Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Brooklyn for Kids

Kids can climb the walls—and more—at the Play Lab, one of our top picks for the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn.
Kids can climb the walls—and more—at the Play Lab, one of our top picks for the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn.
2/27/24 - By Jody Mercier

Brooklyn can't be beat for indoor playgrounds. From Play Kids in Greenpoint to Fairytale Island in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn kids have some prime indoor playgrounds to explore.

While we've included a couple of mellow tot spots with crafts or storytelling, this list of the best indoor play spaces in Brooklyn is focused on active indoor playgrounds, where toddlers, preschoolers, and even bigger kids can conquer multilevel mazes, swoosh down slides, climb rock walls, or just turn around in circles until they fall down exhausted and ready for a nap.

Read on for the best drop-in indoor play spaces in Brooklyn and find more indoor playgrounds citywide in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Best Indoor Playgrounds in Brooklyn

1. Kids 'N Action – Borough Park

Ages 1-14
An indoor playground on par with Chuck E. Cheese's, this activity zone has attractions for all ages, from soft play tunnels, mazes, and a ball pit for preschoolers to a roller coaster, train ride, bumper car, and video games for older children. The upside: If you have kids of varying ages, you can satisfy them all here. The downside? The more activities you try, the more you pay. Birthday party packages are also offered.

2. Totally Tots at the Brooklyn Children's Museum – Crown Heights

Ages 0-6
If you've got a preschooler who needs to get the sillies out, Totally Tots is for you. The Baby Hub features colorful padded structures where infants can crawl, cruise, stand, or just sit. Children ages 18 months to 6 years can romp at various stations, including a water play area, a multilevel climbing structure with instruments to pound and play, a building zone, and a theater.

3. Twinkle Playspace – Williamsburg

Ages 0-6
Owned and operated by a longtime local family, this 4,500-square-foot indoor playground for tots features creative, custom-designed, hands-on activity stations, including a water table, firehouse, salon, general store, and barnyard. It's a great option for preschoolers who love to pretend. Birthday party packages are offered.

4. Fairytale Island – Bay Ridge

Ages 0-8
This epic indoor playground offers a giant ball pit, a two-level train, trampolines, swings, a rock-climbing wall, and plenty more to keep kids occupied for hours.

5. Urban Air – Sunset Park

All ages
This action-packed indoor fun center is located in the amenity-stocked Industry City complex, bringing with it high-flying fun. Attractions at this Brooklyn outpost include tons of trampolines, a soaring ropes course, battle beams, and a little-kid-friendly indoor playground. There are also climbing walls, dodgeball arenas, a slam-dunk zone, and VR games, making this a great spot for a mixed-age crowd. Birthday parties are also offered.

RELATED: 43 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in NYC

Indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn: Good Day Play Cafe
Kids can explore new toys, a climbing structure, a ball pit, and more at Good Day Play Cafe. Photo by Louise Trapasso

6. Good Day Play Cafe – South Slope

Ages 0-6
With Stumptown coffee and cold brew, a cypress wood cube sensory pit, and a clear view of the entire indoor playground from the minimalist-chic cafe, this spot is a favorite of both parents and kids. There is plenty to do for kids who like to get physical—including a ball pit, slide, and climbing structures—as well as options for those who prefer quieter games and imaginative play, from Legos to costumes to a pretend kitchen and grocery store.

7. Brooklearn – Park Slope

Ages 6 months to 6 years
Tumbling tots are in heaven at this Brooklyn indoor play space that's outfitted with everything from gymnastics equipment to a book nook, puzzles, and a play kitchen. Kids can climb the walls—literally—shoot hoops, play with puzzles, and more seven days a week.

8. Sweetspot Play House – Gravesend

Ages 9 months to 8 years

This Brooklyn play space is 6,000 square feet of candy-colored fun. The centerpiece of it all is an epic ball pit, that's not only spacious, but surrounded by slides, a wall with targets to toss the ball through, and a ball drop machine. It's all bordered by an epic climber that doubles as an obstacle course. There's also a climbing wall, a ride-on car track, and a wooden cube pit. Toddlers have their own separate, padded play area, and adults can sit back and supervise from the ample seating overlooking the play areas.

9. Space Club – Greenpoint, Brooklyn

All ages
An interactive art installation turned kids' play space is pretty cool in our book, and that's just what you'll find at Space Club. In spring 2023, artist CJ Hendry wowed visitors with a play-themed installation Plaid, and it's now open for good. Kids can climb the jungle gym, take a dive in the ball pit, or run their hands over the sequin wall, and much more. Monthly memberships and drop-in options are available.

10. Play Well Brooklyn – Gowanus

Ages 0-11
Designed by two occupational therapists, Play Well offers an inclusive indoor playground for both neurodivergent and neurotypical kids, including gym equipment (soft play mats, swings, and climbing structures), sensory play areas, and art and fine motor areas.

RELATED: Creative Hub Playday Opens Cobble Hill Location

Indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn: Little Lola and Tots
Kids can move, play, stretch, and jump around at Little Lola and Tots indoor playground.

11. Little Lola and Tots – Bed-Stuy

Ages 0-4
Along with its classes and after-school sessions, you'll find open play for kids to slide, read, climb, and explore during daily drop-in sessions at this indoor playground in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Beautifully curated and mindfully constructed, this indoor playground offers plenty of play opportunities for kids to get physical and use their imaginations. A new addition to the play space: A work-and-play option lets parents take advantage of an on-site co-working space and childcare option.

12. The Play Lab – Greenpoint

Ages 9 months-7 years
This eco-friendly Montessori-inspired indoor play space encourages physical play with a rock wall, treehouse, slide, and pretend playhouse. There's also a magnetic wall with alphabet letter magnets, a soft foam pit, and a ball wall where kids can toss balls into holes at various levels. Be sure to check out its sister business Play Kids for after-school classes, camps, and drop-off date night care in NYC.

13. Kids Town – Park Slope

Ages 0-8
This clean and bright indoor playground houses plenty of areas for kids to get physical, including a treehouse and slide, a climbing wall, a ball pit, and a good mix of toys that are often rotated, including lots of options that are appropriate for kids under age 2. There's also a cozy cafe where caregivers can enjoy a hot beverage while the little ones explore.

14. The Ability Center NYC – Marine Park

Crawlers and older
The Ability Center has been around for years as a physical therapy spot, but its indoor "practice-and-play" gym lets kids get their play on. Expect to find a clean, well-maintained indoor playground, where kids can safely challenge their growing bodies in an age-appropriate way. Birthday parties are also offered.

15. Flying Apple – Bed-Stuy

Ages 10 and under
Imaginations soar at this sprawling, new Brooklyn play space, which pays homage to NYC with its decor. Open play is offered seven days a week and the space can also be booked for birthday parties. Kids have a blast exploring its climbing wall, racing down the twin slides, or taking dive into the ball pit and playing with its accompanying ball blaster. There's plenty of room to climb in its soft play area, too.

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the spaces

Originally published in January 2017. Vanessa Leigh contributed additional reporting. 

Places featured in this article: