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This post was originally written a few years ago, when I was going through the process of choosing the best play kitchen for our toddler. And to date, this is on of the most popular post on my site!
So I have given this post a complete makeover for 2019, to add in a few new play kitchens that have come out in the last year. I have also updated my opinions on a few of the play kitchens, after getting more personal hands-on experience with them.
A play kitchen is one of the best toy investments you can make. They encourage creativity, role play, language development and more. And it will be played with daily for years and years.
But choosing the best play kitchen can be quite complicated. I know, because I went through the same process for my own child a few years ago.
There were a few important requirements I was looking for in a play kitchen:
- High quality and made of wood. Play kitchens get a lot of use, and I knew we would want it around for the long haul.
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic. This is super important with all kids toys, but especially those that will be played with on a daily basis.
- Have a small footprint since we move a lot and never know how large our living space will be.
- Look nice enough to have it out in the living room or kitchen. (i.e. no large plastic eye sores!)
There are so many amazing play kitchens out there, for every budget and style! Below are the best of the best play kitchens, along with some pros and cons of each.
The Best Play Kitchens for 2016
1. Pottery Barn Kids Retro Kitchen Collection
The Pottery Barn Kids Retro Kitchen Collection is the original. The OG. The mac daddy of play kitchens. I fell in love with their retro kitchen before I even had kids. It has a cool retro design with tons of little details like knobs that click when you turn them, a functioning timer, and a sink that actually holds water. The set used to come in red, white, pink or grey, to fit in with any decor, but it looks like now it only comes in white, which is the most versatile, anyway. Though I will miss seeing the photos of the red set for the holidays, because there is just something so magical about a red play kitchen under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, don’t you think?
At $700 without tax or shipping, the price is a little steep. Plus when you get all three pieces together, it is really big, which isn’t good if you prefer a smaller footprint (like us). Luckily there is another option in the same style. The All-in-1 Retro Kitchen is a bit smaller than the original, and a lot less expensive as well.
A few new Pottery Barn options that look great are west elm x pbk My First Mid-Century Kitchen, and the Marble Kitchen Collection. Like the Retro Kitchen, they are on the pricey side, but they are so cute, and I love that you can even pull up a few stools to the other side of the Marble Kitchen.
2. Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen
The Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen is very small and simple, and would fit in just about anywhere. Right out of the box it does look a little too Ikea-ish (aka boooooring) but it is so easy to hack the Ikea right out of it. If you want to customize a kitchen, but not build one from scratch, this is definitely the best one to start with. See some of my favorite hacks of this kitchen here, here, here and here.
This is a solid choice for a small play kitchen, and is especially popular here in Europe. Almost everyone I know has it, and they also have it at my daughter’s preschool. I am always pleasantly surprised with how well it has held up with all of the use that it gets.
However it is more expensive than the comparatively sized My Creative Cookery and doesn’t include any accessories. The only other negative is that the oven opens from the side, like a cabinet, instead of from the top. (I guess my kids like realistic play kitchens!)
3. Pottery Barn Kids Chelsea All-in-1 Kitchen
The Pottery Barn Kids Chelsea All-in-1 Kitchen is very similar to the All-in-1 Retro Kitchen, but a bit more modern looking. It is about the same size, and has all of the same realistic details of the retro kitchen. (Knobs that click, a sink that actually holds water.) It comes in navy, grey, pink and white. If you want a bigger set, there is also the larger Chelsea Kitchen Set.
Unfortunately, this set comes with the same high price tag as the retro kitchen. However, the style and quality of the Pottery Barn Kids Chelsea All-in-1 Kitchen might be worth it. If you really love this style, but not the price, this Teamson Kids Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen looks very similar for about a third of the price!
4. Hearth & Hand Play Kitchen Set
I love just about everything from Magnolia’s Hearth & Hand line, and this play kitchen set is no different. The details are just so good – from the subway tile backsplash and cute accessories to the matching refrigerator. If I were to buy a play kitchen today, this would be my number 1 choice!
Some people have commented that the assemble on this kitchen was too complicated and the quality wasn’t as high as they had hoped, but I think I would be willing to overlook those complaints for this one.
5. Hape Playfully Delicious Cook n’ Serve Kitchen
The Hape Playfully Delicious Cook n’ Serve Kitchen is small, simple, and very reasonably priced. It is perfect for small spaces, since you can pull out the side cart when playing with it, and tuck it back inside when you aren’t. The chalkboard on the front is great for writing the daily menu, or letting people know if the restaurant is open or closed, as my girls like to do. This kitchen would also be great to customize a bit, like with the Ikea kitchen. And if you want to add on, either now or in the future, the coordinating Hape Gourmet Kitchen Wooden Fridge is adorable.
I have never had the opportunity to see this kitchen in person. But we have a lot of toys from Hape, because I love the company philosophy and the quality of all of their toys. Hape has a strong sense of social and ecological responsibility, using only quality, sustainable materials and non-toxic finishes in all of their products.
6. Handmade Waldorf Wooden Kitchens
If you want a high quality wooden Waldorf style kitchen, expect to pay a higher price. But you really do get what you pay for. These are handmade in the USA and are gorgeous. They are made of high quality hardwoods such as Pine, Birch, Maple, Walnut, Oak and Cherry, and finished with natural stains and oils. Pictured is the Maple Wood Play Kitchen by Camden Rose. You can also find lots of great Waldorf style kitchens on Etsy, like these by AToymakersDaughter and Willowtoys.
7. Hape My Creative Cookery Club Kitchen
The My Creative Cookery Club Kitchen is the smallest and lightest weight of all of the play kitchens listed here, perfect for toddlers or those who don’t have a lot of space. It is made of solid wood from sustainably sourced forests and non toxic finishes. The bright green legs aren’t really my style, but they would be easy to paint before you put it together.
This kitchen comes with food, pots, pans, plates and utensils, making it the best value by far. You really wouldn’t need to purchase anything more. If you want a wooden play kitchen with nice accessories, but are on a tight budget, this is the winner, hands down.
8. KidKraft Vintage Kitchen
I know a ton of people who have the KidKraft Vintage Kitchen and swear by it. It is very cute, similar in style to the Pottery Barn Kids Retro All-in-1, but much less expensive. I love the all-in-one design and the accessories such as the phone, the microwave and the ice maker. It comes in a few different colors, but of course I like the white best. If you are looking for something a little more modern, the KidKraft Uptown Kitchen in White or the KidKraft Uptown Kitchen in Espresso are laid out the same, with similar accessories. They are a bit larger than the vintage kitchen, but may be more your style. I also really like the new KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchen Set!
Although these KidKraft Kitchens may seem like an easy choice, they come unassembled, and from what I hear it is a very lengthy assembly. If I am going to spend 5 hours putting it together, why not build my own? Also, they do not seem to be as eco-friendly as the Hape kitchens listed here.
9. Hape Gourmet Kitchen
Coordinating with the Hape Playfully Delicious Cook n’ Serve Kitchen and Hape Gourmet Kitchen Fridge, the Hape Gourmet Kitchen is another great choice for a small but well made play kitchen. Made of Baltic Birch plywood and non-toxic finishes, this an excellent eco-friendly choice, plus it is nice and small, but not as small as the My Creative Cookery Club Kitchen. And like I said above, I love all toys by Hape. This kitchen also comes in purple, with matching accessories.
The best play kitchen for small spaces (or nomadic families)
Haba Play Cooker
The Haba Play Cooker is the perfect solution for families without the space for even the smallest play kitchen. I love that you can set this on the counter and your little ones can cook right next to you. You can also turn any little table or even a chair into a play kitchen. The only negative is that there is no storage for the play food or other accessories, but you could always get a nice wooden crate to keep everything in. Or even a large cloth drawstring bag. If you prefer handmade, The Little Kitchen is completely handmade in the USA of solid pine wood with a natural oil and beeswax finish. And this little tabletop version even has an oven!
Not Included in this update
Plan Toys Kitchen
Plan Toys is one of my all-time favorite toy companies. We have quite a few of their toys, and I love them all. Great quality, all of the wood comes from rubber trees that no longer produce latex, and all of the finishes are completely non-toxic. The price adds up if you are planning on getting the refrigerator, stove, washing machine and sink, but the quality is amazing and I know they would last forever. Instead of the set, there is a double-sided Kitchen Center, with a sink, stove and oven all in one. Perfect for multiple children, since each could play on a different side. If you are really low on space and looking for a table top version, you could also try the Plan Toys Red Tabletop Stove. (The Plan Toys Kitchens, although really nice in person, have been removed from this list because they are very hard to find. Plan Toys doesn’t seem to be making them anymore.)
Crate&Kids Gourmet Play Kitchen Set
Crate& Kids (formerly Land of Nod) makes the best kids toys! I loved their Future Foodie Play Kitchen Set (discontinued) and the new Gourmet Kitchen Set looks pretty cute. But it seems like the quality has gone down. Instead of the solid wood construction with real stainless steel accents of the Future Foodie Play Kitchen, the new model is made of solid wood and MDF with plastic accents. That, along with the high price, dropped it down in my opinion. It is still very cute though, if those things don’t bother you.
Our Play Kitchen
For those who are curious, we didn’t actually end up buying any of these play kitchens. Instead, we went the DIY route and had a cute little play kitchen made. We have been so incredibly happy with our play kitchen, and it has seen a lot of love over the years. It has been played with consistently for the last 8 years, and is still going strong. I am always pleasantly surprised when I see tweens playing with the play kitchen… it shows you are never too old for some good imaginative play!
Do any of you have personal experience with any of these kitchens? I would love to hear your thoughts on them!
