Upper West Side Family Guide: Kid-Friendly Spots
The Upper West Side offers a variety of kid-friendly attractions, dining options, and local spots for families in 2025. Key attractions include the American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and various parks and playgrounds like Diana Ross Playground and Riverside Park Skate Park. Dining options feature family-friendly cafes such as Ellington in the Park. Recent developments in 2024-2025 include numerous new business openings and some notable closings like Silver Moon Bakery, with a replacement in the works. Hidden gems and local favorites include Book Culture Bookstore Story Time, New York Public Library – St. Agnes Branch, and the Hudson River Greenway for bike rides. Practical information for visitors includes tips on packing, checking for restrooms, booking museum tickets in advance, and visiting during less crowded times.
Key Attractions
- American Museum of Natural History (200 Central Park West, NY 10024) – Features dinosaurs, interactive science exhibits, a planetarium, and a Discovery Room for children. Open daily 10 am–5:30 pm. Diana Ross Playground (West 81st St & Central Park West) – Whimsical play space with water jets, climbing areas, and shaded benches. Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 W 83rd St, NY 10024) – Five-floor indoor experience with climbing zones, water play, sensory exploration, and hands-on exhibits. Open Wed–Sun, 10 am–5 pm. Riverside Park Skate Park & Playground (Riverside Park South @ W 108th St) – Outdoor spot for scootering and skating, with jungle gyms, sandboxes, and swings. Randall’s Island Park (Randall’s Island Park, NY 10035) – Wide open fields, scenic walking trails, and playgrounds. Little Engine Playground (W 67th St & Riverside Blvd) – Train-themed playground with a mini engine climber, sandbox, and low slides for toddlers.
Dining Options
- Ellington in the Park (Riverside Park, W 105th St & Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10025) – Casual, kid-friendly outdoor café with river views, burgers, fries, salads, and tacos. Open daily, 11:30 am–10 pm (weather permitting).
Shopping Venues
- No specific kid-focused shopping venues were highlighted beyond general mentions of shops in the area. However, the ‘Recent Developments’ section lists many new businesses, some of which may be relevant for shopping, such as 2nd Street, Boggi Milano, Easyplant, Goods for the Study, HEMA, Mango, Maxx & Fluffy’s, Poppie Toys, and Safta’s Coffee & Fine Foods.
Local Favorites
- Book Culture Bookstore Story Time (450 Columbus Ave, NY 10024) – Indie bookstore with free weekly story times and seasonal crafts. New York Public Library – St. Agnes Branch (444 Amsterdam Ave, NY 10024) – Features regular toddler storytime, LEGO building days, and family craft events. Hudson River Greenway Bike Ride (Entrance at W 72nd St) – Riverside bike path for families with bike trailers, scooters, or training wheels, offering Manhattan skyline views.
Recent Developments
New Absolute Bagel (2788 Broadway, between West 107th and 108th streets) – Opened in 2025 as a replacement for the previously closed Absolute Bagels. Silver Moon Bakery (West 105th Street and Broadway) – Closed in 2025, but a replacement is in the works. Other 2025 openings include: 2nd Street (2875 Broadway & 2519 Broadway), 75th Organic Deli & Market (313 Amsterdam Ave.), AoPS Academy (2505 Broadway), Aperture (380 Columbus Ave.), Art on the Block (107 West 86th Street), Aura Yoga + Pilates (239 West 72nd Street), Bagels & Cream (926 Amsterdam Ave.), Baya Bar (516 Columbus Ave.), Bloom Brows (2470 Broadway), Boggi Milano (Shops at Columbus Circle), Cell Phone Repair (176 West 72nd Street), Chick-fil-A (795 Columbus Ave.), Columbus Avenue Advisor (73 West 82nd Street), Columns Wine Bar (2756 Broadway), Daily Provisions (Renovation, 375 Amsterdam Ave.), Davis Center (North End of Central Park), Earthbar (344 Amsterdam Ave.), Easyplant (334 Columbus Ave.), Ellington in the Park (Seasonal, Riverside Park), Emack & Bolio’s (Renovation, 389 Amsterdam Ave.), Fellini (523 Amsterdam Ave.), Frame (2459 Broadway), Future Face & Body (42 West 72nd St.), Goods for the Study (2109 Broadway), Harmony by Karate (Moving, 78 West 85th Street), Harry’s Shoes (Renovation, 2299 Broadway), Hashi Market (2780 Broadway), HEMA (209 West 96th Street), HEYTEA (2815 Broadway), Jacob’s Pickles (Moving, 688 Columbus Ave.), Jewish Voters Unite (Pop-up, West 96th Street), Kesari (2701 Broadway), Kinder Wash (409 Amsterdam Ave.), Kine Musubi (128 West 72nd Street), Kossar’s (37 West End Ave.), Le Lis Cafe (222 West 77th Street), Le Vin Coeur (108 West 81st Street), Lift NYC (Moving, 2212 Broadway), Lift Pilates (171 West 80th Street), Lil Sweet Treat (416 Amsterdam Ave.), Little Italy Pizza (Expanding, 2047 Broadway), Made in New York Pizza (2563 Broadway), Mama’s Too (Expanding, 2750 Broadway), Mangetsu Sushi (150 Manhattan Ave.), Mango (1976 Broadway), Marinara Pizza (Reopening, 2578 Broadway), Maxx & Fluffy’s (2661 Broadway), Modern Wine (161 Freedom Place), Morningside Cafe (Seasonal, 281 Morningside Ave.), Nai Brother Sauerkraut Fish (Broadway between West 108th and 109th streets), Naya (752 Columbus Ave.), No Name Bakery (2664 Broadway), Open Streets (Seasonal, Columbus Ave. from West 68th to 77th streets), Pier i Cafe (Seasonal, Riverside Park), Poppie Toys (Reopening, Corner of Broadway and West 83rd Street), Raising Cane’s (2067 Broadway), Reverie Room (163 West 72nd Street), Safta’s Coffee & Fine Foods (2345 Broadway), Shanghai Dumplings Fusion (158 West 72nd Street), Silver Mirror (2305 Broadway), Sipsteria (774 Amsterdam Ave.), Six 60 One (661 Amsterdam Ave.), Sky Locksmith & Hardware (Moving, 169 West 81st Street), SLT (610 Columbus Ave.), Softside (2878A Broadway), Solidcore (2201 Broadway).
Practical Information
Pack snacks and water for playground days. Always check for restrooms before long visits. Bookmark this list or save it on your phone for quick access. Book museum tickets in advance to skip lines. Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded.
