Whether you’re a kid at heart or a real-life member of the under-18 crowd, you’re gonna love your visit to The Backyard in Kalamazoo. With seven acres of outdoor play space, this incredible restaurant is one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Michigan!

The exterior of this combination playground, restaurant, and bar is colorful and modern, truly welcoming you and your family to a fun Kalamazoo afternoon. Settle in for a relaxing afternoon outside on the patio area, or inside where ample seating is available to enjoy drinks from one of two full-service bars and a delicious restaurant.
The Backyard/Facebook
Seating on the patio and inside The Backyard is free for customers purchasing food and drink. There is a small charge if you want access to all the fun stuff outside.
The indoor seating is large enough so that up to 99 people can enjoy their meals comfortably. And, trust us, you're going to want to be comfortable when eating one of the tasty meals at The Backyard!
The Backyard/Facebook
The kitchen cooks some incredible meals, made with locally sourced ingredients. I'm a big fan of an inventive dish, so I'm eyeing the "Mother Cluckers", corn tortillas filled with grilled chicken, black beans, cabbage, flame-grilled corn, onions, peppers, and queso fresco.
At a place that's named itself The Playground, the kid's menu must be on point. Spoiler alert: It is. With menu items like the Hot Diggity Dog, Pig in a Blanket, Ooey Gooey Chicken Quesadilla, and others, kids are sure to leave with a full belly and a smile on their face.
The Backyard/Facebook
The adults will leave the same way, especially if they order a classic burger and fries. The Playground in Kalamazoo, a relatively new restaurant to the area, is already becoming famous for its thick-cut twisted fries, which reviewers online can't seem to shut up about.
While the food at The Playground in Kalamazoo is yummy, the real star of the show is its 7-acre fenced outdoor play area.
The Backyard/Facebook
Now, I'm a 46-year-old adult, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Kalamazoo, so I can enjoy everything The Playground has to offer. Their 7-acre outdoor play area features so many different things to do, including outdoor pool tables, hundreds of toys, a village made of playhouses, and so much more.

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Now, when I say "a playhouse village", what you are picturing might be a little less than what this new Kalamazoo restaurant has to offer.
The Backyard/Facebook
The playhouse village at The Playground is situated on a small paved road, with electric kid's cars, so they can drive around just like they're little adults!
What is one of the favorite ways to relax for parents of school-aged children? Why, a refreshing cocktail that they can sip on while their kids play, of course.
The Backyard/Facebook
Their cocktail menu is seasonal, featuring the flavors of whatever is currently in season. Oh, The Playground in Kalamazoo also offers brunch on the weekends with a wonderful mimosa flight and classic brunch foods like Biscuits and Gravy, French Toast, and more.
Another thing that this unique restaurant experience in Kalamazoo prides itself on is its special events. During the holidays, the outdoor playspace is transformed into a magical winter wonderland with things like season-appropriate crafts, a huge array of holiday inflatables, cozy winter drinks (including hot cocoa for the kiddos!), and other fun things like a snowman-building contest.
The Backyard/Facebook
And if hanging around outdoors in the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter is not your idea of a good time, don't worry! The Playground of Kalamazoo has an indoor playroom as well.
The Backyard/Facebook
This large space offers enough room for kids to spread out to play comfortably, plus a wide selection of things to play with.
After a full afternoon of playing, eating, and drinking, you're likely to be craving something sweet.
The Backyard/Facebook
The dessert options at what we consider to be one of the best family-friendly Michigan restaurants are outstanding. We wouldn't think twice before ordering the S'mores box, to make memories (and sweet treats!) at one of the outdoor fire pits.

The next time you’re looking for a restaurant experience that the entire family can enjoy, look no further than The Backyard in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out Vintage in the Zoo, considered to be one of the coolest outdoor vintage markets in Michigan. Might as well make a night of it with a stay at one of Kalamazoo’s family-friendly rental homes, like this one, which features a game room so that your family can keep the fun going the whole time!

Have you visited an exceptional family-friendly restaurant in Michigan? Tell us about it in the comments!

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The Backyard of Kalamazoo, 10441 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA