When kids come into the picture, finding a restaurant is no longer just about the food. Like everything else that comes with being a parent, choosing a restaurant where your kids will be entertained, have something suitable for their palette, and when (not if) they throw a tantrum you won’t be shunned by other diners, takes a whole checklist.
While many of the kid-friendly restaurant checklists are same the world over; including things like whether the restaurant has high chairs or not, there are still a few uniquely Beijing things that expat parents have learned to keep an eye out for.
Play Time!
There are plenty of restaurants in Beijing that go above and beyond to prepare for kids. Feast (Food by East) at East Hotel has a room filled with toys and cartoons to keep the kids entertained while the grown-ups dine. Restaurants like Haidilao will also have kids play areas where (in theory) you can drop off your kids and expect them to be well taken care of, but keep in mind that at most places the kids are being supervised by a restaurant staff rather than a child care professional and will not be liable for any injuries. In short, play at your own risk. Restaurants that provide toys and coloring materials like Annie’s is also major bonus for parents. Their family-friendly environment lets the whole family dine in peace, and if someone spills their drink or a baby cries, it’s no big deal.
Let’s Eat!
While most western restaurants in Beijing will have a kids menu or be more than happy to whip something up for the little ones, not all local Chinese restaurants are the same. It’s not that Chinese restaurant owners don’t like kids, just that the dining culture is quite different. In China, when kids are old enough to eat grown-up food, they sit with the family and eat from the same dishes as everyone else. So unless the local Chinese restaurant is used to catering to foreigners, they won’t have a kid’s menu or kid-friendly utensils. If this is a factor for you, it’s a good idea handy to pack your own set in the diaper bag or alternatively, fully embrace the cross-cultural experience of living in Beijing and start teaching the kids how to use chopsticks at an early age to save yourself to mafan.
Oh Poo!
Let’s talk about the changing table. For parents with young kids, changing poopy diapers is just a part of life. It helps when the restaurant (or the mall it’s located in) planned ahead and built changing tables into both the men’s and women’s restrooms, but not all places were designed with parents of small children in mind, and if you’re hoping to spend a day exploring and dining out in the hutongs, there’s still a good chance that all you’ll find are the infamous squatty potties. So what’s a mum to do? Most restaurants (especially local Chinese ones) have private dining rooms and if you explain the situation, the staff is usually pretty understanding and will let you use one of their private rooms to change your baby. If you’re outside and there’s really no privacy available, well, then your baby’s comfort (and hygiene) comes first. Find a relatively quiet spot on the street and take care of business. Life is messy and shit happens.
Where are your favorite go-to places for family-friendly dining in Beijing? Share your tips with new parents. We want to hear from you!
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