When you own a business and are a Mom too, it’s important to find ways to incorporate one another so you’re not always making sacrifices. It’s also important to be able to be efficient with your time, and when you can kill two bird with one stone it’s a big win. However, it’s tough to find that synergy when you’re in the business of beer (and other craft specialties), since kids and alcohol don’t always mix. Lucky for me, I live in Portland. And when my daughter Jadyn tells me that she wants to go to a brewery with a play area, I’m totally game.
The best thing about being the owner of BREWVANA and a Mom, is that there are a ton of kid friendly breweries in town where both Jadyn and I can be happy. Our friends know our favorites, but I’d like to share them with you too. Here’s my list of the best Portland Breweries to bring your kid to and why! These top 7 all have play areas and one of them isn’t in Portland but it’s so good it had to be mentioned. I also listed the B-list kid-friendly Portland Breweries too that don’t have play areas (the #1 requirement) but deserve an honorable mention!
A-LIST: KID-FRIENDLY PORTLAND BREWERIES WITH PLAY AREAS!
1. LEVEL BEER
Level has it all. A place for great beer, entertainment for kids of all ages, indoor and outdoor areas including an epic kid playhouse house and even an off lease dog play area! The vibe is CHILL. There are food carts providing a variety of food options. There isn’t table service but that allows you to show up when you please, stay as long as you want, have people join your party and move around as necessary. Jadyn’s favorite play area is Level Beer because there’s a mini food truck and a fake kitchen. Bonus points for Bam Pows Kale Wow Salad with kale, fries and fried chicken, I mean really what could be better?
Kids food menu: none (food cart food only)
Kids play area: yes both indoor and outdoor
Games and activities: yes board games // shuffleboard // video games // cornhole
Coloring book and crayons: none
Changing table: both bathrooms w/ extra diapers
Other beverages: cider // kombucha // wine // root beer
2. HOPWORKS
For dining with kids, Hopworks is the best. They’ve got a dedicated food menu that’s both on the coloring sheet and the regular menu (so Mom’s can look while kids color), an indoor and outdoor play area at the BikeBar location and both Vancouver and Southeast have play areas upstairs and down, but they also have a bar area that adults can hang without kids around your ankles. Chalkboards, magnets, books, dress up clothes, the play area is top notch! Hopworks is a also a certified B-Corp which they should be VERY proud of, and as a consumer you should feel confident knowing that they make conscious decisions that will affect people and planet, in addition to profit. BREWVANA will be a B-corp some day.
Kids food menu: burger // quinoa bowl // pasta // pretzel dog // pizza // chicken caesar salad
Kids play area: yes both indoor and outdoor (at BikeBar location)
Games and activities: none // yes board games // shuffleboard // video games // cornhole
Coloring book and crayons: yes and separate from menu
Changing table: family bathrooms
Other beverages: cider // kombucha // wine // cocktails // root beer // blueberry lemonade
3. PFRIEM
pFriem nailed the outdoor fun aspect with brewery taproom as well. You have to travel to get there from Portland but nothing beats their “waiting room”, an outdoor play area at the Hood river waterfront park where you can watch the kite surfers while chasing your kid around the play / beach area. I promise, you’ve never been so happy to have to wait. Once it’s time to dine, have the littles enjoy a vintage play area with matching game while you feast on great food and beer. Make sure you take some beer to go back to PDX from the Bears den.
Kids food menu: chicken strips // mac n cheese // brat // burger // grilled cheese
Kids play area: yes indoor and outdoor at the park
Games and activities: chalkboard
Coloring book and crayons: yes
Changing table: unisex or both bathrooms // both w/ extra diapers
Other beverages: cider // kombucha // wine // ginger brew // root beer // mexican cola
4. LAURELWOOD
Laurelwood paved the way for kid friendly breweries in town and is super accommodating when it comes to kids at their brewery! Their kids menu includes food with side, drink (strawberry lemonade as a choice) and dessert including chicken and waffles for dinner and they’ve got the best honey mustard sauce I’ve ever had. Let the older kids (or adult kids) throw axes while you chillax and watch the littles in the play area.
Kids food menu: chicken strips // mac n cheese // burger // corndog // grilled cheese // fried fish // chicken & waffles // fishwich
Kids play area: yes indoor
Games and activities: yes board games // arcade // shuffleboard// fooseball
Coloring book and crayons: yes and separate
Changing table: both men and women’s bathrooms
Other beverages: cider // wine // cocktails // root beer // strawberry lemonade
5. THRESHOLD BREWING & BLENDING
This new brewery is walking distance from my house, so they get bonus points. They always have a variety of IPAs as well as some farmhouse styles barrel aged and sour beers. The play areas has a big chalkboard, puzzles, games and a mini kitchen. They don’t have a kitchen so food options are limited but you’re welcome to bring in any food of your choice making it ideal to dine with kids so everyone can be happy. They also have shuffleboard and other board games. Please note- they are not open Mon-Tues.
Kids food menu: snacks including baby carrots, string cheese, snack mix and hummus with pita chips
Kids Play Area: yes indoor
Games and activities: yes board games // foosball // mini jenga
Coloring Book and Crayons: none
Changing table: yes in unisex bathrooms
Other beverages: cider // kombucha // wine // root beer
6. ZOIGLHAUS
I would say Zoiglhaus has the biggest play area of them all. It’s a big, safe and fun enclosed play area, this is especially important with little movers that want to escape but it makes it challenging to keep your eye on the kids while they’re in there. Zoiglahus also has a great list of German inspired beers and food, with a Lil Zoiglers menu too. The kids menu teaches German!
Kids food menu: chicken schnitzel nuggets // mac n cheese // pb&J // kinder burger // grilled cheese
Kids play area: yes indoor
Games and activities: yes board games // fooseball // pool // mini jenga // chalkboard
Coloring book and crayons: yes and separate from menu
Changing table: family bathrooms
Other beverages: cider // kombucha // wine // root beer
7. GRIXSEN BREWING
Grixsen has a play area that’s visible from all areas of the space- it’s up on a platform, almost a stage so the kids can be seen and they feel really special while they’re there. Great vibe and environment. Make sure to try the jalapeno hushpuppies.
Kids food menu: chicken tenders // mac n cheese // grilled cheese // burger
Kids play area: yes indoor
Games and activities: puzzles
Coloring book and crayons: yes
Changing table: in women’s bathroom only (so far)
Other beverages: cider // wine // cocktails // root beer // lemonade
B-LIST: KID FRIENDLY PORTLAND BREWERIES
These breweries all deserve a mention, even though they don’t have a “play area”, they’re still a good place to bring your kids to enjoy a beer!
Leikam Brewing – Our newest neighborhood brewery and only kosher brewery in PDX offers a ton of games and kid friendly activities in a relaxed environment.
Ecliptic Brewing – Salmon and grilled veggies on the kid menu makes me a proud Mama.
Baerlic Barley Pod – Unicorn kisses with dinner, food carts for food and chalkboard and spacious outdoor area for kids for fun, with an opportunity to bring dogs makes this our go to family dinner spot.
Ex Novo – Kid’s menu, changing table with extra diapers in every bathroom and kids menu make this a great spot for dining with kids.
McMenamins Kennedy School – Kid friendly menu while dining, order your beer and walk all over the school with it. Bring your kids to the soaking pool or theatre for family friendly fun with beer in hand.
StormBreaker – Tanko’s Little Brewers Menu ranges from the cheeseburger (“if you are a hungry kid”) to the Simple Salad. “Be a good kid, eat a salad,” the menu advises.
Great Notion– Best $4 friend chicken kids meal ever, it was enough for both Jadyn and I, and they have fish & chips too.
Wayfinder Beer – Kids can enjoy baby steak frites or mac and cheese with Jones sodas as grown-ups dig into steakhouse fare.
Little Beast Brewing – Sit outside and have a picnic on the lawn with your littles, and if they’ve been good- order some pie next door at Lauretta Jeans.
Deschutes – Great selection of beers, food, desert and a kids menu including Jadyns favorite mac & cheese!
I hope this helps you to navigate through Beer City with your littles. If you have any questions about beer in Portland, feel free to reach out. Also, if you’re looking for a kid-friendly BREWVANA option, we accommodate kids on our Private Beers are Made For Walkin. Each person gets a pretzel necklace to wear and we also have a BREWVANA coloring sheet. We visit locations that can accommodate and provide a wonderful experience for families to explore beer city with a local guide.
