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.

When I saw that there’s an indoor play place that has no time restrictions, allows multi-entries, and only charges RMB 79 every Wednesday, I had to check it out.

Mo Du Honey Children’s Paradise is located in Shuangqiao on the ground floor of Joy Wood mall. Quite frankly, aside from a Xiabu Xiabu and a movie theatre on the second floor, this place doesn’t offer much else.

Walking in, you’ll feel a bit hesitant, like, “My God, what have I gotten myself into?” But ignore those instincts and keep going. As soon as you enter you’ll see Mo Du Honey Children’s Paradise, but the name isn’t very obvious. Look for the foam stand that says Ticket Sales and once you find that you’ll know you’re in the right place.

What I really like about this place is that they only charge per kid. There’s no additional cost for grown-ups. Tickets are RMB 108 per day and RMB 125 on weekends and holidays. But if you go on Wednesday (their least busy day) an all-day play pass is just RMB 79! There’s no need to purchase tickets in advance, you can do it at the door through the Dianping app, which offers a discount.  If you don’t know how to use Dianping, their staff is more than happy to show you.

Pros:
Pricing. RMB 79 all day is (so far) the cheapest indoor play place I’ve encountered in Beijing.
Plenty to do. There are sections inside with different things for kids to do and the rooms make it a bit easier for the place to keep from turning into a full madhouse.
Really nice staff. The best way to describe them is that they’ll go the extra mile for you. While they might not have much to offer there, the staff offered to help me watch my daughter while I ran to the bathroom, store my extra large bag under the counter to keep it safe, and even dispose of a dirty diaper for me.

Cons:
Distance. For most people who live in the CBD Shuangqiao is pretty far, and there’s not much to do in the area.
No restaurants. Aside from Xiabu Xiabu and a malatang restaurant, there’s not really anything else in this mall.
Bathroom. There’s no bathroom inside. You and your kids need to use the one in the mall.
Sanitation. The mall and Mo Du Honey both look like they’ve seen better days.
AC. I know the AC was on while we were there, but we were sweating…

As soon as you walk in you’ll see a giant ball pit with slides and climbing stuff. Keep going, and you’ll find a variety of toys along with a huge inflatable pink bounce house with two slides.

There’s a room that’s just designated for playing with bubbles, and one for playing dress-up on the left. The bubble room even has two elliptical machines that blow bubbles as you bike. Cool, huh?

On the right side of the place, you’ll find a “sand pit” that’s not filled with actual sand. The material in question is more like plastic Nerds candies, but there’s a slide in there and plenty of toys that the kids seem to enjoy. Finally, the coolest part, especially for older kids, is the ninja warrior-looking foam pit obstacle course!

For birthday parties, Mo Du Honey Children’s Paradise’s staff will put on a little show for the kids on their mini stage and, if you’re a member, give your child a little toy as a birthday present.

If you’re looking for a cheap place to pass the day and ambiance isn’t much of a concern for you, this could be the place to be!

Find it:
Mo Du Honey Children’s Paradise 萌嘟蜜糖儿童乐园
12 Shuangqiao Zhong Lu (under Xiabu Xiabu)
双桥中路12号院1号呷哺呷哺楼下

Images: Mina Yan

If you’re looking for a super simple birthday party for your little one, or just a cool place for a playdate, Elfin Kids Cafe in Wangjing offers just that.

Open daily from 10am to 8pm, Elfin Kids Cafe is about 200sqm of baby-safe play space with everything from slides to multiple ball pits, and a dress-up area to a whole bunch of cars, plus more. Best of all, they’ve got a really laid-back approach to playdates.

They’ve got two dining areas, and while the “cafe” doesn’t actually have anything more than a vending machine, they allow waimai delivery and provide parents and kids with ample space to eat.

My favorite thing about Elfin Kids Cafe is that there’s no time limit to how long you can stay – during weekdays at least. Each child ticket comes with two accompanying adult tickets, which include unlimited playtime during the weekdays. Unfortunately, however, due to high demand on weekends, they’ve limited playtime to four hours each session.

Ticket Prices:
RMB 188 on weekdays (2 adults + 1 child)
RMB 208 on weekends (2 adults + 1 child) four-hour playtime

There’s plenty of things for kids to do and even a little stage if they want to take group photos or put on an impromptu performance.

One of the coolest perks – though I never felt like taking advantage of it – is a secluded corner just for grown-ups, otherwise known as an “unwinding room,” which features two massage chairs, an exercise bike, and two elliptical machines.

Now the downside: Eflin Kids Cafe currently doesn’t offer a birthday package, so technically speaking, until further notice, you can’t actually let them plan birthday parties for you and they DO NOT allow cakes to be delivered on-site.

Nevertheless, Elfin Kids Cafe was fun for both the kids and grown-ups, and if having a big cake isn’t high on your priority list, but you’re looking for more of a laid-back, chill playdate, then this spot’s got what you need.

Find it:
Hongtai West Street Wangjing West Park No. 221 Botai Building 3rd floor (Metro Line 15 A exit 500 meters)
宏泰西街望京西园221号博泰大厦3层（地铁15号线a口500米)

KEEP READING: An Unexpectedly Great Kid’s Birthday Party Venue at Artyzen Hotel

Images: Mina Yan