16 Fun NYC Birthday Ideas For Celebrating In The Big Apple (2024)
Source: Peerspace
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Birthday party venues on Peerspace typically cost $75 — $220 per hour.
Planning to spend your next birthday in the Big Apple, or maybe you know someone else who is? Here’s a variety of NYC birthday ideas (for different ages, budgets, and interests) that’ll make the upcoming milestone a memorable and celebratory one!
You’ll notice that some of these venues are brought to you by Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. Peerspace makes it easy to discover and book amazing event venues in cities across the globe. And as you can imagine, our selection of spaces in New York City is second to none! Without further ado, here’s a list of our favorite NYC birthday ideas, any of which are guaranteed to help you create a memorable night!
1. Sip bubble tea and play games at PARTEA NYC
We’re starting off this list with one of our most unique birthday ideas! At PARTEA NYC—which has locations in Flushing, Queens as well as Manhattan’s Union Square—you don’t have to choose between delicious food and drinks and arcade games. PARTEA NYC is a destination inspired by the night markets of Taiwan, so you’ll feel as though you’re getting away to a totally different location without even leaving New York City.
There’s a massive drink menu with all kinds of bubble tea and other refreshing drinks. You can also munch on snacks like popcorn chicken, fried cuttlefish balls, and oden skewers. Check out their menu for more details about the food options at PARTEA. Not to mention that the chicken sandwich and fries are basically a legend at this point. We can’t think of a better place for gamers and/or foodies to enjoy a birthday celebration.
2. Rent an incredible NYC party venue on Peerspace
One of our top NYC birthday ideas: throw your best birthday party ever at the perfect venue, which you can find using Peerspace! It’s the largest online marketplace for hourly rentals of event venues, creative spaces, and more. You’ll have literally thousands of options to choose from in and near New York City. Whether you’re in search of a cool industrial loft, a historic mansion, or a high-rise apartment with fabulous views of the city, Peerspace probably has what you need.
We’ll provide a few great examples to help you get an idea of what NYC has to offer when it comes to awesome places for a party:
Party it up in a stylish Jamaican penthouse
This penthouse in Jamaica, Queens is one of our favorite party pads in NYC when you want to book a venue with an opulent vibe. It is nearly 500 square feet and provides you with a kitchen, a Bluetooth speaker, photoshoot equipment, and beautiful views.
The penthouse has lots of great reviews, but we’ll quote this one from a renter who held an event here: “I loved the space. It was very homey yet appealing in every angle. I would definitely book again, I hosted my 25th birthday party here and my mom left claiming this is her 50th spot, see you in 3 years or less! Thank you for everything, you should book!”
A colorful Williamsburg loft
Another option, if you’re hoping to find a fun and funky venue in Brooklyn: this colorful loft with amazing light in East Williamsburg. Dream Loft Studios is a corner unit full of fabulous natural light. Designed by influencer Rachel Martino, this space is chock full of “endless photo moments.”
Fans of historic, industrial details will appreciate the exposed pipes, large loft-style windows, hardwood floors, and whitewashed brick. Williamsburg, where it’s located, is also one of the coolest NYC neighborhoods, known for its art and music scenes. So there are tons of great restaurants, shops, and more within walking distance! No wonder the space has dozens of glowing reviews from those who’ve used the space for everything from parties to creative projects.
A chic Upper West Side venue
If you’d rather rent a venue in Manhattan, you’ll have hundreds of spaces to choose from on Peerspace. One of which is this beautiful and tasteful venue on the picturesque Upper West Side. It’s a ground-level, 1,700-square-foot space with 24-foot ceilings (!) and amazing light and ambiance.
It’s also within walking distance of Central Park and Columbus Circle, two of the most important landmarks in the neighborhood. This venue is also a good option for a larger birthday party, as it has the capacity for as many as 60 guests at one time.
“What a fantastic venue – with a separate private room, kitchen area and two large gathering areas,” shares a helpful Peerspace review. “Clean, decorated with lots of art on the walls. And the woman who runs it is responsive and helpful. It will be a go to location for any event now!”
3. Put on a pair of skates at BKLYN SKATES
Here’s an exciting NYC birthday idea: a trip to a real roller rink like BKLYN SKATES! Admission is only $10 per person while renting a pair of skates is just $5, and it’s open on Wednesday and Friday evenings. A Yelp reviewer praised the “strong sense of community” here, commenting that although they’re “not the best skater,” they “didn’t once feel intimidated or judged.”
4. Throw a bowling party at Frames Bowling Lounge
To execute this NYC birthday idea, simply make a reservation on their website and prepare to have a blast. Unlike traditional, cramped bowling alleys, Frames offers a much more chic and sophisticated setting. Spend your birthday going bowling while listening to great music in a comfortable, stylish bowling lounge. It’s definitely a far cry from the dinky little bowling alleys you might have visited before.
5. Watch a movie while enjoying the view from Brooklyn Bridge Park
If your birthday takes place during the height of summer, then consider spending a celebratory Thursday evening at one of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s “Movies with a View” events. For one thing, you get to watch a great movie with friends for free. Plus, you also get to gaze at the incredible Manhattan skyline the whole time. This is one of those NYC birthday ideas in which it’s best to bring a picnic to round out the evening!
Capture every moment of your big day in style using our fabulous birthday photoshoot ideas near NYC as your guide!
6. Play the Game of 1000 Boxes
Here’s how they officially describe themselves: “Part live game show, part audio-visual thrill ride – Game of 1000 Boxes is a brand new social gaming experience in NYC. You and your friends team up IRL for a rollercoaster of high-energy party games that test collective wits, gut instincts, and button-finger agility.” What an ideal bonding experience, and certainly a fun birthday activity for anyone who appreciates a good challenge!
7. Test your archery skills at Gotham Archery
Hone your archery skills at Gotham Archery, a “high ceiling 7,500 square foot facility located in Gowanus, Brooklyn featur[ing] 42 lanes with SpyderWeb backstops, an introductory class & private event space, retail area & pro shop, and an enthusiastic staff ready to assist with all things archery”. A birthday is the perfect excuse to try out an archery intro class and see if you and your friends might want to take it up as a new, extremely cool hobby.
8. Love all things sweet and colorful? Then explore Candytopia
Candytopia’s NYC location has “over a dozen carefully curated and crafted rooms and environments” where you’ll feel like you’re immersed in a real-life Candyland. Kids and adults alike will have an incredible and unique experience at this candy-themed museum. The marshmallow pit, candy zipline, and confetti room are some of the guests’ favorite attractions, but there’s something here for every candy fanatic.
9. Or take a color-themed journey at Color Factory
Another unusual interactive museum experience, Color Factory is located in Soho. It allows visitors to “experience the joy of color through interactive installations, immersive rooms, and carefully curated moments”. Plus, it really is an awesome experience for all ages–so feel free to bring kids along, because they’re sure to love the huge ball pit. However, it still manages to be one of our favorite NYC birthday ideas for adults.
10. Vent some frustration at the Break Bar
Maybe this upcoming birthday is surrounded by some stress or complicated feelings. If so, rather than specifically looking for fun things in NYC, you’re in search of cathartic experiences in NYC. Then skip the conventional celebrations and consider visiting the Break Bar! Here, you can throw back a delicious drink and then smash your glass in the throwing range. Smash away your worries and frustrations—spending it at the Break Bar means your birthday is sure to be a memorable and liberating occasion!
11. Climb the Cliffs at Long Island City
Any athletic person looking for fun things to do in NYC should consider giving climbing a try! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned climber, you’ll get something out of a birthday trip to the Cliffs at Long Island City! They have amenities like a total of more than 350 top rope and boulder problems, a massive lead climbing cave, and a fitness center where they offer yoga classes. If you’ve never climbed before, a visit to the Cliffs may even help you discover that you love climbing. It may leave you with a healthy and invigorating hobby to enjoy regularly!
12. Hang out (and maybe adopt a new friend?) at Brooklyn Cat Cafe
This is by far one of our favorite unique birthday ideas! Cat lovers will adore sipping their favorite hot beverage at Brooklyn Cat Cafe. But the coolest part about this cat cafe is the fact that it’s also a volunteer-run adoption center. You might just end up meeting your newest feline member of the family here!
For more birthday party venue suggestions, discover the best way to find an Airbnb for birthday parties in NYC!
13. Keep it simple and host a picnic in Central Park
Does your birthday happensto fall in the late spring, summer, or early fall? This is when the weather in NYC tends to be more pleasant, making a picnic an ideal way to celebrate your birthday. And having your picnic in Central Park is pretty much a no-brainer, especially if you’re staying/living in Manhattan. Central Park is an incredible oasis in the middle of the city, filled with gorgeous vistas, tons of history, and plenty of current fun and excitement as well. You might just forget you’re in the city for a little while (until you look over and see the iconic NYC skyline in the distance)!
One of the hardest parts about planning your Central Park picnic may be choosing a spot for it. After all, the park has a mind-boggling array of beautiful locations, so how to pick just one?
Options include (but by no means limited to):
- Bethesda Terrace
- The Great Lawn
- Sheep Meadow (named for the sheep that used to graze there until the 1920s!)
- The Conservatory Garden
- The Shakespeare Garden.
Once you’ve chosen a perfect location for your picnic, pack a picnic basket with a delicious and satisfying assortment of all your favorite treats. Need some inspiration that goes beyond sandwiches and bread and cheese? Then check out this list of Martha Stewart’s 12 favorite picnic recipes for some useful inspiration, from zesty lemon bars to potato salad and fried chicken. Yum!
Invite your closest friends, and be sure to bring what you might need for activities you want to do. You can play frisbee or event paint the beautiful view in front of you. Whatever you do, it’ll probably be pretty successful, as Central Park is an unbeatable backdrop for creating lasting memories with your besties.
14. Attend a cooking class for your favorite food or cuisine
A cooking class is not only educational but also incredibly fun, if you’re someone who enjoys cooking! Attending a class where you’ll learn to cook your favorite cuisine—whether that’s French, Ethiopian, Indian, or Japanese (NYC truly has it all)—is also a chance to save money on eating at restaurants and ordering takeout, since you’ll be able to make some of your most beloved dishes at home. Consider it an investment in your skills and abilities!
Let’s say you’re a big fan of baking, especially baking cakes and cookies. A class at NY Cake Academy in Chelsea is a chance to up your game and become an even more skillful and talented baker.
Or maybe you’d like to learn “how the sausage is made”—literally! Dickson’s Farmstand Meats in Chelsea Market offers a class on how to make your own sausages. You’ll learn how to mix up the sausage filling, season it to perfect deliciousness, and then fill your own sausage casing.
Visit the world-renowned Institute of Culinary Education for all kinds of cooking classes, from pasta making to “Cooking 101” (if you’re a true beginner).
Wherever you end up taking a cooking class, it’s a worthwhile way to spend your birthday!
15. Enjoy a craft beer tasting with City Brew Tours NYC
(We’re including this one toward the end of the list because it’s definitely one of the best NYC birthday ideas for adults. So ignore this list item unless you’re 21 or older!)
City Brew Tours NYC offers what they call an Underground Brooklyn Walking Brew Tour. It allows you to sample 12 different craft beers (plus snacks!). You will also stop at three different locations in Brooklyn, all over the course of about three to three and a half hours.
Or maybe you’d be more interested in planning your own beer experience and going for a private brew tour in Brooklyn or Queens, instead. Simply contact City Brew Tours NYC directly and they’ll do everything they can to put together a beer tasting experience that’s tailored to your preferences as well as your budget. These private tours are an ideal fit for birthdays, as well as pretty much any celebratory milestone!
16. Go people-watching in Washington Square Park
NYC is known for its unique residents, which makes it a prime location for people-watching. And Washington Square Park is one of the best places for doing so! The park also happens to be located in one of our favorite NYC neighborhoods—Greenwich Village—and is within walking distance of Hamlet’s Vintage (an awesome retro thrift store), a meditation center called Mndfl, the famous Comedy Cellar comedy club, the equally famous Mamoun’s Falafel, and so much more!
Need a place to relax after your Greenwich Village adventure? Check out some of these amazing Peerspace venues in the neighborhood. You and your pals can put up your feet, relax and regroup, and plan a fantastic night out as the cherry on top of your special day:
A cool downtown loft
This cool downtown loft only a block from Washington Square Park is truly the stuff New York City dreams are made of! Measuring a massive 3,500 square feet, the whole apartment is filled with plants that enjoy the space’s abundance of natural light almost as much as its guests. It’s also amazingly quiet, thanks to the fact that it faces onto a private alley.
The loft contains five bedrooms and two bathrooms and was built in 1870. It also boasts historic architectural features like Corinthian columns, 15-foot exposed beam ceilings, exposed brick, hardwood floors, a fireplace, and more. These features have been preserved through the renovations of avant-garde early 70s architects and a modern renovation in 2017, providing the ideal combo of tasteful modern design and rustic character. There’s even an open chef’s kitchen if you and your friends want to spend a few hours cooking together.
A sweet culinary studio
Looking for a space that would specifically be ideal for cooking, and that’s also a bit more affordable than the last option? Then consider this lovely culinary studio, which is also only a couple blocks from Washington Square Park. It’s a classic Greenwich Village apartment that’s been converted into a culinary studio with two kitchen spaces.
The first is a large “hot kitchen” that contains the apartment’s stove, commercial convection oven, full-size refrigerator, and an eight-foot working table with an enormous wooden cutting board. Its second kitchen is designed for preparing pastries and other cold preparations. It comes with several working tables as well as appliances like stand mixers, food processors, an ice cream maker, a drawer freezer, and more. Finally, so you and your best buds can sit down for a nice dinner together at the end of the day, there’s a dining room adjacent to the smaller kitchen that can seat as many as 16 guests at once.
NYC birthday ideas: conclusion
As you can see, there is no shortage of amazing NYC birthday ideas out there! We hope this list has inspired you to get out there, enjoy the town, and do something new this birthday. And remember, when you want to enjoy a more personalized and private event, book an amazing birthday party venue through Peerspace! Our simple platform makes it easy to connect with stylish and amenity-packed spaces across teh boroughs and beyond.
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