When it comes to throwing a birthday party for the little ones, there’s no need to stress. There are plenty of kids birthday party places in NYC that do all the work for you to make your child’s big day an extra special one, and the whole gang will have fun along with them. Classic spots like amusement parks, laser tag, go-karts or trampoline parks are always good birthday spots, but the city offers an even more dizzying array of options for a range of different interests. Here we’ve rounded up some of the best birthday party ideas, from arts-oriented birthday parties and museum parties to park parties, sports-centric parties and foodie parties. These birthday parties will handle everything, from balloons and cake to entertainment and cleanup, leaving more time for you to make memories with the kids.
Art birthday party places
1. Lunessa Designer Jewelry Birthday Parties
Little fashionistas will jump at the chance to design their own accessories. Using semi precious gemstones, sterling silver pieces and other materials, mini designers will be able to customize up to three pieces, including a necklace, bracelet, earrings and other types of jewelry. Lunessa’s parties—which include an opportunity to add on snacks—provides the perfect outlet for your party-goers and guest of honor to get creative, experiment with various techniques and take home a momento from the experience. A minimum of six guests is required, and Lunessa can accommodate up to 15 children. Ages 7 and up.
2. Textile Arts Center Birthday Parties, Park Slope
Weaving, printing and fiber-making are available for little creatives who dream of a birthday party at Textile Arts Center. Regardless of the route your child chooses, these selections offer two hours where kids can try their hand at a new skill, plus 30 minutes of celebrating. Parents will need to provide the refreshments and cake, but all attendees will walk away with a project and goodie bag at the end of the shindig. Ages 5 and up.
3. The Art Farm in the City Birthday Parties
4. Rubin Museum of Art Birthday Parties
5. The Painted Pot Birthday Parties, Park Slope
If your little ones are looking for ways to express themselves, let them have a look at the Painted Pot’s tremendous selections of sculptures begging for strokes of colorful paint. Options are aplenty—piggy banks, animals, superheroes. No matter your child’s interest, there’s something worth bringing to life. There are also a wide array of themes, too, such as a clay pottery party, glass blast and more. Ages 2–16.
6. The Craft Studio Birthday Parties
This Uptown art studio (which also has a Brooklyn location) hosts a variety of crafts celebrations for children. Party-goers can make funky lamps, messenger bags, superhero capes or paint pottery before games and dancing. Ice cream cake, juice, balloons and face painting are included; the Studio will provide more refreshments for an additional charge. Other add-ons are available à la carte, like the celeb photo station, tattoo parlor (temporary, of course!) and sand art station, among other cool options. Older teens and even adults will love the After Dark craft options—cake wars, sneaker design, t-shirt and tank design and so much more. Ages 3 and up.
7. The Paint Place Birthdays
Just like its popular sip-and-paint class for adults (minus the wine), a professional artist walks partygoers through painting their own work of art. Kids choose an image from a library of options, but staff like to focus on re-creating masterworks so they can throw in a short art-history lesson. All materials are provided, but parents supply the food and cake. Ages 4 and up.
8. BrickHouse Ceramic Birthday Parties
Up to 12 kiddos are invited to play with clay at BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center, where they’ll try creating bowls, mugs or a one-of-a-kind sculpture. Watch as the wet material transforms into a trinket your kids will love for years to come. Refreshments are not included in the offerings. Ages 10 and up for handbuilding parties, ages 12 and up for wheel throwing parties.
Museum & attraction birthday party places
1. New York Transit Museum Birthday Parties
NOTE: Birthday parties are currently offered as a virtual option only
For those kids who love all things that vroom, toot, chug and zoom, the New York Transit Museum, located in an authentic 1930’s subway station, is both a historical learning experience and a chance to see vintage subways, turnstiles and engineering innovations up close. Though the guided tour pumps tiny conductors and adults full of amazing knowledge and trivia, the workshops may be the best part of the party. Museum educators lead the group in your choice of DIY activities such as designing a vehicle or creating a mosaic worthy of a subway platform. A scavenger hunt is also available, too, if your curious kiddos are anxious to roam around and make discoveries. Ages 3–11.
2. Jane’s Carousel Birthday Parties
3. Luna Park Birthday Parties
Is there a better place for a party than NYC’s beloved amusement park? Make your next trip to Coney Island extra memorable with a birthday celebration. Take a spin on mild, moderate and high thrill rides (included in the basic party package) and mild, moderate, high and extreme Thrill rides (in the Deluxe Party package). There will be shrieks of joy as kids make their way to and from the Cyclone, the new Astro Tower, the Tickler and more. After they’ve tired themselves out from the thrilling adventure, Luna guests can enjoy refueling in the private party room. Ages 5 and up.
4. New York Botanical Garden Birthday Parties
5. Brooklyn Children’s Museum Birthday Parties
6. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Birthday Parties
7. Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling Birthday Parties
Celebrate your kid’s birthday with the art of Harlem and northern Manhattan at this beautiful and affordable uptown haven. A birthday party at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum allows admission for 12 children and 8 adults to enjoy the multimedia installations, dynamic photographs, painting and drawings—all created by local artists. Guests can also attend public scheduled storytelling shows and participate in the museum’s opportunities to create their own artwork. Parents are welcome to bring refreshments and treats to serve in Sugar Hill’s party room, and for an additional fee they can add activities such as art projects inspired by the exhibits or a performance from a professional storyteller about the neighborhood’s history. Ages 1–8.
8. Queens County Farm Museum Birthday Parties
9. Madame Tussauds Birthday Parties
10. New York Hall of Science Birthday Parties
11. National Museum of Mathematics Birthday Parties
12. Hippo Parkhouse Riverside Park
13. Fun Station USA Birthday Parties
This indoor amusement and arcade paradise boasts video games, laser tag, bumper cars, a carousel and a multilevel maze. There are four fantastic party options that offer various access to the attractions. With all options, kids get a slice of pizza, soda, tableware, a balloon centerpiece and other goodies. If you would like to amp up the festivities, the wide selection of add-ons include a virtual-reality simulator and catering (a hot-cold buffet, specialty pizzas). Ages 1 and up.
14. American Girl Place
Guests big and small are invited to the American Girl place to mark the festivities with a delicious lunch, fun crafts and the quintessential pink and white birthday cake. While you’re visiting the Rockefeller Center attraction, make sure to take a gander at the hair salon (for humans and their doll counterparts), the store (kids and dollies will surely love browsing). All ages.
15. Prospect Park Zoo Birthday Parties
Celebrate your child’s big day with a few extra guests—and we don’t mean human party-goers. The Prospect Park Zoo makes festivities all the more delightful by providing an up-close-and-personal encounter with the attraction’s inhabitants. Kids will be able to explore the various exhibits, and they’ll also be treated to a meet-and-greet with a few cool animals. After taking away a few knowledgeable tidbits about the creature, they will also be able to work on hands-on science projects. Special add-ons (such as extra time with a zoo instructor, a longer party) are available for additional fees. At least six adults must be present, and 36 participants are welcome. All ages.
Sports birthday party places
1. Aviator Sports and Recreation Birthday Parties
2. Bronx Equestrian Center Birthday Parties
3. Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure Birthday Parties
Birthday daredevils can aerially zoom across the Bronx River on a zip line at this park operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, and climbers can try their hand at treetop courses that feature challenges like rope Bowlmor Lanes bridges, tightrope walks and ladders. The 90-minute Yellow package includes invitations and, for the birthday star, a free T-shirt and return ticket for free access another day; the Green package grants one-hour access to a private room, plus pizza, cake and goodies for all. Each session includes training and prep time. Attendees must be between 50 and 275 lbs. and able to reach a height of 5’6”. Ages 7 and up.
4. Jodi’s Gym Birthday Parties
5. The Cliffs at LIC Birthday Parties
6. Rab’s Country Lanes Birthday Parties
7. World Ice Arena Birthday Parties
Tiny skaters can practice becoming the next Mirai Nagasu or Adam Rippon. Parties here include admission, skate rental (the smallest child size is 8), pizza or hot dogs and soda. Outside foot is not permitted. For an extra fee, you can get cotton candy, party invites,a skate coach and character appearances—imagine your child’s face when Elsa glides into the room on skates. All ages.
8. Brooklyn Zoo Birthday Parties
Kids will literally bounce off the walls at this unique training facility. Choose from amazing parkour, trampoline and “Ninja Warrior”– themed offerings that exhaust even the most energetic kiddos. If they’re not mastering the warp wall, ropes or obstacles, attendees might partake in Nerf battles for some friendly competition. After a one- or two-hour fully instructed workout, wild things can refuel with parent-provided food, refreshments and cake in the party area. Ages 5 and up.
9. STREB Birthday Parties
10. The Field House at Chelsea Piers Birthday Parties
11. Brooklyn Cyclones Birthday Parties
12. New York Kids Club Birthday Parties, UWS
13. Bouldering Project Brooklyn
The new Bouldering Project Brooklyn has a private youth room where kids 5 and older can get climbing instruction, enjoy fun games, and, for the birthday kid, a b-day T-shirt. Parties are available to book on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30pm to 2:30pm or 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
There are three different tiers of birthday parties:
Tier 1 – 10 or fewer climbers
Flat rate of $490 for 10 or fewer climbers.
Two instructors
Two hours in our private party room
A birthday shirt for your birthday kiddo
Tier 2 – 15 or fewer climbers
$490 for 10 or fewer climbers + $49 for each additional climber
Max number of participants is 15
Two instructors
Two hours in our private party room
A birthday shirt for your birthday kiddo
Tier 3 – 15 or fewer climbers + pizza
$750 for 15 or fewer participants
Three instructors
Two hours in our private party room
Access to the gym outside of the party room if desired
A birthday shirt for your birthday kiddo
And a pizza the staff orders for the party
You can book here.
14. 92nd Street Y Birthday Parties
15. The Gaga Center Birthday Parties
16. Bowlero Lanes Birthday Parties, Chelsea
Youngsters can vie for strikes while partying at these hip bowling spots with floor-to-ceiling video screens at the end of each lane. The basic package includes shoe rental, drinks and 90 minutes of bowling. Other packages add cake or cupcakes, invitations, food, more time to bowl and a bowling pin for the birthday child that guests can sign. Party guests at the new-and-improved Chelsea facility at Pier 60 will bowl amid 40 lanes or perhaps will be lucky enough to play inside the private bowling suite or relax within a private lounge. Also be sure to explore other including a 1,500-square-foot gravity ropes course and the Urban Mission—a NYC-themed laser-tag arena with Gotham icons throughout. Ages 4 and up.
17. Karma Kids Yoga Birthday Parties
18. Bounce N Play Birthday Parties
Reach new heights (of happiness!) with a private party at this favorite Astoria drop-in play space. Young whippersnappers can jump and hop on the inflatable bounce castles and slides and take advantage of 5,000 square feet of rides, games, shuffleboard, a rock-climbing wall and a giant jungle gym with tubes and slides. Every party includes pizza, juice and a host to guide you in the fun, but you can easily choose special add-ons like face painting, a character appearance, glitter tattoos, karaoke and access to certain attractions (like rock climbing) to make the party extra personal and special. Ages 1–13.
19. Manhattan Fencing Center Birthday Parties
20. Asphalt Green Birthday Parties, Battery Park City
Cooking birthday party places
1. Taste Buds Kitchen Birthday Parties
2. Ample Hills Creamery Birthday Parties
3. Dylan’s Candy Bar Birthday Parties
4. Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain Birthday parties
5. Sugar Factory Birthday Parties
Sure, your kid can eat a meal here, but it’s really just a rite of passage to get to the star of the show: dessert. Let your sweet-toothed kid pick two desserts from a long list of cake and sundae options to accompany the family-style meal of two appetizers, two entrées and one side (the menu includes options like pasta, Caesar salad and miniburgers, to name a few). Sugar Factory also gives the birthday boy or girl a large rubber ducky that all the guests can sign. Ages 1–12.
6. Green Apron Kitchen Birthdays
7. Harlem Shake Birthday Parties
Performing arts birthday party places
1. Treasure Trunk Theatre Birthday Parties
The teaching artists at Treasure Trunk Theatre bring the imaginations of kids who love costumes and playing make-believe to a whole new level. The birthday boy or girl chooses the theme for the party beforehand—think pirates, fairies, outer space, superheroes or popular stories like Peter Pan—and then has an exuberant trained actor and host through fun theater games and acting out a story together. The host can bring the party to your place; along with a trunk of goodies to help in the day’s fun, or you can choose a 45-minute workshop at one of Treasure Trunk Theatre’s facilities for an additional cost. Parents can even purchase some of the pieces ahead of time to be used as party giveaways (like colorful scarves for pirates or wands for fairies). Whether the kids pretend to be astronauts, mermaids or even cars, the experience will be nothing short of magical. Ages 3–6.
2. Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre Birthday Parties
3. Puppetworks Birthday Parties
4. Alamo Drafthouse Birthday Parties
For a movie experience like no other, the Alamo Drafthouse is the ultimate destination. Film buffs can get cozy in a comfortable seat, order a delicious meal (and not just your typical popcorn or nacho snack) and watch something spectacular, from classic films to new features. If you have home movies that you’d like to see on the big screen, the Alamo Drafthouse can make it happen during your private event. You can even play video games on the big screen. Gnarly! All ages.
5. Funikijam World Music Birthday Parties
Book one or a posse of FunikiJam’s trained and talented musicians and actors to lead your little rock star’s birthday party in singing, dancing and improvising on musical instruments, with an emphasis on introducing kids to indigenous music from around the world. The tykes can also pick from a stock of props to play with and share. FunikiJam can help you find a party space in the city, be it a small play space in Queens or even a Broadway theater. Ages 1 and up.
S.T.E.M. birthday party places
1. LEGO Store Flatiron Birthday Parties
2. Brooklyn Robot Foundry Birthday Parties
3. iPlayTek Birthday Parties
More birthday party places
1. Lollipop Spa Birthdays
Even little ones need some r&r, and Lollipop Spa is here to indulge kiddies who want to be pampered. Manis, pedis, facials—it’s all on the menu at this whimsical, hot-pink venue. There are a variety of packages with unique offerings, and those who like a little glitz and glamour will love neon hair extensions, glitter tattoos and other sweet offerings. Add-ons such as an ice cream station, candy table and snack table are also available. Ages 4 and up.
2. Greenpoint YMCA Pool Birthday Parties
3. Alley Pond Environmental Center Birthday Parties
One of the best parks in Queens also throws one of the best parties in the borough. Your kiddo critters learn about nature in an action- packed, age-appropriate class surrounded by Alley Pond’s forests and wetlands. Helpful instructors introduce the children to several live animals—like turtles they can touch!—before leading the whole gang on a nature walk through the paths along the wetlands (weather permitting). Birthday kids can choose from several craft options, such as paper-bag animal puppets, mosaics and feathered birds to create as a group. For older kids (ages 8 and up), special tween party themes include dissecting owl pellets or, less icky, a spa party with aromatherapy and a mini massage class. Ages 2 and up.