The best birthday spaces in Brooklyn

Listening bars may be a relatively new trend in the city, but we have a feeling they’re gonna stick around for a while. Inspired by 1950s Tokyo listening bars, Eavesdrop in Greenpoint has a Japandi-style interior that’s designed for sound. Velvet booths and wooden high-top tables are in the Listening Room, and more seats are available at the bar. There are DJ sets on the weekends, and on weekdays they pay special attention to local labels, artists, and record stores. It’s pretty lowkey, and is more for listening than dancing, but is great if you want more of a chill, conversational celebration with friends. Private events can hold up to 36 guests.

Small plates and craft cocktails are inspired by Japanese cuisine, and local craft beers and natural wines are also available. They have two different kinds of cake, too (yuzu ricotta and chocolate olive oil) so you can still have a little something special. And of course, like all cool Brooklyn venues with interesting fonts, they sell merch.

You’re never too old to throw your birthday bash at an ice cream shop. Oddfellows has the classic red-and-white striped aesthetic, with bar stools and chalkboard menus that feel like a cartoon diner. There are 24 flavors to choose from: unique seasonal flavors like saffron passionfruit and miso cherry, as well as classics like vanilla bean and cookies and cream. Flavors are small-batch and changing, so you’ll always have something new to try.

Here’s the kicker: a birthday event includes two hours of all-you-can-eat ice cream, be it in cones or cups, for up to 25 guests. It’s a great option for kids, but you can celebrate as an adult too and bring your own booze, or choose one of the options on tap. Off-site catering is also available: imagine the joy in a child’s eyes when an ice cream truck pulls up in their driveway. You, too, can go back to the good ol’ days.

If you’ve been on NYC Instagram any time between 2017 and now, you know Sunday in Brooklyn. Their photogenic interior and New American cuisine have been a staple for Park Slope millennials and brunching tourists alike. It’s a great birthday venue if you’re looking for an intimate family gathering because it’ll appeal to both your Gen Z cousin and your mimosa-loving grandmother.

The bright farmhouse aesthetic extends throughout each of the three stories in this sundrenched corner building. The top two floors have private dining rooms available to rent: the top-floor room holds 16, the second-floor sunroom holds 50, and the adjoining covered garden has room for 24. You can also rent the outdoor greenhouse for 20, make semi-private reservations for 15 guests and under, or even do a full buyout for 120 seated.

For food, check out their infamous praline pancakes, or venture into the dinner menu after sunset which is prepared by founding chef Jaime Young.

Disappointed that your partner didn’t book that trip to Japan for your birthday? The Last Call feels like a punk rock Tokyo dive bar from the 70s, with vintage film posters, low red lighting, and vinyl banquettes. There’s an intimate outdoor space with lantern string lights, if you need a break from all the dancing, which you’ll be doing a lot of under the glistening disco balls.

There’s a high-fidelity sound system, and DJs spin vinyl on guest spots. Japanese bar food and snacks are the highlight, and they’re known for their yakitori skewers, which the owner spent 14 hours a day over three weeks perfecting in Japan. Pair them with sake, lychee hard seltzer, or a classic Japanese beer.

The Last Call is available to rent for private parties – contact the venue directly for more details.

Sometimes Manhattan can feel too cramped for a home-style birthday dinner party. Head across the East River into Fort Greene – this tree-lined neighborhood is calm and family-friendly, and you’ll scratch that suburban itch without leaving the city. Margot is one of the new kids on Lafayette Street, offering seasonal and collaborative meals that stem from French fare.

The food is experimental in presentation, though it might seem simple at first: butter beans, pappardelle, and rabbit ragu are some current highlights, though it’s a rotating menu. Accompany your meal with a fresh cocktail or natural wine. And yes, of course, they have tote bags.

You can enjoy family-style meals in the light-flooded annex for up to 16 people, or 50 for a full buyout of the restaurant.

Typical of Brooklyn to have a venue that is, on purpose, the size of an average studio apartment – as if life in this city isn’t cramped enough. To be fair, the vibes of Please Tell Me make up for it. Potted ferns hang from the ceiling, funky furniture lines the space, and ambient lighting comes on after hours. Yes, it’s reminiscent of a house party, but one you could only dream of throwing.

Please Tell Me treats their birthday guests like royalty – events come with a free DJ, and you can throw in a photographer or cake with champagne. Events can be private or semi-private, and you can invite anywhere from 15 to 30 to 60 of your closest friends.

The menu has classic bar food, like habanero wings, mac and cheese, and a $12 smash burger, and you can pair it with cocktails with names like “1996 Naomi Campbell”. If you want to throw a brunch bash, you can nab a shakshouka that’s under $15 (in Williamsburg? We couldn’t believe it either.)