The 10 Best Play Kitchen Sets for Kids of 2023

Best Overall

KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen

4.8

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This popular kitchen set we tested is well-made and looks just like the real thing. The KidKraft Uptown Espresso Wooden Play Kitchen has four stove burners on top of an oven, complete with dials that turn. The fridge and freezer combination is the perfect place to store play food, which is sold separately. The modern smartphone included has its own holder, and a chalkboard on the freezer is the perfect place to write a cute note for your little chef.

You do need to assemble it yourself—which we found can take a while—but once you do, you and your child will be happy with the made-to-last set that is as modern-looking as it is fun. We recommend doing this out of sight of your children because it's a long process that requires a lot of patience. Once assembled though, this set provided hours of entertainment and independent play. But, you'll have to supply the play food yourself. Still, for the entertainment and educational value provided, the price feels justified.

During testing, we found that the buttons on the microwave allow kids to work on numbers; various play foods mean they can compare colors and sizes; and different kitchen tools have them picking up new vocabulary words, adding to the educational value of this pick. When playtime is over, the sink is removable for easy cleanup, while the transparent doors on the microwave and oven ensure that your little one isn't hiding anything they shouldn't. The solid wood construction proves durable, so your child can enjoy it for years, making the price and assembly time worth it in the long run. Plus, it's not an eyesore in your living room or kid's bedroom.

Price at time of publish: $161

_{Dimensions: 43 x 17.75 x 41 inches | Age Range: 3 years and up | Material: Wood}

Best Budget

Cute Stone Pretend Play Kitchen Sink Toys

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For less than $30, your child can play with a tabletop kitchen set complete with a working faucet, stove, and play food. The realistic lights and sounds make your children feel like they're actually cooking. They experience every step from boiling water, to using the stove, to cleaning dishes and leaving them to dry afterward.

Unlike more expensive options on this list, you don't have to buy play food separately. The set comes with colorful fruits and vegetables for kids to simulate cutting and slicing. When you're done playing, store the food in the sink basin for easy storage. The small size makes it easy to put away at the end of the day, while bigger options often become permanent parts of your space. Smaller playrooms or apartments will also appreciate the size when they can't accommodate something larger.

Because it sprays water that could damage the battery or stovetop if played with too rough, this set is probably best for older kids who won’t be tempted to swing the faucet around wildly. You can always remove it for the younger set if needed.

Price at time of publish: $161

_{Dimensions: 17.36 x 9.92 x 5.43 inches | Age Range: 3 years and up | Material: Plastic}

Best Splurge

West Elm Mid-Century Play Kitchen

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For the child (or parent) with a keen eye for design, it’s hard to beat the Mid-Century Play Kitchen from West Elm. Every detail is carefully considered, from the tapered legs to the acorn and white colors. It has a sink, stove, oven, and fridge, plus a couple of extra cabinets for storage.

There aren’t as many interactive features on this set, even though it is priced quite high. You'll also have to provide your own play food and kitchen utensils. The benefit comes from the high-quality construction materials, kid-safe water-based finishes, and unique, modern look. Because of the beautiful design, you won't mind making this play kitchen a permanent fixture of your home, which is good because it weighs over 50 pounds. Luckily, it comes with anti-tip hardware to create the safest play station possible for little ones.

Price at time of publish: $699

_{Dimensions: 36 x 11.5 x 32 inches | Age Range: 3 years and up | Material: Wood}

Best Realistic

Best Choice Products Pretend Play Kitchen

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The realistic features are abundant with this kitchen set from Best Choice Products. It features a faux marble backsplash and kids can draw on the chalkboard exterior of the fridge, which fosters creative play as well. The stove lights up and makes realistic clicks with every turn, while the ice machine sounds like it's actually in use to add to the realistic nature of this pick.

The included utensils look like miniature versions of the real deal, such as pots, pans, spoons, and spatulas. Other fun add-ons include a towel rack and a cordless phone. There's plenty of storage on the included shelf, along with the oven, microwave, and fridge, so cleanup is a breeze. We also love that it comes in three colors from a realistic white to playful pink or blue.

You will definitely have to devote some time to putting this kitchen together, maybe even a couple of hours, but in the end, you'll have a sturdy play kitchen that's safer and more solid than other plastic options.

Price at time of publish: $120

_{Dimensions: 25 x 19 x 22.5 inches | Age Range: 3 and up | Material: Wood}

Best for Older Kids

Naomi Home Play Kitchen Set

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Older kids and parents who want a more realistic look in their kitchen set will love this gourmet set from Naomi Home. The look is sleek and modern with features that resemble fancy subway-tile backsplash, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.

It includes a four-burner stove, an oven, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a sink—everything they need to cook up a storm in serious style. Extra cute details include an ice and water dispenser graphic on the refrigerator, a chalkboard on the freezer for notes, and a dish towel bar. There's also a chalkboard on the fridge, for older kids who are just learning to read and write. It stands nearly 3.5 feet tall, so older kids as old as 10-year-olds can get in on the fun. Because of this, it's a great investment that grows with your child as they discover more accessories and features as they get older and more advanced. This also makes up for the long and tedious assembly time.

Price at time of publish: $155

_{Dimensions: 40.5 x 16.75 x 41 inches | Age Range: 3-10 years | Material: Wood}

Best Interactive

Step2 LifeStyle Custom Kitchen Playset

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The Step2 LifeStyle Custom Kitchen has a host of cool features like faux appliances and sound effects for hours of interactive play. Your toddlers will love playing house with the realistic oven, microwave, and refrigerator. When they put the special frying pan or boiling pot on the stove, they'll hear the sound of food cooking! Also, the microwave features a working keypad with interactive buttons and sounds.

While play food is not included, your toddler will receive tons of accessories for cooking, measuring, and storing their culinary creations. It even includes a recycle bin to promote eco-friendly practices that doubles as storage space for all of those accessories. Choose from a contemporary color scheme with realistic and neutral colors, or a modern option with more pops of color to liven up your playroom. Both fall on the affordable side, but note that it is made of plastic, which isn't as durable or long-lasting as other wooden options.

Price at time of publish: $118

_{Dimensions: 27.99 x 14.02 x 41.5 inches | Age Range: 2-6 years | Material: Plastic}

Best Outdoor

TP Toys Muddy Maker Mud Kitchen

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Kitchen sets for kids don’t need to be restricted to indoor use. This outdoor mud kitchen from TP Toys is designed to withstand the elements and rough outdoor play. It has four play burners and a removable sink so that your explorer can get their fill of mud and bring it back to the kitchen.

If you don't want to get too messy, add sand instead of mud for a makeshift sandbox/ water table hybrid. The sink is removable for easy rinsing after playtime ends. Plus, there's a substantial storage shelf underneath for keeping pots and pans organized in one place. We love the adorable "Mud Kitchen" sign that doubles as a chalkboard for customization.

It looks more rugged than many other kitchen sets, but it's made of FSC-certified pressure-treated wood to keep it looking great, even with outdoor use. It is expensive, given its limited features, but is worth the cost for the hours of imaginative play your child will get.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Dimensions: 43 x 38 x 44 inches | Age Range: 3 years and up | Material: Wood}

Best Lightweight

Step2 Modern Cook Play Kitchen Set

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Loaded with tons of accessories, this set from Step2 allows your child to do everything from serving their favorite meal to pouring you a pretend cup of coffee. They can even separate their recyclables for a lesson on helping the environment. There are two separate stove sections, which include lights and sounds and a play sink in the middle. While there isn’t a ton of storage beyond the oven and fridge, this set does feature hooks for hanging utensils, cups, or even an apron.

Great for little chefs, the age limit is 2 years and up, but there's no doubt older kids will enjoy it as well. We also love the adorable window that's perfect for hours of playing peekaboo.

This is a plastic set and has stickers on the front for the design, which can make it harder to clean. The budget-friendly price reflects that, however, making it a good set to choose if you aren’t ready to invest in a wooden set or aren’t sure how much your child will use a play kitchen. This also makes it easier to move around your space, so it doesn't have to live in one room forever.

Price at time of publish: $100

_{Dimensions: 38.5 x 35.14 x 11.5 inches | Age Range: 2 years and up | Material: Plastic}

Best for Small Spaces

Teamson Kids Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen

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Even if space is limited in your play area, your child can still enjoy an adorable and fully functional play kitchen. This Teamson Kids Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen comes in two stand-alone pieces: You can push them together for a side-by-side setup, or keep them separate to take advantage of smaller spaces.

It features a farmhouse sink, stove, oven, and fridge, complete with a pretend water dispenser and smart display. The faux brass hardware and modern colors make this set as stylish as any real-life kitchen. The gray, white, and woodgrain options feel realistic and modern, while the bright pink is more playful and whimsical. The MDF construction is sturdy and easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. The assembly directions can be a bit difficult to follow, so be sure to set aside ample time to get it up and running. Once assembled, your toddler will have endless fun for years to come.

Price at time of publish: $213

_{Dimensions: 41.61 x 11.81 x 32.88 inches | Age Range: 3 years and up | Material: MDF}