50+ Kid Friendly Restaurants in NYC

New York City is a top destination for families. With world class museums, a theater district and the Statue of Liberty, it offers days of family fun. And it’s a top destination for food, but there’s always the dilemma:  how do you feed a kid? Fear not, here are over 50 kid friendly restaurants in NYC.

Top Bagels in New York City

Best Brunch Spots in Manhattan

Best Pizza in NYC

Manhattan’s Best Burgers 

Best Hotdogs in NYC

Old School Diners in Manhattan

Best Delis in NYC

Manhattan’s Food Halls

Other Kid Friendly Restaurants in NYC

Best Desserts in NYC

Best Ice Cream in NYC

Top Bagels in New York City

A bagel is a must for New York City and surprisingly kid-friendly. Most little kids will nibble on a bagel, and it’s filling enough to hold teens until lunch. Here are our favorite bagel stops:

Absolute Bagels located at 2788 Broadway in the Upper West Side.

Russ and Daughters located at 179 E. Houston in the Lower East Side.

Ess-a-Bagel located at 831 Third Ave. between 50th and 51st.

Kossar’s Bagels and Bialys located at 367 Grand St. in the Lower East Side.

Tompkin’s Square Bagels with two locations, located at 165 Ave. A and 184 2nd Ave.

Best Brunch Spots in Manhattan

It’s a vacation, so sleep in and celebrate with brunch. These are worth waking up for:

Balthazar is your destination for a splurge-worthy French brunch. Find antiqued mirrors, red leather booths and authentic French feel. Located at 80 Spring St. in SoHo.

Clinton St. Bakery Co. offers some of the best pancakes in Manhattan alongside fried chicken and waffles. Located at 4 Clinton St. in the Lower East Side.

The Smith Restaurant and Bar offers four locations and all the standards for a weekend brunch.

Best Pizza in NYC

The most kid-friendly restaurants tend to be pizzerias. Here are some of the most iconic pizzerias in Manhattan. As a bonus, pizza is budget friendly.

John’s of Bleecker Street slinging mozzarella since 1929. And it’s sold by the pie only. Located at 278 Bleecker St.

Joe’s Pizza in the West Village started baking pies in 1975. The original is located at 7 Carmine St.

Lombardi’s Coal Oven Pizza opened in 1905 and is the oldest pizza joint in NYC. Located at 32 Spring St.

Arturo’s opened in 1957 serving coal-fired pizza and it’s less popular with tourists. Located at 106 W. Houston St.

Prince Street Pizza serves up square pieces. Located at 27 Prince St. A.

Sal and Carmine’s Pizza because you want to tell the friends back home that Sal made your pizza. Located in the Upper West Side at 2671 Broadway.

Read More: 3 Days in NYC

Best Burgers in NYC 

Not just a pizza town, New Yorkers really enjoy good burgers too. Another choice that’s budget friendly.

Shake Shack—Grab a burger, a shake and an order of fries. Solid cheeseburger but be prepared for a line at all hours. Find several locations across the city.

Burger Joint is located in the Parker Meriden Hotel though it’s not a fancy burger. Located at 119 W. 56th St. in Midtown.

J. G. Melon serves up a one of the best burgers since 1972. Located at 1291 3rd Ave.

Best Hotdogs in NYC

Another super cheap and kid-friendly restaurant staple, the hotdog stand. Don’t need a kids menu, just order a plain dog with mustard.

Papaya King is located at 179 E. 86th.

Gray’s Papaya is located at 2090 Broadway.

Chelsea Papaya is located at 171 W. 23rd. St.

And find Nathan’s Famous Original Stand in Brooklyn at 1310 Surf Ave.

Old School Diners in Manhattan

Once as commonplace at the corner bodega, diners are disappearing from Manhattan. Always a solid choice for grilled cheese, milkshakes and anytime eats, so stop by a classic while you can.

Tom’s Restaurant is a familiar site for Seinfeld fans. Located at 2880 Broadway near Columbia University.

Junior’s Restaurant is a diner with amazing cheesecake. Numerous locations, including one near Times Square.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner offers a kid menu with mac n’ cheese. And the waitstaff sings. Located in Times Square at 1650 Broadway.

Read More: Things to do in NYC with Kids

Best Delis in NYC

No trip to New York City is complete without sampling a pastrami on rye. Then slurping some matzo ball soup and finishing it off with a black and white cookie.

Katz Delicatessen is an icon.The pastrami on rye sandwiches are pricey, but I ordered a half and got a bowl of Matzo ball soup. If it’s your first visit, grab a seat in the back with table service. Located at 205 E. Houston St.

Barney Greengrass has been serving sandwiches since 1908. Located in the Upper West Side at 541 Amsterdam Ave.

2nd Avenue Deli offers two locations. Find one in Midtown at 162 E. 33rd St. and another in the Upper East Side at 1442 First Avenue.

Manhattan’s Food Halls 

Food halls are the NYC equivalent to a mall food court. A staple since the variety of food makes it family friendly.

Find top chefs from around the globe offering their quick-service concepts in the food halls. As a bonus, most food halls offer lots of open seating.

The Plaza Food Hall is located in the basement of the legendary hotel, right across the street from Central Park. Located at 1 W. 59th St.

Chelsea Market—This building is more than a food hall. Find sit-down restaurants, stand-up food counters and shopping. Located at 75 Ninth Ave. at 16 St.

Great Northern Food Hall in Grand Central Terminal offers European favorites. Or head downstairs to the Dining Concourse for more options. Located at 89 E. 42nd St.

Urbanspace Vanderbilt is located close to Grand Central Terminal at E. 45th and Vanderbilt. Though stroll through Urbanspace’s open air market in Times Square. And another location is at 570 Lexington Ave.

Hudson Eats offers several top eateries near the 9/11 memorial. Located at 230 Vesey Street.

Gotham West Market offers a food hall close to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Located at 600 11th Ave.

Ganesvoort Market appeals to adult tastes with a focus on Asian cuisines. Located at 353 W. 14st.

Other Kid Friendly Restaurants in NYC

Sarabeth’s offers upscale comfort food and a notable brunch. Find five locations across Manhattan.

The Meatball Shop serves meatballs your way. And with a solid kids menu, it’s a kid friendly restaurant. Find six locations across NYC including Williamsburg.

Bubby’s started with pies in 1990. Now find a kids menu with chicken fingers along with burgers and mac n’ cheese. Two locations, one at Highline at 73 Ganesevoort St. and 120 Hudson St. in Tribeca.

Ninja features ninja warriors as servers and a Japanese menu. A must for the sushi-loving kid. Located at 25 Hudson St.

Time for Dessert!

If your NYC trip is heavy on the walking, then reward yourself with dessert. The kids will approve!

Bakeries

The Magnolia Bakery, several locations across the city, known for their cupcakes. The shops are girly-cute and make a good place for a afternoon break.

Ferrara Italian Bakery a must for a cannoli and cappuccino fix with table service. Or grab a gelato on the street and walk around Little Italy. Located 195 Grand St. in Little Italy.

Ladurée offers delightful French macarons for an afternoon treat. Buy several and have them put in a box as a souvenir. Located at 398 Broadway in SoHo and 864 Madison Ave.

Épicerie Boulud offers artful French pastries along with French food and drinks. Chef Daniel Boulud’s quick service outlet tempted me with an assortment of desserts. Located in the Plaza Food Hall and Lincoln Center.

Dominique Ansel Bakery is famous for the cronut, part croissant, part donut, all sweet. Located  at 189 Spring Street in SoHo.

Chocolate 

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar and Restaurant is a destination for chocoholics. Order a hot chocolate, milkshake along with other decadent drinks. Find a kids menu with desserts too. Located at 841 Broadway.

Jacques Torres Chocolate offers a fine selection of chocolate. The chocolate chip cookies are the go-to item on the menu and will quiet a cranky kid. Several locations found across the city.

La Maison Du Chocolate offers more than divine-looking chocolate. I sampled their èclair and angels sang. Several locations found across the city.

Serendipity 3, famous for the frozen hot chocolate, though find drug store sundaes too. Located at 225 E 60th St.

Cakes

Lady M Confections sells crêpes cake. Sample the signature mille crêpes cake with layer after layer of crêpey goodness. The best thing I ate in the city but I love my desserts. Find individual slices for about $9 at the Plaza Food Hall or find several locations across the city.

Junior’s Restaurant offers a full-menu, though I grabbed cheesecake to go. The original NY Plain tops lists for best cheesecakes, so if you love cheesecake, grab a slice. Find several locations in midtown and the original in Brooklyn.

Best Ice Cream in NYC

If the weather is warm then cool off the kiddos with a cone.

Soft Swerve is an internet sensation. Ube, a purple root vegetable from the Philippines, is the flavor of choice here. My daughter had to try it so we stopped by. Located at 85B Allen St. in Chinatown.

Van Leeuwen is home to vegan ice cream in a multitude of flavors. Also find classic and seasonal flavors. Located across the city and even find ice cream trucks.

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream offers ice cream along with pie. Located at 88 W. Houston St. and 2 Rivington St.

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory sells batch-made ice cream. If you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to eat pizza then grab an ice cream cone before heading back. Located at 1 Water St. in Brooklyn Heights.