Organizing the little ones’ birthday parties can be challenging. The bar is set high with colorful Pinterest boards flooding our feeds and of course, there’s also pressure to make sure everything is perfect. To make things a little easier, we’ve gathered a few tips to help plan your funny, loving and spirited child’s birthday party! Friendly reminder: have some fun and this is the perfect chance to let your inner child out!
– Venue –
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GRAND COLOANE RESORT
(See featured image)
- If you’re celebrating a birthday during the summer, Grand Coloane Resort might be the perfect venue for you. There is plenty of garden lawn to hop around and run freely, a bouncy castle for nonstop bouncing and the staff can also organize some kids’ games and activities like a sack race or giant pizza making station. Grand Coloane Resort offers birthday parties packages that include a pre-selected menu, soft beverages, and fun activities, starting at MOP $358 per adult and MOP $179 per child.
Grand Coloane Resort 1918 Estrada de Hac Sá, Coloane, +853 2887 1111 www.grandcoloane.com
GRAND RESORT DECK AT GALAXY MACAU
If your little one loves the water then a pool party is in order. Galaxy Macau’s Kids Aquatic Play Zone includes spray loops, a splash tower, the splash mountain, an aqua dome, and foaming geysers. Need we say more? The staff will reserve a specific area for cake cutting upon request, depending on availability. Celebrating at Galaxy Macau’s aquatic play zone will have the kids thrilled and wonderful memories will be made. The Grand Resort Deck Day Pass Family Package is for two adults and two children aged six and below which includes the entrance fee, 12 hours of free self-parking, various discounts from eateries and entertainment outlets and more, all from MOP $988. For more information, check their website.
Galaxy Macau Estrada da Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, s/n, Cotai, +853 2888 0888, www.galaxymacau.com
QUBE KINGDOM
An inescapable play zone in town, Qube Kingdom remains one of the most popular places to throw a party. Set at The Parisian Macao, this 20,000 square feet playground covers an indoor and outdoor area, making it perfect for any kind of celebration during the year. Qube Kingdom provides birthday party packages that may include party room, buffet sets, popcorns, soda drinks, and party favors, starting at MOP $3,288 for 10 adults and 10 kids (for two hours); and all party guests can enjoy free parking. For more information on their party promotions and prices, call +853 8111 1288 or email [email protected].
The Parisian Macao Estrada do Istmo, Lote 3, Cotai, +853 2882 8833, www.parisianmacao.com
SEAC PAI VAN PARK
If you relate to the less is more kind of philosophy, why not go for a simple, unpretentious celebration at the park? Playing at the park is such an important part of growing up in Macau, celebrating at one would only be appropriate. On top of that, planning, setup, and cleanup would be easy and simple. Set the table with the kids’ favorite treats at the shaded picnic area, bring along a few balloons with your child’s most loved characters and let the party begin!
Seac Pai Van Park Estrada de Seac Pai Van, Coloane, Macau, +853 2839 9317, nature.iam.gov.mo
– BIRTHDAY CAKE –
Wisely said by American chef Julia Child, a party without cake is just a meeting and we couldn’t agree more! On B-Day, a cake that is both delicious and an edible work of art would be needed, its design usually aligning with your party theme. Singing “Happy Birthday” followed by a slice of cake is the highlight of any birthday celebration. Ever noticed how all the kids gather around the table excitedly anticipating their share of the cake? That’s pure birthday cake magic. Scroll down for the best places to get delicious cakes in Macau!
Grand Lapa Macau
Freshly baked in-house by their pastry team, cakes from Grand Lapa Macau’s The Cake Shop are consistently divine and deliver the tastefulness of homemade cakes while still being delicate and highly pleasing to the eye. Besides the vast choice of pastries available, The Cake Shop will also adjust the weight of any cake from their menu according to your needs. Their Blueberry New York Cheesecake is definitely one of the best ones you’ll ever have, at just MOP $230. For more delectable cakes, check out the mouthwatering menu on their website.
Grand Lapa Macau 956-1110 Avenida da Amizade, Macau, +853 2856 7888 www.grandlapa.com
Mandarin Oriental, Macau
One thing we know is Mandarin Oriental, Macau holds really high standards, so it does not come as a surprise that their handcrafted cakes, available at The Mandarin Cake Shop, are absolute perfection. Created by Executive Pastry Chef Sebastien Bernis and his team, the menu resembles dessert heaven and any of their offerings will please kids and adults alike. Their best-sellers are the napoleon, made with caramelized puff pastry garnished with custard cream and fresh fruits, at MOP $ 328 for a one-pound cake and the strawberry cheesecake at MOP $328 for a one-pound cake. Check out their website for the cake menu and remember to book early to secure your chosen cake!
Mandarin Oriental, Macau 945 Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau, +853 8805 8888, www.mandarinoriental.com/macau
Photo credit: Planeta de Açúcar
Planeta de Açúcar
Score an award-winning cake by cake designer Dídia Dias, winner of three Gold Awards at Cake International. There’s actually no limit to what you can request in order to get a fully customized cake for your little one. Planeta de Açúcar, will surely deliver a handcrafted, top-grade design, and most importantly, delicious cake. Dídia usually suggests the cocoa or vanilla cake that you can then have filled with chocolate ganache (milk, dark or white) and/or Italian meringue buttercream (chocolate or vanilla bean flavored) but will happily personalize the cake according to your little one’s taste. For customized special orders, customers are advised to place the order one week in advance. Gluten-free and vegan options are also available. Prices start at MOP $50 per serving (one serving per guest). For inquiries, email them at [email protected].
Planeta de Açúcar www.facebook.com
Photo credit: My Art: Sweets
My Art: Sweets
Experienced chef Carina Ribeiro brings us personalized, toothsome and beautiful creations at My Art: Sweets, a popular cake spot amongst Macau moms. Chef Carina’s design cakes are consistently tasty and will please the eye as much as the mouth. Customers are able to customize the cake’s design according to their child’s favorite characters. Customized orders should be placed one to two weeks in advance. Available flavors include chocolate, the classic sponge cake, carrot, orange and more and topping options range from fondant, semi-naked and cream. Extra points for being low sugar and low fat too! Prices start at MOP $550 for a one-kilogram fondant cake, MOP $1,200 for a two-tier cake (three to four kilograms), semi-naked cakes and cream cakes start at MOP $380 for one-kilogram and MOP $480 for a two-kilogram cake.
My Art: Sweets +853 6345 1310, www.facebook.com/MyArtSweets
Photo credit: Oh La La French Patisserie
Oh La La French Patisserie
Oh La La French Patisserie hasn’t been around for long but Irene and Tina have already earned the patisserie quite an admirable reputation. Baking their cakes with a perfect balance between looking and tasting good, they’ll have you exclaiming “Oh la la!”. They are proud to bake very low sugar cakes, sweetening them with natural ingredients and using only quality ingredients. Oh La La’s current bestseller is chocolate hazelnut cake, but their strawberry and vanilla, oreo cookie bomb and black forest cakes remain popular choices. The starting price for a two-tier cake is MOP $608, which feeds about 20 guests. Customers can get a special customized cake but are advised to order one week in advance. For inquiries, do email them at [email protected].
Oh La La French Patisserie +853 6555 3265, www.facebook.com
– CATERING –
Something we’ve learned through a few less successful birthday parties is that you can’t carry everything on your shoulders. Food is a major element of any party, but coming up with a sumptuous table spread involves a lot of time, which could be better spent enjoying the little person you’re celebrating! So why not order some pastries, desserts, and canapes? All you’d have to do would be cutting and plating some fresh fruits and maybe making a big jug of lemonade. Tempting? Here are some crowd-pleaser caterers that are sure to brighten up any party.
Casa de Portugal em Macau
Casa de Portugal presents a long menu of Portuguese specialties and has that “tastes-like-home” food people crave for. Available canapes include beef croquets at MOP $3 per unit, shrimp rissois at MOP $4 per unit, and sausage rolls at MOP $135 per kilogram. Their dessert menu includes many Portuguese staples that will surely delight your guests like chocolate salame at MOP $90 per piece, almond pie at MOP $80 per kilogram or egg pudding at MOP $60 per kilogram. Customers are advised to place their orders two days in advance.
Casa de Portugal em Macau Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva, 28, Macau, +853 2872 6828, www.facebook.com/casadeportugalmacau
Cuppa Coffee milk buns and muffins
Cuppa Coffee
Cuppa Coffee needs no further introduction, the coffee shop and bakery is well known and loved by locals and expats alike. The Portuguese style coffee shop provides a menu that you can pre-order from, ranging from several kinds of bread, quiches and mini pizzas to apple pies, Portuguese tarts, and donuts. Some menu highlights are the mini muffins, at MOP $36 for six, the mini pizza party mix, at MOP $120 and the ham and leek quiche, at MOP $130 f0r a family-sized piece. Vegan options are also made availabe, such as hummus and baba ganoush spreads at MOP $25 and six falafel bites at MOP $40. The great news is that since their team works overnight to bring you freshly baked goods if you place your order before 8:00pm it’ll be ready for pick up or delivery the next day! Deliveries are free of charge if you spend over MOP $300. Do note that during special holidays, orders must be placed two days in advance.
Cuppa Coffee Rua Fernão Mendes Pinto, no. 104, Taipa, +853 2882 5201, www.macaubakery.com
Blissful Carrot
With today’s great emphasis on the importance of healthy nutrition, especially when it comes to children, it’s nice to have some healthier options. At Blissful Carrot, you’ll find gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan options. Their classic carrot cake at MOP $400 for a medium-sized cake is an all-time favorite of the customers, but their pre-order menu is also a star–gluten-free key lime tart at MOP $250, gluten-free coconut pumpkin at MOP $275, gluten-free fudge brownies at MOP $300 for a dozen and gluten-free or vegan banana bread loaf at MOP $250 are all healthy and mouth-watering choices to please kids and grown-ups alike. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance.
The Blissful Carrot 79 Rua Direita Carlos Eugénio, Taipa Village, +853 6298 8433, www.facebook.com/blissfulcarrot
