HOT: Studley Park Boathouse Cafe, Boathouse Rd, Kew

Features:

• pram access (though you'll need help up the stairs);
• change table;
• high chairs;
• kids menu;
• standard menu suitable for kids;
• play areas – boats, parklands, nearby playground.

Studley Park is one of the few places in Melbourne where you can row-row-row-your-boat…and enjoy fish and chips afterwards.

As the weather starts warming up you can hire a rowboat, canoe or kayak at Studley Park Boathouse with the kids.

When you've worked up an appetite wander up the stairs to Studley Park Boathouse Cafe, a casual cafe that serves kid-friendly meals (it also has a kids menu). It is a more interesting, less fast-foody version of the kiosk downstairs and has table service. The kiosk is ok for an ice-cream or coffee but my brief glance at the food in the cabinet convinced me not to try the overpriced, unimaginative offerings.

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Upstairs at the cafe you can sit on the deck under the outdoor umbrellas and take in the tranquil river views. There's still lots of room for kids to run around if they want.

We started out with a babycino plus marshmallow to keep Lady AB happy.

On weekdays they offer a lunch special – two courses for $22.50 and for each course you can choose from two options. This is pretty good value given that mains are around $20 from the standard menu.

The starter was a retro demitasse of cream of broccoli soup. It was tasty and Baby 2.0 had most of it so the waiter was kind enough to ask whether I wanted a second cup for the baby.

For main course I chose fish and chips. The fish was not particularly fresh but the batter was light and crispy and you got two fat fillets. The chips were thick cut and Lady AB loved them (of course) so next time I'll request them without salt.

While the food at Studley Park Boathouse Cafe is not amazing it does offer a nice place to sit and enjoy Studley Park after the excitement of the boats, the parklands and the nearby playground. As a family you'll happily spend hours there.

Studley Park Boathouse Cafe, Boathouse Rd, Kew +61 3 9853 1828