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There are restaurants with kid menus, and then there are interactive restaurants that take dining to a whole ‘nother level for kids (and fun-loving grown-ups). These unique dining establishments not only offer delicious food but also provide engaging experiences that make dining out a memorable adventure. From restaurants with live shows and performances to those with interactive games and activities, there’s something for every child (and child at heart) to enjoy.
Royal Cuisine Museum
In
recent months, performance restaurants that take you back in time to
ancient China have been on the rise in cities all over the country.
Dining at these restaurants is a whole different experience. At the
Royal Cuisine Museum, before you’re seated at your table, you’re first
taken to hair and wardrobe where you put on traditional attire and get
your hair and make-up professionally done by their team. This step is
usually optional and will require an additional fee, but since these
performance restaurants already cost a pretty penny, why not go all out?
There
are “NPC” performers who act out their role, and you’re served food
from the specific time period while watching dance and theatrical
performances. It’s as close to experiencing what it would have been like
to be a guest of the emperor as you can possibly get.
Since
these are shows and dinners, you need to go by their schedule. Be sure
to arrive early so you can get pictures and really enjoy the whole
experience.
Lunch: 11am-2pm and will cost RMB 238 per person for regular and RMB 298 for VIP
Dinner: 5pm-9pm and will cost RMB 498 per person for regular and RMB 598 for VIP
Booking is highly recommended.
Find it:
Royal Cuisine Museum 御仙都皇家菜博物馆（金四季购物中心店）
117 Northwest Fourth Ring Road, Haidian District
海淀区西四环北路117号
Tel: 8849 1680, 8849 4069
Palace
Palace
does something that’s very similar to Royal Cuisine Museum but focuses
more on traditional dances. You’re also given the option to dress up in
traditional attire before your meal and there are plenty of NPC
performers for you to take photos with throughout the meal.
Here
you’ll get to dine while dancers perform right in front of your long
table. Palace offers two shows daily – one from 10.30am to 2pm and the
other from 5.30pm to 9pm.
Tickets to the experience are RMB 398
for the regular lunch show and RMB 498 for VIP. For their dinner show,
tickets are RMB 498 for the regular seating and RMB 598 for VIP. Booking
is highly recommended.
Find it:
Palace 宫宴
50 Qianmen Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区前门大街50号
Tel: 5218 0616, 152 1086 8830
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Small World
This
one is fun, especially for younger kids. You’re seated in a dark room
and Small World uses a video that’s projected directly onto your dining
table to tell an animated story. Similar to Le Petit Chef, you get to
watch characters move about your table to create each course you’ll be
enjoying. When they’re done, the waiter places a real edible version in
front of you to enjoy.
Since the entire place needs to run on a
set time, there are specific starting times for each meal and it’s
highly recommended that you book in advance.
Prices range from RMB
463 per person to RMB 861 for one adult + one child. They also offer
party packages available for 9-16 people for RMB 7,383.
Find it:
Small World 袖珍世界 Small World·桌面美食剧场
Bldg 422, Coastal Sailuo City A, East Fourth Ring Road, Chaoyang District (east side of the second floor from the rainbow staircase)
朝阳区东四环路沿海赛洛城甲422栋（从彩虹楼梯上二楼东侧）
Tel: 198 0135 8467
Master of Life
Aarrgh! Want to live your best pirate life in Beijing? Well, there’s a
restaurant for that! Master of Life is a pirate-themed dinner and show.
You get to sit at your own private table within the main dining room (an
option that’s not available at all dinner and show restaurants) and
watch the actors play out their pirate adventures while dining on a
tasty Western meal.
The show is from 5pm to 8.30pm daily. They do interact with the audience, but the entire show is done in Chinese.
Tickets
range from RMB 191 per person for the basic seat to RMB 422 per person
for the VIP section. If you’re going for a birthday celebration, you can
ask them to add a bowl of longevity noodles along with birthday wishes
from their NPC performer for an additional RMB 1.
Find it:
Master of Life 无畏海盗沉浸式主题餐厅
IOMA Temple of Heaven Art Space, D107 Debi Tiantan, 91 Fahuasi Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区法华寺街91号德必天坛D107爱马思艺术中心天坛空间
Tel: 166 0007 0853
Crystal Metaverse Light and Shadow Restaurant
This
is less for the kids and more for a fancy grown-up party. While the
idea is similar to Small World, there’s no video that tells the story of
your meal. What you’ll get is a beautiful room that projects a variety
of soothing video decors that dance and sway, adding a fun ambiance to
your dinner party.
They offer everything from private dinners for
two to afternoon teas for groups of friends to dinner + KTV parties.
You definitely need to call in advance and communicate exactly what
you’re looking for before showing up.
Find it:
Crystal Metaverse Light and Shadow Restaurant 水晶元宇宙光影餐厅
10-1 Building 21, District 4, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang District
朝阳区高碑店村四区21号楼10号一层
Tel: 138 1031 7806, 183 1026 9831
For more family-friendly dining recommendations, be sure to join our FamFriendlyEats group on WeChat. Message TBJButler on WeChat and request to be added.
KEEP READING: Interactive Space Exhibit for Kids That Parents Will Enjoy, Too
Images: Dianping, Pexels
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