Where to Host Kids Birthday Parties in NYC

New York City parents: does anyone else have a hard time figuring out the best kids birthday party venues? There’s too many choices, that it is beyond overwhelming! Having a birthday celebration in the city that is near where most of your friends live is not an easy task. Everyone is looking for something specific, whether it be a place with birthday party packages, a private party room, live entertainment, open play, plenty of room for guests and an entire family or even outdoor celebrations! Traveling all over to birthday party places on a Saturday with a few kids is something I’ve done many a times and I think it’s time to narrow down the best kids birthday party places in the city!

Downtown  Dance Factory

I’m going to start in my neighborhood with one of my daughters’ favorite spots! If your kids love to dance, it’s not even up for discussion that DDF is not just a good idea, but the best idea! They are primarily a dance studio, but you can actually book a party there! The basic package includes entertainment, staff, balloons and clean up for 10 kids, but there are add on options. They get back to you quickly, which is always great!

 

Aviator Sports and Recreation

Welcome to the largest sports complex in NYC! That in and of itself is setting you up for max adventures. I would go as far to say that I think they offer the widest variety of options when it comes to birthday parties. You can do any sports you’d like, such as ninja warrior which is like obstacle courses, ice skating, golf, gymnastics, rock climbing- the list is endless for children’s birthday parties! This event space is enormous, so you could fit as many people as you’d like, ultimately.

 

Jodi’s Gym

Does your birthday child like gymnastics? Well, do I have a great place for you! Jodi’s gym is located on the Upper East Side and offers birthday parties for kids up to 12 years old! You can reserve your private event for an hour and a half while the kids have fun with basic gymnastics activities like the balance beam and tumbling. It’s the perfect location and amount of time for some kids birthday fun!

 

Cinema Kidz

Now this one is really exciting! Located in Brooklyn, this kid’s birthday party will be taken to the next level with movie creation! That’s right, they have movie making birthday parties for kids ages up to 15 years old! Not only does this make for a unique venue, but it’s truly going to be an unforgettable party! With add on options like costumes, decorations, catering and so much more, this is a great option!

 

Book Nook

The Book Nook is one of the cutest birthday party ideas! With locations in Tribeca, West 59th street and Park Slope this party idea works for everyone! They have different party options to choose from that include party helpers, clean up, storytellers, crafts and more! So if you’re looking for a cute and cozy private space for birthday parties, book here!

 

Benihana

My kids love going to a restaurant where chefs cook right in front of them at the table! It’s more than just a regular dinner, it’s a whole experience. Really, it’s like dinner and a show. Benihana is a sushi and Japanese steakhouse and they have tons of options, whether you are vegetarian or don’t eat steak, etc. The kids love it!

Prospect Park Zoo

This is one of the most adorable party locations! If you have a child who loves animals, why not have a birthday party at the zoo? They have a private party room, will give the kids time to go to the barn to feed the animals and an up-close animal experience with 3 different animals! Do you know what the best part is? There’s free admission for all of your guests for the entire day!

Goldfish Swim School

My kids have always been little fish, they love the water! One spot we love for birthday parties is a pool party at Goldfish Swim! You can rent the pool out for 2 hours and if you have 24 guests or less, they give you two lifeguards to help run the party and make sure everyone is safe in the pool, which is great. It’s perfect year round, but especially fun as a summer kickoff birthday party. A few other things they help out with are invitations, decorations such as balloons and napkins, plates and utensils for cake!

92NY

The 92Y on the Upper West Side has amazing birthday party options for both children and adults! For kids, you can choose between a ton of options like parkour, sports, dance, swimming and even offer virtual options! This is great because there are activities to keep the kids occupied and it’s easy to get to on public transportation.

Crickets Candy Creations

It’s like the real life Willy Wonka Factory here! You can actually eat a lot of the items that seem real, like paper. It’s made out of rice and you can paint on it with an edible sugar mixture. There are also opportunities to create your own edible art projects. It’s super hands on there and the staff is the best! My kids never wanna leave!

American Girl

My girls love the American Girl Doll store! As far as girly party goers go, this is the dream birthday party location! They offer tons of different packages that differ in time allowed and birthday cake options, etc. But I will tell you, this would be one of the most unforgettable experiences!

Lunessa Designer Jewelry Parties

Who doesn’t love jewelry?! Your child can have a DIY jewelry designer birthday party for kids ages 7 and up! This is for the creative kids who love to come up with different designs and have a fun craft to do! It’s better than any goody bag! They use real jewelry, so you don’t have to worry about allergic reactions, which is amazing!

 

Field House at Chelsea Piers

Another great option for the athletic kids! This is a pretty easy location to get to and there’s so much surrounding it, so you can go out to dinner or lunch afterwards or walk the West Side Highway. Make a whole day out of it! They have every sport you can possibly imagine as an option for the activity and the food is so good! The staff has pizza and delicious cake that will make you wish you were a kid at the party, yourself! There’s no age limit, either!

 

Ivy & Bugz

This is actually a company that makes gift bags for your parties! They create party favor boxes for literally any occasion and it makes your life so much easier! And they truly have the best stuff! The boxes look so good and crafty and it will have your kids friends parents a little jealous of these giveaways! Do I dare mention they have a slime curated box?! My kids love that stuff!

The Craft Studio

Anything crafty makes for the best birthday parties! The kids get to take home something they made themselves and I just think that is so fun! They have a bunch of different craft options to choose from, including a parties-to-go option, which is always great to have! With locations on the UES and Tribeca, this is perfect for anyone in NYC!

 

Jane’s Carousel

If you don’t know Jane’s Carousel, first of all, you just need to go there! Next, book your kid’s birthday party there! An hour and a half of unlimited rides is so much fun and honestly really unique. It keeps you outdoors, too which is always kinda nice! One thing to note- they do take reservations for proposals, so if anyone wants stunning photos there, run and book them!

 

Bowlmor Lanes

Let’s have a bowling party! They have tons of menu items, which is great because nothing is worse than a party with food that isn’t good. Choose your menu and invite everyone to bowl, that’s it. Simple as that! And bowling is so much fun, what kid doesn’t love it?!

 

Maman

We all know Maman as a delicious place to get great coffee, tea and bites. But did you know that have private spaces for events? That’s right and while we’re at it, I might book my own birthday there! It’s a stunning space and the food is so good. It is more of a smaller, intimate option, so this is for birthday parties with less than the entire class.

 

Jewelry Making Party

This past year, Siella wanted to make bracelets with her friends for a birthday activity! We had Becky Frank Designs come and help us out. With how popular bracelets have been for the Taylor Swift Eras tour, this felt like the perfect preppy tween activity for a fun party! Read all about her party here!

The Little Words Project is another bracelet brand we are beyond obsessed with! You can actually book beading table appointments there, so you can create your own work of art. These also make fabulous gifts and I love that they donate to a nonprofit organization of your choice.

Tea Around Town

Another fun activity we have been loving is Tea Around Town! It’s a pink boss where you can enjoy tea and delicious bites all while getting some great views of the city. This is definitely for smaller groups, as it’s a bus so seating is limited and you pay per ticket. It’s a super adorable activity and you can dress up to make it more fun!

 

 

The Painted Pot

Pottery is always a fun option! It’s more unique, too because how often do you get to go make pottery? They can make for sentimental pieces you’ll end up keeping forever! The Painted Pot offers a few different pottery class options as well as a canvas painting class, which is a fun change. I think the most popular option they offer is the Van Gogh Painting choice!

 

Karma Kids Yoga

Now this I love! We all need to zen out a little bit. This is a private yoga class birthday party option and they will do it outdoors or come to your home! So if  you want to do yoga in your living space and then serve cake in your kitchen, you can! They offer more than yoga, though. You can do essential oil classes, yoga mat painting, an art party and more!

 

 

Taste Buds Kitchen

A cooking class for a birthday party is way too much fun! Choose from their fabulous menu and they will do everything. And that includes balloons! Even better, your kids get creative freedom in the kitchen, which is something that is always really enjoyable for them.

 

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

If you want your kid to have the coolest birthday party of the year, it’s going to have to be here! Not only do you get admission to the museum, but that includes the Submarine Growler! They have hands-on crafts, staff that will literally handle everything for you and lunch and birthday cake packages to choose from. I love a venue that can handle everything and leave me feeling relaxed.

Laugh N Play

Finally, this indoor playground in Brooklyn is a fantastic place to throw a kids birthday party! Not only do they do private parties, but they are open on weekends for playtime, which is great for an activity, especially when we get cooped up in the house with bad weather. Between arcades, jungle gyms and tons of games, there are hours of fun to be had here. If you’re looking to go for their open play hours, they are from 10:30-2:30PM Saturdays and 12:30-4:30PM on Sundays! Check out their birthday party packages on their site!

This post was originally published January 25th, 2023*

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