Kitchen playsets are among the most popular toys for indoor play for a reason. Kids of all ages love to help put and work in the kitchen – some of us still do! – and a great way to foster creativity and teach kids about healthy eating is with a playset of their own. So, if you’re looking for incredible kitchen playsets for kids, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re shopping for the holidays, birthdays, or any other day worth celebrating, our list features a mix of kitchen playsets at various price points and complexity levels. We’ve got it all, too: sets with the coolest features, all the best brands, the most fun designs, the best play kitchens, and some all-time classic models – there’s something on here for everyone. For all the details on these great toys for girls and boys, read on.
“Alexa. How cool is this kitchen playset?” Totally cool. Imagination meets innovation with the KidKraft Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen & Market. With the power of Alexa (parental consent required), playtime is amplified as this playset connects to a compatible Echo device (sold separately), as kids can access the KidKraft Kid Skill component that has access to recipes and more.
And, this is a double-sided playset, featuring both a market and kitchen station. On one side, kids can learn to shop in the market with a self-checkout, working smart scanner, bagging area, cash and drawer, storage shelves, and freezer. On the other side, kids can cook in the lights and sounds kitchen, which includes a fridge, freezer, sink, smart faucet, smart stovetop, smart oven, smart cutting board, microwave, storage hooks, chalkboard sign, storage shelves, utensils, plates, smart pot, and pan.
Gone are the years of old-school kitchen playsets for kids, because here are the days of interactive and “smart” playsets. You read that right, “smart” playsets. This one from Little Tikes is a good one, too. This set actually recognizes accessories – over 40 of them! – and responds to kids’ actions, teaching them cause and effect. There’s even a mobile app that uses Bluetooth technology to engage in learning games and fun.
With all kinds of sound effects and tools for chopping food, turning on the faucet, and cooking on the stove, your kids will have so much with this playset.
The stylish, open design and fresh colors complement any play area and toddlers will have a blast using the pretend stovetop burner that features real lights and sounds. This set also features a pretend brewed coffee station with the included coffee pot, a recycling bin, an oven, and more.
The Melissa & Doug Chef’s Kitchen playset has a modern vibe and we love it. Featuring an integrated design where every element is installed in a common cabinet, your kids will love playing with this incredibly cute set.
This kitchen playset includes a stove with an oven, a fridge, microwave, sink, a freezer, and a functional ice dispenser – so cool! What’s cooler? No water is needed. Two pretend ice cubes are included and pop out with the press of a button. And, like other Melissa & Doug toys, build quality is top-notch.
Here’s another KidKraft creation that deserves a look. The Uptown Natural Kitchen is a nice-looking playset that features an interesting combination of materials. Instead of going with solid colors, KidKraft decided to use brushed aluminum and a natural wood texture for this kit. It has a more updated look than the vintage play kitchen mentioned above.
It has a sink for “washing” dishes, a pull-down stove with an oven, fridge, a freezer, microwave, and a cordless phone. The set-up process takes a bit of time, but it’s ultimately easy. This set is built tough and can handle several kids playing with it at the same time.
KidKraft is definitely one name that you are going to see mentioned a lot in this article. Their Navy Vintage Kitchen Toy set is rather basic in terms of color themes, but very impressive in every other aspect. It comes in the form of one large cabinet that has everything integrated into it. One of the great things about this particular model is the fact that it’s not huge, but it isn’t small either. The size is just right for smaller kids to enjoy. Everything is within reach and easily accessible.
It has a retro-looking stove with an oven, a sink, a fridge, a microwave, and even an old-school phone (you might have to explain to your kids what it is, though). Build quality is great, to say the least. Every door opens while the dials on the stove even click when you turn them. For all intents and purposes, that type of immersion is pretty impressive.
This KidKraft model takes things in a different direction as well with their Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen. Instead of a standard mono-block layout, they have spiced things up by making a corner set. This decision alone improves the immersion by a huge margin. With that said, the set comes in a brown and white combination. In terms of elements, you have your standard features such as a microwave, oven with a stove, a sink, and a fridge.
However, there’s more. Aside from a washing machine, which is something you rarely see, this kit comes with functional lights and an ice-cube machine that produces realistic noises. Since there are powered components, you will need a set of batteries in order to have everything working. As usual for KidKraft, build quality is impressive. Everything feels sturdy enough and is fairly easy to put together. With that in said, this is one of their larger playsets, so expect longer assembly time.
This next kitchen playset also comes from Step2 and is nearly as grandiose as the previous one we have talked about. As its name suggests, this a walk-in kitchen. In other words, you get two isles connected by stylish arches. It even has a bar counter. Another great thing about this particular model is the fact that it comes with a grill aside from your regular stuff.
The level of detail is pretty high, just like with other high-end Step2 plastic kitchen playsets. Since it’s a walk-in design, Step2 went the extra yard and included tiling for the floor portion of the kitchen. The only downside of this model is its size. If your kid’s room is small, you might have trouble finding enough room for this thing. Other than that, the build quality is great, which can also be said for assembly instructions. When it comes to designs, this is one of the most unique ones on the market.
Here’s another minimalist kitchen set that features pretty much a similar layout as most other models out there, but in a more compact package. The Teamson Kids Little Chef comes with all wood structure and natural finish. Certain elements, such as the oven control panel, microwave doors, and two overhead storage drawers are painted in various colors, just like the handles.
You get a sink with a cabinet underneath it, a microwave, a stove with an oven. Keeping things on the basic side allowed Teamson Kids to pack everything so tightly. Perfect for smaller rooms, this kitchen playset is one of the better-made models and definitely among the cheapest ones you can find. On top of it all, you also get a set of accessories such as salt and pepper shakers, as well as fake canned foods. In the grand scheme of things, this is a perfect middle of the road choice.
The last of the compact kitchen playsets comes from KidKraft as well. The thing that sets it apart from the rest of the models in this category is its unmistakable vintage design. It really looks like something from the late 50s, and there is a certain type of charm in that design. Elements included are fairly basic. The set comes with a removable sink and a stove with an oven. The color is a dark cherry red with white retro details added for that vintage vibe. While it’s not the most complex playset out there, this one of those few that really have character.
When it comes to build quality and assembly process, things are fairly standard for KidKraft. Everything is built to a certain spec that translates to overall durability, while their manuals are known for simplicity. This particular model is one of their most compact playsets, so you won’t have to dedicate much space to it.
Now that we have shown you one of the most basic sets in their lineup, it’s time to take a look at one of the most complex. The KidKraft Grand Gourmet comes teaming with various features, a great design and so much more. As its name says, it is a corner playset, with a fridge, freezer, and microwave on one side, while the stove, oven, and washing machine are on the other.
A cool thing about this set is its single-piece kitchen counter made out of wood. The background comes in form of a fake window complete with curtains, which adds to the appeal and immersion value of the whole set. KidKraft definitely aimed for quality with this set and that is apparent no matter where you look. With that in mind, this model is among the more expensive ones in their lineup but is still fairly reasonably priced.
There will be those who are always going to prefer a wooden kitchen playset over a plastic one, and that is completely understandable. Most plastic models aren’t all that convincing nor are they as durable. However, there are exceptions. Little Tikes Ultimate Cook Kitchen features a pretty solid construction and a whole bunch of cool features. Like most plastic playsets, it is compact, however, you still get all the main elements.
There’s your sink, a small fridge with a water dispenser, a stove with an oven and a microwave. On top of that, you get a large number of shelves, storage compartments and most importantly, accessories. There are 38 pieces in total in this set, which is way more than you will usually see. Assembly is pretty easy and intuitive, making this playset among the most competitive ones in its price range. If you’re looking for a simple model with a ton of features, this is it.
Let’s switch things up a bit. What we have next isn’t your regular kitchen playset. Instead, the Little Tikes Cook n’ Play Outdoor BBQ set is a proper BBQ station for those little pit masters out there. This playset is also made of plastics, just like the two we previously reviewed. It is also pretty well made with a significant amount of details that help the immersion. The set includes a lidded BBQ with a pizza oven at the bottom. On the right side of the BBQ, you will find a small sink with a faucet. The entire base of the playset is designed to mimic brick BBQ stations. One great thing about Little Tikes Cook ‘n’ Play Outdoor BBQ is that your kids can use it both inside and outside. It fits perfectly in both of these environments. There’s no complicated assembly, nor do you have to worry about space. On top of that, it’s incredibly cheap.
Here’s one kitchen playset that may not be as intricate as the others, but features a very unique configuration. Instead of going for a mono-block design, the Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen comes with a smart fridge. Speaking of which, the fridge is much larger than you usually see on these sets and features an ice machine as well as a water cooler. In the lower part of the fridge, there is a freezer compartment. The other element you get sports an integrated ‘gas’ stove with an oven as well as a sink. There is no microwave, but you do get a rather roomy compartment below the sink.
Here is another pretty affordable kitchen playset that features a rather compact build. The Hape Kitchen Playset comes with your standard elements minus the microwave and the fridge. With that said, it does include some pretty great accessories. The whole thing is packed into a single cabinet. What this translates to is a shorter and easier assembly process for the parents. The whole thing is painted in a nice combination of purple and light cream color that is easy on the eyes.
Every door on every component is fully functional, while the overhead compartment features a rack with wooden utensils. You also get a set of pans and a few more accessories. Build quality is more than decent for the price, which is pretty low compared to other models on our list. Being relatively compact, you won’t have to worry about space with this set. It will fit just about anywhere.
