Photo: MbuleloMwanza, CC BY-SA 4.0 Guide · Kids' parties
Kids' party venues in Harare
Gardens with play areas, family grills and cafes that welcome a table of children, from Highlands to Borrowdale
A children's party in Harare usually means a garden. The city's most useful family venues are cafes and restaurants set on lawns in Highlands, Belgravia and the Borrowdale side of town, with a play area, a trampoline or a stretch of grass where the children can run while the adults sit with coffee and a menu. Indoors, the family grills at Sam Levy's Village do the job when the weather turns or when you want cake and a film in the same afternoon.
Choosing comes down to the age of the children and the size of the table. For under-eights, pick a garden with a fenced play area and tables close enough to keep an eye on things. For older children, a grill with a kiddies' menu, big desserts and a burger everyone will eat is easier than anything more adventurous. If the group is large, ask about a private courtyard or a corner of the lawn, because most of these places will set aside a space if you book ahead.
Booking is the practical bit. Weekend lunches at the garden cafes fill by noon, and Sunday is the busiest day of the week, so ring in the week before and say how many children are coming. Ask whether you can bring your own cake, and whether there is a party package, as several venues have one. Prices for the adults sit in the $10 to $20 a head band at nearly all of these, and children's portions come in under that.
Parking is easy at the shopping-centre venues and mostly inside the gates at the garden ones. Take sun cream and hats for a garden afternoon, and a jumper for each child in winter, when the lawn gets cold by four. Check opening days too: a few of the cafes close on Mondays, and the tea gardens keep shorter hours than the grills.
The list starts with the big gardens and works through to the simpler family restaurants.
-
Queen of Hearts
Multi-vendor cafe set in two acres of garden, with a play area for children.
Two acres of manicured lawn under trees on Enterprise Road in Highlands, with a children's play area, an open kitchen doing burgers, wood-fired pizza and gelato, and a live band at weekends. Room for a big birthday table and space for the children to run while it drifts into sundowners for the adults.
-
The Bottom Drawer
Garden tea shop in Belgravia with big portions, animals and a play area.
A country-style tea garden on Maasdorp Avenue in Belgravia, with tables spread across the lawn, a trampoline and room for children to run. Home-made food, cakes and high tea suit a small birthday, and the gift shop is part of the visit. Wheelchair accessible, with prices in the $10 to $20 range.
-
Buffalo Creek Spur
Spur family grill franchise at Sam Levy's Village.
The Spur family-grill franchise at Sam Levy's Village in Borrowdale, next door to the cinemas, with steaks, burgers, ribs and large desserts and seats for around 180 inside and out. A straightforward choice for a children's birthday followed by a film, at $10 to $20 a head for the adults.
-
Casa Mia Ristorante Pizzeria
Italian cooking and pizza in Avondale.
Family-style Italian on the corner of King George and Aberdeen Roads in Avondale, with homemade pasta, thin-base wood-fired pizza, a play area for children and live music on Sundays. Portions are generous and prices sensible, and the vegetarian and gluten-free options help a mixed table. Book ahead for Sunday lunch.
-
Little Eataly
Italian food and pizza, sharing the Queen of Hearts garden site.
Sharing the Queen of Hearts garden in Highlands but with its own private courtyard, so a party can have a space of its own. Fresh pasta and ravioli, pizza, and desserts such as panna cotta and cheesecake from a husband-and-wife team. Children are welcome and prices sit at $10 to $20.
-
The Beach House
Beach-themed restaurant and bar in Borrowdale.
A coastal-themed restaurant and bar at Borrowdale Racecourse with sand underfoot, indoor and outdoor seating and a recently renovated play area for children. The broad menu covers pizza, grills, sushi and wok dishes. Quieter than the shopping strips, with lunch specials from noon to 4pm; bring a sunshade for the car.
-
Oak Tree Restaurant
Seafood and grill north of Sam Levy's Village.
A landscaped garden on Rolf Valley Avenue north of Sam Levy's Village, with lawns, flower beds, a small stream and seating under the trees. There is a children's play area, and the garden is used for private functions, so a bigger party can be arranged. Booking is sensible at weekends.
-
The Plot Cafe
Garden cafe for breakfast and lunch, with a children's area.
A garden cafe inside The Plot plant nursery on Carrick Creagh Road in Helensvale, with tables among the plants and a children's area. Wraps, homemade burgers and sweet and savoury bakes make an easy party spread, and a wander round the nursery afterwards keeps everyone busy. Prices sit in the $10 to $20 range.
-
St Elmos
Pizza, Italian plates and steaks at the Village, with a second site on East Road.
Casual Italian at Sam Levy's Village with wood-fired pizzas, ribs and pasta, a dedicated kiddies' menu and a Wednesday deal where a child eats free with every adult order. Bookings are taken Monday to Thursday and weekends are walk-in, so arrive early for a Saturday party. Worth confirming the Village branch before setting out.
-
Brentos
Family cafe in Greendale for coffee, breakfast and lunch.
A homely coffee shop at the Food Lovers Market on Greendale Avenue, set up for families with indoor and outdoor seating, a children's play area, a child-friendly menu and secure parking. Breakfasts and coffee are the draw, which suits a morning party after the shopping. Closed on Mondays.
-
Tinkabell Restaurant
Family restaurant in Ballantyne Park, known for its house pies.
A relaxed family restaurant at Ballantyne Shopping Centre named after the owner's grandmother, with comfort food and house pies that regulars talk about. Children are welcome and prices sit at $10 to $20 a head, but check the hours: Monday is lunch only and Saturday is evenings only.
Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
More guides
All guides →Where to eat in The Avenues
Peri-peri chicken, Brazilian rodizio and the hotel grill rooms on the edge of the city centre
By This Is HarareWhere to eat in Mount Pleasant
Garden restaurants around Arundel Village, a Chinese kitchen with private rooms and live music at the sports club
By This Is HarareBest Indian restaurants in Harare
Tandoori, butter chicken and proper vegetarian spreads, from Gunhill to Belvedere.
By This Is Harare