Family Day at Akers Mill Square – The Best Shops, Dining & Fun for the Whole Family
Akers Mill Square has quietly become one of the most family-friendly shopping destinations in northwest Atlanta. With children's clothing, interactive dining, pet-friendly retailers, party supplies, arts and crafts, and food options that satisfy every age — here's how to make the most of a full family day at the center.
Planning a successful outing with kids requires the right combination of things to see, things to do, food everyone will actually eat, and enough variety that the grown-ups don't go quietly out of their minds. Akers Mill Square delivers on all four fronts — and the free, abundant parking means you don't start the day already stressed.
Start the Morning Right — Breakfast for the Family
Snooze is genuinely fun for families — the colorful retro-diner atmosphere delights kids, and the pancake program (rotating specialty flavors alongside classics) keeps adults equally engaged. The menu has something for even the pickiest young eaters, and the kitchen is accommodating with modifications. Join the Yelp Waitlist before arriving on weekends to minimize the wait with restless children.
If Snooze has a long wait or the kids need something faster, Chick-fil-A is the reliable fallback — and honestly, the kids may prefer it anyway. The waffle fries and nuggets are a proven crowd-pleaser for ages 3 to 93.
Shopping for the Kids
America's most trusted children's clothing brand and the OshKosh B'gosh denim and playwear collection share this location, making it the most complete stop for baby and kids' clothing at the center. The quality is genuine, the sizing is consistent, and the frequent 50% off sale events turn an already-accessible price point into an excellent value. The staff are warm, patient, and great with kids in the store.
Five Below is, quite simply, one of the most exciting stores in the world if you're between the ages of 6 and 16. The bright, music-filled, energetic space — organized into Tech, Style, Room, Play, Create, Party, Candy, and New & Now worlds — offers genuine thrills at a price point where parents can say yes. Budget $15–$20 per kid and watch the magic happen. A trip to Five Below as a reward for good behavior is a parenting tool with a 100% success rate.
Hobby Lobby is the weekend project-starter that ends Sunday-afternoon boredom. The craft supply section — paints, canvases, yarn, beads, modeling clay, scrapbooking materials — gives kids (and adults) everything needed for an afternoon of creativity. The seasonal décor sections are genuinely fun to browse with children, and the picture framing section is perfect for displaying kids' artwork. Remember: the 40% off coupon in the Hobby Lobby app applies to one regular-price item per visit.
Lunch — Something for Everyone
The beauty of Akers Mill Square's dining lineup for families is the variety. Here are the best family lunch options:
🍔 Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Kids and adults both love Hopdoddy — the counter-service format keeps it casual, the burgers are genuinely excellent, and the Colossal Milkshakes are the kind of treat that makes a regular Tuesday feel like a special occasion. The Impossible Burger option works for vegetarian family members.
🌮 Chipotle or CAVA
Both are excellent for families with diverse tastes — the build-your-own format means everyone gets exactly what they want, and the price point is family-friendly without compromising on quality. Chipotle's kids' meals are a reliable option for younger diners.
🍕 Blaze Pizza
Kids who love building things love Blaze Pizza — the assembly-line format where they get to choose every topping on their personal pizza is a genuinely engaging process for children. The 3-minute oven is fast enough to hold young attention spans, and the portion size is right for kids.
Mid-Afternoon Activities
Even families without pets can have a wonderful 30 minutes at Petco — the fish tanks, small animals (hamsters, guinea pigs, birds), reptile displays, and visiting dogs in the store create a genuinely engaging experience for children. If you do have a pet, bring them along — Petco welcomes leashed dogs and cats in carriers, making the whole family part of the outing. Watch for weekend adoption events where local rescues bring adoptable dogs and cats to the store.
If you have a birthday, graduation, or any celebration coming up, Party City at Akers Mill Square is a natural stop during a family outing. The kids love the balloon section, the costume aisle, and the sheer visual spectacle of the store. The staff can create impressive balloon arrangements while you continue shopping — a time-efficient approach that lets you accomplish errand and entertainment simultaneously.
Afternoon Snack & Sweet Treat
After the afternoon energy expenditure, everyone deserves a treat. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the healthy-ish option — fresh fruit smoothies, acai bowls, and banana pudding smoothies that kids love and parents feel fine about. For something more indulgent, the Honeybaked Ham Company carries individually packaged treats, or make the drive a few minutes to a nearby ice cream option.
Dinner — The Family Finale
K-Pot is the most fun family dinner option at Akers Mill Square, full stop. Kids who are old enough to safely sit near a tabletop grill (roughly 8 and up) are absolutely captivated by the interactive cooking experience — watching marinated beef sizzle on the grill, fishing noodles out of bubbling broth, and building their own bowls. Parents appreciate the relaxed, noisy atmosphere where the kids' energy level is completely appropriate. The all-you-can-eat format eliminates the usual "is this enough food?" math.
Sample Full Family Day Schedule
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