Whether its goats on the roof or custard on the water, these family friendly restaurants in Door County are all winners
When you’re traveling with kids — or a big group with a wide range of appetites — finding a spot to eat where everyone leaves happy is half the battle.
The good news? Door County is full of restaurants that welcome families with open arms — and plenty of menu items. A few of them even turn mealtime into the highlight of the whole day.
We’ve assembled a list of our favorite family friendly restaurants in Door County — from a historic ice cream parlor blocks away from us at Ephraim Shores Resort to a place where they deliver your food by train.
Dinner without the drive
Family friendly restaurants in Door County within walking distance? Say no more. Some of our favorite family spots are right here in Ephraim, so you can spend less time in the car and more time together at the table:
- Sunset Harbor Grill: This restaurant is located in the upstairs of Ephraim Shores Resort, and families love the big windows and waterfront views over Eagle Harbor. With a big menu and plenty of seating for large families, this place is perfect for a breakfast before the day’s adventures or a laid-back dinner as the sun goes down.
- Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor: This well-loved establishment is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, and they do family friendly restaurants in Door County better than anyone. An old-fashioned soda fountain? Check. Mini jukeboxes at every booth? Check. A surprise at the bottom of every ice cream cone? You guessed it…check.
- Good Eggs: There’s always a line (a fast-moving one!) at this grab-and-go breakfast spot, with hearty breakfast burritos that are quick and easy with kids in tow. They’ll love eating at the surfboard tables.
- La Sirena: For a grown-up night out that still welcomes the kids, La Sirena offers a coursed menu that changes often — currently two courses with an optional dessert menu to finish. Children are always welcome, and the kitchen offers a few dishes just for them — just let them know if you have kids in your party when you book!
- Anatolia Cuisine DC: Just down the street in the Shorewood Village Shops, Anatolia serves fresh Mediterranean and Turkish food—think kebabs, wraps, hummus, and more—in a casual setting. They’ve got a kid’s menu, too!
- Prince of Pierogi: Right next to Anatolia, Prince of Pierogi dishes up Polish comfort food — sweet and savory pierogi as well as cabbage rolls and kielbasa hot dogs. They offer a children’s menu as well, so even the pickiest eaters can find something they love. (Did we mention they have a mac & cheese pierogi?)
Worth the short drive
When you want to venture further than Ephraim, Zaza’s Pizza in Sister Bay is one of the great options for family friendly restaurants in Door County. It’s mainly a takeout spot, but there are still a few tables both inside and outside the restaurant where your family can hang out — and you can always play their life-size Connect Four game while you’re waiting for your pie.
You also can’t talk about family friendly restaurants in Door County without mentioning Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay and its famous goats grazing on the grass-covered roof (you’ll usually spot them from late spring through mid-October). Inside, kids can dig into Swedish pancakes and meatballs, while the beer garden next door, Stabbur, has cornhole and life-size Jenga to keep everyone happy while you’re waiting.
Over in Baileys Harbor, PC Junction delivers meals to your table by model train — a genuine thrill for younger kids (and frankly, adults too!). After lunch, you can head outside to their playground to help the kiddos burn off some energy.
And tucked along Fish Creek in…Fish Creek, Not Licked Yet pairs delicious burgers and buns and frozen custard with a giant playground. It’s not unusual to also spot wildlife like deer and ducks along the creek — and the location makes it easy to snag some lunch or dinner after you’ve tackled some of the best biking trails in Door County at Peninsula State Park.
However your family likes to spend the day, the family friendly restaurants in Door County make it easy to refuel and keep the good times going. No matter where you go, the best part is that no matter what, someone else is doing the cooking.
Ephraim Shores Resort — a waterfront Door County resort for the whole family
Located in downtown Ephraim, Ephraim Shores is a family-friendly resort for groups of all sizes. From our private sundeck overlooking Eagle Harbor and our many room types to our beautiful waterfront location, Ephraim Shores has everything your family needs for the perfect vacation. Some of our amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, an exercise room and game room, and bikes for our guests to use. To make your reservation, contact us at 877-854-2371 or visit our website at ephraimshores.com.