While we all love a good mud kitchen, a play kitchen with toy food is a classic toy that children of all ages can enjoy playing with indoors, whether they’re playing alone or with friends or siblings.
As well as keeping your child busy (and giving you a much needed break), a play kitchen has lots of other benefits too.
What are the benefits of play kitchens?
Play kitchens encourage role play, which gives children a chance to develop social skills by imitating grown-ups and inventing their own roles whether that’s chef, waiter, or a parent.
There’s plenty of creativity to be had as your toddler experiments with the different elements of their kitchen and imagines plates full of delicious ‘food.’
A play kitchen will also provide a sense of independence as they take responsibility for it by keeping it clean, organising and more.
It's also the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of cooking, helping toddlers to develop a love and understanding of food and food preparation that will (hopefully!) last throughout their life.
Whether you're looking for a Scandi-inspired kitchen that won't ruin your living room aesthetics or simply something that won't take up much room, we've got the toddler play kitchen for you.
Best toddler play kitchens
Best Scandi play kitchen
![Little Dutch Kitchen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2022/12/little-dutch-kitchen.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.scandiborn.co.uk
Helping to encourage imaginative play and an interest in cooking, this beautiful kitchen is a pastel colour and is made from sustainably produced wood. It also comes with a little salt and pepper set, pots, pans and plates!
Key features:
• Made from sustainably produced wood
• Control knobs click
• Accessories included: pots, pans, plates and utensils
One review said: "Super easy to put together, sturdy, love the colour and accessories that come with it. My Daughter and I are having lots of fun making meals together!"
Best vintage-themed play kitchen
![Kidkraft Mid-Century Modern Play](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2022/12/kid-kraft-mid-century-modern.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.very.co.uk
Children can cook, clean and organise, and there's even sliding doors about the sink for extra storage. There's a removable sink and even an ice dispenser. The mid-century design makes for a vintage yet stylish addition to your home, so it won't look like an eye sore.
Key features:
• Microwave with showcase door
• Removable sink
• Smooth wood details
One review said: "This little kitchen is amazing. It has great detail and is so well made. My grandchildren love it. It really is an awesome and engaging toy."
![kitchen-bar](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2023/01/kitchen-island.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
direct.asda.com
This beautiful kitchen is the perfect two in one, and can be used as a kitchen and a little breakfast bar. It's beautifully coloured and a sturdy build. With the table and seat side, your child doesn't have to be restricted in just playing restaurant, but they can read a book or colour too.
Key features:
• Two seats and middle table
• Opening oven and sink
• Plenty of storage for accessories
• Comes with eight accessories, including bowls, plates, pan and spatula
One review said: "Great kitchen and cafe my little boy loves playing with this !"
Best play kitchen with accessories
With 30 accessories, including plates, cutlery, cooking utensils and food pieces too, this kitchen is simple to assemble. There's lots for your child to explore and it has battery operated light and sound functions for realistic play.
Key features:
• Includes 30 accessories
• Sound and light features
One review said: "Perfect size for my 13 month old. Bought it on prime day for £26 and it is worth it. Easy to assemble, as it all just clicks together. The accessories are great and just the right amount. It is smaller than the average toy kitchens and just what I was looking for, as little one was tip toeing for other kitchens. Little one hasn't stopped playing with it since she woke up!"
Best modern play kitchen
![modern wood kitchen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2023/01/modern-wood-kitchen.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.johnlewis.com
With a pretend oven for cooking (or storage at the end of the day!), this modern kitchen isn't an eyesore for your home. It's a beautiful neutral colour too.
Key features:
• Rotatable dials
• Matching wooden spatula accessories
One review said: "Very nice sturdy kitchen. Needs 2 people to assemble but overall very happy with it"
Best standard looking play kitchen
![melissa-doug-kitchen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2022/12/melissa-doug-kitchen.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
With plenty of storage space for all the kitchen must-haves, this Chef's Pretend Play kitchen has everything for your budding cook to enjoy. With pretend cooking hobs and dials, an oven and microwave, they can pretend to make countless meals and roleplay different scenarios.
Key features:
• Real feel dials
• Ice dispenser
• Handy hooks
One review said: "This is a fab play kitchen. Our almost 2 year old loves it! She plays with it all day. The ice cube dispenser is great. Easy to assemble with clear instructions and felt good quality. We like that it isn’t gender specific as it’s in our playroom. All her friends live playing with it too including the boys. Space to add a washing machine too"
Best groovy play kitchen
Different to most play kitchens, this one has a lot of personality that toddlers will love! With a hamburger set included so your little chef can pretend fry the burger and build it, this kitchen also features a coffee maker and ice dispenser.
Key features:
• Imitates cooking noises
• Shelves for storage
• Accessories included
One review said: "My Granddaughter absolutely loves this little kitchen and it’s the first place she goes to when she’s at our house. She enjoys making us cups of coffee and cooking. The light up gas burner is definitely a big hit. We needed quite a bit of patience to assemble it but the end result was worth it. We could have done with clearer instructions."
Play kitchen FAQs
What accessories should I buy?
Most play kitchens come with some basic items like spoons, pans or food. But if you're looking for some extra accessories such as plates and storage baskets, we've rounded up a few must-haves below.
Recommended
![lehoo-play-foods](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2022/12/lehoo-play-foods.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
With 23-pieces, your toddler's kitchen will be stocked with all the pretend food goodies to dish up meals.
Recommended
This cookware set includes cooking pots, lids, pans and cooking utensils! There's even a chopping board and pretend knife so your toddler can assemble and chop pretend foods in their kitchen.
Recommended
![kidkraft-baking](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2022/12/kidkraft-baking.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Baking is the best, and your toddler can do that in their very own little kitchen with this adorable wooden baking set. With bowl, eggs, mixer and even cookies, they can play-bake their own treats!
Recommended
Made from stainless steel, this set includes smaller versions of everything that can be found in your own kitchen, making your toddler's pretend play feel more realistic!
![play kitchen Paris kitchen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2023/11/Paris-kitchen.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.very.co.uk
The Little Chef Paris play kitchen is a cute addition to any home, classroom or preschool With a retro design, it will look lovely in your home and your little one will be entertained every day. It will also stimulate learning and role play with interactive features such as: openable doors, turning and clicking oven knobs, oven burners, drawers, a sink, under-sink cabinet, toy ice dispenser and much more. Plus, it has been constructed with eco-friendly and durable MDF.
![play kitchen Chad valley](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/12/2023/11/chad-valley-kitchen.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.argos.co.uk
This brightly coloured, wooden kitchen is amazing for imaginative play. It will encourage role-playing with an oven, washing machine, microwave, shelf, sink and modern tap. There is so much to keep your little one entertained.
Made from solid wood and ply, this sturdy kitchen will be a favourite toy for years. It is ideal for encouraging imaginative play and it includes 5 accessories, plus it is bright and colourful for your little one.
Can a toy kitchen be used as a mud kitchen?
Most toy play kitchens are only suited for indoor use as they aren't designed to withstand outdoor weather like mud kitchens are. It's important to read the descriptions of a product to be sure, but buying a separate kitchen for the outdoors can double the fun and save you a lot of clean-up time.
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Samantha Ball is a Commercial Content Writer and freelanced for the Mother&Baby website for two years before joining the team full-time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.