Children (and Moms!) friendly cafés & restaurants

This used to be an old post that I re-did. Thanks to the smoking ban in Vaud that took place last year, now there are many more children-friendly restaurants and cafes to go to. And please note that everywhere is breastfeeding-friendly. No one will stare at you for feeding a nutritious food to your baby (at least the Swiss won’t).

Migros Restaurant

Centre Comercial Metropole, Rue des Terreaux, 1002 Lausanne

Pros: Inexpensive, Completely smoking-free, Warm lunch, Fruit-salad-dessert bar (pay by the weight), Coffee, Changing table, Plenty of high chairs, Outdoor terrace, Easy to park stroller, Lots of other parents with babies and children, Wi-Fi, Lillibiggs

Cons: Closed for dinner and on Sundays, Changing table in restrooms is not stroller friendly as you have to go through some stairs. But there is another changing table (at the same level) of the Metropole center.

Manora at Manor Department Store (7th floor)

Rue Saint-Laurent 3, 1003 Lausanne

Pro: Inexpensive, Completely smoking-free, Good selection of cakes and good coffee, Children corner (with TV and banks but no toys), Changing table (in both female and male restrooms!), Plenty of high chairs, Outdoor terrace (with children play area), Easy to park stroller, Lots of other parents with babies and children.

There is a another Manora at St. Francois (that opens on Sunday!), but I always prefer the one in the department store if possible.

Cons: The restrooms are small, not so easy to bring a stroller inside if need to change diapers.

Restaurant at Coop City (5th floor) St. Laurent and Coop City St. Francois

Rue Saint-Laurent 24-30, 1003 Lausanne
Av. du Théâtre 4, 1002 Lausanne

Pros: Inexpensive, Asian wok food corner (hehe, I’m biased here!), Children corner, Changing table, Plenty of high chairs, Terrace

Starbucks

Rue Saint-Laurent 19, 1003 Lausanne (021 311 61 51) and Place Saint-François 2, Lausanne (021 320 70 20)

Pros: Indoor is smoking-free, Good cakes and coffee/tea, Changing table, Easy to park stroller, Other parents with babies and children, One can practically sit there forever (fantastic for nursing or passing time with a sleeping baby and a good book or laptop), Free Wi-Fi with any purchase, Waitress won’t bat an eye if your child misbehave

Cons: Outdoor area is usually packed with smokers

Café de Grancy

Av. du Rond-Point 1, 1006 Lausanne (021 616 86 66)

Pros: Nice, young atmosphere (many students), Free wi-fi, Children’s books and toys, Changing table

Cons: Not so easy to accommodate strollers during meal time (they’re usually packed), but is not a problem at any other time.

Crêperie la Chandeleur

Rue Mercerie 9, 1003 Lausanne (021 312 84 19)

Pros: Very good crêpes; Cute, cozy atmosphere; High chair, Changing table, Toys and books, Crepes are served throughout the day

Cons: Closed on Monday

Reservation is highly recommended here.

Restaurant Le Jardin at the Moevenpick Hotel

Avenue de Rhodanie 4 (Ouchy), 1006 Lausanne (021 612 76 12)

Pros: Children’s menu, Crayons and coloring page, Play corner, High chair, Separate restroom for changing table and low toilet for children, Good food and ice cream. (And most probably the cleanest public toilet seats in the world.)

Cons: A bit pricey

Read this post for more.

The Olympic Museum Restaurant

1, quai d’Ouchy, 1006 Lausanne (021 621 67 08)

Pros: Children’s menu, High chair, Changing table, View to the lake and the Alps

Cons: A bit pricey

Poco Loco

Place Chauderon 5, 1003 Lausanne (021 329 11 11)

Pros: Affordable Mexican food, Terrace, High chair

Would you like to suggest some other cafés or restaurant to be added to the list? Let me know by leaving a comment!