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 is located in a dual-level basement in DUMBO and offers laser tag and mini-bowling, best for ages 8 and up. Open Monday to Sunday, laser tag 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. Area 53 now also offers mini-bowling for $30! Up to 6 players can play. Click here for more information!
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 aged 0-6 can play while parents get work some work done. Memberships start at $125/month, single day passes and classes are $35, and class packs are available (3 classes for $89, 5 classes for $148, 8 classes for $224). In addition to open play, the club offers drop-in classes in art, sensory, music, yoga, movement and many more classes for kids from groups like Ramblin’ Dan, Little Maestros, Puppetsburg, and more! Carnaby also offers events and workshops for parents and caregivers, birthday parties, summer camps, more. The club is open Monday-Friday, 9am–6pm and Saturday-Sunday, 9am–1pm. Check out Carnaby’s full schedule and book here.
Environmental Education Center
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.
Stop by for a ride on the beautiful horses in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Each ride costs $3. Hours by season can be found here. Summer hours are 11am-6:50pm during the week, and 10am-6:50pm on weekends, closed Tuesdays.
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. Weekly after-school class packs are $500/1.5 hours x 10 sessions. Offered every week from Tuesdays to Fridays 4:00 to 5:30pm.
The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) is now open on the 2nd floor of Empire Stores in DUMBO! Best for ages 7 and up. The museum’s summer hours are Thursdays 5-9pm, and Friday through Sunday, 1-6pm. Children under 5 are free, children up to 14 years pay $7 and adults are $15. Get your tickets here.
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. Note: kids are only welcome on weekdays before 6pm, Saturdays before 2pm, and Sundays all day. Randolph’s rooftop is open during the summer months; kids are only allowed on the roof on Sundays.
Speakitaly offers a broad variety of Italian-themed language, cooking, and cultural classes at their DUMBO location. Classes are offered for kids only, or for children and their caregivers. Children as young as two years old are welcome! Learn more about upcoming activities for kids and families here.
The Teen Tech Center at 1 John Street (opposite the Adams Street Library) is now open to teenagers ages 13 to 18. It is one of 5 Teen Tech Centers in Brooklyn. The space 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 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. Open 11am-9pm daily. Summer Fun Passes start at $45, and provide unlimited visits, and up to 250 games per day. All You Can Play passes for 60 minutes of gaming (Monday–Thursday) are $20. Click here for more pricing and details.
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 | City Point
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 | City Point
The Escape Game Brooklyn features 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. 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. Games are available Monday–Sunday, 8am-12am. Click here for more info!
This new 18,000-square-foot venue at 11 Hoyt Street and is home to 16 state-of-the-art golf simulators. Golfzon Social provides a unique opportunity for kids and families to play 240 simulated courses around the world, including Bay Hill, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Kiawah Island, Harbour Town, PGA National and more! Kids (and grown-ups) who are new to golf can experience the sport in a playful way with various golf arcade games. Up to 6 players can play in one bay, which costs $70 – $99 per hour. Club rentals are $10 – $20 but you can also bring your own. It makes a great family outing—those family members who are into golf can play, and the rest of the family can enjoy their kid-friendly menu, board games, or the 16 beers on tap. Learn more here!
Located in a decommissioned subway station at 99 Schermerhorn Street, the New York Transit Museum is a great destination for kids, who can explore buses, vintage subway cars, and more! The entrance to the Museum is down two flights of stairs. Keep in mind that there is no elevator and no cell phone reception. A second wheelchair-accessible entrance is located on the corner of Schermerhorn and Court Streets. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase on site, and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Admission is $10/adult, $5/child (2-17 years). Open Thursday–Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Storytime at McNally Jackson | City Point
McNally Jackson bookstore hosts free story times upstairs in their children’s section on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4pm. Great for kids 4 to 8, but all ages are welcome. No RSVP required, just show up!
Carroll Gardens
Brooklearn 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. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 6pm, and Tuesdays from 9am to 2pm. Reserve for open play or classes online.
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. Walk-in play is $15 for 4 hours, or an individual membership is $100 for 3 months. 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! Brooklyn Strategist also offers lessons, community play, camps, and more. There is a cafe and retail store in the space as well.
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. Browse open play hours and drop-in classes here.
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
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.
Join for story time every Saturday at 11am at the Barnes & Noble on Atlantic Avenue. Best for ages 3 to 8. No RSVPS needed!
Columbia Street Waterfront
Elite Minds Montessori has a co-working childcare space at 295 Columbia Street where parents can work 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 also offers a variety of classes for parents and children throughout the day.
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 browse upcoming acts and book tickets! Click here for family-friendly shows, and here for all other shows. The Theater also offers Jalopy Jr. Folk School for children 6- 14 years old.
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.
Formerly The Cliffs, Movement Gowanus is the largest climbing gym in New York City. The gym also offers fitness and yoga classes. A day pass is $34 and gives you access to the climbing gym, fitness areas, and locker rooms for the day. See all memberships and passes here. Climbers can rent shoes, harness, and chalk. Best for kids 6 and up; however, parents have to be on site and clip the kids in before climbing.
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 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 Pokémon Club, Magic: The Gathering, “Girls Who Game,” Saturday Night Dungeons & Dragons and more! Drop-in sessions range from $35-$50. Browse all offerings here.
Brooklyn Ninja Academy teaches kids ages 6 through 13 years old the exciting sport of ninja warrior! Ninjas will learn ninja warrior obstacles, and gain strength, agility, and confidence as they improve their skills. Drop-in classes are $60 for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and some school holidays. Check the calendar for all dates. For younger kids ages 3-5, try Mini-Ninja Classes on Mondays at 2:45pm. Kids will learn the basics of standard ninja obstacles – angled steps, ring swing, balance and agility, mini trampoline jump and so much more! For more information, click here.
At Good Day Play Cafe, you can book 2 hours of play time for your little one, supervised by you. Drop-in play starts at $28 for 2 hours. 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 | Second location in Clinton Hill opening Fall 2024!
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! One in-studio art project starts at $20. Day passes are $50 for unlimited art projects, and kids can stay as long as they’d like! Private Picassos also offers classes, birthday parties, art kits, and more! Learn more here.
TAC’s after-school classes for ages 5-10 run from 3-6pm, Monday through Thursday. Class starts at 4pm (3-4pm is for homework and snacks) and are $600 for 8 weeks. The center will even pick up students from selected schools! Classes rotate through Weaving, Printing & Dyeing, Sewing & Soft Sculpture, and Sewing & Fashion. TAC also offers a Tweens program (ages 11-14) on Thursdays.
Ume Ume strives to develop children’s familiarity with music, dance and art while encouraging experimentation, exploration, and creative thinking. The center offers drop-in classes at $20/family including Baby Rhythm-Makers, Sing-along, It’s Art Time, and Story Time & Open Play. Ume Ume also has group music and arts classes, private piano and violin lessons, day camps, birthday parties, and more. For more information, click here.
Sunset Park
CREA Interactivity | Industry City
CREA is Industry City’s first tech driven indoor playground where players navigate through interactive zones, conquering challenges and fostering creativity through movement. The “Crea Adventure” is a 60 minute experience, geared toward 5-12 year olds that combines technology with traditional play/games. Each step reveals new and captivating challenges as players run, jump, climb, crawl and dodge through our seven zones. Drop-ins are $35/class. CREA also offers Date Night Drop Off on Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9 pm for $75/child per event. Date Nights include 3 hours of guided fun, play, learning and creativity, plus pizza, juice, and water. Find out more here!
Joy Gymnastics | Industry City
“Open Joy” at Joy Gymnastics is open play for children ages 1-6. Membership is required to participate. Open Joy is unstructured play led by caregivers; coaches are not available to supervise children during these sessions. Single passes are $20, or purchase a 5-pass package for $75 or a 10-pass packages for $100. Find out more here.
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 for weekdays, $65/hour for weekends; prices vary by day, but check their website for specials for family time, after school, and more! Bowling shoe rental is $6.
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 $40 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.
Canopy | Williamsburg
Canopy is a new play and movement studio designed as a haven for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. They offer a variety of classes, events, and open play sessions for little ones – from infants through four years old – and their guardians. Canopy’s open floor plan features cloud-inspired pillows and ceiling fixtures, mini playhouses, swings, soft rugs & toys, a cozy lounge areas for adults, and designated spaces for babies to safely explore. Open play is members-only; learn about memberships here. Classes are open to the public and include music classes, story time, baby + me pilates, baby + me yoga, baby wearing dance classes, and much more!
Brooklyn Zoo | Williamsburg
Brooklyn Zoo offers after-school classes for ages 5-15 in tumbling with trampoline, parkour and Ninja Warrior. There is open gym as well as classes. Members will have access to unlimited open gym sessions; learn more about membership here. Classes are all drop-in, but booking in advance is recommended. For their full schedule, click 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 $32 during the week and $39 on weekends. Hours are 2-10pm Monday-Friday, 10am-10pm Saturday, and 10am-8pm Sunday.
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!
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. Note: Amazon Free Hours are every Thursday afternoon from 2 pm–5 pm!
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. General admission is free for children 19 and younger; adults are $20/person. Ticketed exhibitions required fee-based tickets.
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.
New York Aquarium | Coney Island
Visit the NYC Aquarium in Coney Island to see all your favorite marine life and also 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. Don’t miss out on their free tickets on Wednesday afternoons! And check out tips for planning a day trip to Coney Island 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 ($25/session for ages 4-10) and Kid’s Night Out (4-10 years) for $25/session. Learn about classes and more programs here.
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 story times, play groups for babies and toddlers, teen programs, family programs, 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.
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-$45. 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. Treasure Trunk also offers FREE community story time at 141 Atlantic Avenue on Fridays from 10:30-11:15am. You can sign up for classes here.
Updated: June 2024.
