A mini-VIP’s guide to New York

Family

By Harriet Cooper

May 24, 2023

The Big Apple for little people, from legendary toyshops and hands-on museums to Coney Island’s epic rollercoasters.

New York is a city that’s as magical as it is magnetic, as fun as it is fast-paced. For children, it’s a blast, whether you’re hitting a Broadway show, strolling the High Line or racing through Central Park – conveniently on your doorstep, at Mandarin Oriental, New York. Wondering what to see and do? We consulted the real experts: the city’s clued-up resident kids, who shared their favourite addresses.

Visitors enjoying the Cyclone rollercoaster at Luna Park, Coney Island

For neon-lit rides and nostalgia: Coney Island

Recommended by: Lucas, age 7

In southwest Brooklyn, Coney Island has long been the city’s seafront playground. Stroll its beach and boardwalk, dotted with sideshows and amusements, or make a beeline for Luna Park, a kaleidoscope of swirling fairground rides and retro, neon-lit games. With your feet back on solid ground, head to Nathan’s Famous for a round of mustard-slathered hot dogs.

The parental perk: You’re never too old to buckle up on the Cyclone, a famously steep wooden rollercoaster, in situ since 1927.

Visitors playing in the pink-hued Museum of Ice Cream

For ice-cream aficionados: the Museum of Ice Cream

Recommended by: Mia, age 11

Make for the Museum of Ice Cream in SoHo, with its milkshake lounge, three-storey slide and giant, rainbow sprinkle-filled pool. Its rooms abound with pop art-style installations all about ice-cream, and there are scoops to sample throughout. For the ultimate sweet treat, hire the museum in its entirety and let little imaginations run wild.

The parental perk: A candy-pink bar serves strawberry mojitos and spicy watermelon margaritas.

A child playing on the super-sized piano at FAO Schwarz

For a toy-filled wonderland: FAO Schwarz

Recommended by: Malik, age 4

It was a sad day for the city when the flagship FAO Schwarz closed its doors. The good news? The 161-year-old toy store now has a new home in the Rockefeller Centre, 20 minutes’ stroll from the hotel. Past its cheery doormen, dressed like toy soldiers, it’s packed with wonders, from a gleaming, 27ft rocket to its super-sized piano, where Tom Hanks hopped from note to note in Big. Small fry will also love the mocked-up grocery store, and Baby Doll Adoption Agency.

The parental perk: Lunch at Five Acres, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which artfully reinvents the classics: a shaved fennel Caesar salad, perhaps, or crab cake with ‘fancy ranch’ dressing.

The chic interior of Sullivan Street Bakery

For adventurers of all ages: the Intrepid Museum

Recommended by: Noah, age 12

Head down to Hell’s Kitchen and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, set on a wartime aircraft carrier that’s moored on the Hudson River. Learn about life aboard a submarine or admire the aircraft on its flight deck, from spy planes and search-and-rescue helicopters to the Enterprise space shuttle. The record-breaking Concorde G-BOAD is another standout, with tours of the cockpit and first-class cabin available for over-fives.

The parental perk: There’s always something cooking in Hell’s Kitchen, famed for its eclectic eats. Two blocks back from the river, Sullivan Street Bakery is a must. Try a chocolate-filled bombolone or slice of Roman-style pizza.

Orchards blooming in the glasshouse at New York Botanical Garden

For giraffes and gardens: the Bronx Zoo

Recommended by: Leah, age 5

Spanning 265 acres, Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the world. There’s a dizzying amount to see and do, from spotting tiny turtles in the reptile nursery to hitting ‘Madagascar!’, with its resident red-ruffed lemurs and Nile crocodiles. Listen to a keeper talk, watch penguins plunge after their lunch, or sign up for a Wild Encounter to meet a cheetah, sloth or giraffe.

The parental perk: The New York Botanical Garden is next to the zoo, offering springtime lilacs, lush glasshouses and boxwood-framed herb gardens.

The colourful interior of Dylan’s Candy Bar

For sweet souvenirs: Dylan’s Candy Bar

Recommended by: Aki, age 8

Would-be Willy Wonkas will adore Dylan’s Candy Bar at Hudson Yards. Established by Dylan Lauren (daughter of fashion royalty Ralph Lauren), it stocks more than 7,000 sweets, including whirly pops, liquorice twisters, gumballs and pretzel balls. Eye-popping packaging and colourful installations add to the sugar rush. Think giant lollipop trees or twisting candy-cane columns.

The parental perk: Hudson Yards is an audacious feat of engineering: a sleek new neighbourhood built over a train yard. There are shops, cafés and various community events, from DJ sets to sports screenings.

Close-up of graffiti spotted on Mandarin Oriental’s graffiti and street art walking tour

For colourful street art: Bushwick, Brooklyn

Recommended by: Ava, age 15

From MoMA to the Met, New York’s artistic landscape is renowned the world over. For a different perspective, dive into Brooklyn’s indie art scene. This borough teems with creatives, and its street art is among the city’s best, with established and emerging artists daubing walls, billboards and buildings. Head to the Bushwick Collective for a taster, or ask the hotel’s concierge to arrange a two-hour walking tour.

The parental perk: Close to the Bushwick Collective, dive into Nook for flawless coffees and carefully curated craft beers.

Harrison Bader of the New York Yankees during a baseball match at Yankee Stadium

For big-hitting memories: Yankee Stadium

Recommended by: Lennon, age 10

For a quintessential New York experience, take in a game of baseball at the Bronx’s Yankee Stadium. If you don’t manage to catch the Yankees in action, sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour, which includes Monument Park and the museum. Here, the Bronx Bombers’ greatest legends are enshrined; look out for Babe Ruth’s bat, Thurman Munson’s locker and a treasure trove of gleaming trophies.

The parental perk: Hands on History is Instagram gold for sports fans. Add it on to your tour for the chance to hold – and take snaps with – iconic Yankees artefacts.

About the Author

Harriet Cooper

Harriet Cooper is a UK-based travel and lifestyle writer, whose work has appeared in The Telegraph, Red and The Glossary.