Indoor playgrounds may not be obvious destinations for you and/or your kids. But with New York’s history of meteorological eccentricity, a covered and climate-controlled space for the little ones is useful—and maybe even preferable—depending on the forecast.
The good news? Brooklyn is packed with precisely this sort of amenity. Below, we’ve rounded up the best indoor playgrounds in the borough, highlighting the ages they cater to and the offerings at each location. Themes and layouts may vary, but there are a few commonalities. Socks are a must, and open play hours change daily, so make sure to scope out the schedule before you go—especially on weekends. Also, pro tip: buy passes in advance.
And don’t worry, parents—some of these spots even have on-site cafes, so you can kick back while your little ones have the time of their lives.
Courtesy of Urban Air Brooklyn
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
4422 Second Ave.
All ages
More like a giant indoor adventure park than a playpen, Urban Air earns bonus points for its location in Industry City, an area begging for more family-friendly options. Although the little kids will likely want to hang out by the tubes, your older ones will end up running around to try out the warrior course, the battle beam (complete with a foam pit to catch their fall), various climbing walls and trampolines, bumper cars and a mini-mountain, before descending on down a slide. The virtual reality section of the space is also worth some exploration.
Courtesy of Brooklearn
Brooklearn
380 Court St.
6 months to 6 years
Usually, indoor playgrounds cater to a child’s exceedingly high energy levels, offering plenty of space for them to run around. Brooklearn in Park Slope is different in that it also provides opportunities to captivate kids enough to remain still for a moment. There are music lessons, book clubs, and puppet shows on site—just check the schedule before heading there. The older kids can also sign up for semester-long classes, from dance to math instruction. In terms of open play, there’s a foam pit, a pretend kitchen, and a soft play area.
Courtesy of Space Club
Space Club
220 Newel St. and 143 Waverly Ave.
All ages
Your Instagram feed has probably been littered with images and videos of Space Club for a few months now. And for good reason. The business boasts two different locations—one in Fort Greene and the other in Greenpoint—each run by Australian parents who very clearly work in design. Perhaps the most beautifully laid-out indoor playground in Brooklyn, the Greenpoint address is also home to a play-themed installation called Plaid by artist CJ Hendry, which features a sequin wall, a jungle gym, and more.
Courtesy of Fairytale Island
Fairytale Island
7110 Third Ave.
0 to 8 years
Adults can hang out in the cafe at Fairytale Island in Bay Ridge while the kids indulge in a ton of on-site activities. They include a fake sandpit built with herbal seeds and filled with shovels, trucks, and tables; two low rock-climbing walls; a pretend supermarket with all sorts of products inside; a bunch of slides; and a super-fun train tunnel that leads right into a classic ball pit—always a favorite.
Courtesy of Twinkle Playspace
Twinkle Playspace
144 Frost St.
0 to 6 years
Twinkle Space is a family-operated 4,500-square-foot indoor playground that has been keeping kids in Williamsburg occupied for over a decade now. The space—created by Vanessa Yee-Chan, her father, and siblings—is mostly geared towards toddlers, filled with custom-designed play stations like a barnyard, a water table, firehouse, hair salon, and more.
Courtesy of Flying Apple
Flying Apple
912 Broadway
1 to 10 years
The real star of this relatively new space on the Bed-Stuy/Bushwich border is New York City. “Playtime should be when screen time is off-limits and where imaginations soar,” reads the Flying Apple website. And, boy, do they mean it. From a climbing wall featuring a cartoon version of the Statue of Liberty to an incredible obstacle course, a soft play area, and a ball blaster kids will never get tired of, this space is designed to spark endless fun and creativity.
Courtesy of PlayWell
PlayWell Brooklyn
94 9th St.
0 to 11 years
Neurodivergent kids will be especially thrilled to visit this integrated space filled with sensory activities. The Gowanus destination was founded by two occupational therapists who wished to bring integrated play to the community. The result is an indoor playground filled with climbing structures, soft play opportunities, and more for kids of all abilities.
Courtesy of Good Day Play Cafe
Good Day Play Cafe
591 5th Ave.
0 to 6 years
Full disclosure: this Park Slope space is smaller than most others on this list. But if you’re a tired parent hoping to just relax with a good cup of coffee while the kids play, this is the place for you. The on-site cafe, which gives you a full view of the playground, carries Stumptown coffee and cold brew so you can recharge while watching your little ones jump around the ball pit, dress up in costumes, or build Lego structures.
Courtesy of Rainbow Playspace
Rainbow Playspace
1414 Sheepshead Bay Rd.
0 to 10 years
At 7,000 square feet, this Sheepshead Bay facility is one of the largest in Brooklyn. Home to a colossal ball pit, a mega soft clock area, a cute merry-go-round, foam pits, climbing walls, slides, and trampolines, the space offers somewhat traditional playground options in addition to a very curious hand-pedal go-kart course.
Courtesy of Kids N’ Action
Kids ‘N Action
1149 McDonald Ave.
1 to 14 years
While indoor playpens tend to be for the very young, that’s not quite the case at Kids ‘N Action. Tucked into Borough Park, the space has options for older kids as well, offering bumper cars, video games, and even an in-house roller coaster. The little ones, on the other hand, can jump in the pit, roam around the soft play area, or try net climbing.
Courtesy of Play Lab
The Play Lab
33 Nassau Ave.
9 months to 8 years
Montessori, the renowned educational method first developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, inspires everything at this eco-friendly indoor playground in Greenpoint. In addition to traditional fare—pretend playhouses, a rock wall, slides—patrons here can stick alphabet letter magnets on a magnetic wall, play around with a ton of Montessori-made toys, and more.
Courtesy of Sweetspot Playhouse
Sweetspot Play House
333 Avenue X
9 months to 8 years
If your kids pine for the pits, traveling to Sweetspot Playhouse in Gravesend might be the move. At 6,000 square feet, the space is not only huge, but also filled with a ton of activities that’ll keep your little ones captivated. There’s your standard soft play area, a ride-on car track, a motor skill training air tube activity, and a climbing wall. But that ball pit is by far one of the most elaborate you’ll ever come across.
The post 12 Indoor Playgrounds in Brooklyn Your Kid Will Flip Over appeared first on BKMAG.
