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Sweet Cats Cafe offers plenty of claw machines to play, plus a delightful selection of ice cream and treats. Photo by Jody Mercier

Best Claw Machine Arcades in NYC

1. Sweet Cats Cafe – Union Square & Flushing, Queens

This cotton-candy-hued spot offers plenty of claw machines, many types of bubble tea, and themed ice cream treats. Staff assist with maneuvering the claw machines or changing bills for coins. Players get bonus coins depending on how much they spend. Small baskets are provided for holding tokens while you play, and if you strike it rich, you can grab a shopping cart for your prizes. Claw machines offer a choice of small, medium, or large prizes. You can also trade in what you win at the end for bigger plushies.

2. Project KE – Flushing, Queens

Both an anime store and a claw machine arcade, Project KE's first floor is filled with claw machines stocked with a carefully curated selection of authentic anime plushies. There are a variety of claw machines for players to choose. Those who are particular about their prizes will love that every plushie inside this arcade's claw machines is an authentic, licensed collectible. When you're finished playing, head upstairs to shop.

3. Matte – Jackson Heights, Queens

Visitors can win a large selection of plushies at this Jackson Heights claw machine arcade. There's also a selection of claw machines with keychain-sized prizes perfect for toddlers. Reasonably priced plushie collectibles are available to purchase separately. When they're finished playing, kids can trade in their small plushies for bigger prizes or "bank" their prizes and get a redemption card to trade in at another time.

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Pose with your prizes after playing the claw machines at Boba Box. Photo by Jody Mercier

4. Boba Box – Union Square

The newest claw machine arcade in New York City, this sweet spot serves boba tea (with or without a special gift) from a nifty automated machine outside its storefront. Kids love the little show that pops up each time they order. Inside, choose from claw machines offering plushies, figurines, and Funko Pop figures. Be sure to stop at the giant plushie wall, featuring more than 3,000 tiny characters, to pose for a fun photo-op.

5. Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center – Chinatown

Although this iconic NYC arcade no longer features its famous tic-tac-toe playing chicken, the family-friendly spot is well worth a visit. Besides its collection of claw machines, the arcade offers many video games, including Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero, plus classic arcade games like air hockey and skee-ball. The arcade also hosts kids' birthday parties.

6. Up One – Flushing, Queens

Located inside Queens Crossing Mall on the same level as the food court, this bright and clean claw machine arcade is an easy one-block walk from the 7 train. The claw machines here are on the easier side—perfect if you have younger kids in tow—and staff rearranges plushies if requested.

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The machines at Stanley's Claw Machines have a sleek, modern feel! Photo courtesy of the venue

7. Stanley's Claw Machines – Chinatown

Clement Yu opened Stanley’s Claw Machines in Chinatown after he and his family experienced the fun of claw machines during a trip to Asia. This small claw machine arcade packs in a lot of machines, offering players the chance to win a selection of curated prizes. When I visited with my kids, the friendly staff adjusted prizes in the machine, so my little one could get the plushie he wanted. There are no snacks available here, but you'll find plenty of delicious food options right outside the door.

8. Anime Claw – Flushing, Queens

With a friendly staff and super cute plushies, this claw machine arcade is a winner. With $1 tokens and most games between 2-3 tokens per play, it's also one of the more reasonable claw machine arcades in NYC. Tiered options are also available, where players receive bonus coins if they buy $20 or more worth of tokens. The staff allows swapping out plushies within the same machine, so if you win one you don't love, you can always trade it in for the one you really want.