Buddy's Cafe Play Place

My husband and I were looking for a play place to host our daughter’s 2nd birthday. I was really nervous since we never hosted a birthday at a play place before. Xiali and Nino, the owners were amazing in walking me through the steps and advised me with the party planning. They communicated with high efficiency and replied very quickly, this helped me feel at ease during the planning. My friends enjoyed their freshly fried juicy chicken and wide variety of drinks. I chose this place after one visit due to the food and drink menu, this differentiates them from other play places. I love how helpful and attentive the staff were during our party’s duration. They were constantly making drinks, fresh food, cleaning and attending to the young children in the eating area. I walked to the eating area to check on my 2 year old and she had her straw in her juice box. My 4 year old told me one of the staff members helped her. I am in awe of how sweet, kind and caring the staff is at this play place. I am so glad to have had such a wonderful first time experience hosting at a venue. Xiali and Nino helped me as well with setting up. I was allowed to drop off decor and items the night before and most of the items were already set up for me upon early arrival to set up. My daughters, friends and their children had a blast and they commented on how clean the play place was! Thank you Xiali, Nino and your staff! Forgot to add, all my guests loved the drinks! Staff was also very accommodating with my requests.

we had the best time celebrating our toddlers birthday! lots of different areas to play for the children and food and drinks for adults - its a great time for everyone and I cannot express the cleanliness and the utmost helpful staff! thank you for everything, well be back!

What a wonderful place to have a party! A great experience from start to finish. All the kids of different ages had a blast. The party host was fantastic. She decorated the party room beautifully, helped set up all the desserts and made sure all the guests especially the adults were attended to. The owners were extremely sweet and attentive with the children. The food was amazing. Adults and children both enjoyed everything. My favorite is the chicken tender bites and mozzarella sticks. The drinks are amazing- I can not wait to try more. There are so many options. The set up made it nice for all the adults to mingle while keeping the children safe and contained. We did a three hour party. The children would have kept going if we let them. They can not wait to come back with their return pass. The favors were also a hit. Definitely recommend Buddy’s Cafe for a children’s birthday party. We will be coming back to start the monthly subscription soon.

My kids(3 and 8 yo) love the place, great place for kids and parents to hang out, or just for the food! it is little overwhelming the 1st day, but give it some times, Im sure it would get better. All staff are very nice and welcoming, just like your family in the neighbors, food and drinks are good, especially their signature Boba tea, MUST TRY. Don't have many choices on food right now, but I just talked with the owners, they said more are coming ! Would definitely come back!!!

I'm writing this review because Buddy's needs more recognition. I just had my son's 4th birthday party here and everything ran so smoothly. From the communication with Xiali to Nino hosting the entire party while still being able to maintain food and drink orders. They are the nicest duo and it felt like friends throwing a party for my son as opposed to business owners. They are definitely open to feedback because I've noticed tweaks to the food and drinks (nothing negative to begin with) since the first time I ordered a few months ago. I'm looking forward to returning for more food and more play!

I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the staff at Buddy’s for making my son's 1st birthday celebration so special. They welcomed us with open arms, making us feel like part of their family, and took care of every aspect of the party, allowing us to simply enjoy the moment. Their kindness and professionalism are truly appreciated.

We celebrated our daughter’s birthday party at Buddy’s Cafe, and it was a fantastic experience. The cafe and playground were impeccably clean, the food was delicious, and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. The adults also had a wonderful time, making it a memorable day for everyone.

Ashley Rivera

We had my twins birthday party here and it was absolutely amazing! The staff handled everything from start to finish, which made the entire experience completely stress free. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. The kids had a blast and the party turned out better than I could have imagined. Highly recommend for anyone planning a birthday party!

Alvin

We recently hosted my son’s 2nd birthday party here, and I can’t say enough great things about this place. From start to finish, the experience was incredible. The staff was phenomenal, truly friendly, attentive, and on top of everything. They made us feel taken care of the entire time, which made the day so much easier for us as parents. The food and beverages were outstanding. You rarely find great food at a kids’ establishment, but this place breaks the norm. Our guests kept commenting on how surprisingly delicious everything was. The indoor playground was spotless, spacious, and had so many different activities to keep the kids busy and excited. It felt safe, clean, and perfect for toddlers and older kids alike. Overall, both the kids and adults (including the birthday boy!) had an amazing time. We couldn’t have asked for a better spot to celebrate. Highly recommend!

Abby Alvarez

We celebrated my daughter’s birthday at Buddy’s Café, and it was such a wonderful experience! The café and indoor play area were the perfect combination, fun for the kids and comfortable for the adults. The staff were so attentive, helpful, and genuinely kind. They even helped with the decorations, which made everything stress-free for me. A special thank you to the owners, Nino and Xiali, for creating such a warm and welcoming place, and to Gina, who was such a big help throughout the day. 100% I will recommend this wonderful place.

Marian Ayala

I can't begin to explain how thankful we are to have had our daughter's birthday party here. The staff were super attentive, kind, considerate and FUN! I can tell not only do they pay attention to little details but they also love what they do. Also the food and drinks are bomb! Every kid 6 months to 12 yrs old had a blast! We didnt really have to even to lift a finger. I have had a lot of birthday parties and none compare. So glad we chose here and i wish the owners all the luck in the world. Thank you for making the day special. I hope you get some more birthdays from our friends and family you deserve it. ❤️

Rowyda O

The staff and place is absolutely amazing! They were attentive the entire time, they did absolutely everything from decorations to preparing the food, offering people drinks. They ensured the entire time everyone and everything was taken care of. Also, all I did was give the theme and they decorated beautifully, my 3 year old was extremely happy and so was I! Also, the food is absolutely amazing ! My guests raved about it! 100% recommend throwing a party here, it’s stress free as the staff handles everything and the split between the cafe and kids allows the kids and adults to have an amazing time.

Mark Teodosio

A time was had! We celebrated my daughter’s 2nd birthday here and it was soooooo fun even for myself lol! All the kids were enjoying all the various play spaces and the adults just chilled and ate the fried chicken (which was good! It was all gone when I came back) plus their beverages were great! Highly recommend for parents looking to rent a space for a birthday in Staten Island.

Ashlyn Garcia

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience hosting my son’s 2nd birthday at Buddy’s Cafe & Playplace! From start to finish, the team was absolutely amazing. They were so attentive and kind, making sure everything ran smoothly the entire time. They handled all the decor beautifully, creating the perfect setup for the celebration, and took care of every little detail so I could relax and enjoy the day. They even made me a plate of food while I was busy running around with my son, I probably would not have eaten otherwise! Haha The play area was spotless and safe, and the kids had an absolute blast! The staff went above and beyond to make sure both the kids and the parents were happy and comfortable. It truly felt like they cared about making the day special for our family. If you’re looking for a stress-free, fun, and perfectly organized place to host your child’s party, Buddy’s Cafe & Play Place is the spot! I can’t recommend them enough. Thank you for making Logan’s day so wonderful!

Nomi Castillo

A regular at the cafe for open play. Knew for months that the layout was perfect for kids birthday party. Buddy cafe took all the stress out of having a birthday party. Beautifully decorated, great flow of the party that the staff handled gracefully, always checked in with me to be sure I was in agreement on how the party environment was going. Staff super warm and friendly to all the kids and adults in attendance alike. 10/10 recommend for parties. 10/10 recommend for typical play on open play days.

Candice Lopez

We recently hosted our sons’ joint 4th and 1st birthdays at Buddy’s Café and Playplace and we could not be happier with the experience (VIP Party + Extra Hour). After attending an open play session, we spoke with a staff member and booked our sons’ party. The fact that birthday parties are held as private events and that there is ample parking was a huge selling point for us. The children disappeared into the play area the moment they walked through the door and were exhausted by the end of the party. For the most part, the children get to enjoy an unstructured, open play experience, but the staff remains engaged with the children and provides intermittent, guided activities (e.g. bubble time, “Simon says,” temporary tattoos, etc.). The space is large enough to accommodate our large party, but intimate enough that it is easy to keep an eye on your child/children. The setup/size also allows parents to socialize and enjoy the numerous craft drinks Buddy’s makes to order. Our guests enjoyed espresso drinks, boba teas, shakes and more. And I cannot say enough good things about the staff, they are phenomenal! From the moment we booked the party to the day after our event, the staff was responsive, attentive, courteous and beyond helpful. Digital invitation, décor, balloon arch, themed paper goods – it was all taken care of and set up when we arrived. And even though we opted to have food brought in (we have a few family members with strict dietary restrictions), the staff did not hesitate to take over, set everything up and pack any leftovers away for us to take home. They even went as far as offering to make my husband and I a plate to ensure we ate. Truly an amazing team. I am still receiving compliments from our family and friends and am so happy we trusted Buddy’s with our event.

Amber DeAngelo

I recently hosted a party at Buddy's Cafe, and I can't express enough how wonderful the experience was! This place is a gem, combining a fantastic play space with a delightful cafe that caters to both kids and adults alike. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a clean and welcoming environment. The staff was incredibly hands-on, offering assistance in setting up and ensuring everything was perfect. Xiali and Gina assisted me with the set up! Xiali does an amazing balloon arch. She even incorporated the balloons I brought for my center pieces so that everything flowed. Gina helped with the set up as well and offered some great suggestions! Their enthusiasm and attentiveness truly made the experience exceptional. They even offered to help set everything up themselves so that I can just enjoy which was greatly appreciated! Anyone who has hosted before knows what a lifesaver it is when you have this sort of help. Now, let’s talk about the food. We ordered the garlic chicken bites with fries, and they were absolutely delicious! The dipping sauce was outstanding—so good that we couldn’t get enough of it! It’s clear that Buddy's Cafe takes pride in their menu. The play space itself was a hit with our group. We had children ranging in age from 10 months to 11 years, and I can confidently say that there was something for everyone. The bubble show was a huge highlight, and the soft play blocks and stuffed animals throughout the ball pit added an extra touch of fun. Our friends and family mentioned their kids didn’t want to leave, and even the adults were a bit disappointed when it was time to wrap things up. Additionally, I loved that the bathrooms had Crocs available for all ages, ensuring the little ones could run around comfortably without worrying about walking on the floor in just their socks. The staff continually checked in, making sure we had everything we needed, and their commitment to excellent service did not go unnoticed. Overall, our experience at Buddy's Cafe was outstanding from start to finish. It’s a perfect place for kids to explore, play, and have a blast, while adults can enjoy delicious food and a relaxing atmosphere. We can’t thank the staff enough for going above and beyond to make our celebration memorable. We will definitely be back for more fun in the future! Highly recommend! Thank you Xiali, Nino and Gino! We will be returning!

Alisa Sciangula

we had the best time celebrating our toddlers birthday! lots of different areas to play for the children and food and drinks for adults - its a great time for everyone and I cannot express the cleanliness and the utmost helpful staff! thank you for everything, well be back!

Linda Huang

My husband and I were looking for a play place to host our daughter’s 2nd birthday. I was really nervous since we never hosted a birthday at a play place before. Xiali and Nino, the owners were amazing in walking me through the steps and advised me with the party planning. They communicated with high efficiency and replied very quickly, this helped me feel at ease during the planning. My friends enjoyed their freshly fried juicy chicken and wide variety of drinks. I chose this place after one visit due to the food and drink menu, this differentiates them from other play places. I love how helpful and attentive the staff were during our party’s duration. They were constantly making drinks, fresh food, cleaning and attending to the young children in the eating area. I walked to the eating area to check on my 2 year old and she had her straw in her juice box. My 4 year old told me one of the staff members helped her. I am in awe of how sweet, kind and caring the staff is at this play place. I am so glad to have had such a wonderful first time experience hosting at a venue. Xiali and Nino helped me as well with setting up. I was allowed to drop off decor and items the night before and most of the items were already set up for me upon early arrival to set up. My daughters, friends and their children had a blast and they commented on how clean the play place was! Thank you Xiali, Nino and your staff! Forgot to add, all my guests loved the drinks! Staff was also very accommodating with my requests.

Andrea Lasaponara

What a wonderful place to have a party! A great experience from start to finish. All the kids of different ages had a blast. The party host was fantastic. She decorated the party room beautifully, helped set up all the desserts and made sure all the guests especially the adults were attended to. The owners were extremely sweet and attentive with the children. The food was amazing. Adults and children both enjoyed everything. My favorite is the chicken tender bites and mozzarella sticks. The drinks are amazing- I can not wait to try more. There are so many options. The set up made it nice for all the adults to mingle while keeping the children safe and contained. We did a three hour party. The children would have kept going if we let them. They can not wait to come back with their return pass. The favors were also a hit. Definitely recommend Buddy’s Cafe for a children’s birthday party. We will be coming back to start the monthly subscription soon.

Mun Chan

My kids(3 and 8 yo) love the place, great place for kids and parents to hang out, or just for the food! it is little overwhelming the 1st day, but give it some times, Im sure it would get better. All staff are very nice and welcoming, just like your family in the neighbors, food and drinks are good, especially their signature Boba tea, MUST TRY. Don't have many choices on food right now, but I just talked with the owners, they said more are coming ! Would definitely come back!!!

Mary Tsui

I'm writing this review because Buddy's needs more recognition. I just had my son's 4th birthday party here and everything ran so smoothly. From the communication with Xiali to Nino hosting the entire party while still being able to maintain food and drink orders. They are the nicest duo and it felt like friends throwing a party for my son as opposed to business owners. They are definitely open to feedback because I've noticed tweaks to the food and drinks (nothing negative to begin with) since the first time I ordered a few months ago. I'm looking forward to returning for more food and more play!

Ariel Chambers-Roca

I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the staff at Buddy’s for making my son's 1st birthday celebration so special. They welcomed us with open arms, making us feel like part of their family, and took care of every aspect of the party, allowing us to simply enjoy the moment. Their kindness and professionalism are truly appreciated.

We had out daughter's second birthday party yesterday and had an amazing time! They pretty much took care of everything besides cake which we bought, so it was really nice not to have to overly stress before the party. The party was so fun! The place is the perfect size, not too big where you cant find your child, but big enough where there was enough to do! Our party had kids ages 2-7 and everyone had so much fun! The adults also had a great time.. we all loved our speciality drink! The food was also delicious! Nino and Gina were so attentive and friendly,made such an effort to ensure everyone had a great time. Minnie came and we danced to freeze dance and floor is lava and i dont think i ever seen her so happy! Such a great party and cant wait to come back during open hours!

Jennifer Kraus

We had out daughter's second birthday party yesterday and had an amazing time! They pretty much took care of everything besides cake which we bought, so it was really nice not to have to overly stress before the party. The party was so fun! The place is the perfect size, not too big where you cant find your child, but big enough where there was enough to do! Our party had kids ages 2-7 and everyone had so much fun! The adults also had a great time.. we all loved our speciality drink! The food was also delicious! Nino and Gina were so attentive and friendly,made such an effort to ensure everyone had a great time. Minnie came and we danced to freeze dance and floor is lava and i dont think i ever seen her so happy! Such a great party and cant wait to come back during open hours!

Lauren I

I just hosted my daughter’s birthday party at Buddy’ Cafe this past weekend and it exceeded all of my expectations! It was by far the best party place that I have been to. The owner and staff were exceptional. Buddy’s Cafe was immaculate and the overall experience was outstanding. The food and beverages were a hit with all of the party guests. The owner and party host were such a blessing, and went above and beyond to ensure everyone was having a great time. We are already planning to book her next party there! Thank you Buddy’s Cafe for hosting a very memorable and beautiful birthday party!

The playspace is very cute and good for ages 1-6, but on a recent visit there were older kids there (9-10 years old) that made it very uncomfortable for the younger toddler and kids trying to use the space — running, aggressive play etc.. Myself and other patrons were hoping that a staff member would intervene, but it didn’t happen - we all spent the 2hrs trying to make sure or kids didn't get trampled. It would have been nice to have a staff attendant monitoring the playspace and maybe setting an age limit. Overall, it is cute and clean.. and with the right aged kids a fun place to be.

Jill Edwards

The playspace is very cute and good for ages 1-6, but on a recent visit there were older kids there (9-10 years old) that made it very uncomfortable for the younger toddler and kids trying to use the space — running, aggressive play etc.. Myself and other patrons were hoping that a staff member would intervene, but it didn’t happen - we all spent the 2hrs trying to make sure or kids didn't get trampled. It would have been nice to have a staff attendant monitoring the playspace and maybe setting an age limit. Overall, it is cute and clean.. and with the right aged kids a fun place to be.

I've heard about this place and have been wanting to take my toddler here for a while. The space in photos looked promising, clean, and fun but I was pretty disappointed when my family actually went. I can only speak for the play place and not the food/drinks since we didn't have any. The space is small and felt cramped. Several things bothered us about this place and we will not be returning: SAFETY: 1. The baby gate to enter and exit was very loose and barely locks anymore. The other exit was down a short hallway that wasn't supervised at all and didn't have the most secure gate. The top lock didn't lock and only the bottom piece held everything together. The photo shows the hallway and back exit gate. 2. See photo for the partially exposed metal pipe in the middle of the ball pit. The intention to cover it was there but clearly no one cared to replace the foam when it was picked away. Any child jumping around the ball pit could bang right into that solid metal pipe. 3. I didn't realize until after reading their website that people without children are allowed to be there. I get that they don't want to discriminate or turn away cafe patrons but just note that the cafe patrons do have a view of the actual play space. It isn't really separated by a wall or anything. LACK OF SUPERVISION: 1. When we went, we immediately noticed that the place was a free-for-all with PARENTS actually being the wilder ones -- the dads were throwing plush toys, ball pit balls, and giant bouncy balls at their kids while frantically running and things were flying across the entire space like it was elementary school dodgeball. They were not really being careful about the other kids in the space. Also, at one point, one of the parents was barefoot and climbed on the outer TOP of the rope bridge tunnel and used a broom to swipe off toys that accumulated. Things were falling near my toddler as this happened. The craziest part is that not one of the workers stopped them or said anything... This is your establishment and reputation. Why are you letting this happen, it's insane. 2. Overall, the space wasn't very organized. I get that toys can get messy after many children play with them but I've been to other play places where things were put away nicely by the workers not even a minute after children leave the space. Also, I did see some plastic toys that were cracked. HYGIENE: 1. There were signs that said socks are required but we saw a few people with bare feet running around -- not the most hygienic. 2. The customer bathroom was inside the play area, meaning socks and bare feet will step on the bathroom floor and will transfer to the play area. I did see a pair of slippers for adults and a pair for kids available for use but who's monitoring whether these are being used? I think with many important improvements, this place could be decent but as of now, I would never recommend this place and regret going.

Michelle S.

I've heard about this place and have been wanting to take my toddler here for a while. The space in photos looked promising, clean, and fun but I was pretty disappointed when my family actually went. I can only speak for the play place and not the food/drinks since we didn't have any. The space is small and felt cramped. Several things bothered us about this place and we will not be returning: SAFETY: 1. The baby gate to enter and exit was very loose and barely locks anymore. The other exit was down a short hallway that wasn't supervised at all and didn't have the most secure gate. The top lock didn't lock and only the bottom piece held everything together. The photo shows the hallway and back exit gate. 2. See photo for the partially exposed metal pipe in the middle of the ball pit. The intention to cover it was there but clearly no one cared to replace the foam when it was picked away. Any child jumping around the ball pit could bang right into that solid metal pipe. 3. I didn't realize until after reading their website that people without children are allowed to be there. I get that they don't want to discriminate or turn away cafe patrons but just note that the cafe patrons do have a view of the actual play space. It isn't really separated by a wall or anything. LACK OF SUPERVISION: 1. When we went, we immediately noticed that the place was a free-for-all with PARENTS actually being the wilder ones -- the dads were throwing plush toys, ball pit balls, and giant bouncy balls at their kids while frantically running and things were flying across the entire space like it was elementary school dodgeball. They were not really being careful about the other kids in the space. Also, at one point, one of the parents was barefoot and climbed on the outer TOP of the rope bridge tunnel and used a broom to swipe off toys that accumulated. Things were falling near my toddler as this happened. The craziest part is that not one of the workers stopped them or said anything... This is your establishment and reputation. Why are you letting this happen, it's insane. 2. Overall, the space wasn't very organized. I get that toys can get messy after many children play with them but I've been to other play places where things were put away nicely by the workers not even a minute after children leave the space. Also, I did see some plastic toys that were cracked. HYGIENE: 1. There were signs that said socks are required but we saw a few people with bare feet running around -- not the most hygienic. 2. The customer bathroom was inside the play area, meaning socks and bare feet will step on the bathroom floor and will transfer to the play area. I did see a pair of slippers for adults and a pair for kids available for use but who's monitoring whether these are being used? I think with many important improvements, this place could be decent but as of now, I would never recommend this place and regret going.