Birthday Drinks
By Katie Heffernan, New York
First cake, then cocktails. Or cocktails, then cake. The night is yours, and we've got more than 25 ideas for a fabulous party--from free birthday drinks to classy cocktail lounges.
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Stanton Public
17 Stanton St, New York, NY
Birthday boys and girls drink free (and well) at this laid-back bar with a top-notch beer selection, if they bring eight friends to party with them. -
Cheap Shots
140 1st Ave, New York, NY
No matter how many you roll with, you'll get to throw back as many shots and beers as you like, all night. -
Bushwick Country Club
618 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY
The mini golf is always free at this lovingly rundown "country club," but members who bring 11 buddies to celebrate (and nons who bring 15) will also drink free all evening. Gather an even bigger group (30) to get free hot dogs thrown in.
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Marshall Stack
66 Rivington St, New York, NY
The makeshift kitchen at this classy neighborhood watering hole somehow creates the tastiest English muffin pizzas, known as the After-School Special. -
Pegu Club
77 W Houston St, New York, NY
Looking for gourmet hors d'oeuvres, serious cocktails and a discreet but drop-dead gorgeous setting? Look no further.
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Larry Lawrence
295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY
It's sleek, it's got seats, and the elevated, glass-walled smoking deck will be the talk of the party. -
Clandestino
35 Canal St, New York, NY
Avoid all crowds and commotion at this warm little neighborhood bar with an indie playlist to envy and one fantastic pour. -
Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY
The most tempting part of this sweet Williamsburg spot is its charming back room where bands play for free. -
The Creek and the Cave
10-93 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY
Let the gang loose in this house-like Long Island City bar, with a living room, a billiards room, and a gorgeous picket-fenced outdoor patio.
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Brooklyn Social
335 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY
Grab the two tables in front and celebrate in an old-school, social club vibe. -
Hudson Bar
356 W 58th St, New York, NY
Be sure you and your friends dress to the nines for this sumptuous scene. In the summer, there's the bonus of a beautiful outdoor garden. -
Pravda
281 Lafayette St, New York, NY
Perfect for vodka lovers or personalities piqued by Soho's swank and clandestine cocktail lounges. -
230 Fifth
230 5th Ave, New York, NY
Summer birthdays are best for this sprawling rooftop bar with unbelievable views. -
Jadis
42 Rivington St, New York, NY
A charming French wine bar that's sophisticated without the snootiness.
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Lakeside Lounge
162 Avenue B, New York, NY
This locally loved East Village dive beats out the best of them with cheap drinks, live music and a black-and-white photo booth. -
Holiday Cocktail Lounge
75 Saint Marks Pl, New York, NY
If character is your thing, you'll love the hard-of-hearing bartender, duct tape-covered booths and stiff, cheap drinks at this East Village punk-era survivor. -
Commonwealth
497 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn, NY
For die-hard music nerds, this Park Slope bar has a one-of-a-kind jukebox filled with meticulously custom-made mixes. -
Passerby--CLOSED
436 W 15th St, New York, NY
As close to a dive at the Meatpacking District gets--a small, dark space with a mezmerizing Studio 54-style disco floor.
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Cielo
18 Little West 12th St, New York, NY
This smaller-than-average Meatpacking District club manages a more genuine and fun-loving dance scene. -
mr. BLACK
643 Broadway, New York, NY
Perhaps the only club with a famous butt that often makes party appearances--a hint at its totally uninhibited drinking and dancing antics. -
APT
419 W 13th St, New York, NY
An excellent choice for any birthday that falls on a weeknight, when this finest of dance clubs draws less of a crowd.
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Union Hall
702 Union St, Brooklyn, NY
Between the library-like lounges, intense games of bocce ball and music in the basement, this Park Slope bar should suit all your friends' varying demands. -
Cowgirl
519 Hudson St, New York, NY
Ladies especially love this West Village ode to the Western frontier. -
Zombie Hut
273 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY
Have a fetish for tiki kitsch? Put down a few flaming scorpion bowls on Smith Street. -
Planet Rose
219 Ave A, New York, NY
Grab a microphone, a beat and an audience to accompany your "Happy Birthday" ode.
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Monkey Town
58 N 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY
Williamsburg performance-space and restaurant breathes new life into "dinner and a movie." -
Gowanus Yacht Club
323 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY
Smith Street summers mean hot dogs and cold beer under the stars. -
Bohemian Hall Beer Garden
29-19 24th Ave, Astoria, NY
The last of its kind, this old Astoria landmark beer garden soldiers on.
