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.
For regular readers of our website, it should come as no surprise that my child chose to host his 7th birthday party at Bom Bom Space this year, given the many perks this locally-owned trampoline park boasts. But when I found out that their birthday packages start upwards of RMB 10,000, I decided I would just DIY the party to keep things simple, eco-friendly, and within that budget. And boy did I succeed!
Limiting the guest list was the first hurdle I had to clear with the birthday kid, as he had his sights set on breaking the record of the last birthday party he attended, which saw 100 people on the guest list. I wasn’t about to break the bank trying to beat that record. Luckily, logic prevailed, and my kid agreed to just 10 kids and one accompanying parent each, which drew the guest list down to 23 including our family.
One of the reasons we adore Bom Bom Space so much is how helpful the staff are in solving problems, including finding the most cost-effective way to get all your guests into the park. We worked out that using my existing parent-child card, which maxes out at four kids and accompanying adults per day, plus buying a 10-pass card at RMB 1,680 with a few single-entry passes for the remaining guests would work best. I trusted their math and went with it.
Since I didn’t spring for the party room, my plan was to be the first to arrive at Bom Bom and stake out a few tables at their restaurant. I was even prepared with a cover story that it wasn’t a party so much as a massive play date and that the cakes were unexpected gifts, in case anyone asked any questions. But it turns out that I can’t be the first person with that action plan, because the restaurant staff graciously helped me push two rows of tables together and allowed me to “block” them off.
PRO TIP: The mall doesn’t allow you to enter before 10am anyway, so don’t bother trying to arrive early.
As for the food, we ordered ala carte off the menu. I’ll admit that I could probably fine-tune this part a bit more since we spent close to RMB 2,000 and ended up eating pizza for the next two days, but everyone had full bellies and the parents said that the food was more than enjoyable. The Bom Bom Space menu offers great choices from fresh salads to pastas, chicken nugget meals, and even a 180-day aged Australian steak.
PRO TIP: Another family had the same idea of celebrating their kid’s birthday at the restaurant, and even brought table cloths to make things look a tad nicer. Lesson learned!
Having paid for a birthday party with the full works at one of these indoor playgrounds in Beijing before (which cost more than RMB 16,000), and then winging one with the bare essentials, I can honestly say that the kids didn’t care at all whether they were in a private room with one-time-use decorations that make for good photographs but little else. I am also thrilled to report that the invited parents were happy to play with their kids in the park, instead of hiding away from the action.
All in all, Bom Bom Space was a wonderful venue for my kid’s birthday celebration, even without the party room extras. After all, kids just wanna have fun, and eat. Right now, while they’re still willing to do all that with us parents, we might as well enjoy it while it lasts!
KEEP READING: An Aspiring Soccer Star’s Birthday Party Dream Come True
Images: Ray Wu, Vivienne Tseng-Rush
