From a secret supper club to indoor climbing, check out these creative birthday ideas for adults
Another year has passed and you want to gather your friends together to celebrate—where do you go for your birthday in Boston? You can always have a fun time at one of the best cocktail bars in Boston, the best nightclubs in Boston, or the best restaurants in Boston. But if you’re looking for a party with more pizzazz, think outside the box. We’re talking about active parties, a party with a view, dinner with a spectacle, and more. Get creative with these Boston birthday party ideas. After a night out celebrating, check out our list of the best brunches in Boston to recuperate and share pics from your fab party the night before.
When you’ve opted to celebrate with your nearest and dearest foodies—no gluten-free/vegan/Paleo pushers, please—the chef’s table at Alden & Harlow can accommodate. Chef Michael Scelfo and his culinary team will whip up a prix-fixe, four-course family-style meal (customized by ingredient or theme) for up to four diners.
Your friendly neighborhood wine store gets even friendlier with Urban Affairs, its private wine-tasting division. Two-hour, in-home tasting events can accommodate up to 50 of your fellow winos—or beer geeks or sake savants; simply pick your poison. The team can also pair up with a local restaurant to cater the affair.
Relive your youth with throwback arcade games supplemented by grilled cheese and adult beverages? The forces behind Area Four operate this speakeasy arcade filled with ‘80s classics (Galaga, Ms. Pacman). The distinctly grownup cocktail menu impresses, as does the selection of local craft brews.
Bridal spa days are silently stressful affairs, during which ladies-in-waiting downplay their needs to focus on an often-frazzled bride’s. A birthday beauty bacchanal, however, is another matter entirely. At Exhale Spa, private groups can book multiple treatments—mani/pedis, facials, massages—as well as a private yoga or core fusion class, and enjoy healthy seeming yet indulgent munchies like chocolate-covered strawberries on the way to Zenville.
What was once a charming wine shop and takeout spot is now your new favorite party venue. The 48-seat Tasting Room at Sip can execute every kind of culinary-themed event, from a sushi rolling class to a sommelier-led wine tasting.
Head to Encore Boston Harbor for a full slate of birthday-worthy activities. From gambling to nightclubs to celebratory restaurants and lounges, Encore has it all. Looking to make it extra? Book some rooms, start with a luxurious spa treatment, party all night, then wrap things up with brunch and a waterfront stroll the next day.
Prove you're still spry by gathering your friends for a day of indoor climbing. Ascend to new heights on 25,000 feet of climbing terrain. It's easy to get started with a few friends. For a group of nine or more, opt for a private event. After you've climbed to near exhaustion, celebrate with beers ad the adjacent Aeronaut Brewing Company.
Boston’s local brewers are making some of the best beers around, and most have gone all-out to create a fun, welcoming environment for enjoying their wares. Check out this list of the best breweries in Boston for potential party spots where you can gather your friends for great beer and good times. Many of the breweries have outdoor seating, food trucks, entertainment and more.
How about a party with a view? Boston's buzziest rooftop bars are perfect for a birthday gathering (weather permitting). Take your birthday to a higher level with cocktails and bites at one of the best rooftop bars in the city.
Chef Andy Husbands has invested more than two decades of barbecue practice and planning, in the process becoming a world champion pitmaster and author. For a meat-centric birthday, arrange for the Pit Master spread and you'll enjoy a family style feast that includes a selection of meats and sides. Supplement with selections from the list of more than 200 whiskies or an excellent selection of craft beers.
This buzzy Central Square spot serving Japanese and Spanish inspired dishes is sleek and fun, with a birthday-worthy vibe. If you've got ten or more friends who are really into pork, reserve the indulgent suckling pig roast, served with four sides. If not, Pagu is still a good choice, with inventive dishes like ikura avocado toast, chef Tracy Chang's famed Guchi's Midnight Ramen, squid ink oyster bao, curry crab croquetas, and even a tasty vegan menu.
A velvet-roped entrance. A candlelit stairwell. A subterranean waiting area. A private dining hall that can only be accessed via secret password—through a mail slot, no less. The chandeliered room hidden beneath the Fairmont Copley Plaza can seat up to 35 guests for a private, five-course menu with wine pairings at a crystal-and-silver appointed table.
This Seaport stalwart hosts celebratory groups and corporate types for festive cocktails and a crowd-pleasing, pan-Asian menu of familiar favorites. The restaurant is exceptionally group-friendly, and perfect for a birthday dinner. Large format cocktails, champagne by the bottle, inventive sushi rolls, shareable dishes, and a swanky vibe set the stage for a memorable party.
You might need several celebratory cocktails to get started, but once everyone is warmed up, karaoke can make for a very memorable birthday party. Boston boasts lots of bars and restaurants that have weekly or even nightly sing-along sessions where patrons show-off their vocal and performance skills, or make complete fools of themselves. Check out our list to find the perfect fit.
Milestone birthdays can be tough—cure what ales during a private beer-making session in Newton or the Seaport District at Hopsters Brew & Boards. Revelers can choose from 30 different recipes, then toast their newfound brewing knowledge over craft suds and charcuterie. While the beer ferments over the next few weeks, your posse can design a customized label.
Tucked inside one of the city’s best bars is one of the city’s great private spaces, decked out like an elite brownstone den. Keep costs down with one signature cocktail and a cash bar, or party like a Brahmin with a private scotch tasting.
