Life is full of small pleasures: for many, one such pleasure is taking their family out for a meal/snack/treat, having a jolly good knees up in a warm atmosphere surrounded by their loved ones. Here are some of Beijing’s more family friendly eateries.

Cold Stone Creamery 酷圣石

Cold Stone Creamery is a place to take your little angels when they deserve a treat. This popular American chain of ice-cream parlours is the perfect place to get some of that good old fashioned comfort food, just like back home. Children will like the dazzling array of colourful ice-creams and milkshakes with all options of cones (waffle and chocolate waffle) and toppings. What’s more they can design their own custom made dessert and watch it being made before their very eyes; folded and patted on the cold slab which is presumably the parlours name-sake.

The ice-cream is top quality and up to the standards required of any dessert junkie; richer flavours such as Oreo Overload are so sweet that they can make your teeth itch with sugary sweetness. More health conscious parents will be glad to know that there are healthier options with sorbet and fruit toppings. Prices of a small cone at 28 RMB a trip to Cold Stone won’t break the bank unless you and your offspring have an incredibly sweet tooth and you are hell bent on pigging out to the extreme.

Website: www.coldstonecreamery.com

Add: B1, China World Tower 1, No. 1 Jianguomen Wai, Chaoyang District, Beijing

地址: 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸1座B1层

Tel: 010 6505 8588

Add: B1-25, Joy City, Xicheng District, Beijing

地址: 北京市西城区西单大悦城B1-25号店铺

Tel: 010 5971 6399

Add: Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

地址: 北京市朝阳区朝阳公园西路1号C1-2a店铺

Tel: 010 5905 6058

Opening hours: 10:00-21:00

Add: Yansha Outlets Tower C 1016, No. 9, Dong Sihuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing

地址: 东四环南路9号燕莎奥特莱斯购物中心二期C座1016店铺

Tel: 010 8738 3266, 8738-3160

Add: The Gate Tower M, No. 19, Zhongguancun Da Jie, Haidian District, Beijing

地址: 中关村大街19号新中关购物中心M层

Tel: 010 8248 6368, 8248-6358