Birthday party places for kids in New York City

A | B-C | D-G | H-K | L-M | N-R | S-T | U-Z

B

Baby Moves 139 Perry St between Greenwich and Washington Sts (212-255-1685, babymovesnyc.com). Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave; 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan Sq. Prices start at $775 for up to 12 kids; $18 for each additional child.
The folks at Baby Moves are all about developing the brain for kids ages seven and under (check out the “Early Cortex 101” program). Choose from your standard preschool entertainment like dress-up, arts and crafts, and the ever-popular rainbow parachute. You bring the cake; they do the rest.

The Baseball Center of NY 202 W 74th St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-362-0344, thebaseballcenternyc.com. Subway: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd St. Prices start at $490 for the first ten children, $18.99 for each additional guest.
Kids get their game on at these baseball-inspired b-day bashes. The two-hour parties include 90 minutes of instruction, followed by a half-hour celebration with pizza or hotdogs, beverages and a personalized cake. The birthday child also gets a souvenir hat.

Bija (718-483-4795, bijakids.com). Prices start at $250 for 15 kids.
Held at various Brooklyn yoga studios, Bija bashes range from 45 minutes of yoga to a 2 1/2–hour theme party complete with food, cake, goody bags and invitations. Themes include superhero yoga party, enchanted yoga tea party, jungle yoga dance party and yoga pajama party. Booking at least two months in advance is required.

The Birthday Zone 29-21 21st Ave, Astoria (718-726-9026, thebirthdayzone.com. Travel: take the Q19A bus to 31st St at Ditmars Blvd. Prices start at $199 for 12 kids.
The Zone is fully stocked with video games, skee-ball, slides and a merry-go-round. Ready-made themes include disco, karate, pirate and beach parties. If those don’t strike your kid’s fancy, customized themes are available as well.

Bowlmor Lanes 110 University Pl between 12th and 13th Sts, third floor (212-255-8188 ext 1139, bowlmor.com). Subway: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St–Union Sq. $34.95 per child; minimum of eight children.
This hip Chelsea hot spot hosts birthday parties for kids on weekends before 5pm (after five, it’s 21 and over only). The basic package includes shoe rental, food, and drinks; others add cake, invitations, and even a souvenir pin for guests to inscribe their birthday wishes in. Two to three weeks advance notice is recommended.

BounceU 6722 Fort Hamilton Pkwy between 67th and 68th Sts, second floor, Sunset Park, Brooklyn (718-238-3288, bounceu.com). Subway: N to Fort Hamilton Pkwy. Prices start at $495 for up to 25 kids Mon–Thu; $575 for up to 25 kids Fri–Sun. $15 for each additional child.
Basic parties include playtime in the Bounce Room, which is filled with inflated toys and arcade games, plus party time in a private room. The play space provides two coordinators, invitations, paper goods and a souvenir T-shirt for the birthday kid. Pizza, beverages, cake, goody bags and balloons are supplied for an additional cost.

Bronx Equestrian Center 9 Shore Rd (718-885-0551, bronxequestriancenter.com). Travel: take the Bx29 bus to City Island Rd at Shore Rd. $200 for pony rides for 15 children; trail rides are an additional $100 plus $25 per person.
Located in Pelham Bay Park, the Center leads little ones around on ponies, and bigger kids take trail rides through the park. Afterwards, the Center provides a party room where parents can bring their own snacks and cake. Leave the balloons and streamers at home; decorations might spook the ponies.

Bronx Zoo Bronx River Pkwy at Fordham Rd (718-741-1676, bronxzoo.com). Subway: 2 to Pelham Pkwy; or Metro-North’s Harlem Line local to Fordham Rd, then take the Bx9 bus south to zoo entrance, or Bx12 bus east to Southern Blvd and walk east to the zoo entrance. Prices start at $1200 for up to 15 kids; $50 for each additional child.
Wild things ages four to twelve can celebrate in the Zoo’s classroom overlooking the Baboon Reserve. The birthday kid picks a theme (African Safari or Monkey Mania) for the day’s activities, games, and crafts. The children take a tour of an exhibit led by an education instructor. The Zoo provides all the food, cake, and decorations and the birthday kids take home a gift pack stuffed with zoo goodies.

Brooklyn Cyclones 1904 Surf Ave between W 17th and W 19th Sts, Coney Island (718-382-2609, brooklyncyclones.com). Subway: D, F, N, Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave. Prices range from $18–$25, depending on seating availability.
Take your birthday kid out to the ball game—and let him get serenaded by the crowd. Bring ten or more kids to KeySpan Park, and you and your tot can stand on the field between innings while the entire ballpark sings “Happy Birthday.” (Obviously, this package is not for the shy.) No need to buy peanuts and Cracker Jacks; each kid gets a hot dog, soda, ice cream, and a souvenir, plus a voucher for one free game of speed pitch. Book well in advance, parents can reserve seats up to three months before opening day.

Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music 58 Seventh Ave between Lincoln and St. Johns Pls, Park Slope (718-622-3300, bqcm.org). Subway: B, Q to Seventh Ave. $400 for up to 12 kids.
Birthday boy likes to make music? Then, swing by the BQCM; their two-hour party includes a lesson by a “Musical Adventures” program instructor. Kids spend 45 minutes learning tunes through movement, dance, and banging on drums. The guests play musical games and learn how to tell stories through song in the Conservatory’s auditorium before noshing parent-provided snacks and cake.

Build-a-Bear Workshop 565 Fifth Ave between 46th and 47th Sts (877-789-2327, buildabear.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr. Prices start at $10 per child.
At this popular midtown spot, kids can make their own stuffed friend, complete with a birth certificate and carrying case. Book at least six kids, and the store will throw in a party leader, gifts for the birthday kid, party favors and invitations. The Ultimate party also includes cake and extra goodies for the guests. A private party room can be booked for $400.

C

Central Park Carousel Central Park midpark at 65th St; enter park from Sixth Ave at 59th St (212-879-0244, centralparkcarousel.com). Subway: F to 57th St–Sixth Ave. $21.95 per kid on weekdays; $27.95 per kid on weekends.
A carousel has been in operation in Central Park since 1871; the current vintage model was moved to this site from Brooklyn in 1950. Open year-round (not all are), it features the largest hand-carved and hand-painted carousel figures ever constructed as well as a classic band organ. After each tot gets four rides (adults ride for free with children), the party continues with an hour in the outdoor picnic area. Topping off the richly painted animals and pastoral setting, the package also includes balloons and colorful paper party goods. Hot dogs or pizza and apple juice are provided for kids; cake, extra pizza and food for adults are available for an extra charge.

Chelsea Piers Twelfth Ave at 23rd St (212-336-6100, chelseapiers.com). Subway: C, E to 23rd St. Prices start at $560 for ten children; $25 for each additional child.
The Field House hosts a variety of parties that are sure to excite any sports enthusiast, including gymnastics, rock climbing, soccer, flag football and baseball bashes. The basic package includes balloons and paper goods; food, beverages and cake are provided for an additional cost. Booking one month in advance in required.

Chelsea Playground 400 Chelsea Rd at South Ave, Staten Island (718-761-7529, chelseaplaygroundny.com). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the Staten Island Railway to New Dorp. $275 for up to 11 kids on weekdays, $21.99 for each additional child; $325 for up to 11 kids on weekends, $24.99 for each additional child.
The play space features a rock-climbing wall, a kid-size village with mini shops and buildings, and an indoor playground with three levels of tubes, tunnels and slides. Kids get their sillies out during playtime before retiring to the private party room. Bashes include unlimited pizza, beverages, cake, invitations, party favors, decorations, a candy cart, balloons, cotton candy, a piñata and goody bags.

Children's Museum of the Arts 182 Lafayette St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-274-0986, ext 131; cmany.org). Subway: 6 to Spring St. Prices start at $475 for up to 15 kids.
Choose from a variety of packages, such as Breakfast Birthday Party or We Put the ART in Party. Morning and evening bashes include exclusive use of the entire museum, while afternoon fetes offer free play alongside other visitors. Resident artists will help kids fashion art projects such as collages, T-shirts, clay animation and other crafts. Add-ons include use of a private party room, catered food, beverages and gift bags.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan 212 W 83rd St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-721-1223 ext 219, cmom.org). Subway: B, C to 81st St; 1 to 86th St. Prices from $650–$925.
CMOM offers a variety of parties specifically designed for different age groups. The youngest partygoers can listen to lullabies from around the world and play a rousing game of baby basketball, while older kids can go for the Birthday Pageant or Dora the Explorer options. Packages include pizza, juice, cake, favors and all-day museum admission for guests.

Chuck E. Cheese
• 1816 Gun Hill Road at Ludovick Ave (718-671-2240, chuckecheese.com). Subway: 2, 5 to Gun Hill Rd.
• 34-19 48th St at Northern Blvd, Long Island City (718-728-3600, chuckecheese.com). Subway: G, R, V to 46th St.
Chuck E.’s is your typical fast-food place on steroids, with arcade and video games, slides and ball pits, and junk food galore. Kids use tokens to play the games and get tickets in return; higher scores mean more tix, which can then be redeemed for prizes. Adding to the fun (and ahem, cheese factor), Chuck E. Cheese himself comes out to sing “Happy Birthday” and crown the birthday child. The basic package includes pizza, drinks, cake, game tokens, and a designated party area. The super package includes more tokens, plus goody bags.

Church Street Boxing Gym 25 Park Pl between Broadway and Church Sts (212-571-1333, nyboxinggym.com). Subway: E to World Trade Center; 2, 3 to Park Pl. Prices start at $700 for 15 kids; $20 for each additional child.
If you’ve got a rough-and-tumble athlete at home, consider hosting his birthday festivities at the Church Street Boxing Gym. Young guests spend three hours learning boxing or kick boxing techniques (your pick). Parents provide the decorations and cake.

Church Street School 74 Warren St between Greenwich St and W Broadway (212-571-7290, churchstreetschool.org). Subway: A, C, 1, 2, 3 to Chambers St. Prices from $800–$850 for up to 15 kids.
Artsy kids will love these two-hour parties—teaching artists teach music or high-end arts and crafts (canvas, paint and clay instead of paper and crayons). Pizza is included, unless you opt to have your shindig catered by a local eatery.

Citibabes 477 Broadway between Broome and Grand Sts (212-334-5440, citibabes.com). Subway: N, Q, R, W to Canal St. Prices start at $745.
The 1,500-square-foot kids’ club opens its door to nonmembers for its birthday bashes. There are more than a dozen themes to choose from, including superheroes, circus, dinosaurs, Hollywood, pirates and princesses, and under the sea. The basic package includes food, cupcakes, decorations, paper goods, party favors, a party leader, setup and cleanup. Additional options such as photographers, gift bags and specially designed cakes are available for an additional fee.

Color Me Mine Franklin St between Church St and W Broadway (212-941-0120, tribeca.colormemine.com). Subway: 1 to Franklin St. Prices start at $400 for 20 kids.
Here, kids learn different painting techniques and get the chance to customize their very own piece of pottery. Cake, juice and temporary tattoos are provided, and there’s a DVD player where you can throw on your tot’s favorite film.

Cozy's Cuts for Kids
• 448 Amsterdam Ave at 82nd St (212-579-2600, cozyscutsforkids.com). Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History. Prices start at $695 for the basic package and $795 for the deluxe for up to ten kids; $30 for each additional child.
• 1416 Second Ave at 74th St (212-585-2699, cozyscutsforkids.com). Subway: 6 to 77th St. Prices start at $695 for the basic package and $795 for the deluxe for up to ten kids; $30 for each additional child.
Little divas and crew can get gussied up at Cozy’s Cuts’ Glamorama Party. Girls enjoy a party filled with hair styling, mini-manicures, make-up, temporary tattoos, Polaroids, craft activities and a runway show for all the partiers, and, of course, a birthday tiara for the guest of honor. The deluxe package adds cake, pizza and juice.

The Craft Studio 1657 Third Ave between 92nd and 93rd Sts (212-831-6626, craftstudionyc.com. Subway: 6 to 96th St. Prices start at $670–$800 for up to ten kids; additional charge for extra guests.
The Uptown art studio hosts a variety of crafts parties for children as young as three. Kids make lamps, scrapbooks, puppets or even chocolate houses before games and dancing. Ice cream cake and juice are included; the Studio will provide more refreshments for an additional charge. Other add-ons are available à la carte, like the “Princess Treatment,” which includes sparkly make-up and a manicure.

Created By You 332 New Dorp Ln at Clawson St (718-979-1841, created-by-you.com). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the Staten Island Railway to New Dorp. Prices start at $19 per kid.
CBY offers two party packages: the 90-minute basic, which includes food, drinks and invitations. The second, two-hour package allows partygoers to choose from a wider array of pottery to paint. The staff attends to the artists at work, glazes the pieces after completion and then puts them in the kiln to dry.

Creative Dream Parties 25 Waterside Plaza at FDR Dr (212-447-7263, creativedreamparties.com). Subway: N, R, 6 to 23rd St. Prices start at $459 for up to ten kids.
This 2,900-square-foot facility hosts themed parties including arts and crafts, sports, princess, science, tie-dye and animals. Food, beverages, music and invitations are supplied in the basic party package. Add-ons like dessert, goody bags, piñatas, face painting, balloons and a DVD of the bash are available for an additional fee.

Creative Kids NY
• 81-10 35th Ave, Jackson Heights (917-533-5119, creativekidsny.com). Subway: 7 to 82nd St–Jackson Hts. $500 for 8 children for a basic party; $700 for a deluxe party for 8 children.
• 44 E 32nd St between Madison and Park Aves (917-533-5119, creativekidsny.com). Subway: 6 to 33rd St. $500 for 8 children for a basic party; $700 for a deluxe party for 8 children.
The basic package includes arts and crafts, invites, and goody bags, while the deluxe package adds in food, drinks and cupcakes. Both parties last 90 minutes and are recommended for preschoolers. Spots fill up fast, so book in advance.

Next: D-G

A | B-C | D-G | H-K | L-M | N-R | S-T | U-Z

• Related: Find the perfect party place with our online calculator
• Related: Plan a budget birthday patry
• See more birthday party articles