Kevin McNeil

Recommended. Open, airy food hall with ample seating and a solid array of choices bound to please everyone in your group. Good option for an adventurous family as there is pizza if the more exotic options don’t satisfy your pickiest eater. Long tables with benches give a communal feel. Attendants waiting to clear the tables hover making you feel a tad rushed. Numerous bathrooms downstairs all gender neutral.

Recommended. New, compact library with ample seating, many PCs and an excellent children’s section. Great option post Asphalt Green.

A holiday tradition that will amaze the children and even impress their parents. While it certainly doesn’t begin to approach the scale of the annual exhibit at the N.Y. Botanic Garden, this layout has unique features including a New York skyline and a replica of Grand Central. Plus it is compact and located within the the magnificent Grand Central terminal.

Edit: visited again during week between Christmas and New Years and the facility was practically unheated. Owner claimed heat had been on for 3 hours. The facility appears to rely only on split level A/C auxiliary heat which clearly was not sufficient to properly heat the play area. The back play room was completely unheated. Our children’s hands and feet were cold to the touch after only a short period. We (patents) lost feeing in our toes quite quickly. Owner initially refused to provide a refund but eventually relented.

An OK indoor play land addition to the neighborhood. It is on the small side and as a result crowded and wanting for parent space. However, the attractions are a hit, especially the ball pit and rice sandbox. There is one employee supervising (who sat and stared at her phone most of the time) but not to the point where you feel you can take your eye of your children for more than a second as there is not one vantage from which you can see the entire play area. $18 per child (unlimited for the day but no re-entry) is on the high side. Compared to other options city-wide this would be closer to 3 stars but given the lack of better alternatives in Bay Ridge I’ve given 4 stars.

One of the best playgrounds in Central Park. Updated in 2016 this well laid out play area features an array of equipment that will keep your little ones entertained for longer than the average playground. Sandbox, sprinklers, two slides, seesaws, 12 swings (all for toddlers) and two gazebos with chalkboard sides. A continuous fence with only one entry/exit point and ample seating with clear sight lines means your little ones won't be able to scamper away. This is a clear winner over nearby Diana Ross Playground. It is a great option after visiting the American Museum of Natural History. You can enter from 85th or 81st and climb the path over Summit Rock.