The best birthday party ideas in Miami to celebrate your big day

Unlike Miami’s sketchy public transport system, Miami Brew Bus is punctual, air-conditioned, smells great and will get you to and from some of the city’s top breweries safely. Hitch a ride on one of three routes and spend your afternoon taking guided brewery tours and tasting locally made beer at places such as Wynwood Brewing and J. Wakefield. Your ticket price includes the ride, snacks, beer and discounts at every stop. Plus, private tours are available for large groups.

Bagatelle’s Sunday brunches are the reason people call in sick to work on Monday: You need more than 24 hours to recover from drinking magnums of rosé and dancing on tables. Make sure to arrive early if you plan to eat, which you should because dishes like the eggs Benedict and the big, drippy burger are spectacular and necessary to rally through. Your friends might hate you on Monday but that’s only after they’ve spent hours drunkenly embracing you for the best birthday ever.   

The most fun you’ll have at a dinner show is at Mai-Kai, South Florida’s only true tiki bar. Around since the mid-’50s, the kitschy restaurant puts on full Polynesian performances and serves an extensive menu of tasty South Pacific eats. The cocktails are sweet, eye-catching and deceptively strong. Make sure to reserve ahead for a table near the stage and mention you’re celebrating a birthday when you book for a special shoutout during the show. 

Every Thursday night, Marion’s charming bistro turns into a French nightclub of sorts. Sure, dinner is served—from steak frites and roasted vegetables to a delicious burger—but the main attraction is what happens during and after dessert. Order the Marion sweet experience and receive a platter of assorted confections topped with so many sparklers. Things only escalate from there, as more sparklers find their way onto champagne bottles and plates are cleared to make room for dancing. 

Brunch is a fine way to celebrate your birthday, but if you’re in the mood for more than day drinking and a nap, head to the Strand for its monthly beach and brunch event. On the first Sunday of each month, the restaurant hosts a special $65 brunch, which includes a cocktail, beach access and a lounger once you’re done with your meal. Plus, valet is just $10, giving you more reason to make a full day out of your two-hour late breakfast.

If you hate being the center of attention on your birthday, escaping to the Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach is how you want to celebrate. Check in, slip into a robe and slippers and forget the outside world exists for the next few hours. Carve out some time after your treatment for water therapies like thermal baths and a rain shower. Pools are co-ed—the more, the merrier.

Dinner and a movie? Not in a takeout container and not on your couch if it’s your birthday. Experience your favorite date-night combo at CMX Cinemas, where a full bar, plush, reclinable seats and a tasty menu await, plus a selection of just-released flicks.  

Once you’ve eaten your body weight in dumplings, poké and Peking duck—and primed the well with frozen beer and boxed sake—it’s time to burn it off with a karaoke sesh. Book ahead to snag 1-800 Lucky’s only room and pay between $10 to $15 an hour to sing your favorite songs in private. It’s like celebrating in your living room only with much better food and drinks.

When in Miami, you salsa dance. And if it’s your birthday, you bust a move at Ball & Chain, where talented dancers keep pace while a jazz band plays or a well-known DJ spins all night long. Spring for a group pineapple cocktail, featuring a hollowed fruit filled with a delicious rum concoction that arrives at your table in a sparkling blaze. 

Looking to drink but somehow stay sober on your birthday? It's not the conundrum you might think it is thanks to Cycle Party, the bar on wheels that makes its way throughout Wynwood. On this special, two-hour pub crawl, you'll pedal to various watering holes receiving a free drink at each spot. Music, fun and a souvenir cup are all included.  

South Pointe Park is already pretty fabulous, now couple the scenic views of the southernmost point in South Beach with the irresistible claws from Joe’s Take Away and you’ve got yourself an enviable birthday spread. Stock up on fresh seafood, Joe’s famed fried chicken and a slice or two of key lime pie before making your way to a shady patch of grass at the park to mark another year of life. 

Birthdays can be stressful, especially when you're trying to wrangle a motley group of friends to celebrate. Stop worrying and invite everyone to Basement, where you can bowl, ice skate and dance. The underground hot spot boasts a full bar and features a killer roster of DJs—no room for party poopers here. 

You father’s driving range got a makeover for the 21st century—cocktails, music and a chill vibe suited for your next low-key birthday party. Gather your friends, reserve a bay area and tee off while you laugh at how truly terrible you all are at golf.