Buddy’s Café & Playplace

If you’ve got kids anywhere between crawler and grade-schooler, this Staten Island spot is genuinely worth knowing about. The play area is enclosed, so you can actually sit down with a coffee from the café and not spend the whole time chasing anyone down. Climbing structures and tunnels keep the older ones busy while the little ones do their thing in the softer sections. Parents consistently rave about how on top of things the staff are — the place stays clean, things run smoothly, and birthday parties here don’t feel like a logistical nightmare for once. Parking’s easy, restrooms are right there, and the food is good enough that you won’t be counting down the minutes to leave.