Toybrary Austin

Toybrary Austin is one of Austin's most unique family spots — part toy library, part indoor play space, entirely brilliant for parents who want their kids to engage with high-quality educational toys without filling their home floor-to-ceiling with plastic.

The core concept: members pay a monthly or annual fee that grants access to the open play space AND the ability to borrow toys to take home for a week at a time. The toy collection is extensive and rotates regularly — train tables, pretend kitchen sets, STEM building toys, sensory tables, arts and crafts materials, outdoor equipment, and much more. Items that would cost hundreds of dollars to buy individually are available for the cost of a library membership.

For visiting families, the open play space itself is clean, spacious, and well-organized for kids ages 1-8. Toddlers love the sensory play stations; older kids gravitate toward the building and imaginative play areas. The staff are genuinely warm and helpful, which shows up consistently in reviews.

Located in the Brentwood neighborhood (central-north Austin, near Burnet Rd), Toybrary is convenient for families on that side of town. The surrounding street is one of Austin's better neighborhood commercial strips with good coffee shops and lunch spots nearby.

One important note: open play hours vary and can be closed for private birthday parties. Always check the website or call ahead before making a special trip. The membership model means this is most valuable for local Austin families — visiting once on a trip makes more sense at the drop-in rate.