You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions in the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

Kids as young as 5 months old have a place to play at Scramble. Photo courtesy of Scramble

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Indoor Playgrounds & Play Spaces

1. Scramble — Alexandria & Falls Church, VA

Best Ages: 1-10

Scramble’s large European-style indoor play space is designed for kids from 5 months to 12 years old with a dedicated soft infant/toddler play area, imaginative role-play areas, and a large play structure with a giant slide for bigger kids. Birthday party packages include play time and either a table or private party room for two to 2.5 hours, pizzas with sides and drinks, a party coordinator, and a book for each child to take home. Note: The Falls Church location is more expensive.

2. Scramble Parkour — Arlington, VA

Best Ages: 4-18

Looking for newer indoor birthday places? Try Scramble Parkour, opened in December 2024. Scramble Parkour is different from the other two Scramble locations in that it's geared toward kids and teens up to 18 years old! The Shirlington gym features ninja warrior and obstacle courses for every age group. Birthday parties are 2.5 hours and include 90 minutes of play time, pizza, fruit, water, and party favors. 

3. Gymboree Play & Music — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 1-3

For the under-3 set, it doesn't get much better than Gymboree Play & Music in Woodley Park. A 90-minute or two-hour birthday party includes guided music and movement activities (including Gymboree's famous parachute time) with a party host and free-play time in the gym. You can bring your own food, cake, and non-alcoholic drinks, but free paper goods are provided.

4. Jolly Yolly Kids — Fairfax, VA & Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 2-10

This indoor play space offers five different party option sat both its Fairfax and Bethesda locations. All packages include 45 minutes of playtime in the ocean-themed play space followed by 45 minutes in a private party room, two slices of pizza and a drink for each child, and your choice of solid-colored decorations. A party host helps ensure everything goes smoothly. You can provide your own cake, but no other outside food is allowed. If you opt for the private package, you'll get the whole place to yourself!

5. Hyper Kidz! — Alexandria & Ashburn, VA; Columbia, Gambrills, Rockville, & Owings Mills, MD

Best Ages: 2-10

This ocean-themed indoor playground offers five different birthday party packages for up to 30 kids. The two-hour parties include 75 minutes of open play time followed by 45 minutes in a private party room for food. Packages include two slices of pizza and a juice box or bottle of water for each child, paper or electronic invitations, and party supplies. Bring your own cake or cupcake. All party guests are welcome to stay and play for the rest of the day! You can also opt for a private party.

RELATED: 7 Awesome Trampoline Parks Near DC for Indoor Family Fun

Bounce, climb, jump, run, and more at ZavaZone. Photo courtesy of the venue

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Sports & Recreation

6. ZavaZone — Sterling, VA & Rockville, MD

Best Ages: 5 and up

ZavaZone offers a variety of active indoor adventures. From zip lines and ropes courses to rock climbing and trampolines, this is one cool indoor birthday party spot for active kids. There are a variety of party packages available for up to 30 guests, some of which include food and drinks. No outside food is permitted other than cake or cupcakes.

7. Tiny Dancers — Alexandria, Fairfax City, & Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 3-6

Tiny Dancers offers magical fairy-tale birthday parties complete with costumes, dancing, tutus and tiaras, and a dance teacher and assistant. Parties are 90 minutes long, and you can bring your own cake and treats to celebrate. Each guest goes home with a keepsake craft and either a handmade tutu and sparkling tiara or a sword, shield, and swashbuckler's sash. The birthday child get a special gift.

8. Pinstripes — Washington, DC & North Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 5 and up

For an upscale twist on the classic bowling birthday party, check out Pinstripes in Georgetown or Bethesda. Kids' birthday parties include 90 minutes of bowling or bocce and a kid-friendly menu with dessert in a private party room. Teen parties are two hours and offer an upgraded menu for more sophisticated palates.

9. Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness — Manassas, VA

Best Ages: 3 and up

This indoor rock-climbing center offers two-hour parties that include 75 minutes of climbing time and 45 minutes for birthday cake, presents, and food in a private party room. A party host, 1:5 climber-to-staff ratio, and the ability to bring in your own food and drinks make this an easy choice.

10. The St. James — Springfield, VA

Best Ages: 5 and up

The St. James offers all kinds of birthday parties to suit any interest. At the Super, Awesome & Amazing play center, kids can challenge their friends in the Nerf Battle Zone, test their skills on the ninja warrior and aerial obstacle courses, or bounce around on the trampoline court. They can make a splash at an indoor water park party. And for sports lovers, the St. James offers flag football, basketball, or soccer parties with a dedicated host. Party packages include food and cake.

11. K1 Speed — Dulles & Manassas, VA

Best Ages: 8 and up

This indoor go-kart facility offers high-speed birthday parties for tweens and teens. Kids must be 48 inches or taller and able to safely operate the kart in order to race. Parties include a reserved party area, a medal package and podium ceremony, pizza and soft drinks, and a digital photo. The Manassas location is inside the Manassas Mall, and the Dulles location also has an arcade.

12. ShadowLand — Gaithersburg, MD

Best Ages: 6 and up

A ShadowLand laser tag party includes two games of laser tag in a multi-level arena with ramps and bridges, a private party room for two hours, soft drinks and water, plates, utensils, cups, and a gift for the birthday child. You can bring your own food or have ShadowLand order pizza and ice cream cake. You can also add discounted arcade cards for each guest. 

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Art & Science

13. Kidcreate Studio — Alexandria, Fairfax Station, and Ashburn, VA

Best Ages: 2-10

At Kidcreate Studio, birthday party guests get to create an individual art project under the guidance of art teachers. With hundreds of projects to choose from, your child will find the perfect one that's tailored to their interests and party theme. The studio provides the space, art materials, paper plates, and utensils; you provide the food and drinks. Every partygoer gets to take home their project, and you can add on an art-themed favor bag. Birthday parties start at 90 minutes.

14. Children's Science Center Lab — Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 4-12

Birthday parties at this science center in the Fair Oaks Mall include private use of the entire facility for two hours for up to 50 people, plus a t-shirt for the birthday child. Partygoers can build, play, observe, experiment, and tinker to their hearts' delight. Choose a special STEM demonstration or activity and the lab's STEM educators will help facilitate. You're welcome to bring your own nut-free food.

15. All Fired Up — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 5 and up

Host a 1.5-hour pottery-painting party for your budding artist and up to 15 friends at All Fired Up in Cleveland Park. Each party guest gets to paint a piece of pottery of their choice to be fired after the party and picked up one to two weeks later. Parties also include a tour of the kiln room, where guests will learn about the firing process. Cupcakes or cake can be served, and you have the option to rent the entire studio.

16. Because Science — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 5 and up

Because Science is a woman-owned, STEM-focused store in Adams Morgan with its own amazing craft lab! Two-, three-, or four-hour kids' birthday parties include use of the craft lab for up to 14 children, a guided activity based on the birthday child's interests, and water. You can also add on goody bags, decorations, and extra activities. Bring your own food, tableware, and decorations.

RELATED: Top Kids' Birthday Party Places Near Washington, DC

 
Partygoers can get lost in the Dream Machine. Photo courtesy of the National Children's Museum

More Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC

21. National Children's Museum — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 3-10

The National Children's Museum offers two types of birthday parties on Saturdays and Sundays. The Dream Factory party includes the two-hour rental of a semi-private lounge area near the top of the Dream Machine, the museum's three-story climbing structure. The Tinkerers Treat party includes a two-hour rental of the Tinkerers Studio with a hands-on activity. Both parties include a dedicated party facilitator, and you can bring your own snacks and birthday treat.

18. Cookology — Arlington, VA

Best Ages: 3-17

Throw your budding chef a birthday party at this cooking school in Ballston Quarter, where chefs guide partygoers in making appetizers, entrees, and desserts that they can then enjoy together. Birthday parties are fully customizable and can include themes like cupcake wars, pasta- or sushi-making, and more. You can even add on appetizers, wine, beer, and other beverages for adults.

19. The Little Towns Children's Museum — North Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 1-8

This hands-on museum encourages kids' imaginative play through exhibits that resemble an urban neighborhood. A grocery store, a fire station, a veterinary hospital, a post office, and a restaurant are just some of the places your child and their friends can play in. Each two-hour birthday party includes a party host and a team member to handle setup and cleanup, party supplies, digital photography, and premium party favors. Bring your own food or add on a snack and drink package.

20. Tea with Mrs. B — Falls Church, VA

Best Ages: 2-8

Little princes and princesses will love hosting high tea for their friends at this beautiful tea room. Bonus for parents: Age-appropriate instruction in manners and etiquette are sprinkled in! Private 90-minute parties include tea time hosted by Mrs. B, vintage dress-up, and light makeup. You can add on food, baked goods, and all kinds of other magical things, including pony or unicorn meet-and-greets, a fairy visit, professional photography, invitations, and party favors.

21. American Girl Store and Cafe — McLean, VA

Best Ages: 2-10

For doll lovers, a birthday party at the American Girl Store and Café in Tyson’s Corner is a dream come true. The deluxe party package includes cake and ice cream, drinks, a table activity, and goody bags and doll crowns for each guest. Add on to that package with a meal and/or a private party room and party coordinator, crafts, and/or hairstyling for each guest's doll. Parties are available for groups of two to 14.

22. Escapology — Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 7-14

This Fairfax Corner escape room offers two-hour birthday parties for six to 10 kids that include one hour of game play followed by one hour of party time. Pizza and drinks are included and are served right in the room the kids (hopefully) escaped from. Bring your own cake or cupcakes. Kids and teens up to age 14 can choose to play any of the rooms in Kids Mode, meaning they'll receive unlimited clues from staffers via walkie-talkie.

23. VR Zone — Rockville, MD

Best Ages: 10 and up

Bring your own pizza and cake or cupcakes to this virtual-reality arcade, where up to 24 guests can enjoy one or two hours of VR Arcade or VR Arena games followed by an hour in a private party room. Each guest receives a $10 game card for a future visit (the birthday kid gets a $25 card) and a VR Zone sticker. Parties are offered for kids ages 10 and older, making this a tween- and-teen-only zone.

24. LEGO Discovery Center — Springfield, VA

Best Ages: 3-12

Throw a birthday party for your little builder at LEGO Discovery Center in the Springfield Town Center mall. Guests can enjoy all of the attractions, including building stations, an interactive ride, 4D movies, and more. Each child will also receive a LEGO collectible to take home. Add extras such as pizza and drinks, photo ops with a LEGO character, a meet-and-greet with a Master Model Builder, and more.

25. Beat the Bomb DC — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 10 and up

In Beat the Bomb, players don hazmat suits, helmets, and face shields and move through a series of high-tech rooms while cracking codes and navigating laser mazes. If they don’t succeed, they'll get blasted with paint, foam, or slime in the final room. Kids must be 10 or older to play without an adult (at least 8 with an adult), making Beat the Bomb one of the most epic indoor birthday party places for tweens and teens.

All photos courtesy of the indoor birthday party places