Delicious...oh, and you won't see your kids.
Where I grew up in central Illinois (way, WAY outside of Chicago) there was no such thing as "brunch" - late breakfast or early lunch, but no one brunched. Later I moved to San Francisco, where everyone "does" brunch. Brunch in the Bay Area means queuing, Bloody Marys in hand while you wait for your table at the hippest neighborhood pancake joint.
Brunch in Asia is a whole new ballgame. It's big and happening and everyone plans things around Sunday family brunches that are put on lavishly at every hotel from Shanghai to Singapore and back. These fancy hotels try to top each other with ridiculous gimmicks: free-flow Champagne, caviar with every course, table-side cooking, oysters flown in from the farthest reaches of the globe. But I have just experienced a little ecstasy that no other brunch has ever offered me: fabulous food and the disappearance of my children.
Welcome to the Brunch Scene, InterContinental Shanghai Expo. Easily the best choice of hotels for anyone traveling to Shanghai with a family (riverfront, soccer pitch, beautiful garden, playground, fabulous pool), it currently holds the choicest table for anyone who wants to have a leisurely brunch while having their kids totally entertained.
InterContinental Shanghai Expo's Café 1188 has teamed up with Awesome Kids Club to create a fully staffed kids' club that runs the duration of the brunch (Sundays 12:30-3:30pm). Get the kids fed and they'll be off to play sports, games or do artistic activities in the garden area of the hotel while you and friends enjoy the hotel's gorgeous food offerings.
Book now, kids under 11 accompanied by 2 adults eat free this month.
Details: InterContinental Shanghai Expo | 1188 Xueye Road, Pudong, Shanghai | 浦东新区雪野路1188号 | tel +86 21 3858 1188 | Brunch: 348+15% service charge for adults, beverage on consumption. Children aged 4-12 will enjoy 50% discount on the price and children under 4 years old eat free.
Photos: above - the seafood bar at Cafe 1188 (courtesy of IHG group, all rights reserved); below - Coach Michael at the Awesome Kids Club on the InterContinental Shanghai Expo's lawn (© 2012 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com).
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