Best of both worlds at Smiley Playland Cafe

Smiley Playland Cafe is located next to Ming Yang Supermarket along Isa Drive in DanDan. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Smiley Playland Cafe gives the best of both worlds—a relaxing place for parents to kick back and enjoy a smoothie and a snack and a kids playground for their children to exhaust their unbridled energy. 

Owner Liming Xu said they opened Smiley Playland Cafe last September as a family-friendly café and play area that offers a unique experience for both children and parents.

“Our goal was to create a safe and fun environment for families to spend quality time together, while also providing delicious food and drinks for everyone to enjoy,” he said.

Smiley Playland Cafe’s hot pressed sandwich, hotdog, and customized drink. (MARK RABAGO)

Smiley Playland Cafe is a one-of-a-kind café and play area that offers a variety of exciting activities for children, including a play structure, ball pit, and trampoline area. 

“We also have a separate area for toddlers and infants, as well as a designated seating area for parents to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee/drinks or a meal. In addition to our playland and café, we offer some unique features that set us apart from other kids cafes and playgrounds on the island,” said Xu.

Smiley Playland Cafe’s automatic cotton candy machine churns out fluffy, delicious cotton candy with just a touch of a button. (MARK RABAGO)

These include an automatic cotton candy machine that creates fluffy, delicious cotton candy with just the touch of a button. 

Smiley Playland Cafe also has an instant icy cold drink machine that serves up refreshing slushy beverages to help beat the tropical heat. 

To top it off they also have an image-capturing machine that directly “prints” a photo of you or your loved one on the top of your favorite drink.

“These machines are always a hit with our young customers and add to the overall fun and excitement of the Smiley Playland Cafe experience,” said Xu.

Asked why open a business during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S.-educated Xu said Smiley Playland Cafe simply fills a need in the island community

“We decided to open our business during the pandemic because we saw a need for a safe and fun environment for families to spend time together. We also wanted to support our local community by providing employment opportunities during a challenging time.”

The Northern Marianas College alumnus did admit that operating a business during the pandemic does come with its own set of challenges.

“The pandemic has certainly affected our operations, but we’ve taken every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. We’ve implemented strict cleaning and sanitization protocols, as well as limited capacity and social distancing measures.”

As for promotions, Xu said for $50 worth of coupons,  customers will get a free entrance fee at their indoor playground. They also have a loyalty program for regular customers, where they can earn points and receive free entrances/drinks on future visits.

He also invited young parents on the island to try out Smiley Playland Cafe and promised they won’t regret it.

“What sets Smiley Playland Cafe apart from other kids cafes and playgrounds on the island is our commitment to providing a safe, clean environment, and comfortable spaces, as well as our focus on offering high-quality food and drinks. And of course our staff is dedicated to making customers feel welcome and comfortable.”

Smiley Cafe Playland is also an ideal venue for hosting parties, as it offers comfortable seating and setup areas that can accommodate up to 50 people. Plus, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, as there are plenty of spaces available. Additionally, you’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks to the party.

Smiley Playland Cafe recently became a partner in the Northern Marianas College’s ProaPerks Program. 

This program allows all NMC employees, students, and alumni to receive a 10% discount on their drinks menu.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this exclusive discount to the NMC community and look forward to welcoming them to our café and playland,” said Xu.

Smiley Playland Cafe is open seven days a week, 11am-8pm, from Monday to Thursday, and 11am-9pm, from Friday to Sunday. Regular entrance fee to the playground is $10  for two hours and $5 for children 1 year and below. Customers can reach them at (670-234-0888) or on Facebook or Instagram for more information.