The best birthday ideas in New York (2023)

Planning to spend your birthday in New York City? If you're absolutely adamant about getting older (and I'm sorry, but there seems to be no getting around it), the concrete jungle that dreams are made of is probably the perfect spot. And thanks to this list of our curated birthday ideas in New York, you're sure to celebrate in style. Here, atplum guide, we go above and beyond to find the perfect spots for your vacation, so follow our expert advice and you're guaranteed to have a trip to remember.

Enjoy a brunch of champions

After waking up in your wonderful Plum Guide NYC home and getting ready for the day, brunch is the order of the day. You can't celebrate your birthday in this city without it - it's New York's favorite meal of the day. Feel like a youngster again (you're welcome) as you dig into a delicious stack of the world-famous pancakes at the Clinton St. Baking Company, or just sit angry and sip black coffee while you watch your kids clock the calories to your heart's content spooning joy. In any case, this is the perfect place for a birthday breakfast.

Other equally delicious brunch alternatives include Sarabeths, Jack's Wife Freda, and Balthazar. Wherever you go, make sure you have a drink with your birthday dinner — remember, you're trying to create a day that will carry you through at least a few months of dinner party entertainment. If you prefer breakfast on the go, grab a classic New York bagel from Tompkins Street Bagels or a pastry and coffee from a local coffee truck and head to the nearest park to eat and people-watch, like the older and wiser Traveler who you are.

Buy a gift (for yourself)

You arealtWise enough to know that self-gifts make the best gifts, so yes, the next of your birthday plans is going to the stores. (Better have your credit card ready). For those who really want to spend some money, head to Saks Fifth Avenue, where the elite of shoppers meet. It's one of the oldest department stores in New York City, dating back to 1867, so you can even excuse yourself for going here for the history rather than the watches, power suits, and leather goods—potato, potahto.

If you prefer independent boutiques when shopping in New York, make your way to Greenwich Village. Don't miss the bookstores Three Lives and Company and Strand Books while reminiscing about your younger days and pretending to be a beat poet (and in case you need a solid reminder – no, that wouldn't have paid the bills). If you are traveling with the little ones, you should definitely stop by Books of Wonder. After half an hour spent circling the children's bookstore, we're guessing it's caffeine time again. If we're right (which we always are), head straight to Caffe Reggio, a local gem of a coffeehouse since 1927. Recharge your batteries with a cappuccino because next, it's time for some culture.

Get your culture in a museum

Today is about growth, as much as you want to relax all day in your luxurious Plum home, you go to the museums. If you're a fan of contemporary art, make your way to the New Museum, Manhattan's only contemporary art museum. Modern and pop art is all about themMoMA, and for those who want to reminisce about the old days where they feel like they were born sometimes, try itthe Met. If any of the above sounds like the kind of plan that will have your kids screaming for an instant out, then this is itThe Natural History Museum is your best bet. Fascinating and fun for the whole family, it's right across from Central Park, where you're headed next.

Enjoy some greenery in Central Park

Just because you're in the city doesn't mean your New York birthday ideas should exclude time in the great outdoors, especially when that little bit of nature is one of Manhattan's top attractions. Central Park stretches for 843 acres, and watching the sunset below the Manhattan skyline from here is one of the spectacles of life's bucket list. Stroll through the park and give your kids a chance to pose for selfies for many magical hours, and relax among the green trees and sparkling lake. Take this moment to slow down and smell the roses because tonight we will be back in party mode and there are no excuses.

Listen to the lullaby of Broadway

A Plum Guide list of birthday ideas in New York wouldn't be complete without a Broadway show, so pick your poison - whether serious drama, slapstick musical, or anything in between - and head to the theater. Arrive a little early so you have time to pose for some birthday photos under the lights of Times Square (only if you must) and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the busiest part of the city.

Enjoy an exquisite birthday dinner

Before or after a night at the theater, there's no better place for a birthday dinner than the Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village. Try the best burger of your life (aka Black Label Burger), sip ice-cold cocktails or share a bottle from the excellent wine list and enjoy the last few hours of partying. Some other great ideas for a pre- or post-theater birthday dinner include Catch for sushi and people-watching, The Grill for an elegant, other-time soiree, and Joe Allen for a family-friendly, classic American menu (which is a Theater District staple). .

Celebrate good times properly

Now that the family bellies are full, take the kids back to your NYC apartment (the fact that your eldest is now old enough to babysit makes you feel extra old, doesn't it?) and go for it getting ready for the adult only night part. For musical theater lovers or karaoke fans, don't miss Marie's Crisis, the ultimate downtown hangout. This historic piano bar attracts a crowd of gay locals and musical theater performers who will be singing, drinking and merry until morning. If you're hoping for something more elegant, the golden age of New York cabaret comes alive nightly at Cafe Carlyle, located in the luxurious Carlyle Hotel. And if you're a jazz fan, look no further than Blue Note, an intimate club where jazz legends take the stage. It will feel like a birthday song.

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