Indoor Play Area for Kids and Great Food for Parents at Feast

Advertisement

Many years ago I worked in communications at East Hotel, aka the hotel where Feast is if you’re a foodie. I was in my 20s and Feast was a perfect fit for my lifestyle. I was young, eager to meet people and discover new cuisines. Back then, Feast held art events and kitchen takeover collaboration pop-up dinners, all of which were perfect for 20-something-year-olds residing in the capital. What’s more, it was part of the neighborhood and fostered its own little community. It was where my girlfriends and I could go for dinner and brunches on the weekend and feel at home.

And my latest brunch visit reminded me of just how homey Feast really is. It felt as if, like its regulars, Feast has grown up with its community. 

Put another way, I’m in my 30s now. I’ve retired my stilettos and traded my tiny clutch purse for a stroller. As I started on the next chapter of my life, it feels as if Feast has as well.

They’ve tossed out the chic private dining room with its black and white walls and a beautiful long wooden table that’s been the backdrop of so many fashion photoshoots in the past.

Instead, they’ve gone completely kid-friendly. They said goodbye to the plastic white Ikea baby chairs and hello to the soft cushy ones like the ones that we use at home, and they’ve turned the entire private dining room space into a huge play area. It’s not just a carpeted room with some toys… Feast has a built-in climbing gym, swings, slide, play kitchen, library, and ball pit.

Having said all of that, some things definitely stayed the same. They’re still all about the semi-buffets that made the restaurant famous when it first opened. The starters and desserts are laid out buffet style and they’ve added a free-flow wine, craft beer, soft drinks, and coffee bar. For the main course, they have an impressive menu to choose from, all made to order.

Advertisement

There are classic brunch favorites like eggs benedict and fluffy pancakes, as well as some surf and turf options such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder, confit duck leg, steaks, or garlic grilled king prawns, and crispy skin seabass.

Scroll to see all their menus

Back when Feast first opened, its semi-buffet concept was created to discourage food waste and ensure that the main course was freshly prepared for each diner just the way they like it. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve had friends say “Oh shoot, I forgot we can order a main course. I’m already full!” Today, it seems like they’ve kept the same concept, but added a perk just for those forgetful ones. “Every food item to go is subject to an RMB 10 surcharge for biodegradable packaging” is written clearly on each menu. To me, that just means I can take home my main course and skip cooking dinner. Score!

My daughter just turned 1 and I’m sticking to the strict rule of no sugar or salt before she’s 2. So being the over-prepared mom that I am, I brought her own lunch to the Feast brunch. But it sat in my bag, untouched, because there are plenty of choices for babies to eat including salads, bread, prawns, fresh fruit, and a cook-to-order noodle station where the chef was more than eager to boil some soft pasta for her to eat/play with.

So many baby friendly options

After almost a decade of living in Beijing, there are very few restaurants where I feel at home, but Feast is one of them. I can count on bumping into people I know, that I’ll always find something I’m in the mood for, that I shouldn’t expect impeccable service but rather the familiar “Don’t worry, I’ve got you” type of attitude, and that if my kid screams that high pitched screech that only babies can muster, no one will care or throw dirty glances at us.

Feast’s weekly brunch is from 11.30-3pm every Saturday and Sunday for RMB 328 per person. Kids aged 6-12 are half-price, and kids under 6 are free. If you want to just enjoy the play area, they charge RMB 100 per child to play.

Address

2/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu
酒仙桥路22号东隅北京酒店2层
Tel: [phone]

Images: Mina Yan

Daily Poll

Would you let your child pee in public if there was no toilet nearby?

KEEP READING

Advertisement