most kids meals include a small drink or milk and a side of fries, rice, oven potatoes or chips.
Insider tip: finish with the house-made gelato, which comes in flavors including chocolate, vanilla and a kids flavor.
Best for: feeding a family where everyone wants something different.
Barnaby's Cafe
Fairview, 604 Fairview · American comfort food · open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The original Barnaby's is a Montrose staple, and it's built for families. The kids menu has corkscrew mac and cheese, sliders and chicken strips, with fries or fresh fruit and a choice of milk, lemonade or soft drink. It also doubles as an activity sheet, with coloring, games and the story of Barnaby himself.
Dogs: every Barnaby's location has an outdoor patio where pets are welcome, weather permitting. There's even a puppy menu.
Insider tip: Barnaby's site says you can bring your own beer or wine with no corkage fee. Check the policy before you bring a bottle, but it makes for an easy early dinner for parents.
Best for: a relaxed 5 p.m. dinner with the kids and the dog.
The Pit Room
Richmond Avenue, 1201 Richmond Ave · Texas barbecue · open daily
The Pit Room serves breakfast tacos from 7 to 10:30 a.m. and barbecue from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The barbecue is traditional Texas style with black pepper, smoke and no sauced meats unless you ask, which makes it easy to cut a few slices of turkey or chicken for small kids. Next door at 1205 Richmond, The Patio at The Pit Room is its outdoor sibling, with bar food and daily specials.
Best for: an early barbecue dinner where kids can share plates. Pair it with our Houston BBQ guide if you want to compare pitmasters.
The Burger Joint
Montrose Boulevard, 2703 Montrose Blvd · burgers · open daily from 11 a.m.
Kids meals here are for ages 12 and under and come with a cheeseburger, hot dog or chicken tenders, plus fries or mac and cheese and a fountain drink. Adults get the bigger menu, including the Opa! burger made with grass-fed lamb, feta and tzatziki. The patio is dog-friendly.
Insider tip: The Burger Joint stays open late, until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. With kids, we'd go at dinnertime and leave the late shift to the night owls.
Best for: a burger night after soccer practice. See our best burgers in Houston list for more.
Rosie Cannonball
Lower Westheimer, 1620 Westheimer Rd · wood-fired European comfort food · dinner Tuesday to Sunday
Rosie Cannonball is a grown-up restaurant, but it works with older kids if you book the first seating. Dinner typically starts at 5 p.m., and the menu centers on a wood-burning oven and grill, so there are pizzas and pastas alongside the vegetables and seafood. There are patio tables if you'd rather sit outside.
Best for: a special-occasion family dinner with kids old enough to sit through it. Book the 5 p.m. table on Resy, order a pizza for the table and you'll be home by bedtime.
Weekend brunch
Hugo's
Lower Westheimer, 1600 Westheimer Rd · regional Mexican · Sunday brunch buffet
Hugo's is the place to take the whole family for a celebration. It sits inside a restored 1925 building designed by Joseph Finger, the architect behind Houston's Art Deco City Hall. The Sunday brunch buffet typically runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with live music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a lower price for kids 12 and under.
For kids: the dessert table is the draw. It has pan dulce, cookies, churros, flan and tres leches, plus hot chocolate made with chocolate the kitchen makes from scratch.
Insider tip: reservations are recommended, and parties of six or more should call the restaurant directly. Hugo's also has a separate Saturday brunch menu.
Best for: birthdays, visiting grandparents and anyone who wants brunch to feel like an event. Compare it with our best brunch in Houston picks.
Dessert
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Montrose Collective, 888 Westheimer Rd, Ste. 157 · ice cream · open daily, 11 a.m. to midnight
Van Leeuwen's Montrose Collective scoop shop serves ice cream, vegan ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, root beer floats and housemade waffle cones. Because there's a full vegan ice cream menu, it's a good stop when one kid can't have dairy. Check the allergen guide first, though: the company says all its vegan flavors contain tree nuts.
Best for: the post-dinner walk. For more scoops, see our best ice cream in Houston.
Save this: a Montrose family day
- 7–9 a.m.: breakfast at La Mexicana or Baby Barnaby's on Fairview.
- 9:30 a.m.: pick up a croissant at Common Bond for later.
- 11 a.m.: walk the lawns around the Menil Collection. The museum is always free and is typically open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., per the Menil.
- Noon: lunch at Niko Niko's and order the Pitzza.
- Afternoon: home for naps, or more ideas from our things to do in Montrose guide.
- 5 p.m.: early dinner on the patio at Barnaby's, The Pit Room or The Burger Joint.
- 7 p.m.: a scoop at Van Leeuwen, then bedtime.
Parent checklist for eating in Montrose
- Go early. Most of these places are calm at 5 p.m. and busier later.
- Plan for parking. Parking on lower Westheimer can be tight on weekends, so leave a few extra minutes.
- Pick patios in spring and fall. In summer, sit inside or eat outside only in the morning.
- Bring the dog where it's allowed. Barnaby's and The Burger Joint both say their patios welcome dogs.
- Check hours before you go. Some places close a day a week or close early.
For more family ideas, see our citywide kid-friendly restaurants in Houston, our guide to the best playgrounds in Houston, and the full best restaurants in Montrose list.
Last verified: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best family friendly restaurants in Montrose?
Our top picks are Niko Niko's for its long kids menu, Barnaby's Cafe for kids meals and a dog-friendly patio, La Mexicana for all-day breakfast, and Hugo's for Sunday brunch.
Which Montrose restaurants have a kids menu?
Niko Niko's, Barnaby's Cafe, The Burger Joint and La Mexicana all publish kids menus. The Burger Joint's kids meals are for ages 12 and under.
Is Hugo's brunch good for kids?
Yes. The Sunday brunch buffet typically runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lower price for kids 12 and under, live music and a dessert table with churros, flan and house-made hot chocolate.
Where can I get an early breakfast with kids in Montrose?
La Mexicana on Fairview opens at 7 a.m. daily and serves breakfast all day. Baby Barnaby's typically opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. The Pit Room serves breakfast tacos from 7 a.m.
Which Montrose restaurants have dog-friendly patios?
Barnaby's Cafe says all its locations have pet-friendly patios, weather permitting, and even has a puppy menu. The Burger Joint also advertises dog-friendly patios.