23 Ways How To Celebrate A Birthday In Chicago In Style

When it comes to birthday celebrations, people want it to be memorable year by year. Chicago will be one of the best places that offer various places to mark your special birthday this year. You should try Chicago’s best restaurants and bars to celebrate your birthday in Chicago. Or, you can fulfill your bucket list to get an unforgettable experience when celebrating a birthday party in Chicago.

In this article, there are many Chicago birthday ideas for your inspiration. Whether you are a tourist or simply a Chicagoan who wants to celebrate your birthday party in Chicago, there are so many places to discover! Do you want to celebrate an amazing birthday party in Chicago? Here’s our picks for the best birthday activities in Chicago you can try!

1. Enjoy Classic Chicago Delicacy At Time Out Market Chicago

If you are looking for the best place to taste the finest Chicago food for your birthday party, then you should book your reservation at Time Out Market Chicago. According to Yelp.com, it is 4 / 5 rated thanks to 18 of the top chefs in the city coming together to serve pizza, ramen, fried chicken, tacos, and other delectable delicacies. In addition, there are also three Time Out Bars available to provide your group great cocktails and beer if you need a drink.

2. Late Night Karaoke at Chicago’s Chinatown

Chicago is studded with top-notch karaoke bars in Chinatown. At a karaoke bar, belt out your favorite song. You require a beer, a microphone, and some good songs if you’re anxious about getting older. In Chicago’s top karaoke bars such as Sakura Karaoke Lounge, you may enjoy a few drinks while singing your favorite song.

3. Adult’s Pizza Party

Every true Chicagoan has a favorite pizza place, whether it’s Pequod’s, Coalfire, or Marie’s. Pizza is the ideal sharing food. Bring your buddies together at your favorite restaurant on your big day, order a few beer pitchers, and stuff your face with delicious slices. It’s the adult equivalent of the pizza parties you had as a kid, only with much better food and alcohol. As one of the top 5 pizza restaurants in the US, we recommend you to try the deep-dish pizza with a caramelized crust at Pequod’s.

4. Spend A Night At The Club

Call for party lovers! Celebrate the midnight as you become one year older by having fun at the club. Take your birthday boy to a Chicago club, making one of the best Chicago birthday ideas for him. There are many places to go out at night with dance floors where you can move to all kinds of music, from the emo songs screaming from the speakers at West Town’s Beauty Bar to the progressive house music thudding at River North’s Sound Bar.

5. Summer Beach Party At Oak Street Beach

If you were born in the summer, you can enjoy your special day at one of the city’s most picturesque beaches without spending a dollar. Ask everyone to bring a snack to share, pack a few blankets, and then squat down in front of Lake Michigan. Promontory Point is the ideal location for a laid-back barbecue by the ocean, while Oak Street Beach offers stunning views of the skyline and beach volleyball.

6. Movie Marathon at Music Box Theater

Music Box Theater (Source : wikipedia)

Birthday celebrations don’t necessarily have to involve elaborate plans. Sometimes having a straightforward day results in a superior experience. One of the simplest birthday presents you can give yourself is a movie ticket. In Chicago, there are many theaters that will make you feel like your name is up in lights, whether you want to attend an old movie at the Music Box Theater or the newest blockbuster at a multiplex.

7. Laugh It Up In The Comedy Bar

Comedy Bar (Source : timeout)

On one’s birthday, nobody wants to feel depressed. Instead, make the most of your special day by laughing as much as you can by visiting one of the city’s many comedy clubs. In addition to local headliners performing stand-up at The Comedy Bar in River North and a slew of amusing people performing on stage at Lincoln Lodge, you can catch improv and sketch acts at Second City in Old Town.

8. Birthday Brunch At Fremont Chicago

Fremont Chicago (Source : fremontchicago)

Having an elegant birthday brunch won’t be complete without alcohol. When you schedule your birthday around one of Chicago’s best bottomless brunches, you can drink your fill of alcoholic breakfast beverages. Fremont Chicago in the heart of River North will make sure your celebratory flute of champagne is never empty. In addition, you can enjoy special All-You-Can-Eat Buffet and Mimosas every Saturday & Sunday. 

9. Discover A Scenic Hike

Make your birthday memorable by discovering a beautiful natural view in Chicago. Take a group of pals and leave for one of Chicago’s most spectacular hiking paths. Take the Metra to Warrenville to trek atop a subterranean particle accelerator, go for a stroll on the North Branch Trail on the Northwest Side, or travel over state lines to see the breathtaking Indiana Dunes along Lake Michigan.

10. Chicago Style Birthday Staycation

Want to celebrate a birthday with something extra special for your girlfriend? When you reserve a weekend staycation at one of the top hotels in Chicago, you don’t need to leave town to get away. Amazing restaurants and bars can be found inside boutique hotels such as at Publishing House, the Robey, and Chicago Athletic Association, making your stay a one-stop shop. This is indeed one of the best Chicago birthday ideas for her.


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11. Late Night Birthday Party At 4AM Bar

The majority of Chicago pubs must close their doors at 2am, but your night out doesn’t have to finish then. You can celebrate another revolution around the sun into the early hours of the morning at a few local bars that keep the party going until 4am or later. Dance the night away at the Hangge-Uppe, enjoy live jazz music at Green Mill, or indulge in a few Malörts at the Owl.

12. Watching Ball Games In Rosemont

Rosemont (Source : ballparkdigest)

This is the best birthday plan for baseball fans you should try! Take your baseball loving friends to watch some games during their birthday. There’s always the independent professional squad, the Chicago Dogs, who play in Rosemont. The nicest thing about baseball is that it has such a long season, lasting from April through November, which is great news for anyone with a summer birthday. 

13. Rooftop Bar Party with Amazing Sky View

Take your celebration to the rooftop of one of Chicago’s top bars for a memorable evening of drinking, dancing, and sparkling city views. In addition to having the biggest rooftop bar in the world, Offshore Rooftop & Bar, Chicago is also teeming with hip and stylish rooftop lounges that provide stunning views of both the Chicago cityscape and Lake Michigan. Even though the summer is the busiest and most popular season, many rooftop bars in Chicago are open all year round.

14. Experiencing A Wine Tasting

Experiencing A Wine Tasting

Chicago’s wine-bar culture is positively thriving, so it is a perfect plan to try on your birthday. Consider locations like City Winery or Red & White Wines if you want to do a formal wine tasting, where professionals can lead you through the procedure while throwing in interesting facts and practical advice along the way. Alternately, deviate from the plan and independently explore the wine lists at Webster’s, Rootstock, or All Together Now.

15. Vibing at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe for Lowkey Meal

Vibing at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe for Lowkey Meal
90 Miles Cuban Cafe (Source : tripadvisor)

A memorable birthday location needs to be spacious, have good music, be reasonably priced, and have a fun atmosphere. All of that is available at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe. You can reserve a fantastic Cuban feast for 20 pals. To make the evening reasonably priced, you can even bring your own drink.

16. Fine Dining at Kasama Restaurant

Fine Dining at Kasama Restaurant

On your birthday, you and your special buddies should have a delicious meal at one of Chicago’s top restaurants. For instance, Kasama is a contemporary Filipino-American bakery and fine dining establishment run by a husband-and-wife duo. In addition, it has a Michelin-starred tasting menu as well as a number of delectable casual daytime dishes. Don’t forget to taste its Filipino BBQ Platter and Chicken Adobo, they are the best! 

17. Chill Out At Aire Ancient Baths

Chill Out At Aire Ancient Baths

One of the best ways to reward yourself during your birthday in Chicago is by enjoying personal time at a spa. A unique spa experience in Chicago, Aire Ancient Baths which is close to the West Loop, revive the antiquated practice of Greek and Roman bath houses. The breathtaking area, which was constructed inside a former factory in River West, resembles a secret bunker intended for tranquil escapes. You can choose between taking a relaxing massage in addition to simply exploring the heated and unheated indoor and outdoor baths, which also feature salt, steam, and jets.

18. Cruise Tour

Cruise Tour

The stunning lakeshore is one of Chicago’s best features, so why not take a birthday boat cruise to honor your proximity to Lake Michigan? There are  private tours available, such as the Lady Grebe Chicago River Experience and Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise, where you can rent a yacht to celebrate in style. Some tours include both dinner and lunch, allowing you to celebrate your birthday while enjoying one of the city’s best sights.

19. Drinking and Playing in Arcade Bar

Drinking and Playing in Arcade Bar

The combination of drinking and playing games in an arcade bar is every man’s favorite. You can make a boy’s night out and spend your time there. At places like Logan Arcade, Emporium Arcade Bar, and Headquarters Beercade, you may play pinball, control a Pac-Man cabinet with a joystick, or blast up zombies with your pals to relive your youth.

20. Enjoy Night City View

Enjoy Night City View

A great approach to celebrate your unique birthday is to sing in the car, watching the city view. You can go on a little nighttime city tour with close friends and family while listening to your favorite music. In addition, Chicago has a vibrant nightlife with a wide selection of clubs and pubs to match any mood. To get your fill of house, techno, and electro, proceed to Smartbar.


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21. Bowling Competition with Family and Friends

Bowling Competition with Family and Friends

There are many bowling alleys in Chicago to suit every taste, from traditional, hand-set lanes with pinsetters from a bygone era to slick, contemporary bowling clubs. Grab your guests and get ready for a night of bowling if you enjoy a little rivalry. For example, one of Chicago’s oldest bowling alleys is the Southport Lanes, which you can visit with your family and friends.

22. Solve Mysteries at The Game Show Game Show

Solve Mysteries at The Game Show Game Show

Make a group booking for The Game Show Game Show if you want to give your guests an experience they won’t soon forget on your birthday. The Game Show Game Show is an interactive theater piece and team-building exercise that raises the bar for active entertainment. It’s located in the Fine Arts Building at 410 S, Michigan. Your team will be required to complete tasks, respond to trivia questions, and compete in a number of entertaining mini-games. 

23. Indoor Skydiving Lincoln Park

Indoor Skydiving Lincoln Park

If you are an adrenaline junkie that needs more of it on your birthday, then you should try skydiving in Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is a designated community area on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, which is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Chicago. In Chicago, indoor skydiving is safe and enjoyable. Full body flight can be experienced through indoor skydiving. Younger flyers will enjoy the unique competition sport of indoor skydiving as a way to keep active, meet new people, and stay in shape.


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Which is the best place for a birthday celebration in Chicago?

The Game Show Game Show is an ideal place for a fun and interactive birthday party as it offers various games and trivia quizzes. For a meal feast, you can book the best restaurants in the city such as Time Out Market Chicago and Kasama Restaurants. If you need more inspiration, you can check in the article above.

What can I do instead of a birthday party in Chicago?

You can experience new things during your birthday. For example, fly at Indoor Skydiving at Lincoln Park. Or, you can visit comedy clubs to crack up some laughs. For more birthday activities you can do in Chicago, please check our tips above.

How do you celebrate a low budget birthday in Chicago?

You can enjoy the beauty of the Chicago night view from your car. Play some music and have a mini karaoke inside along with some beverages. With this idea, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to book a karaoke bar or buy drinks at a bar. 

What is a unique way to celebrate your birthday in  Chicago?

Instead of celebrating your birthday at a cafe or restaurants, you can go to celebrate it with baseball fans at the field. Cheer for your favorite baseball team which plays during your birthday. Celebrate the joy and excitement with hundreds of baseball fans there.

What are some highly rated fun things to do for a birthday in Chicago?

Having fine dining at the Michelin star restaurants then celebrating the late night birthday party at the bar will be a fun experience you should try in Chicago. In addition, you can try new things such as hiking and discover the natural view of Chicago. For more fun birthday activities you should try in Chicago, go check on our article above.

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