As a parent in New York City, I know finding places to eat with kids can be hard. You want to relax and eat. But kids need to play! What if there were fun restaurants with play spaces for kids? These places let kids play while you eat.
The good news is New York City has restaurants with playgrounds! At these kid-friendly spots, there are playgrounds or play spaces just for kids. You can sip coffee or wine. Your kids can climb, slide, and play nearby. Everyone wins! You get some quiet time to eat. The kids play with staff watching them. These places take the stress out of planning your day.
Here we’ll share some top New York City restaurants with playgrounds. You’ll find all kinds of spots – from casual places like Lark Cafe to fancy Brooklyn Crab. We’ve got choices across New York City – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and more. Wherever your family goes in New York, there’s likely a good restaurant nearby with a playground!
Lark Cafe
Address : 1980 Willamette Falls Dr #120, West Linn, OR 97068, United States
Working Hours : 7 am–3 pm
Open In Google Maps : Link
The Lark Cafe is a nice casual spot on the Upper East Side. With its indoor playground, you can relax while your kids play nearby. Located right off York Avenue, it’s easy for us parents to visit.
You can sip great coffee and enjoy sandwiches or baked goods from their bakery. Kids can pick from chicken fingers, grilled cheese and more off the menu. And the indoor playground keeps them busy! With slides and climbing areas, staff watch as kids play freely.
The Lark Cafe is perfect for parents needing a break. After playing on the indoor equipment, kids can join you for a special bakery treat before you go!
Brooklyn Crab
Address : 24 Reed St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, United States
Working Hours : 12–11 pm
Open In Google Maps : Link
In Brooklyn’s Red Hook, Brooklyn Crab is a fun nautical-themed spot. Their outdoor area has picnic tables, strung lights, lawn games and even a mini golf course that kids 3+ love!
While you enjoy seafood boils, kids can pick from fried shrimp, fish tacos and mini burgers. After playing mini golf outside, they’ll love coconut shrimp or cheesy bacon fries.
With ample room, entertainment like mini golf and yard games, Brooklyn Crab is a top playground restaurant pick for families in the city!
Gigino at Wagner Park
Overlooking the Hudson in Battery Park City, Gigino at Wagner Park offers parents Italian fare and kids outdoor play. Along with outdoor dining, there are picnic tables on the park’s big lawn playground just steps away!
Adults can savor wood-fired pizza, creamy pastas and salmon, while little ones enjoy ziti, risotto balls or gelato from the menu. After tiring themselves out playing on the grounds, they’ll appreciate pasta or pomodoro back at the restaurant.
With Mediterranean-inspired dishes and a beautiful park playground, Gigino at Wagner Park scores among top NYC restaurants with outdoor fun for families!
American Girl Cafe
Address : 75 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 1, New York, NY 10019, United States
Working Hours : 10 am–7 pm
Open In Google Maps : Link
Inside the American Girl Place toy store at Rockefeller Center, the American Girl Cafe is a dream playground restaurant for kids. The posh pink and white dining room lets girls enjoy brunch, lunch or tea with their dolls seated beside them!
Kids can order mini dishes like grilled cheese, chicken tenders and personal pizzas to share with their dolls. You parents enjoy full-sized salads, soups and more from the menu. Dolls get their own cups, plates and parasols for an adorable tea party experience.
Conveniently located in bustling Midtown Manhattan, the cafe is perfect for tourists and locals alike. After shopping at the store, families can refuel without ever leaving!
Blending whimsical fun with dishes for both kids and dolls, the American Girl Cafe is a delightful playground restaurant pick in New York City.
Dave & Buster’s
Address : 625 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States
Working Hours : 11 am–1 am
Open In Google Maps : Link
At Dave & Buster’s, kids can play for hours while you enjoy a great meal. This huge entertainment spot has classic arcade games plus new VR adventures alongside crowd-pleasing food like burgers, nachos and more.
While you sip beer and nosh on starters, kids can try racing, shooting and VR games across the 40,000+ square foot space. With combo meal bundles with toys, games and mini corndogs, Dave & Buster’s makes the whole family happy.
With an action-packed arcade and solid dining, Dave & Buster’s checks all the boxes as a playground restaurant in NYC for families.
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
Address : 177 Fleet St, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, United States
Working Hours : 11 am–2 am
Open In Google Maps : Link
With locations across the city, Brother Jimmy’s offers finger-lickin’ barbecue that New York City kids love. Their playful kids’ menus double as coloring pages to keep little ones entertained before food arrives.
While kids scribble the day away, you can enjoy platters of brisket, ribs and more alongside cold beer and rum punch. The welcoming vibe means no judgement if kids get antsy before eating corn fritters, baked beans and grilled hot dogs.
With filling Southern fare in a casual, family-friendly setting, Brother Jimmy’s ranks among the best playground restaurants for kids in the city!
CHLOE
Address : 1331 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States
Working Hours : 11 am–11 pm
Open In Google Maps : Link
With several locations across New York City, by CHLOE makes both parents and kids happy with delicious vegan comfort food. All spots offer coloring sheets and crayons to occupy even antsy toddlers so you can enjoy your meal in peace.
While you dine on veggie-centric sandwiches, pastas and sweet treats, kids can pick lentil meatballs with orzo or crispy chick’n strips with ranch sauce. The menu fits gluten-free, soy-free and other diets – perfect for picky eaters! And the s’mores sundae with housemade ice cream makes an awesome kid-approved dessert.
Thanks to fun coloring pages, craveable dishes, and allergy-friendly options, by CHLOE tops our list of veggie-forward restaurants with play spaces in the city!
Bamboo Garden
Address : 205 S Sherman St, York, PA 17403, United States
Working Hours : 11 am–10 pm
Open In Google Maps : Link
In Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, Bamboo Garden offers delightful dim sum dining perfect for family-friendly restaurants. The big three-story spot fills up every weekend with Chinese families sharing soup dumplings, pork buns, shumai and dozens more small plates and noodles!
While the giant soup dumplings captivate kids and adults, the bustling dining room might feel chaotic for some. But families embracing the cheerful chaos will love letting kids join the culinary fun right at their tableside.
For immersive, family-style Chinese dining without long waits, Bamboo Garden makes our playground restaurant list as dim sum with entertainment!
More Restaurant
| Names Restaurant | Address | Working Hours | Location |
| Dinosaur Bar-B-Que | 604 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States | 4–9 pm | Link |
| Good Enough To Eat | 520 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024, United States | 8 am–10 pm | Link |
| Good Day Play Cafe Brooklyn | 591 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States | 10 am–5 pm | Link |
| Playground | 71-30 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11372, United States | 3–11:45 pm | Link |
| Cowgirl | 519 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014, United States | 11:30 am–11 pm | Link |
| Inside Park at St. Bart’s | 325 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States | 12–9 pm | Link |
| Bubby’s | 120 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013, United States | 8 am–10 pm | Link |
| Chuck E. Cheese | 139 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States | 11 am–9 pm | Link |
| Ellen’s Stardust Diner | 1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, United States | 7 am–11:30 pm | Link |
Thoughts on Playground Restaurants
As covered, restaurants with playgrounds give New York City families the best of both worlds. Kids play while parents enjoy coffee or a beer! And they eliminate coordinating separate activities around dining out.
From doll tea parties at American Girl Cafe to Dave & Buster’s arcade and mini golf at Brooklyn Crab, we’ve shared top destinations for free play alongside great food. Whenever you seek convenient, fun family dining in the city, check out these playground restaurant recommendations.
For more kids’ activity and family fun ideas in New York City, explore the Family Fun pages on nycityguide.net. We cover museums, parks, shows, events, classes and more to delight kids across the five boroughs!