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Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Quito: Our Local Family Guide
From a games-corner pizzeria in Cumbaya to a colonial courtyard in the Old Town, this guide covers five family restaurants in Quito tested and recommended by the Rebecca Adventure Travel team.
Rebecca Braak | Updated: July 31, 2026 | Time to read: 9 min
Quito is, by culture, a city that eats with children. Midday lunches stretch for hours and multi-generational family tables are the norm on weekends, not the exception. For international families arriving for a night or two en route to the Galápagos, that culture is an advantage — but finding the right family restaurants in Quito without a local contact is harder than it looks.
Every pick on this list comes directly from the Rebecca Adventure Travel team, based in Cumbaya. These are places we have eaten with our own families. Each entry includes specific details: outdoor space, menu flexibility, noise level, and how well the location fits a Quito itinerary with kids.
How to Choose Family-Friendly Restaurants in Quito?
The most reliable indicators are not the ones you would expect. Space matters first: Quito’s altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) makes evenings cool, so a covered patio or high-ceilinged colonial courtyard is worth far more than an open rooftop terrace. Noise matters second — a lively, generous room is far less stressful than a quiet restaurant where your toddler’s dropped fork echoes across the room.
Check the menu for at least one recognisable anchor dish. Llapingachos (pan-fried potato cakes), seco de pollo (braised chicken served with rice and avocado), and sourdough pizza all appear on this list — reliable choices for children aged three to 14. Location matters last but practically: the best kid-friendly restaurants in Quito are the ones you do not need a taxi to reach at the end of a sightseeing morning. If you want a broader introduction to the local ingredients behind these dishes, our Quito food guide covers Ecuadorian flavours from highlands to coast — more on that below.
Family Restaurants in Cumbayá & Tumbaco
Families based near the Mariscal Sucre airport or in the Cumbaya corridor have the easiest outdoor dining access in greater Quito. The valley’s lower elevation and sunnier afternoons make open-air seating practical most of the year — and the restaurants here tend to have the kind of space urban Quito can rarely offer.
1. Via Partenope
Right in the heart of Cumbaya, Via Partenope is one of the few restaurants in the area with a dedicated games area for children. The menu centres on pizza — fresh-made, thin-based, and straightforward enough for most children to eat without negotiation. Outdoor terrace seating and a relaxed pace make it a natural first choice for families basing themselves in the valley.
Website: viapartenope.com | Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d4rrPBxLvBV3yrKeA
2. La Capricciosa
A 10-minute drive further into the valley, La Capricciosa sits in a rural countryside setting that gives children room to move. The Italian-Ecuadorian menu covers pizzas, pastas, and rotating daily specials, and the pace is unhurried — the kind of place where a long family lunch feels earned rather than rushed.
Website: lacapricciosaec.com | Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/avkPoYayZgfTA6T76
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What Ecuadorian Dishes Do Kids Usually Enjoy?
Ecuador’s highland food is, on balance, child-friendly. It is not spicy by default, built on familiar staples, and generous in portion. Locro de papa (potato soup with fresh cheese and half an avocado floated on top) is almost universally liked, warming and rich at altitude. Llapingachos are a natural finger food. Seco de pollo is a braised chicken stew served over rice that most children eat without complaint.
If younger children are struggling with altitude adjustment during the first day in Quito, caldo de gallina (free-range chicken broth) is the local remedy of choice — and it works. Food in Quito, Ecuador, leans hearty and potato-forward, which works in families’ favour. Most restaurants on this list carry at least two of these dishes alongside their main menu, so adults can order deliberately while children eat something grounding.
Want to Know More About Quito Food?
Ecuador is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, and that diversity shows up on the plate. Our free guide, Ecuadorian Culinary Delights, covers the ingredients, dishes, and food culture that make Quito food and the wider highlands table genuinely unlike anywhere else in Latin America — written for curious travelers, not just foodies.
La Floresta: Two of Our Favourite Mid-City Picks
These two restaurants sit within reach of the main north Quito hotel strip and Parque La Carolina. Both are in La Floresta, a neighbourhood that trades the formality of the colonial centre for a more relaxed, converted-house atmosphere — which suits families considerably better. For those planning things to do in Quito with family across a full day, La Floresta works well as an afternoon base before heading to the valley for dinner.
3. Lucia’s House
Part of the Grupo Lucía restaurant collective, Lucia’s House sources many of its ingredients from Ecuadorian producers — a genuine commitment to local supply chains rather than a label. The location occupies a converted house with covered terrace seating and an indoor-outdoor layout that keeps the atmosphere relaxed enough for children. The menu mixes Ecuadorian dishes and international comfort food, and the kitchen is accommodating with substitutions.
Website: grupolucia.com/lucia-house/ | Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KBEUoNk3nwSwpfHUA
4. Laboratorio Diseño Gastronomía
Laboratorio is a creative kitchen project built around seasonal Ecuadorian ingredients. More informal than the name suggests, the open-plan space handles children without tension and suits families eating before the evening crowd arrives. The menu changes with what’s available locally — not a fixed international formula. Confirm current opening days before visiting.
Instagram: @laboratoriodyg | Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iWdrBkzo2E7XAMpJ6
Old Town: Eating Near Quito’s Colonial Sights
The Centro Historico (Quito Historic Center) requires more planning for families. Colonial streets are compact, and restaurant seating is often formal. La Chacotta is the standout exception — and its location fits naturally into a morning at Plaza San Francisco or the nearby Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus.
5. Casa Gangotena
Casa Gangotena is the most premium dining experience in Quito’s Historic Center, set inside a beautifully restored mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco. Despite its refined atmosphere, children are genuinely welcome, making it an excellent choice for families seeking comfort, safety, and exceptional gastronomy. The menu celebrates Ecuadorian ingredients with a modern twist, and the attentive service ensures a smooth, relaxed experience for parents. Kids will enjoy the open, elegant spaces and the chance to feel part of a special occasion, while parents appreciate the calm environment, high standards, and seamless service that define this iconic Quito restaurant.
Website: casagangotena.com | Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNjKfgfXv8hLPwfs8
Most families visiting Quito are passing through — one dinner, one breakfast, and then the flight to the islands. That is still enough time to eat one thing that stays with you. Ecuador’s highlands produce exceptional potatoes, fresh cheese, and some of the finest cacao in the world, and the family restaurants in Quito on this list reflect that rather than import around it.
If you want a recommendation on where to eat in Quito with kids before your trip, our team is based in Cumbayá, Quito and is always happy to point you in the right direction.
Map: Family-friendly Restaurants in Quito
Here’s a custom Google Map of all the restaurants mentioned above.
Plan Your Ecuador & Galápagos Family Trip with RAT
Quito is usually the starting point, and the Galápagos is the destination — but what happens in between matters more than most families expect. Rebecca Adventure Travel designs Ecuador and Galápagos trips that connect families with the country before the islands take over, including accommodation near the best Quito neighborhoods for eating out with children.
14 Days
Ecuador and Galapagos
Family Restaurants in Quito: FAQs
Are there family-friendly restaurants in Quito with menus for kids?
Yes, though dedicated children’s menus are less common than in the US or UK. The five picks on this list were chosen for menu flexibility — each carries at least one dish that children reliably eat alongside Ecuadorian options for adults.
Which neighbourhoods in Quito are best for eating with children?
Cumbaya and Tumbaco offer the most outdoor space — ideal for young children. La Floresta suits mid-city days with indoor-outdoor seating. The Old Town requires more planning, though La Chacotta is a reliable exception with its internal courtyard.
What Ecuadorian dishes do kids usually enjoy?
Locro de papa, llapingachos, and seco de pollo are the most reliable choices. None are spicy, all are warming at altitude, and most appear on the menus of the family restaurants in Quito included in this guide.
Are restaurants in Quito suitable for toddlers and young children?
Many are, provided you choose the right neighbourhood and time of day. Early dinners before 7 pm are less crowded. High chairs are available in some places; worth calling ahead for children under three.
Where can families eat near Quito’s Old Town?
La Chacotta is the most practical pick — internal courtyard, pizza-centred menu, walking distance from the Plaza San Francisco. For breakfast before sightseeing, the team recommends staying near Parque La Carolina and travelling in by taxi.
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