Bloom
Calm, welcoming brunch café with a kids' menu and buggy-friendly access on Upton Lane.
Restaurant · Forest Gate
Penang City serves up genuinely authentic Malaysian cooking — think black curry Nasi Kandar on a banana leaf and freshly prepared dishes from an open kitchen that kids can peek into. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the team are happy to accommodate families; reviewers have settled in on cosy sofas with groups of five, and there's a children's menu plus buggy-friendly access to make things easier on the day, though highchairs aren't always guaranteed so it's worth asking when you book. There's no outdoor seating or baby-changing, but if your family fancies something genuinely different from the usual takeaway-night Malaysian, this Forest Gate spot is well worth a visit.

The secret to a calmer meal out? Something to do that isn't a phone. Each pack is full of screen-free bits and bobs to keep little hands busy at the table and buy you a proper sit-down. Three printable packs, one for each age (toddler, preschool, primary) — free, straight to your inbox.
Calm, welcoming brunch café with a kids' menu and buggy-friendly access on Upton Lane.
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