Cafe Party Theme

A cafe party is a perfect party theme for a young teenager or for kids who want something a bit more grown up. And don't worry if you can't cook as ready made meals and takeaways will be just fine for this party.

--- Cafe Party ---

Cafe Party Invitations

Write the invitation on a homemade menu or paint the details onto mini chalk boards. Or how about writing them on fancy paper napkins and then placing them in a pretty napkin ring.

Your invitations could go something like this:

Cafe Party Costumes

Have the guests dress in a style appropriate to the sort of café/restaurant. So for example for a French café the kids could wear berets; for a pizza parlor the kids could wear causal or for a smart restaurant have the kids come in skirt/dress for the girls and a tie/bow tie for the boys.

How about the adults dressing up as waiters and waitresses. The younger teens always love this.

Where to buy costumes

Cafe Party Decorations

Decorate according to the type of café or restaurant that you are setting up. So for a French café you could have French flags and posters topped with French café style music or for a pizza parlor you could decorate with lots of funky colors and posters.

And how about a CD juke box – very cool!

Think about the seating and table arrangements. Decide whether you want individual tables, one large table or maybe a buffet or even picnic style.

Set up a large chalk board with the menu written on it or prepare individual table menus

If you are not sure what to do, decorate by following a color theme such as black and white or shades of pink.

Remember the music. Again go with what matches the theme or maybe just choose what the kids like.

Also don't forget the lighting and the ambiance you want to create – bright and bold for a pizza parlor maybe and subtle and warm for a smart restaurant.

Find lots of cafe party decorating ideas at the stores below:

Cafe Party Supplies

UK Suppliers

Party Delights - They have a great TEEN section so my top pick for this party.

PartyBox - Also worth a check for the decorations.

Jokers Masquerade - Some great bargains to be found, so get on down there...

Fancy Dress Outfitters - Another of my favorite costume suppliers. Lots of unusual costume accessories.

US Suppliers

Birthday Express - Superb place to browse and to buy lots of unusual party items for all ages.

Shindigz.com - Brilliant for wall decorations. My favorite is the 1950's Diner.

Makesparties - My number one site for value. Lots of choice for all ages from babies to adults so perfect for a cafe party.

Birthday in a Box - Although this site caters more for the pre-teens there are some superb decorations so have a look anyway. Check out the banners and personalized invites especially.

Buy Costumes - Definitely the creme de la creme when it comes to costumes. If they haven't got what you are after then you would be hard pushed to find it elsewhere.

Cafe Party Food

The food you serve will obviously be dictated by your restaurant or café theme. How about:

Chef Standee Menu Board

• American Diner- Burgers, fries, shakes and sodas.
• French Cafe - Carafes of juice, fancy pastries.
• Pizza Parlor - Pizza obviously!, salad bar, sodas and milk shakes.
• Ice cream Parlor - Ice-cream bar, knicker bocker glories, fancy ice-creams topped with cream and fruit, build your own ice cream.
• Smart Restaurant - Canapés, three course meal, fruit cocktails.
• Menu Cake - Prepare a square cake using a packet cake mix or my all-in-one cake recipe. Frost with white frosting and then write on the menu with frosting tubes.

More Kids Party Food Ideas

Cafe cups, plates and tableware

Cafe Party Activities

It is nice sometimes to have a few activities for the guests to do especially if there is some time waiting for guests to arrive or food to be served. Here are a couple of poplular cafe party activities:

• Napkin decorating - Give each guest a large plain colored napkin and lots of fabric paints. Have fun making their own personalized napkin.
• Napkin Ring - Buy plain wooden napkin rings and have the kids decorate them with stickers and marker pens.

Cafe Party Games

• Food Find
  Blindfold the kids and give them a food item to taste. They get a point for guessing what it is. Person with the most points wins
• Amazing Appetizers
  Have the kids guess the ingredients of certain appetizers and from what country they come.
• Shopping List
  Show the kids a shopping list with at least 20 ingredients on it. Let them study it for 3 minutes then take it away. See who can remember the most items.
• Perfect Platter
  Give the kids a variety of ready prepared foods such as raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, crackers and cheese cubes etc. Each kid or team has to create a perfect platter. Give prizes for categories such as pretties, scariest, funniest, and imaginative and so on.
• Silly Serviettes
  In advance show the guests how to fold a serviette into a particular shape. Then see if they can do it by themselves.
• Menu Muddle
  Create a menu and then for each item, muddle up the letters. See who can be the first to 'un-muddle' it.
• Table Treasure Hunt
  Give the kids a list of items that they need to find in order to lay their restaurant table. Have them rush round the house or garden to find the items and then they need to lay their table. Once done they need to sit down and ring a bell (one of the items). First one to finish and to do it correctly wins.

Cafe Party Favors and Prizes

• A roll of refrigerator cookie dough for the guests to use at home
• Small recipe books
• Notepads and pens
• Small cup, glass or mug on which you have painted the restaurant name with glass or ceramic paint.
• Candies and treats wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon.

LED Hurricane Cup

Personalized Candy Bar

Blinking Rose

Long Fishnet Gloves

More Cafe Party Supplies

Cafe Party Resources

More Party Themes for ages 5-12 years

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