Beijing parents are always asking “Where can I throw a birthday party for my kid?” Well, we’re here to tackle that big bouncy question as we explore different types of venues all over the city, and give you an in-depth look at your kids’ party options. Search #BigBeijingBirthdayPartyList for more recommendations from us.
Artyzen Hotel Dongcheng
My daughter recently turned 1 and our birthday party at Artyzen Hotel was everything I could have asked for from a venue. The hotel doesn’t usually host kids’ parties, but perhaps they should because their event space was seemingly designed for such an event!
While it might be easier to book a traditional play place for a party, those don’t come cheap and usually have a time limit on how long you can play there, not to mention the other patrons who are sharing the space with you. Plus, if you’re planning on inviting friends without kids, such venues aren’t typically the places they want to go.
For my daughter’s birthday we had a mix of babies, older kids, and a few friends without children. We chose a casual buffet set up and the hotel allowed us to bring in our own alcohol, which meant we were able to set up an open bar stocked with everyone’s favorites.
The setup:
Artyzen uses round banquet tables that comfortably seat 10-11 people per table, and their open floor-plan pretty much allows for anything you want. We set up a photo backdrop, a big play tent, a baby playpen with toys, and a diaper changing station. The buffet, cake, gifts, and drink tables flanked the room so guests could easily pick out their favorite foods and refill on drinks whenever needed.
Why I loved it:
- Their event space is a modern, elegant design, but there’s no pretense of a luxury 5-star hotel with extra high ceilings and chandeliers. Those event spaces are designed for weddings and exhibitions, so a small kids’ party would feel stuffy and tiny in that kind of space.
- There’s no carpet. When you’re hosting kids who constantly touch the floor and put their hands all over their faces, a wooden floor that you can mop (and spray with disinfectant if you’re strict on sanitation like me) is much better than a carpet that gets steam cleaned maybe once a year.
- Upon booking the venue, you’ll be assigned a designated event manager who’ll not only answer every question you have regarding setup but will also help you make arrangements to receive supplies at the hotel, reserve baby chairs, put up digital signage, etc. Their events’ managers are bilingual meaning communication is a breeze. Plus, they’ve been doing this for years so they’ll catch any detail you might miss yourself.
- We were allowed to bring in our own alcohol, and the hotel went so far as to help us receive it in advance, resulting in chilled beer and wine.
Whiskey, wines, beers, and non-alcoholic options for the kids and breastfeeding moms
- Kudos to their kitchen team! The food was delicious and the presentation beautiful! They offer two buffet options, each with its own hot carving station where attentive chefs stay for the duration of the party.
Artyzen’s stunning dessert set up
- They have their own sound system and a projector if you want to play a video. I would recommend testing it out in advance so you know how the whole thing functions.
Pro tips:
- Book a room at the hotel the night before and ask for a late checkout the following day. That way you’ll have plenty of time to set up and get ready, allow your kids to nap in a comfy bed if they get tired, and if you request their kids’ room complete with a tent and play area, they’ll stay entertained for hours in the room before the rest of the guests arrive. Trust me when I say that after the party, having a comfy room to regroup and pack up all the gifts is a luxury.
Artyzen Hotel’s themed out kids’ room
- The hotel has six baby chairs, and if you’re planning on borrowing them it’s best to let your event manager know in advance. If you need more baby chairs, Xianyu is a great place to buy some seconnd hand ones for as little as RMB 10. If you aren’t familiar with Xianyu, we have a primer that you can check out here.
- Have a baby food station with snacks specifically for your younger partygoers. Little Freddies and crackers are great. However, it’s important to note that the hotel will not help you heat outside food in their kitchen for safety reasons.
Baby snacks and goodie bags
- Hire a photographer. You want to capture the beautiful day, but you’ll be too busy running after the kids and hosting your guests. So leave the photography to a pro. If you don’t know where to find one, check out our handy guide to some of the capital’s best family-friendly photographers.
Pricing:
- The first thing you’ll need to do is choose the type of menu you want. The hotel offers two options for buffets and two options for sit-down dinners, all of which have a 35 person minimum. For a kids’ party I would highly recommend the buffet option. It’s more casual and fun for them, as opposed to sitting through multiple courses. Pricing varies depending on the menu, but on average Artyzen’s lunch buffet is between RMB 200-300/person and dinner buffets are RMB 300-400/person. Below are examples of their menus. Please note that the menus get updated on a regular basis and some items may no longer be available.
- If you want to stay there the night before (which again, I highly recommend), your event manager can help you book the room. The rate will depend on the hotel’s availability.
- Decorations are not included in the hotel’s events package. You’ll need to sort that out on your own. If you’re looking for a photo backdrop, there are Taobao vendors available, but the person I’ve been using for years is Liu Yi (WeChat ID wxid_zxjuk65gziwy22) whose rates are competitive and most importantly, dependable. A 2×2 meter photo backdrop board runs a little more than RMB 200.
To get in touch with Artyzen Hotel Dongcheng and check out their events space for yourself, contact Johnson Zhang, the hotel’s assistant director of sales.
KEEP READING: All-Inclusive VR Playground Fun for Kids and Adults
Images: Mina Yan
