Visiting the JellyCat Diner in NYC: What to Expect & Why You’ll Love It
My daughter and I recently took a trip to NYC. One of our favorite memories from the trip is our time at the JellyCat Diner. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind, whimsical experience in New York City, the JellyCat Diner at FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Center is an absolute must-visit!
Nestled inside the iconic toy store, this charming little spot brings the playful world of JellyCat plush toys to life with an interactive and adorable dining experience that’s perfect for kids—and kids at heart. I think it is also a great way to have fun and bond with teenagers!
What is the JellyCat Diner?
The JellyCat Diner is an interactive café-themed station located inside FAO Schwarz NYC, one of the most famous toy stores in the world. Designed with inspiration from the beloved JellyCat plushies, the space is decked out with pastel colors, oversized plush animals, and a retro diner aesthetic that instantly transports you into a fun, cartoonish world.
While the diner doesn’t serve actual food, it offers a fun, imaginative play experience. This experience is designed to delight both kids and adults who adore JellyCat’s signature soft, quirky plush designs.
Planning Your Trip
If you are planning a trip to the JellyCat Diner, you can plan other experiences in this area to save time and traveling expenses. What else is located at Rockefeller Center and Nearby?
- Rockefeller Center Tour
- Ice Skating in the winter at Rockefeller Center
- Radio City Music Hall – Stage Door Tour and/or Christmas Spectacular
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Lego Store
- Explore 5th Avenue (Christmas Window Displays in Winter)
- Top of the Rock
FAO Schwarz
I mean…if you’re going to JellyCat Diner, you might as well check out FAO Schwarz, right?
My daughter and I spent some time wandering around FAO Schwarz before our JellyCat reservation. There are so many interactive areas, building stations, areas to learn magic tricks, etc…
We also played a few tunes on the BIG piano. Don’t forget to wear socks for this activity or be prepared to buy some.
The JellyCat Diner
Things You NEED to Know:
This attraction is VERY popular, and you will want to make a RESERVATION HERE.
How do I get there? Head over to FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112. The JellyCat Diner is located on the first floor.
JellyCat Diner is a permanent installation and will be open during normal FAO Schwarz store hours. FAO Schwarz in New York, USA is open Monday-Sunday, from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm.
May I Take Your Order, Please?
After checking in, you will stand in line for a little bit. Eventually, a nice “waitress” or “waiter” will take your order. Menu options consisted of pancakes, a waffle, a bagel, a taco, a hot dog, pizza, or a hamburger. The pancakes were our first choice, but they were sold out (we went after the Christmas rush). My daughter decided to get the super cute waffle!
The entire experience lasts about 10 minutes. As you wait your turn, you will give your order (as seen above). Then, you will provide your order ticket to the cashier and pay for your JellyCat/Experience. The cost can range from $50 to $55. Yes, that seems like a lot. YES, it is totally worth it!
Your experience includes these items:
- Jellycat Amuseables plush food (your choice – bagel, waffle, stack of pancakes, pizza, burger, hot dog, or taco)
- Exclusive enamel pin in the shape of the plush food item
- Exclusive sticker sheet
- Gift packaging with personalized sticker (with your name or the gift recipient’s name)
- Reusable Gift bag (to-go bag)
The interactions with guests and employees are so enjoyable! There were many laughs and funny moments during our experience. The “cook” even gave me/the Mom some stickers!
JellyCat Diner Experience New York City Website
How to Find Other JellyCat Stuffies at FAO Schwarz
If you don’t want to participate in the JellyCat Diner experience but want to purchase a JellyCat, they are located all throughout FAO Schwarz.
We visited FAO Schwarz a week after Christmas, so stock was low (as you can imagine). Even so, there were a few options to buy throughout the store.
Would I do this again? Absolutely. Worth all the fun and laughing with my daughter!! Do I recommend it for others visiting NYC? 1000000000%
JellyCat Diner Experience New York City Website
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About The Author
KristyB
Wife. Mom. Graphic Designer. Photographer. Professional Nap Taker. Part-time Traveler (with kids in tow, of course!)
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This place looks like such a fun and magical experience—your photos really bring it to life! Thanks for sharing what to expect, now I’m even more excited to go.
Thank you! It’s hard to explain this experience for sure. We really had a lot of fun and highly recommend it!
I would love to visit the Jelly Cat Diner in NYC! It sounds like a must-visit, especially for kids. Thanks for the helpful insights!
Oh yes- kids, kids at heart, teenagers – they will love this place! Don’t forget to make reservations – the line ran outside and around the corner!
Oh! When you said Jellycat, I was thinking the stuffies. They have some of the best ones!! This looks fun.
It IS the stuffies! The “cooking” is just pretend. You get to take the stuffy home. It’s so silly, but it was one of our favorite experiences in NYC.
First time to hear about the Jelly Cat Diner, and I can say that this place is nice and welcoming. My daughter will definitely love this place!
OMG you’re making me want to take another trip to New York!! We’ve been to FAO Schwartz but it was many years ago. The JellyCat Diner experience looks like so much fun! And like you mentioned, so many other thing to do in that area, so I’m glad you’re sharing that too, for people who may not know the area.
We spent a whole morning in this area and exploring 5th Avenue. Love this area!
This is my favorite place to check out in NYC! Can’t wait to go again (and my niece would adore it, too)!
I took my teenage daughter, not thinking she would like it very much. But she really enjoyed it. She said the whole library felt like Hogwarts.
I’ve never heard of the Jelly Cat Diner before, but it sounds like a great place to go! This is totally something I would enjoy checking out next time that I’m in New York.
It’s only been open about a year and a half. I highly recommend it, especially if you are visiting with kids or teenagers.
Oh yes, kids will love JellyCat Diner for sure. I think it opened in 2023 so it is relatively new.
Great Article. I have been to FAO SCHWARTZ but never to the JellyCat Diner. It sounds a fun place – I’m sure my kids would love it.
Oh yes, kids will love JellyCat Diner for sure. I think it opened in 2023 so it is relatively new.
The waffle is so cute! I would like the pancakes, I think. This looks so fun!
It was a lot of fun! We wanted to get the pancakes too but it was sold out because we went right after Christmas.