Party Down(town): Where to Throw a Birthday Party in Lower Manhattan

Figuring out where to have an adult birthday party can be the hardest part of having a birthday (yes, even worse than the reminder of one’s mortality). Do you opt for a park, where your guests might melt into a puddle of goo in the heat before the champagne is even popped? Or do you cram 50 people into your apartment and spend the rest of the weekend cleaning up after them? The best solution, often, is to just outsource it. Lower Manhattan has plenty of places with open space, back rooms and lush (air-conditioned!) amenities where you can host your next birthday, without having to worry that someone’s going to step on your cat. Here are some of our best picks for birthday venues in the district:

Have an air-conditioned lawn party

Lawn games in the park are fun and all, but then there are the logistics to worry about: Who’s bringing the cooler? Who’s going on the beer run? Did someone remember the game equipment? Oh god, where are the bathrooms? Enter Lawn Club (1 Fulton St.), a sprawling 25,000-square-foot “leisure headquarters” in the heart of the Seaport. Patrons can choose from an all-star selection of lawn games such as ladderball, bocce, cornhole, kan jam and “beersbee,” where players try to knock a wooden beer bottle off a pole. It’s a great spot to gather a crew, play some games, put a (professional) game on your personal lawn’s TV and kick back without worrying about any inclement weather. The club has a VIP area and can book private events for 12 to 600. Outside cakes are permitted with a small cutting fee.

Beers for everyone!

While Clinton Hall (90 Washington St.) has an indoor area with communal tables and board games, its sprawling outdoor area provides lots of room for partying. It’s filled with TVs, games and some heat lamps to stave off a chill in the less-hot months. The bar offers 19 craft beers on tap and a lengthy assortment of cans, which you can pair with some hefty food options that include a donut grilled cheese and a fondue burger. All of it is a great precursor to Clinton Hall’s biggest birthday treat: the Birthday Cake WTF Waffle, containing Belgian waffles, vanilla ice cream, raspberry sherbert, rainbow sprinkles, sugar cone, strawberry sauce, lollipops and whipped cream all on on a bed of assorted candy, topped with a slice of birthday cake. Book your event here, and maybe book a dentist appointment, too.  

Celebrate the best day of your year at the ‘world’s best bar’

The Dead Rabbit (30 Water St.) has been named the world’s best bar by an international magazine, but you didn’t need to know that to know it makes a great venue for gathering your gang together. In fact, the pub is actually named after the infamous 19th century Irish-American street gang portrayed in “The Gangs of New York.” The Dead Rabbit has several options for private event space, including a back room that can fit up to 100. Book a room on its site here; you can bring your own cake too, for a per-person cake-cutting fee. 

Party like a kid at the local adult arcade

Beer halls have a lot going for them in terms of birthday party venues, not the least of which is that they’re usually kid-friendly, so no one needs to get a babysitter. Treadwell Park runs a broad gamut of attractions that appeals to partiers of all ages, including kids and the kid inside of you that never got to have a sweet arcade party. The bar (301 South End Ave.) comes with an extensive beer list and pub-fare menu. But it’s also loaded with lots of games: pinball tables, Big Buck Hunter, a whole arcade game room, plus a popcorn machine to boot. Get in touch here to talk about reserving space for your guests, little ones included. 

Get down like Gatsby at sea

Not everything about Jay Gatsby’s life was admirable, but the dude knew how to throw a party. You can channel some of that energy by hosting a private party on the Shearwater by Manhattan Sail, a sailboat described as an intimate yachting experience aboard a “stately yacht of yesteryear.” The yesteryear in question here is the Roaring ‘20s, experienced aboard this restored 1929 sailing ship, which was the height of luxury at its time. Booking a private birthday boat can come with onboard catering, a full bar on the boat and a bar in the indoor cabin as well. Channel that flapper energy into the 2020s as you sail around the Statue of Liberty and take in the skyline. More details and booking information here.

Drag your friends to brunch

A drag brunch solves a lot of the needs for a hit birthday party in one location: food, entertainment and plenty of drinks. Toro Loco (15 Stone St.) offers all three at a hit drag brunch every Sunday. During the hour-long show, the performers sing and dance around (and on) the bar; the bar pairs the performance with 90 minutes worth of bottomless brunch cocktails, so you and all your friends can enjoy margaritas, mimosas, Bloody Marys, Tecates and more in honor of your special day. See the full brunch menu here, and make sure to contact the bar if you’re bringing a large party in for the drag fun.  

photo: iStock