Shadowfax Wines in Werribee is one of the easiest wineries near Melbourne to bring the kids to, thanks to a proper little ones menu and a huge stretch of lawn right beside the outdoor tables.
We book a table at Shadowfax Wines for a family lunch and it soon becomes one of our favourite settings for eating out with kids. The outdoor seating sits right next to a wide lawn, with the vineyards and a herb garden as the backdrop. Our kids run around playing hide and seek while we eat, and another family nearby has brought a soccer ball to kick around on the grass. It’s the kind of spot where you can actually relax over a long lunch while the kids burn off energy a few metres away.
What to Expect
Shadowfax Wines sits on K Road in Werribee, right next to Werribee Park and the Open Range Zoo, so it’s an easy stop to build a bigger family day around.
The outdoor terrace is the pick of the seating on a nice day. It looks out over the vines and a working herb garden, and the lawn beside it gives kids room to run without wandering far from the table. Inside, the dining room is bright and modern if the weather turns.
The kitchen serves a Mediterranean-leaning menu built around house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza and local produce, alongside Shadowfax’s own wines from the cellar door next door.
Highlights for Kids
The little ones menu is where Shadowfax Wines does the family bit well. It’s a proper printed kids menu, not an afterthought. A recent example looked like this:
- Linguine with tomato sugo
- Tempura fish, french fries, aioli and cos
- 150g minute steak, french fries, tomato sauce and cos
- Hawaiian pizza
- Napoli pizza (with the option to add gypsy ham)
- Ice cream with sprinkles
- Cinnamon donuts with chocolate sauce
Prices change from menu to menu, so it’s worth checking on the day, but expect the kids menu to sit well below the adult prices.
Our kids go for the linguine and the tempura fish and chips, and both come back with clean plates. The fish is a good size piece, lightly battered, and the chips are properly crunchy. Dessert is a bowl of ice cream rolled in rainbow sprinkles, and it disappears fast.
There’s also fresh lemonade, pink lemonade, juice and soft drink on the kids drinks list.
Once lunch is done, the lawn is the real drawcard. There’s enough open space for a game of hide and seek or a kickabout, and you can keep an eye on the kids the whole time from the table.
What Parents Need to Know
- Pram access: the restaurant and outdoor terrace are both spacious enough for prams.
- High chairs: available.
- Toilets: there’s a disabled toilet with change facilities.
- Parking: free on-site parking at the winery.
- Food options: a dedicated kids menu plus a full adult menu that’s easy to share from.
- Booking: we’d recommend booking ahead, especially for weekend lunch, as it’s a popular spot.
- Costs: entrées and small plates start around $16, mains run $39 to $59, and that’s before wine.
- Live music: Shadowfax runs live music on Friday nights and Sundays, so it’s worth checking the schedule if you want a livelier lunch.
Our Experience
We share a spread of entrées across the table: the wagyu beef tartare with duck fat rösti and cured egg yolk, the ocean trout crudo with pickled rhubarb and horseradish crème fraîche, a plate of calamari fritti, and the baby gem lettuce salad with green goddess dressing.
The tartare is a standout, rich but well balanced by the sharp dijon and pickled shallot. The trout crudo is light and a little tart from the rhubarb, a good pick for a warm day.
We also order a bowl of french fries for the table, which the kids raid before their own mains even land.
Service is relaxed and attentive without being slow, and the team is happy to bring kids’ meals out as soon as they’re ready rather than holding everything for one big drop.
The Wines
Being a working winery, it would be a missed opportunity not to try a glass or two while the kids play.
We taste a couple of the newer releases from Shadowfax’s award-winning range: the 2026 Rosé from Port Phillip, a dry, pale drop that goes well with the seafood dishes, and the 2023 Blanc de Blanc from the Macedon Ranges, a sparkling with good acidity and a fine mousse.
Both are well suited to a long lunch outdoors, and the cellar door next to the restaurant is worth a look if you want to take a bottle home.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Yes, and it’s one of the better winery lunches near Melbourne for families. The combination of a real kids menu, a big lawn right beside the tables, and a kitchen that doesn’t cut corners on the adult menu makes it an easy recommendation.
Best age groups: it suits toddlers through to primary school-aged kids well, given the space to run and the simple kids menu options. Babies and prams are also well catered for.
Time required: allow at least 90 minutes to two hours for a relaxed lunch, longer if the kids want a proper run around afterwards.
Value for money: the kids menu is fairly priced for what you get. The adult menu sits at the higher end for a family lunch, so it’s one for a special occasion or a weekend treat rather than a regular outing, especially once you add wine.
Who’ll enjoy it most: families who want a proper sit-down lunch with genuinely good food, paired with space for the kids to play without needing constant entertaining.
FAQs
Is Shadowfax Wines good for a family lunch?
Yes. There’s a dedicated kids menu, high chairs, pram access and a large lawn beside the outdoor seating for kids to run around on while the adults eat.
What’s on the kids menu at Shadowfax Wines?
Options include linguine with tomato sugo, tempura fish with chips, a minute steak, Hawaiian or Napoli pizza, and desserts like ice cream with sprinkles or cinnamon donuts. The menu changes from time to time, so check on the day for current pricing.
Is there parking at Shadowfax Wines?
Yes, there’s free on-site parking at the winery on K Road, Werribee.
Do I need to book ahead?
Booking is recommended, particularly for weekend lunches, as it’s a popular spot with locals and visitors combining a trip with Werribee Park or the zoo.
Can you sit outside with kids at Shadowfax Wines?
Yes, the outdoor terrace overlooks the vineyards and herb garden, and sits right beside a large lawn area.
The Tot team visited as guests of Visit Werribee and Surrounds. All opinions are the writers’ own.
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