Recently a father approached us with a very important question that we have yet to conquer here at beijingkids. Maybe it’s a little beyond our territory as a family magazine, but still something relevant to families that want to have a little tipple on occasion. Well, we decided to run with it anyway as this is something we also know plenty about as our sibling publication is the beijinger, Beijing’s best source for this kind of material.
Even though many of us here on the beijingkids editorial team are currently parents, this doesn’t mean that we deny ourselves these earthly pleasures, or have lost the ability to cut loose on occasion. By cut loose, we don’t mean a debaucherous night on the Gongti strip, but maybe just finding a place with a variety of items that will not only entertain the kids but also provide mom and dad with a great selection of classy drinks to get you feeling relaxed, while the kids chow down on burgers or other savory goodies. Needless to say, all of these places mentioned have excellent service, strict anti-smoking policies, and even fun gaming opportunities for the little ones.
But, as always, it’s important to remember that consuming alcohol must only be done responsibly and not impair your ability to be an effective parent.
The Local
Many expats know that The Local is a great place to sit down and experience a generous happy hour after work, with their deeply discounted drinks. But, do you know that throughout the weekend they also screen a variety of sporting events, have a legit pool table, and plenty of dining and brunch options suitable for the whole family? Obviously, they have a pretty mean list of drinks, but this place is far from dive territory and is clean, with proper bathrooms, and strict no smoking rules. These criteria allow us to give it our beijingkids stamp of approval for being a family-friendly watering hole.
Xian at East Hotel Beijing
This elegant art hotel is probably familiar to many parents living in the surrounding areas of Shunyi or Wangjing. It’s not only a convenient place to get some shopping done at Indigo Mall, but also the perfect spot to brunch it up on the weekends at either East Hotel Beijing’s FEAST or Domain. But after a long day of shopping or participating in one of the many kid-friendly activities available at the mall, there’s nothing like kicking back with a couple of thin crust pizzas or an Old Fashioned or two at Xian Bar. With an informed cocktail menu and a lovely outdoor terrace that’s situated very near to a kid’s play area, this spot is ideal for the whole family.
Mimi e Coco
While Fangjia and many of the other surrounding hutongs are being walled up at a speed that would make Donald J. Trump jealous, this spot is very much still alive and known for their unique bottled cocktails and their delicious pizzas to be found at the adjoining Ramo. So, what we’re getting at is along with pizzas, salads, and smoothies, you can find delicious adult-oriented concoctions accompanied by unique mixes from their resident DJ, CAD 73.
8-Bit
This video game-focused bar at the northern end of Beiluoguxiang not only gives Beijingers the opportunity to throw back a variety of cocktails and draft beers, but also is a mecca for gamers. If you go early enough, they open at 3pm on the weekends; you can game the day away with your kids on almost every system available. Though we recommend you get out of there before the Wudaokou crew saunters in, as they treat their Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart very seriously, if you catch our drift. If you are reading this then you also probably remember the era of throwing an abundance of loose change into an arcade machine. Well, as an additional perk you won’t have to do this here as they are all free to use, and there are burgers and other comfort foods to keep you satisfied while you pound away on those NES controllers.
photos: http://lumdimsum.com, the beijinger, facebook
