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Best drop-in indoor activities for kids & teens in Brooklyn

Our overview of indoor activities in Brooklyn includes drop-in activities including play spaces, story times, arts and crafts, adventure parks, rock climbing, mini golf, bowling and more for all ages, from babies to teens!

DUMBO

Area 53 Laser Tag | DUMBO

Area 53 laser tag, located in a dual-level basement in DUMBO, is ideal for ages 8 years and up. Open Monday to Sunday, tickets are $39 during the week and $49 on weekends per person for non-private laser tag games. Each ticket allows for 3 laser tag games, each around 15 minutes. Find out more here.

Carnaby Club | DUMBO

Carnaby Club is a new family club intended to connect, network and build community. With an atelier studio, fitness room, adult lounge and play area with imaginative play, soft play and a large ball pit, kids can play while parents get work some work done. Drop-in prices are $30 per family and best for ages 0 to 6 years old. Class packs for 3- and 5-pack bundles are available. In addition to open play, the club offers drop-in classes in art, sensory, music, yoga, movement and many more classes for kids. Yoga, pilates and other fitness classes are available for adults. The club is open Monday-Friday, 10am – 6pm and Saturday-Sunday, 9am – 2pm. Click here to learn about memberships. 

Environmental Education Center | Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO 

Note: The center is temporarily closed for Winter Break through January 17. 

The Environmental Education Center is a year-round space located at the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo. There is a three-dimensional map of Brooklyn Bridge Park and a 250-gallon estuarium showcasing fish from the East River. The center also has a small collection of turtles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Free and open to the public on Thursdays 3-5 PM, Fridays 3-5 PM, and Saturdays 1-5 PM. Find out more here. 

Jane’s Carousel | Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO

Stop by for a ride on the beautiful horses in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Each ride costs $2. Hours by season can be found here. 

Loop of the Loom Weaving | DUMBO

Drop-off your children for 2 hour weaving sessions at Loop of the Loom! Instructors will initially guide them with simple techniques, and within a minute, children will be able to start weaving by themselves. You will be amazed by what they made in two hours! 2-hour classes cost $65 (includes all materials). Best for ages 6-14. Book a class online here. 

Museum of Food and Drink | DUMBO

The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) is now open at Empire Stores in DUMBO. MOFAD’s first exhibition is Flavor: The World to Your Brain, a sensory journey through our bodies and our world, designed and curated by food scientists and culinary anthropologists. Best for ages 7 and up. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 to 5 PM. Last entry at 4:15 PM. Children under 5 are free, children up to 14 years pay $7 and grown-ups $15. Get your tickets here.

Randolph Beer | DUMBO

Play pinball, vintage arcade games, foosball, shuffle board, and more at Randolph Beer. Some games are free, and others are played for $1 tokens. Book an hour of Feather Bowling here for $46/hour. Best for kids 7 and older. Kids are welcome on weekdays before 6pm, Saturdays before 2pm, and Sundays all day. Find out more about the beer hall here. 

Cooking and Arts & Crafts for Kids at Speakitaly | DUMBO

Speakitaly offers a broad variety of Italian-themed drop-in classes starting at $30. Classes are offered for kids only, or for children and their caregivers. Children as young as two years old are welcome! only and Mommy & Me Classes. Visit the website or learn more about upcoming activities for kids and families here. 

Teen Tech Center | DUMBO

A new Teen Tech Center at 1 John Street in a separate location opposite the Adams Street library is now open for teenagers ages 13 to 18. It is one of 5 Teen Tech Centers in Brooklyn. The space previously used as interim library and annex of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is designed as an interactive learning environment where teens can experiment with technology, get homework help, socialize with peers, meet professionals in the field of tech, and acquire skills for college and careers. The center features musical instruments including a drum set, 3D printer, sewing machine, video games, arts material and more. Find out more here.

 

Downtown Brooklyn

Chuck E. Cheese | Downtown Brooklyn

Chuck E. Cheese includes everything from driving games and arcade racing games to dance sessions and live shows. The Downtown Brooklyn location also has an all-new trampoline park! Drop in for a mid-week treat or weekend full of family fun activities and get your indoor playing on! Must be under 52″ to jump. Click here for more details. 

Dave & Buster’s | Downtown Brooklyn

Dave & Buster’s has hundreds of arcade games that are best for older kids and teens, but all ages are welcome (accompanied by an adult 25 years+ old). Food and alcohol are available for purchase. Opens at 11am Monday-Friday, 10am Saturday & Sunday. Click here for more info. 

Dekalb Market Hall | Downtown Brooklyn

CityPoint’s downstairs food hall is great place to grab lunch with the kids. Explore the food stalls or stop by Sixpoint Brewery. If you visit on Thursday, grab lunch before or after a show by children’s musician Hopalong Andrew, who has two shows (10am and 12pm) at The Gallery at City Point Brooklyn, across from McNally Jackson Bookstore. Dekalb Market Hall is open 11am-9pm Sunday-Wednesday, 11am-10pm Thursday-Saturday. Breakfast vendors open at 8am.

The Escape Game Brooklyn | Downtown Brooklyn | Coming Soon to City Point! 

The Escape Game Brooklyn will feature six unique games including Cosmic Crisis, our newest escape room, and Prison Break, our hardest game. Each family-friendly option will include multiple rooms and can hold up to 8 players. Larger groups can start their experience with up to 52 people at the same time. Our City Point location will be right in the middle of the Brooklyn action, conveniently close to countless entertainment, shopping, and dining options. This will be the perfect spot for an escape room day or night out! Content is designed for 13 and up because of reading and math, but all ages are welcome. We have served guests as young as 5! Kids 4 and under can play for free. Kids 14 and below need a parent with them to play the game. Click here for more info!

New York Transit Museum | Downtown Brooklyn

For children 2 years and older, the highlights of the museum are the buses which they can sit inside—and pretend to be the bus driver!—as well as the many vintage subway cars to check out. The museum is housed in an historic subway station on Schermerhorn Street, right between Court Street and Boerum Place. No elevator and no cell phone reception. Admission is $10/adult, $5/child (2-17 years). Open Thursday-Sunday, 10am to 4pm. More info here. 

Story time at McNally Jackson City Point | Downtown Brooklyn

McNally Jackson bookstore hosts free story times upstairs in their children’s section on Thursdays at 4pm. Great for kids 4 to 8, but all ages are welcome. No RSVP required, just show up!

 

Carroll Gardens

Brooklearn Playspace | Carroll Gardens

Brooklearn’s playspace offers children under 6 fun every day of the week! The playroom is outfitted with gym mats, a climbing wall, uneven gymnastics bars, a trampoline, foam pit, basketball hoop, giant swing, jungle gym, and much more! Open play hourly rate is $25 and daily drop-in classes in dance, music, math and more start at $30/class. Reserve for open play or classes online. 

Brooklyn Strategist | Carroll Gardens 

The staff at Brooklyn Strategist can teach your family some new games from a library of over 500 titles. Children 11 and older are welcome to play independently with friends in a supervised environment. Find a full list of drop-in after-school classes on their website—from chess to comic design to Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons and more! 

 

Clinton Hill

Lola & Tots Open Play | Clinton Hill

Lola & Tots is a membership-based childcare education center with co-working benefits, enrichment programming, open play, and more. They offer open play drop-in for ages 0 to 10. Lola & Tots is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5:30pm. Call to inquire about events on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Visit their website or browse open play hours and drop-in classes here.

Shining Smiles Indoor Play & Cafe | Clinton Hill

Drop by Shining Smiles for open play! This indoor place space is geared towards toddlers and younger kids with a slide, jungle gym, wind tunnel, peg wall, ball wall, gear wall, and more! Open Play is available Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm and 3-5pm. Shining Smiles also offers an after-school program designed for children ages 4-6. After School is from 3-6pm, includes a snack and daily activities including art, science, story time, games, and more. Visit their website for more information! 

 

Cobble Hill

The Craft Studio | Cobble Hill

Drop in for a fun craft project at The Craft Studio! Choose from a wide variety of projects, from clay play to slime to fabric crafts and wood crafts, even edible crafts! Reservations recommended to guarantee your spot. Normal studio hours are 10am-6pm. Drop in prices start at $28.95, and include all materials and no time limit! More info here. 

Families First | Cobble Hill

Families First is open for unstructured play for infants and toddlers. Membership is $75/month for unlimited play during open hours (Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-1pm, closed Saturday and Sunday). The light-filled playspace has vehicles to ride on or push, play kitchens, dress-up, dollhouses, instruments, dolls, Megabloks, and so much more! Book Babes for 0-18 month old children and caregivers is free and open to the public. Other drop-in story time, music, and yoga classes are available for members ages 0-4. More details here.

Story time at Barnes & Noble | Cobble Hill

Note: Story time is set to return in February 2024!

Join for story time every Saturday at 11 am at the new Barnes & Noble on Atlantic Avenue. Best for ages 3 to 8. Visit the store’s website here. 

 

Columbia Street Waterfront

Elite Minds Montessori Co-working & Childcare Space | Columbia Street Waterfront

Elite Minds Montessori has opened up a co-working childcare space at 295 Columbia Street where parents can work at their office space while children ages 9-24 months enjoy the Montessori infant & toddler classroom. They offer free coffee, WiFi, and a peaceful environment with kind staff. Open Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm. 2-hour, 3-hour, and full-day options available. The space is also offering a variety of classes for parents and children throughout the day. Visit the Elite Minds Montessori website here to sign up. 

Live Music Performances at Jalopy Theater | Columbia Street Waterfront

Bring the family to Jalopy for a family-friendly music performance or sing-a-long! Jalopy Theater presents traditional and folk music that all generations will enjoy, and at family-friendly hours. Check out their website to view upcoming acts and book tickets. 

 

Gowanus

Brooklyn Bouldering Project | Gowanus

Brooklyn Bouldering Project has opened in Gowanus – now an even bigger robe-free climbing center! Youth programs include teams, Parent’s Night Out, and after-school programs, and drop-in sessions. Programs available ages 4 and up. During drop-in sessions children under 14 years must climb with or be monitored by a grown-up or care giver. Day passes for children are $22 (under age 13) and $27 (ages 14-20). Enrollment for 10-week after-school programs start at $315. For all climbing programs and more details, visit their website.

 

Climbing at The Cliffs | Gowanus

Purchase a day pass to The Cliffs climbing gym for $34. This gives you access to the climbing gym, fitness areas, and locker rooms for the day. You can also rent climbing shoes ($7), harness ($5), and a chalk bag ($3). Best for kids 6 and up; however, parents have to be on site and clip the kids in before climbing.

Playwell Playspace | Gowanus

PlayWell Brooklyn is an integrated play space for all kids to have fun, develop social skills, and fitness. The play space offers both open play and drop-in classes for ages 0-6 in music, storytelling, sensory art, social skills, mommy and me, and more. Open play is $35/session, and class prices vary. Find out more here.

 

Park Slope

Brooklyn Game Lab | Park Slope 

Brooklyn Game Lab is an after-school program where kids learn to play games and also learn to change and expand games using their imaginations. Brooklyn Game Lab will even pick up kids from their schools for after-school programs! They also offer a year-long super-game, birthday parties, and weekend games including Pokemon Club, Magic: The Gathering, “Girls Who Game,” Saturday Night Dungeons & Dragons and more! Drop-in sessions range from $35-$50, and semester-long after-school programs start at $1,585. More info here.

Brooklyn Ninja Academy | Park Slope

Try out Ninja Warrior class! Drop-in classes are $60 for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and some school days off. Kids are grouped according to ages (6-13). Kids who love it may join Brooklyn Ninja Academy, one hour lessons taught by certified ninja coaches! For all information, click here. 

Good Day Play Cafe | Park Slope 

At Good Day Play Cafe, you can book 2 hours of play time for your little one, supervised by you. Children can explore the climbing wall, ball pit, fully-matted areas, a Hinoki cypress wood cube pit, sensory toys, imagination stations and more! Adults can order food and drinks while at the cafe. Learn more about open play, classes, events, and more here. 

Private Picassos | Park Slope

Private Picassos hosts Drop-In Art Making for kids 18 months and up Tuesday-Sunday. Pick your project when you arrive and stay as long as you’d like! This is a self-led art making experience, not guided by a teacher. Projects on offer include collage, faux stained glass, papier mache, watercolor painting, printmaking, and much more! All projects are safe for kids 18 months on up and are $20/each. Click here to learn more.

Textile Arts Center | Park Slope

After-school classes for ages 5-10 are hands-on classes in the textile arts. Textile Arts Center’s after-program runs from 3pm–6pm, Monday through Thursday. Class starts at 4pm (3-4pm is for homework and snacks). The center will even pick up students from school! Classes rotate through Weaving, Printing & Dyeing, Sewing & Soft Sculpture, and Sewing & Fashion. Check out the Tweens program (ages 11-14) on Thursdays. Click here for more information.

Ume Ume | Park Slope

Ume Ume is designed to let adults and their little ones wiggle, sing and learn together, for the ultimate bonding experience. Children and caregivers will participate in song, story, creative movement, world rhythms, instrument play, and various art activities. Drop-in classes are $20 per family. For more information, click here.

 

Sunset Park

Open Play at Joy Gymnastics | Sunset Park

Open Joy at Joy Gymnastics is open play for children ages 1-6. Currently held on Tuesdays from 11:15am-1:15pm and Thursdays from 1-3pm. Open Joy is unstructured play lead by guardians; coaches are not available to supervise children during these sessions. Single sessions are $20 per child. Find out more here. 

Bowling at Melody Lanes | Sunset Park

Take the family bowling at Melody Lanes! There are 26 lanes, arcade games, and tons of snacks and food, as well as alcohol for adults. Bowlers are first-come, first-served (for groups less than 10). Open every day, Sunday-Thursday 9am-12am, Friday & Saturday 9am-1am. Bowling starts at $60/hour; prices vary by day, but check their website for specials for family time, after school, and more! Bowling shoe rental is $6. 

Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park | Sunset Park

Brooklyn’s newest trampoline and adventure park has opened up in Sunset Park! From battle beams to dodge ball, tumble track, slam dunk zone, to tubes playground and trampolines they have you covered at Urban Air Adventure Park. Open play tickets range from $24 to $54 per day (unlimited entry). They also host birthday parties and special events.

 

Williamsburg & Greenpoint

Area 53 Adventure Park | Williamsburg

Area 53’s Adventure Park in Williamsburg has a ropes course, rock climbing, zip line, slides, battle beam, arcade, ball pit, skating, and more! Book a 3-hour time slot starting at $42. You can also book for spectators who can enjoy the seating area and concessions stand. Click here to book your adventure!

Brooklyn Zoo | Williamsburg

Brooklyn Zoo offers after-school classes for ages 5-15 in tumbling with trampoline, parkour and Ninja Warrior. Classes are all drop-in, but booking in advance is recommended. Find out more here. 

Ferox Athletics | Greenpoint

Time to unleash your inner Ninja! Come for a 2-hour open play session to run wild and free! Explore the amazing obstacle courses, twist’n’twirl, jump and flip on our gigantic trampolines, rock climbing, or the parkour zone! All ages welcome; kids under 5  must be accompanied by a  parent or guardian. Open play is $30 during the week and $37 on weekends. Hours are 2-10pm Monday-Friday, 10am-10pm Saturday, and 10am-8pm Sunday. Visit their website for all programs, and book open play here.

Space Club | Greenpoint

Space Club is a play space in Greenpoint with a two-story playground, bouncy house, ball pit, sensory area, and more! There is also a cafe with coffee and snacks. Open 7 days a week, 8am-6pm. Single passes for 2 hours of play are $35 for one child and one adult. No RSVPs required. Space Club also offers after-school care, classes, and birthday parties. Memberships available! Click here for more details.

Family Music Class at Talea | Williamsburg

Visit Talea on Sundays for a family-friendly music with Jazz Baby! Enjoy a coffee, beer or snack while your little ones join Mariella for a joyful and engaging music class. Recommended for kids ages 6 months – 4 years. $30 for family admission; click here for more information and to purchase tickets. 

Twinkle Playspace | Williamsburg

Twinkle Playspace is one of New York’s most unique indoor playgrounds. Kids 6 and under only. Reservations are required. Either visit with a 2-hour day pass ($20/child, $15/adult) or buy a membership to save on admission. Socks are required for children and adults! Visit their website for more information.

 

Other Neighborhoods

Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights

Bring your little ones to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum! Check out Totally Tots, a sensory play area for ages 0-6, or AirMaze, where children can discover the force of air first hand, and so many more exhibits and programs! There are also themed movie showings in their new movie theater. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. General admission is $15; book admission plus a movie showing for $22. Get your tickets here. 

Brooklyn Museum | Crown Heights

Check the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, or sign up for a kid-friendly or family-friendly art program here. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. 

Fairytale Island Playground | Bay Ridge

Fairytale Island Playground is an indoor playground and cafe in Bay Ridge. The playspace features a faux sandbox, giant ball pit, two-level Fairytale Island train, swings, slides, trampoline, climbing wall, kids shopping center, and lots of toys (little tikes cozy coupes, bouncy ride-on animals and balls, rocking horse, mega blocks and much more). Admission is $22/child, and tickets are valid for 2 hours. One free adult is included, but an additional adult is $5. Find out more here.

 

New York Aquarium | Coney Island

Visit the NYC Aquarium in Coney Island and check out their new exhibitions. The Aquarium is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm (park closes early at 4:30pm November-March). Tickets for children 3 and up start at $26, adult tickets start at $30. All details here.

Prospect Gymnastics | Bed-Stuy

Prospect Gymnastic’s Bed-Stuy location is now open! There is toddler play time (crawlers to 4 years) for $20/session and Kid’s Night Out (5-12 years) for $50/session and $90 for siblings. Classes in gymnastics, tumbling/cheer, parkour, and yoga start at $350. To find out more, click here. 

Mini Golf, Escape Rooms & Arcade at Shipwrecked | Red Hook

Shipwrecked in Red Hook has indoor miniature golf, arcade games and immersive mini escape rooms. The mini golf course is $17-$22 per person, escape rooms are $35 and up per person, and the arcade games are pay per game with rechargeable game cards.

 

Various Locations

Brooklyn Public Libraries | Various Neighborhoods 

All BPL branches offer free programming for children as young as babies up to teens including weekly Babies & Books readings, Teen Tech Time, chess clubs, family story times and so much more. Click here to find your branch and browse upcoming events. Note: BPL has suspended Sunday service due to city budget cuts. 

Story time at Greenlight Bookstore | Fort Greene & Flatbush

Families are invited to join for story time at Greenlight Bookstore! Featured authors and illustrators of picture books will present their books, or Greenlight booksellers will choose their favorite books to read aloud. Story time is Saturdays 11:30am at Fort Greene and Saturdays 1:30pm at the Flatbush location. Visit the Greenlight website here. 

PlayDay | Cobble Hill & Park Slope

PLAYDAY is an art-making studio for children with locations in Cobble Hill and Park Slope. PLAYDAY offers Grown Up & Me activities for ages 1-4, drop-in art classes for ages 5 and up, as well as after-school programming, advanced art classes, and more! Single classes start at $35; single after-school (5 and up) classes start at $120 for longer sessions. Click here to learn more. 

Treasure Trunk Theatre | Brooklyn Heights & Park Slope 

Treasure Trunk Theatre offers a wide variety of drop-in classes, such as Toddlers at the Trunk, Musical Art Adventure, Indoor Sing-Along Adventure, and Broadway workshops. Drop-in classes start at $40. There is also an open playgroup for babies and toddlers (0-4 years), which is $10 for 90 minutes. Treasure Trunk also offers free community story time at 141 Atlantic Avenue on Fridays from 10:30-11:15am. You can sign up for Atlantic Avenue classes online here and Park Slope classes here. 

Updated: January 2024. 

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