The 8 Best Play Kitchens We Tested That Will Make Even Pro Chefs Jealous

Best Overall

KidKraft Vintage Kitchen

$165 $120 at Amazon $173 at Walmart $120 at Wayfair

Why We Like It

This retro wooden play kitchen features a stovetop, microwave, refrigerator with ice maker, oven, and plenty of shelf and cabinet space. Our tester appreciated how sturdy and compact the kitchen is, and how its design and features encouraged imaginative play. There are doors to open, knobs to turn, and calls to make on the wall-mounted phone. Her 2.5-year-old son played with it daily: pretending to make meals and using the toy phone to converse with family and friends. 

Our tester’s 16-month-old son also enjoyed exploring the playset, having a blast repeatedly opening and closing the microwave. It was easy to assemble, and despite this heavy use, the kitchen showed little sign of wear and tear during the testing period. It’s available in a range of fun colors with silver plastic accents meant to mimic stainless steel.

But Take Note

This kitchen doesn’t come with any accessories, but our tester didn’t mind this since it allowed her to purchase pots and utensils that were appropriate for her older child, but wouldn’t be choking hazards for her younger child.

The Details:

• Age recommendation: 3 years and up
• Dimensions: 33 x 13.5 x 35.75 inches
• Product weight: 35.6 pounds
• Material: MDF, Plastic
• Accessories: None

Other KidKraft Kitchens We Like

KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchen

$200 at Amazon

KidKraft Uptown Elite White Play Kitchen

$230 $162 at Amazon $302 $232 at Walmart $162 at Wayfair

KidKraft Mosaic Magnetic Play Kitchen

$129 at Walmart $129 at Wayfair

KidKraft Deluxe Big and Bright Play Kitchen

$215 $186 at Amazon $230 at Walmart $230 at Wayfair

Best 2-Piece

Little Tikes Real Wood Kitchen

$216 at Walmart View on Wayfair

Why We Like It

The design of this kitchen stood out because it also includes a kitchen island. The only tools we needed for assembly were a pair of screwdrivers and pliers, and fitting it all together only took about an hour. Once finished, we introduced the kitchen to an ecstatic 4-year-old who adored its vibrant blue color and fun accessories, like pots, pans, a butcher block, and pretend food.

The child used the island as a prep space before placing food in the oven, which opened like a real oven (pull down) rather than a door (to the side). With additional sounds and lights, like one in the oven to see food cooking, and easy-to-use knobs for appliances, there’s no shortage of pretend play opportunities. It held up like new after months of use.

But Take Note

More than 12 accessories come with this Little Tikes play kitchen, but only two pieces are pretend food (so you may need to purchase additional pieces if you don't already have some on hand). On the plus side, one of those accessories is unique and sure to be a hit with kids: A realistic turkey with removable legs to share with friends.

The Details:

• Age recommendation: 3 years and up
• Dimensions: 30.5 x 14 x 35 inches (kitchen), 19.3 x 15 x 18 inches (island)
• Product weight: 52 pounds total
• Material: Wood
• Accessories: 12+ (pots/pans, butcher block, play food)

Best With Water

Lovevery Real Life Play Kitchen

View on Lovevery.com

Why We Like It

Our tester’s child loved this play kitchen's real faucet. Just fill the water tank, then you're good to go. The used water drains into a basin in the cabinet below (it takes about two tanks to fill the basin). It makes for a great indoor water play area/sensory outlet and promotes independence. Related accessories like the colander and dish drying rack add to the realistic fun.

This compact kitchen has an extremely well-thought-out assembly process, our tester noted: “Dare I say it was even enjoyable to set up?” The pieces are impeccably labeled, the instruction drawings easy to understand; and there’s even an app where you can zoom in on the instructions and do 360-degree views of the pieces. Bonus: you can pick from an array of bright backsplash designs.

But Take Note

Our testers wished the kitchen had more engaging aspects beyond the sink, such as pulls, dials, knobs, etc.

Most Interactive

Step2 Cook & Care Corner Kitchen and Nursery

$400 at Amazon $326 at Walmart $297 at Wayfair

Why We Like It

Our tester said the abundance of unique interactive accessories really set this kitchen apart. There's a popcorn popper, blender, coffee maker, pot, and pan that all have chip-activated sensors that come alive with sounds, lights, or popping balls. These pieces were particularly beloved by our tester’s 2-year-old daughter.

The kitchen is packed with fun elements: a fridge and freezer, ice dispenser, sink, light, washing machine, clothes rack, doll highchair, a clock with working hands, and stove with clicking knobs. This kitchen withstood rough play really well and the plastic was easy to wipe clean. 

But Take Note

You’ll want to keep an eye on your kids when they play with the electronic accessories since they contain button batteries (though the batteries are sturdily reinforced into the bottoms). The kitchen also requires six AA and two AAA batteries that are not included.

The Details:

• Age recommendation: 2 years and up
• Dimensions: 36.5 x 40.75 x 40.5 inches
• Product weight: 30 pounds
• Material: Plastic with wood accents
• Accessories: 29 pieces (pot, pan, coffee maker, cups, silverware, hangers, blender, etc)
  

Other Step2 Kitchens We Like

Step2 Grand Walk-In Classic Kitchen & Grill

$340 $299 at Amazon $340 at Walmart View on Step2.com

Step2 Cooking Time Kitchen

$150 $113 at Amazon $113 at Target $120 $113 at Walmart

Best for Small Spaces

Tiny Land Modern & Versatile Wooden Play Kitchen

$120 at Amazon View on Tinylandus.com

Why We Like It

Just because space is at a premium in your home doesn’t mean your kid can’t get cooking. This option from Tiny Land packs a delightful array of activities in a compact package. At less than 23 inches wide, this piece should be easy to squeeze in anywhere you have a spare few inches. Small doesn’t mean basic: the kitchen is cute and stylish with a modern farmhouse vibe and tons of adorable accessories. 

It has all the essentials: a sink with a cutting board that goes over it, an oven, a four-burner stove, and a large cabinet with a curtain closure. The window features a small garden of wooden veggies that kids can “cut” over and over thanks to the Velcro break in the middle. Our tester’s 2.5-year-old spent most of his time in the kitchen focused on cutting each food item in half using the included knife and cutting board.

But Take Note

Our tester worried that since it’s so small, kids may grow out of this kitchen sooner than other options.

The Details:

• Age recommendation: Ages 3 and up 
• Dimensions: 22.6 x 12 x 28.7 inches
• Product weight: 20.2 pounds
• Material: Wood, fabric
• Accessories: Carrot, lemon, onion, mushroom, knife, spoon, spatula, pot with lid, frying pan, cutting board, hooks

Other Tiny Land Kitchens We Like

Tiny Land Trendy Home Style Play Kitchen

$230 $190 at Amazon View on Tinylandus.com

Tiny Land Serenity Play Kitchen

$190 $170 at Amazon View on Tinylandus.com

Best Accessories

Delta Children Gourmet All-in-One Play Kitchen

$180 at Amazon $100 at Walmart $180 at Wayfair

Why We Like It

This play kitchen set comes with a whopping 20 accessories, including produce, dishes, cups, and ice. The food is held together by Velcro so kids can practice cutting it with the included toy knife. Our tester appreciated that there was ample storage for these toys in the two large baskets under the sink. Her 3-year-old son and his 4-year-old cousin were able to play together on this set thanks to its large size and many accessories. 

The kitchen has light-up stovetop burners with clicking knobs, a working ice dispenser, an oven, a refrigerator, a microwave, a sink, a countertop, working appliance doors, and hooks for pots or utensils. The two-piece format provides a flexible layout—it can be placed flat against a wall or in a corner.

But Take Note

Construction was time-consuming since this was one of the bigger play kitchens available. Also, while the set itself was sturdy, one of the plastic accessories easily cracked and then had to be thrown away since it had sharp edges.

The Details:

• Age recommendation: Ages 3 and up
• Dimensions: 24 x 70 x 51 inches
• Product weight: 43 pounds
• Material: Wood, plastic, fabric
• Accessories: 20 pieces (play food, dishes, cups, ice cubes)

Best for Blending In

Teamson Kids Little Chef Charlotte Modern Play Kitchen

$213 $143 at Amazon $267 at Nordstrom $280 at Target

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a design to blend into your home’s decor, this play kitchen fits the bill. We love the sleek look of this pick. Our tester was impressed by the modern colors and stylish accents. The kitchen separates into two pieces: a standalone fridge and a stovetop and sink. The countertop is an ideal spot for food prep, while the sticker touch screen on the fridge sparks further imaginative play. 

The descriptive setup instructions are a blessing when putting this one together. While there were many pieces, the directions were clear, and we finished assembly in about 2.5 hours. The play kitchen is solid, showing no visible damage or scratches despite repeated slamming doors at the hands of an excited kid for over a year.

But Take Note

The only accessories this comes with are a cup and a few ice cubes. Teamson offers separate play kitchen accessories in stainless steel and kid-safe wood.

The Details: 

• Age recommendation: 3 years and up
• Dimensions: 41.61 x 11.81 x 31.88 inches 
• Product weight: 44 pounds
• Material: Wood
• Accessories: 4 pieces (three ice cubes and one cup)

Best Ice Machine

Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play Kitchen

$255 $153 at Amazon $255 at Nordstrom $204 at Target

Why We Like It

This Melissa and Doug set mimics a real kitchen, with features like a stove, oven, microwave, storage space, and refrigerator with a working ice dispenser. Our tester found it sturdy and well-designed, and she particularly appreciated the neutral, unisex color options. The set showed very little wear and tear after six months of regular use.

The setup process was about average and took us about 90 minutes to complete. There were 26 steps to follow, but the company labeled all the pieces and the hardware. The only additional tools we needed to finish assembling the play kitchen were screwdrivers, a wrench, and an extra pair of hands during the early steps. 

But Take Note

A downside to this children’s kitchen was the lack of accessories. While it comes with two pretend ice cubes and a grocery list, there are no pots, pans, play food, or utensils. 

The Details:

• Age recommendation: 3 years and up
• Dimensions: 43.25 x 15.5 x 39 inches
• Product weight: 62 pounds
• Material: Wood
• Accessories: Two ice cubes and a grocery list

Other Notable Play Kitchens

Pottery Barn Kids Mini Play Kitchen

View on Pottery Barn Kids

Little Tikes Cook 'n Grow BBQ Grill

$45 $41 at Amazon View on Littletikes.com

Lalo The Play Kitchen

$395 at Amazon View on Meetlalo.com