• Play

  33 Nassau Ave., nr. Dobbin St., Greenpoint; 718-387-2071

  At Play, which opened last fall in Greenpoint, the vibe is more Modest Mouse than Mickey Mouse. A massive Brooklyn street mural adorns the walls, Lisztomania plays loudly in the background, and everyone from staffers and parents to the toddlers themselves looks like they’ve just returned from a trip to the Brooklyn Flea. Still, this is as fine a romp room as any in town. A large, padded (and extra-clean) indoor playground includes a variety of activity sections and a reading area, with a classroom in the back for lessons in movement, music, and arts and crafts. A reasonable day rate ($10) and a relatively peaceful parents’ lounge make it an ideal drop-in spot for rainy days. And if the kids (mostly 5 and under) suffer any major hygiene lapses, Play sells its own line of replacements: Phoenix and Nola cotton separates, inspired by the owners’ young twins.

From the 2011 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine