The best birthday party ideas in NYC for adults

Elsewhere is one of the best open-air spots in the city to see a show. It offers food, drinks and music, and party packages are available for groups of 6-10. Though reservations are strongly encouraged, they’re not required. Whether you're there for the drinks and the view or a live show, your birthday is sure to be a memorable one.

This is really sweet way to spend your birthday: Indulging in unlimited ice cream samples at The Museum of Ice Cream in Soho. At this 20,000-square-foot museum, ice cream takes center stage through a variety of multi-sensory installations and photo opps. 

If you want to take the event to the next level, book a birthday bash package where you can personalize the experience for your group.

Filled with hundreds of games, Hex & Co.'s three New York City locations offer some good old-fashioned fun. From Taboo and Risk to Catan and Ticket to Ride, there's a game for everyone here. 

For a party reservation, you can indicate whether you'd like group catering, a private space and even cake cutting. Find Hex & Co. on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and near Union Square.

You might not think beer and axe throwing mix, but it actually makes for a good time. Kick Axe in Brooklyn offers up ample space to throw some sharp things (with help and supervision) and some good suds to keep you cool.

The place even has a birthday offering that includes a drink of your choice and use of its "zombie birthday axe" — just show your ID with a birth date that is within one week of your visit. Happy throwing!

If you have a crew happy to get out of bustling Manhattan, head to the beloved Nowadays for a backyard bash. While you wait for your moment to hit the dance floor, you can grab barbecue at one of the food trucks, sip on tiki drinks, enjoy the sunshine and praise the fact that you’re surrounded actual trees and greenery while partying. 

New York City is a culinary wonderland with some of the best restaurants in the world, amazing bakeries, delicious desserts, fabulous ice cream and the skilled chefs that make them tick. So why would you want to take a cooking class? Because it’s fun! Round up your friends and brush up on your skills, then feast on your creations when you're done.

NYC has plenty of parks where you can chill out and enjoy some fresh air. Take your party to the outdoors with a fanciful picnic with all the trimmings. Grab some takeout or curate the perfect picnic basket for your day out. Don't forget the bubbly!

Drag brunch always promises a raucous party, so it's a perfect spot to celebrate a birthday — especially with New York City as one of the world’s drag capitals.

There's a new website calld See the Queens, which helps New Yorkers discover drag shows, so you can find one that aligns with your birthday festivities.

Want to get away but can't? Take the ferry to Governors Island for the day and it'll offer the same vacation vibes you're looking for (biking, food trucks, art, greenery). 

While Governors Island truly shines during the summertime, it's open year-round with plenty of fun activities fit for a party.

Everyone knows your birthday is as much about you as it is about your friends having fun. So when you suggest a plan, why not shock them with something to spoil everyone.

Among the highlights at this full-service facility are an insane rooftop infinity pool with a view of the Manhattan skyline, a volcanic sand treatment using rare lava sand imported from Japan, and a scorching charcoal sauna. Daily admission prices range between $115 and $145/day. That'll get you unlimited access for the day to all pools, baths, saunas and bath houses.

It's unlikely that you'll come close to covering the whopping eight floors of treatments that this relaxation arena offers, but give it your best, this is sort of like Disneyland for everyone. 

Are you and your friends into the outdoors? Why not take a birthday hike! These hikes near NYC offer picturesque views, varying terrain and a change of scenery. You’ll find hikes that range from easy to challenging, wind through forests and valleys and, most importantly, allow full-on communing with nature. When you're done, celebrate with a drink and some cake.

With a full restaurant, craft cocktails, comfy reclining seats and even more bells and whistles, this new movie theater in Hell's Kitchen elevates the movie-going experience. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas is located in VIA 57 West, the pyramid-shaped building located at West 57th Street and 11th Avenue. 

You can even rent out a theater to have all to your group of up to 40 people. 

Head to Long Island City to sip brews in the sunshine at The Summer Club hotel’s rooftop pool that boasts lounge chairs, cabanas, a 50-by-20-foot pool, full bar and a chandelier. So, yes, you could say it’s a party, especially when the DJ is there spinning tropical tunes.

Your friends will enjoy a bit of relaxation in your honor with a head-to-toe spa treatment. Many of the best spas in NYC offer group packages as well as all-day options where you can chill with champagne and snacks for a blissful birthday celebration.

There's nothing like a party on the water. Athletic types can try kayaking NYC’s rivers, and landlubbers can stick to the city’s prominent waterfront restaurants and boat bars, but if you have any hint of seafaring fun in you, a boat party in NYC is one of the best ways to celebrate a birthday. Open waters, sea breezes and stunning views of Manhattan are all on tap when you embark on a booze cruise in NYC. Oh and did we mention full bars, great food, and live music?

Tight friend groups can handle a full day exploring somewhere new. Broaden your horizons for your birthday by getting out of the city and taking a day trip. From historic cities to quaint towns, there are plenty of day trips that make for a fun day out.

Insa—a Korean food and karaoke joint—is where folks go to celebrate. After sharing a spread of finger-lickin’ Korean BBQ and large-format cocktail bowl with your friends, belt out some karaoke classics. 

Instead of celebrating at a restaurant, make your birthday party a moveable feast with a food tour. Whether you're into pizza, bagels, sweets or dumplings there's a fun food tour in one of NYC's unique neighborhoods just for you.

Relive the glory days of shoving cheese slices in your tweenage piehole at the best pizza joint in Bushwick. The popular spot does not take reservations, but the 'za haven does have a beautiful outdoor dining area where your friends can gather to celebrate you over hot cheesy goodness.

Danny Meyer’s Southern-twanged cocktail lounge is a great spot for some laidback boozing with your pals. You can rent out the joint’s game room (fits 40 souls), which is chock-full of your favorite childhood board games including Life, Yahtzee and darts. For something a bit smaller, reserve the porch (fits 15) for some outdoor drinking.