One year older, one year wiser. You may be long past the days of ponies and magicians, but you don’t have to crawl into a hole on your birthday. We found the best spots for celebrating with a bang.
Two things that amp up birthdays and dim sum: a hungry crowd and lots of noise. Share from communal plates, grab traditional dumplings from passing carts, and let the chopsticks fly.
Yank Sing Dim Sum, 101 Spear Street, at Mission Street (415-781-1111 or yanksing.com).
You don’t often leave a birthday celebration looking better than when you arrived, but Drybar makes it happen (with champagne, no less). Let an in-house party planner handle the details; your only job is to be pampered.
Drybar, 1908 Fillmore Street, between Pine and Bush Streets (424-270-0300 or thedrybar.com/parties).
Bring back that ’30s soda fountain party you had in third grade — this time, with handmade waffle cones, premium flavors, and killer decor. Bonus: Your dad won’t be the one scooping sundaes.
The Ice Cream Bar, 815 Cole Street, at Frederi Street (415-742-4932 or theicecreambarsf.com).
With more than 100 tequilas on the menu, things are bound to get messy. The private room is available for food fights, er, civilized parties of up to 75.
Tacolicious, 741 Valencia Street, at 18th Street (415-626-1344 or tacolicioussf.com).
Relive memories of backyard parties on a much larger scale. With 8,000 square feet of trampolines, does it really matter how old you are? Take your own refreshments or enjoy Blue Bottle Coffee served on-site.
House of Air, 926 Mason Street, on Crissy Field (415-345-9675 or houseofair.com).
Keep it casual at this charming dive where bar food is an art form. You never know when a game of beer pong might break out. (Winner buys the group a round of truffle fries.)
The Broken Record, 1166 Geneva Avenue, at Edinburgh Street (415-963-1713 or brokenrecordsanfrancisco.com).
Soothe birthday blues with American comfort food, like pot roast and cream pies made with local, organic ingredients. Each of the four Chow locations has a neighborhood flair, but the one by the park does banquets for up to 80 guests.
Chow at the Park, 1240 9th Avenue, at Lincoln Way (415-665-9912 or chowfoodbar.com).
Despite the cliche, you’ve always wanted to rent out a bar for your birthday. Do it at Big, where the bartender, a master in the medium of alcohol, creates custom drinks for up to 30 guests.
Big, 761 Post Street, between Jones and Leavenworth Streets (415-471-0843 or rooster@big-san-francisco.com).
Brush off your sequins and spats. The space that once housed a Prohibition-era speakeasy now serves cocktails and rare spirits that pay homage to its 1920s inspiration.
Bourbon & Branch, 501 Jones Street, at O’Farrell Street (415-346-1735 or bourbonandbranch.com).
Indulgence should be an all-day affair on your birthday. Batter’s got you covered, from scones, muffins, and weekend brunch to cupcakes, brownies, and ice cream. Permission to gorge, granted.
Batter Bakery, 2127 Polk Street, between Broadway and Vallejo Streets (415-674-1068 or batterbakery.com).
The true test of friendship is whether or not your pals let you win on your birthday. Bring ’em by these lanes, where the eats (from the chef who helms up Mission Chinese) will distract them from your gutter balls.
Mission Bowling Club, 3176 17th Street, between Shotwell Street and South Van Ness Avenue (415-863-2695 or missionbowlingclub.com).
Got a milestone to celebrate? Do it right at the industrial-chic private space above Churchill. Its dance space, audio capabilities, shuffleboard, and full bar and kitchen take your party to the next level.
The Office at Churchill, enter at 194 Church Street, at Market Street (kelly@churchillsf.com or churchillsf.com).
This Hearst building cocktail spot evokes a 1950s newsroom with antique typewriters and vintage-inspired drinks. Warning: musicians may croon “Happy Birthday” while you blush bloody mary red.
Local Edition, 691 Market Street, at 3rd Street (tina@destinationbars.com or localeditionsf.com).
A southwestern road trip not in the cards this year? West of Pecos is the perfect alternative, with a semiprivate dining area that seats up to 50 and offers Santa Fe cuisine classics, Hill Country BBQ, cold draft beers, and killer margaritas.
West of Pecos, 550 Valencia Street, at 16th Street (415-252-7000 or westofpecos.com).
Call us romantics, but we love birthday picnics, and the dreamiest place to spread your blanket is by the Dutch Windmills. Built in 1902 and surrounded by tulip gardens, they’re très continental, darlings.
Dutch Windmills, 1691 John F. Kennedy Drive, at Great Highway (415-263-0991 or golden-gate-park.com/windmills.html).
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