Editorial
A birthday bar needs to deliver on multiple fronts simultaneously: the celebrant needs to feel like the venue was chosen specifically for them, the drinks need to be worth the round price, and the room needs to handle anywhere from 6 to 20 people without fragmenting the group into separate conversations on different floors. We have tested these bars for exactly those criteria across New York and London.
New York's best bars for a birthday combine something memorable with practicality. Either a rooftop that impresses the people who have never been, or a private area that keeps the group together, or a cocktail program good enough that everyone drinks well regardless of their usual preferences.
London's birthday bar scene is one of the best in Europe for variety. The cocktail bar scene has matured significantly, and the rooftop options have expanded every year. These 5 bars cover the full range of what a birthday celebration might need.
One email per week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 72 cities worldwide.
The best birthday bars either deliver a memorable visual experience (rooftop, underground, theatrical setting) or a drinks program the group will actually talk about the next day. Ideally both. The 10 bars on this list cover every group size from 4 to 40 and every budget from honest to generous.
Employees Only and Cahoots both offer private hire packages and dedicated group service. For New York rooftop bars beyond this list, the broader category guide covers the best options across all five boroughs. Plan at least 2 weeks ahead for any Saturday reservation at a popular venue.
Sofia writes about European bar culture and occasion-specific drinking experiences. She has organised more birthday bar crawls than she will admit to in print.