Infamous Tea & Honey show
In the bustling atmosphere, your young ones’ high spirits won’t be out of place at all.
But all too soon, the kids long for the familiar tastes of home. And, just as compelling, you may yearn to trade the Tsingdao beer and tea, for once, for champagne and a cappuccino.
Given the high prices of imported ingredients in the supermarkets, you really might as well go out.
For tunately, we’re equally luck y to find ourselves in a city where the Western dining choices extend way beyond the ubiquitous McDonald’s and KFC franchises. And ordinarily the staff will greet you with a child-friendly attitude.
With the exception of the swank establishments where your little ones’ exuberance may raise an eyebrow, Western restaurants in Shanghai range from those that cater to children by providing a range of equipment and entertainment to those that simply smile at the little one accompanying you and are happy to prepare a special small plate.
Their location mimics the pattern of housing for Westerners. In the suburbs, where housing compounds occupied largely by Westerners surround international schools, familiar restaurants are also clustered together and the choices abound.
But in the business centers and older sections of downtown Puxi, you may have to look a little harder. You’ll find restaurants where your family will be comfortable dotting street fronts, tucked down lanes, buried inside shopping centers, and even on rooftops.
Wherever you find yourself in Shanghai, you’re sure to be able to satisfy your appetite for Western food.
What follows is by no means a comprehensive list, but reflects some recommendations of veteran parents. (And, by the way, at all of these places, it’s safe to drink the table water – there’s no need to pay for expensive imported water.) One warning: don’t forget how fast things change in Shanghai; you may want to call before you go to make sure a restaurant hasn’t moved or closed.
Downtown Puxi When you ask where to eat with your kids, the first word out of many-a-mom’s mouth is Mesa (748 Julu Rd, 6289 9108). And she’s talking about the weekend all-day brunch. Known at all times for its fine dining and cocktails in stylish surroundings, Mesa pulls out all the stops to bring in families for brunch, offering a delicious kids’ menu, inside play area well stocked with toys, and a caretaker to watch the children.
Another gathering spot popular with sports fans and parents alike is O’Malley’s (42 Taojiang Rd, 6474 6166), offering basic pub fare, but featuring a big, open lawn, sandbox, air-castle and playhouse, and an onsite child ‘entertainer’.
If you’re looking for another place with an outdoor play area, you might be satisfied with the traditional German offerings at Paulaner (150 Fenyang Rd, 6474 5700). Paulaner also offers a free buffet for kids on weekends along with entertainment.
Not far away in the western end of the former French Concession, families appreciate Keven Café (525 Hengshan Rd, 6433 5564) for its outside seating and lunch set including great burgers.
Kids also especially enjoy watching crêpes made and can eat healthy food at La Crêperie (1 Taojiang Rd, 5465 9055), where child seats and crayons are available.
Parents enjoy tasty café fare while their kids eat from a children’s menu and have free rein in the courtyard down Fergusson Lane (376 Wukang Rd) at Coffee Tree (6466 0361). Another favorite stop for a quick lunch is Ginger (down the lane at 299 Fuxing W. Rd, 6433 9437). Both welcome children, have high chairs and will supply crayons and perhaps a few books.
For Sunday brunch in the west end, consider Café Li in the oasis of the Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel complex. Featuring a smaller buffet spread than the larger downtown hotels, it is also less overwhelming. Parents can enjoy a glass of champagne and an elegant array of dishes while their kids eat at high chairs from a children’s menu or from the buffet at a discount price.
Afterward, the kids can play in the recreation area upstairs (including bowling) or air out on the green lawn. Babysitting can also be arranged in advance.
