The best kids' birthday party places in Shanghai

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Photograph: courtesy Kerry Adventure Zone

Planning a kids' birthday party is serious business. It's not easy deciding on a venue especially in a city of possibilities like Shanghai, but it doesn't mean that the perfect place can't be found. Whether you're looking for an activity-packed party or a blank canvas to totally customise your tot's birthday, here are some pretty rad venues for kids of all ages.

Recommended: Where to buy cakes for birthdays and special occasions in Shanghai

Sports and games

Snow51

Enormous urban ski and snowboard hub Snow51 is pretty much as close as you’re gonna get to the real deal indoors. Here, kids can hit up the venue’s ‘dry snow’ slopes, rock climb and play with VR goggles to simulate skiing and snowboarding. The space also houses a gondola lift once used in transporting passengers up and down a mountain. For birthday parties, Snow51 staff can help with decorations, as well arrange professional photographers if your iPhone skills just won’t cut it for this over-the-top venue. With a minimum of ten kids, party prices start at 300RMB per person (including one hour of skiing and access to the lounge for cake). Bookings should be made at least two weeks in advance.

1799 Wuzhong Lu

Bund Bowl

With flashing party lights and a full Western restaurant, Bund Bowl is a bowling alley on steroids. Party packages (1,200RMB for up to ten kids under 14 years old) give kids access to their own lane for three hours, along with snacks, soft drinks and a private event room for post-bowling cake.

575 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu

Z&B Fitness

Cue the Frozen soundtrack: boutique fitness studio Z&B’s Zumba birthday parties get kids dancing to a custom playlist. The hour-long class is packed with games and for the big finale, kids will get to perform a choreographed dance for parents. As a sweet touch to wrap things up, the Z&B team will give each party guest a CD with their top Zumba songs to take home.

1219 Changle Lu

Jump 360

At Jump 360, kids get to fly through the air on trampolines, dive into foam pits, race through obstacle courses and more. As part of party packages (recommended for three years and up), kids get access to the massive facilities for four hours, a meal to keep energy levels up and free grip socks.

258 Chang Jiang Lu

Arts and attractions

The Pottery Workshop Shanghai

Have your kid and their friends get their hands dirty with the pros at The Pottery Workshop. The studio has four locations across the country, including one in ceramics capital Jingdezhen where they invite artists from all over the world to complete residencies, but anyone over six years can take classes at the Shanghai workshop. During birthday parties, there’s space for up to ten kids and the studio now has freshly remodelled gallery space that families can decorate and rent by the hour for cake and gifts.

Lane 180 Shaanxi Nan Lu

Craft'd Shanghai

There’s a little something for all artsy kids at this DIY studio in Old Xuhui. With Craft'd birthday packages, staff walk groups through hands-on projects – anything from sewing emoji- or cupcake-shaped pillows to mixing up fresh soaps – that they get to take home with them after the party. The studio has space to accommodate between six and 15 kids, or the Craft’d team can hold activities at other venues or at home.

1F, Building 3, 1288 Fuxing Zhong Lu

Qkuts

QKuts will pamper all the mini divas of Shanghai with fresh hair styling and manicures. The kid-friendly salon can also help parents by decorating its space just to your kid’s taste, whether that’s Hello Kitty, Frozen or Disney princesses. A two-hour spa party costs 2,500RMB, including decorations and hair and nail makeovers for ten people (260RMB per each additional guest). Qkuts has multiple locations across the city, but recommend booking birthdays at its more spacious Hubindao Mall or Kerry Parkside Mall locations.

1378 Huamu Lu

Legoland Discovery Center

Birthday party packages include access to Legoland Discovery Center's whopping 11 themed play areas, entry into the 4D cinema and to a party room with cake and snacks. Each guest also gets an activity card, with missions throughout the space to complete. Three-hour party packages cost 488RMB per person (minimum 15 kids).

196 Daduhe Lu

Museums and classes

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

Gift mini scientists with a trip to the museum where they’ll get to wander through galleries with exhibits that explore the animal kingdom and robots and a playground-like mirror maze. The museum also has IMAX theatres (films largely in Mandarin), as well as live shows and activities where visitors can conduct science experiments. While the venue doesn’t have a dedicated party room, it makes for a great stop for Einsteins-to-be followed by cake and chilling at another destination. Admission costs 45RMB for adults and 22RMB for students (18 years and under, and with valid student ID).

2000 Century Avenue

Kids Museum of Glass

For a day of scientific discovery with young ones, the Kids Museum of Glass should be on every family’s Shanghai bucket list. They also have multiple dedicated event spaces within the museum grounds, making them a standout birthday party venue choice for youngsters. K-Space, the event area adjoining the museum can accommodate up to 60 people if you’re going for a major blowout (from *gulp* 15,000RMB per day, not including museum admission). During parties, museum staff will host activities like glass blowing and sand blasting, and the museum itself houses a glass zoo, a mirror maze and tons of Instagram-worthy art.

685 Changjiang Xi Lu

Blu Bistro

At family-friendly restaurant Blu Bistro, kids can put their kitchen skills to the test with cooking-themed birthday parties. For smaller kids, simple workshops like pizza-making are available or bigger kids can take on cake-making. The restaurant also has outdoor and indoor play areas stocked with toys from kids’ shop Baby International (opened by the same company).

620-1 Huashan Lu

Indoor play spaces

Mini Mars

This indoor play area is equipped with giant ball pits, slides, a sand box and lots of toys, making it an ideal spot for kids’ birthday parties. Birthday packages include customised electronic invitations, banners, balloons and party hats for all guests. Mini Mars also houses a café where parents can have a cuppa while the children run wild in a safe space. Two-hour party packages for ten children start at 3,280RMB, after which, usage of the venue is priced at 1,000RMB per hour and 160RMB for each additional guest.

940 Changde Lu

Little Bugz

Critics' pick

Filled with live plants and natural light, Little Bugz has a forest-themed playroom, complete with a wooden playground set, a reading nook and a mini climbing wall. For refuelling after playing, the venue can accommodate up to 30 of your kid’s closest pals and has various meal packages for birthdays ranging from 2,880RMB for lunch and playtime for ten kids.

285 Jianguo Xi Lu

Kerry Adventure Zone

Adventure Zone is a 700-square-metre indoor playground with more than enough space for kids to run around and play inside two main areas designed for kids of all ages. The place is stocked with ball bits, climbing equipment and cargo nets, but standouts at the venue include two drop slides steep enough they’ll even make parents squeamish and a giant rainbow-coloured slide. As part of Kerry’s birthday party packages, kids get all-day access to Adventure Zone, along with one hour inside a jungle-, circus- or pirate-themed party room (birthday kid’s choice) for cake and presents. Prices cost between 350-430RMB per child (the venue has space for between eight and 20 kids).

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