I have a 5yr old and a 4yr old. Wife and I have talked a lot about different cabinet designs, what we want for the kids, and what will be easiest for them. We have had parties with up to ten kids from ages 3 to 10 running around the house and what we've found thus far is the best place for the bartop is on the floor.
I've had my bartop on a bar - go figure - and it's proved less than useful and gets no play. I've had it on the fireplace (about 20" rise) and it got okay play from the kids, was good enough that I could play it seated while a 5yr old stood. A few months ago I was moving stuff around and the bartop ended up on the floor and both boys were sitting there playing so I left it there.
Now it lives in the corner of my boys bedroom. When friends are over he'll drag it to the middle so the kids can crowd around seated and take turns. YMMV but if you've got wee kids in the house, little crumb-snatchers and the like, toss the ol' bartop on the floor and see if that gets helps engage the kiddies.
It's been such a hit that I have concerns about the stand up 4p kiddokade (not the real name) I've been toying with because it's hard to beat something working as well as the bartop on the floor.