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19 Insanely Fun Team Building Activities in NYC for 2023

a hand holding a bright pink donut

Big teams make big dreams happen for businesses, but it can be hard to keep everyone together. If you’re running a large team that is known to have issues with the occasional conversation silos, a team-building exercise might be exactly what your team needs. Let’s explore some of the fun ways that teams are working together and enjoying each other’s company in New York!

 

Why Corporate Team Building is So Important in This Day and Age

Businesses are built upon teams that work together and know how to solve problems effectively. Team building is an opportunity for you to encourage your team to work together and solve problems without the pressures of the actual work environment. Events like this can bring your team closer together and increase communication.

 

Fun Ways to Pass Time with Your Team

There are plenty of ways for your team to work together and have fun at the same time in New York. Whether your teams want good food, strong drinks, or just an opportunity to unwind, we’ve got you covered.

 

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  1. Taste the City with Sidewalk Food Tours of New York

New York is a city that offers a uniquely blended cultural experience, and few things show it better than the local food. Sidewalk Food Tours offers a variety of tours in different parts of New York, giving you the opportunity to enjoy everything from beer and pizza to delicious local falafel. The possibilities alone will dazzle your tastebuds—and you might just learn something too!

 

a hand holding a half eaten arancini risotto ball

Best bites in our favorite neighborhoods!

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      2. Learn to Cook a New Dish

Choosing a cooking class for team building is something that more teams are doing now that people realize what an opportunity it is. When your team chooses to enjoy a competitive or basic cooking class, they are really signing up for a huge bonding activity.

 

a close up of a person cutting a piece of broccoli

 

      3. Learn About the World Through the Intrepid Museum

Celebrate with your team by exploring unique history relating to the sea, air, and space with the Intrepid Museum. Ideal for teams that celebrate science, there is plenty to learn and see. One visit will leave your team remembering the days when they were young and the world seemed so large. It’s a fun and educational experience that always has something new and interesting to offer.

 

four people in a purple escape room trying to crack the code

 

      4. Work Together at Escape the Room

Escape rooms are so much fun that everyone is talking about them, but they also require a ton of teamwork. Help your team to build bonds and work on communication by challenging them to escape one of the many intricate escape rooms offered at Escape the Room. Accommodating different challenge levels and offering different themes, an escape room is fun for everyone.

 

The outside view of a waterside porch at Time Out Market in NYC

 

      5. Bond Over a Nice Meal at Time Out Market

Offering both food and shows, Time Out Market is a wonderful location to grab food and drinks with your team. This unique restaurant offers foods that accommodate a variety of different tastes and preferences. Your team can enjoy something delicious that suits their dietary needs and spend time chatting too!

 

a close up of a person cutting a piece of broccoli

 

      6. Work Together at My Cooking Party

My Cooking Party offers unique hands-on corporate team-building events centered around private cooking classes. Offering a fun opportunity for your team to hang out, have fun, and enjoy delicious food, this is a great team-building opportunity.

 

Friends with a map navigating a scavenger hunt outside

 

      7. Get Out and Explore with Scavenger Hunt NYC

For teams who want to think, learn, and discover together, this is a wonderful choice. Your team can unite to solve intensive puzzles and explore New York through the eye of an investigator. Offering plenty of opportunities to work together and think critically, these scavenger hunts are available in a variety of places around New York City—all for an affordable price!

 

an entertainment center called Shipwrecked which features a Danger sign inside their puttputt course

 

      8. Try Out Adult Night at Shipwrecked

This Brooklyn hotspot is a great way to have fun with your team. While this location can usually be found full of kids, they regularly offer adult nights on Thursdays, giving adults a chance to benefit from all of the fun without having to worry about running into a birthday party. Offering mini golf, arcade spaces, and escape rooms, Shipwrecked has plenty of opportunities for your team to connect and have a lot of fun. They even offer tasty drinks too! It is a little non-traditional, but still one of the most fun corporate team building activities.

 

water color paint palette

 

      9. Enjoy Drinks and Paint with Paint & Sip Studio

This New York location offers delicious drinks and an educational experience focused on creativity. Their talented instructors will guide your team through creating different paintings that your group will love to show off after the fact. Everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy drinks while they create their very own masterpiece. With guidance from their talented instructors, your team will explore their artistic capabilities and have a lot of fun!

 

The arms of a hibachi chef preparing food on the flat top

 

      10. Experience Modern Hibachi at Flame

Hibachi is known for blending performance and amazing food, which is why it is so popular. Flame is bringing traditional hibachi forward with a new modern twist. Offering delicious food and an experience that your team will be talking about for months, Flame is one restaurant that gives way more than just good food. Let your team have fun playing games and celebrating this incredible culinary feat!

 

a screen shot of an open laptop computer sitting on top of a table

 

      11. Take a Virtual Tour of New York City

With so many teams still deciding who is and is not in the office, being able to share in on a digital adventure can be a good option. Allow your team to gather on Zoom or a similar video chat platform and then join in on this browser-based virtual tour of New York City. Whether you’ve lived in New York your whole life or you’re hosting a team in a completely different city, this virtual tour is full of fun and games that will keep your team talking.

 

a close up of swirls of colors painted on a canvas

 

      12. Get Crafty at The Craft Studio

Team building is all about making connections, communicating, and having fun. At The Craft Studio, your team can do all of these things and make some pretty exciting crafts that they can take away at the end of the day as well. From pillows to beach totes, your team can create fun items that will remind them of this day for years to come. This is one of the best team outings to make lasting memories.

 

a large park in the city with lots of trees and greenary

 

      13. Have a Team Picnic in Central Park

Central Park is a wonderful place to spend time, especially when the weather is nice. With one quick permit application, you can take your team or teams out for a lovely picnic with some great food. This is a cost-effective way to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. For teams under 20 people, a permit isn’t even needed. For low-key teams that enjoy the simple opportunity to spend time and chat, this is a wonderful way to pass the time. For some teams, the real team-building exercise is coming together to plan a great picnic!

 

a room filled with furniture and a table in a restaurant

 

      14. Visit the Temple Bar for Some Drinks

Some of the best business deals in history have been made over a drink, and bars can be a great place for your team to unwind. Offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, this is a great place to get the team together for a little bit of fun outside of traditional working hours. Offering a full drink menu and a surprisingly great meal menu, it’s perfect for bringing people together.

 

the alamo in nyc theater with red walls and a movie screen

 

      15. Bond Over Culture

The Alamo Drafthouse chain is a popular backdrop for team-building events all across the United States. Offering delicious cocktails and an expensive food menu, these luxury movie theaters are a fan favorite for large groups. Plan your evening around a great work-friendly film, then let everyone order a dreamy meal. Since you can purchase tickets in advance, it’s always easy to secure a venue for your group. Sometimes the classic large group activities are the best.

 

two arms reaching with white gloves are in front of a black background

 

      16. Hold a Private Showing with Illusionist Alex Voz

This top-performing illusionist is no secret to big corporations. Known for his private shows that dazzle and delight audiences, he is always a popular choice for entertainment—but that’s not all. Alex Voz is also a master of subliminal messaging and will entertain your teams by teaching them exactly how to get into the minds of customers to drive that sale. As educational as he is entertaining, Alex Voz is perfect for businesses.

 

Bowling balls set up

 

      17. Try Team Building with Bowling at Frames

Dedicated to serving audiences of all kinds, Frames is no stranger to hosting corporate events. They even offer a complete team builder package with featured menu items that your team will love. Bowling and good food just can’t be beaten. Considered one of the best team outings for ages, bowling never gets old.

 

Neon laser tag course

 

      18. Get Active with Laser Tag

Hidden away in Brooklyn, Area 53 NYC is waiting to show your team a ton of competitive fun. For those teams that are more active and looking to really work together, laser tag can be a wonderful opportunity. As long as your team doesn’t mind moving, this is a great way to shake off nerves or celebrate a new project coming to a close. The best team building activities are the ones where everyone leaves smiling.

 

two full beer mugs on a table

 

      19. Enjoy Drinks and Games 

The Barcade is a wonderful opportunity for some serious fun and nostalgia. Your team can enjoy drinks and access to a variety of classic arcade games that are guaranteed to keep everyone laughing and working together—or in a competition! This fun location is great for teams that want to work hard and play hard together.