There are already plenty of indoor play spaces in Queens but we're always happy to welcome one more, especially in Astoria. Even though the neighborhood is filled with families, Kids Playhouse Astoria has been the area's only drop-in romping spot... until now.
Bounce 'N Play is a spacious indoor play and party space with a wide variety of cool equipment. In addition to the usual attractions—play sets, a jungle gym with tubes, a rock climbing wall, toys and games—Bounce 'N Play also features inflatable fun like full-fledged bouncy houses and a pair of bouncy slides. Since you don't find indoor bouncy houses very often in NYC, I knew my girls and I had to check it out.
Opened in May by a local mom, Bounce 'N Play offers regular open play sessions for different age ranges: under 7, all ages and even family nights. Since my daughters are both preschoolers, we opted for the under 7 open play so as not to get trampled by older kids. They ran excitedly from one area to another, making sure they tried out absolutely everything. They started off in the toddler area, hopping on the adorable carousel ride, playing at the kitchen and school bus stations, and hiding in the tree house. Then they spent a lot of time in the bouncy castle, and going up and down the giant slide. My four-year-old did everything herself but my two-year-old needed some assistance. That was fine with me—I love swooshing down inflatable slides myself!
One of the things that really impressed me about Bounce 'N Play is that it has attractions for a wide range of ages. Often kids age out of indoor play spaces once they turn 6 or so. Not here. The "big playground" as it's called caters to children up to age 13. And even though I'm quite a ways beyond that, I had a blast bouncing around with my girls. I'd definitely consider coming back on a family open play night, which also includes a buffet with unlimited drinks.
If your kids get tired of bouncing (and they might not—my girls didn't), other attractions include shuffleboard, an arcade racing game, and a jungle gym with tubes and slides. (There's also a rock climbing wall, however, it's only in use when there is a dedicated staff member to monitor it.) There's definitely plenty to keep kids of all ages busy throughout a two-hour open play session. And since everything is located in one huge room, you can easily keep track of multiple kids, even if they're playing in entirely different areas. Even hard-to-please tweens should find things to keep them engaged here. And if you have younger children, you'll be happy to know there's a clean bathroom with a changing table.
During drop-in hours, Bounce 'N Play always has at least two staff members on duty in the play area to make sure everything runs smoothly. The owner, Christine, a parent herself and former owner of Astoria's now-closed Birthday Zone, is often on-site and really makes everyone feel welcome. You can find the open play schedule online and call 718-777-7529 to reserve your spot. Each two-hour session costs $12 per child, save for family bounce night, which is $12 for under age 3, $16.95 for ages 3 and up.
In addition to open play, Bounce 'N Play offers classes, camps and a variety of private birthday party packages including some super deals on weekdays. As you can imagine, it's a popular party venue and weekend slots especially book up way in advance. That also means there's rarely open play on Saturdays or Sundays though you should check the calendar as occasionally there are drop-in weekend sessions.
Bounce 'N Play is located at 20-21 Steinway Street between 20th Avenue and 20th Road.
Looking for other great places to play? Check out our roundup of indoor play spaces in Queens and all of NYC.