Beautiful NEW(ish) Play Place That’s a Bang for Your Buck
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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.
Beijing has no shortage of indoor play places for kids, and usually, they charge a lot, especially if you’re looking for a place for a birthday party. Soft Planet at Parkview Green is a relatively new, beautiful, and a clean indoor playground that is suitable for kids of various ages.
Known as one of the Ritzy malls in Beijing, Soft Planet is surprisingly affordable, especially if what’s really important to you is fun for the kids and not just exclusive photos in front of custom-designed backdrops.
As the name suggests, the place is soft and baby-proof and filled with ball pits, slides, and one super cool train that kids can ride over and over! And the best part for parents is that their food is delicious! It does, however, tend to feature primarily Chinese dishes.
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Their menu offers items for kids like beef with rice (RMB 80), egg fried rice (RMB 45), and braised pork on rice (RMB 75), as well as adorable rainbow steamed mantou buns (RMB 42). But for grownups, they offer spicy hot pot (RMB 45), tomato and beef noodles (RMB 68), and fried instant noodles (RMB 42).
Pros
– Safety. Kids are able to run around all over the place but they won’t be able to leave without adult supervision.
– Pricing. On weekdays, they charge RMB 168 for three hours of play for kids. Adults are free but will need to order something from the menu. On weekends and holidays, the prices go up to RMB 198 for three hours; the same rules apply to adults.
– Toilet. This is a pro and a con. There is a kids’ toilet inside Soft Planet, but for adults, you’ll need to use the one in the mall.
– Free socks! I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of accidentally leaving one of these places without returning their anti-slip socks. Soft Planet gives every kid a brand new pair of cute yellow anti-slip socks when they arrive.
– The train! You know how much fun the trains are for kids. The unlimited rides alone are enough to make a trip to Soft Planet
Cons
– Menu. This isn't exactly a con, especially if you love Chinese food. The food prices are great, but they only offer Chinese dishes, especially for adults.
– Additional items for purchase. If your kid is someone who won’t leave a place without bullying you into getting them a new toy, this place can make you roll your eyes. They’ve got a whole corner with toys and snacks that they sell. But, to be frank, Soft Planet is filled with so many things to do that are way more interesting.
If you’re looking to throw a birthday party, they can do all the heavy lifting for you. They offer birthday packages that include food, decorations, and three hours of free play for the kids. The minimum requirement for attendees is 14 people (kids and adults included) and the cost will be RMB 6,500 on weekdays or RMB 7,500 on weekends and holidays. Included in the package is your own space that’s decorated with the theme of your choice.
However, if the backdrop doesn’t matter, Soft Planet is great for a DIY party! There are plenty of tables that can be pushed together so that everyone can sit together. The pricing is still the same as how they normally charge (RMB 168 per kid on weekdays and RMB 198 per kid on weekends) and the grownups can just order off the menu.
Pro tip:
They tend to be less busy on weekday evenings. If you’re looking to do a DIY birthday party you might even be lucky enough to get the whole place to yourselves.
Find it:
Soft Planet 软软星球草地餐厅(侨福芳草地店)
2/F, Parkview Green Shopping Center
侨福芳草地购物中心2F
Tel: 6880 1567
Hours: 11am-8.30pm
Images: Mina Yan, dianping
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