Are you planning to celebrate your birthday in Seattle?
First of all, happy birthday! We got you the best gift of all: the gift of not having to plan your own birthday. Or at the very least, we did most of the leg work for you by putting together this list of birthday activities in Seattle. Whether you’re a local or just coming into the Emerald City for the big day there’s something on this list that will make you feel special, from swanky rooftop bars and romantic restaurants to dance parties and hot tub boats.
Psst: this list is for the grown-ups, but if you’re celebrating a kiddo’s birthday check out our guide to fun things to do with kids in Seattle.
Here are the top 20 ways to celebrate a birthday in Seattle:
Birthday bites
1. Start things off with a birthday brunch
If your birthday falls on a weekend with nice weather, check out some of the best outdoor brunch spots in Seattle.
We also love a good drag brunch here in Seattle. Kamp, Dreamland, Unicorn, and Dragster are some of our favorite places in Seattle for drag brunch. They’re popular, so make your reservation in advance!
2. Make a dinner reservation at one of Seattle’s most beautiful restaurants
If you want a birthday night that looks good in photos, make a dinner reservation at one of the most beautiful restaurants in Seattle. The vibes will be impeccable (and the food will be good too).
3. Get some birthday cake (or any sweet treat)
If you want to pick up a whole birthday cake in Seattle, our favorite spots are:
- Deep Sea Sugar & Salt in Georgetown
- Lazy Cow Bakery (vegan!) in Fremont
- Simply Desserts in Fremont
- Byen Bakeri in Queen Anne
- Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle and Capitol Hill
If birthday cake isn’t your vibe but you still want a sweet treat, there is an endless amount of other dessert options in Seattle. Our top five favorites are:
- The Flour Box in Hillman City
- Temple Pastries in the Central District
- Hot Cakes in Capitol Hill
- Pie Bar in Ballard
- Raised Doughnuts in the Central District
And also be sure to check out our guide to the best cookies in Seattle!
Birthday drinks
4. Go brewery hopping in Ballard
If you love beer, Ballard is the Seattle neighborhood to visit. Celebrate your birthday in a fun, low-key way by hopping around the many breweries in that area. Most of them have food trucks as well. If you only want to hit up one or two breweries, check out our full list of things to do in Ballard.
5. Treat yourself to top-notch craft cocktails
Looking to celebrate your birthday with the best craft cocktails Seattle has to offer? Go to one of these bars and you won’t be disappointed:
- Canon in the Central District
- Deep Dive located in the Spheres downtown
- Founders Club in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel downtown
- Rumba in Capitol Hill
- Smith Tower Observatory Bar in downtown Seattle
6. Visit one of Seattle’s themed bars
If you’re looking for a more laid-back, fun vibe for your birthday drinks then you should check out one of these creative themed bars in Seattle. There’s also the new arcade bar Time Warp that just opened in Capitol Hill, if you like playing arcade games.
7. Get drinks with a view on a rooftop bar
Even if it’s raining in Seattle (which it often is), don’t write off the rooftop bars for your birthday. Many of them have heated and covered seating, so you still get an epic view with your drink. See our list of Seattle rooftop bars with the best views.
8. Do a winery tour
The best place to go wine tasting around Seattle is in nearby Woodinville. If you can’t swing a weekend or day trip for your birthday, however, you can go share a bottle with your friends at one of these Seattle spots:
- Bottlehouse in Madrona
- La Dive in Capitol Hill
- Light Sleeper in Capitol Hill
- The Coupe & Flute in Beacon Hill
- Purple Cafe & Wine Bar in downtown Seattle
Birthday activities
9. Rent a hot tub boat on Lake Union
You can have a party on Lake Union with your friends no matter what the weather in one of the famous Seattle hot tub boats! If your birthday is in the summer and it’s too warm to consider getting into a hot tub, you can instead get a free rowboat rental from the Center for Wooden Boats.
10. Have a picnic at Gas Works Park
If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with nice weather on your birthday, pack up a picnic and meet your friends at Gas Works Park. There are restaurants and bars within walking distance in nearby Fremont and Wallingford if you decide to keep the party going after sunset.
11. Go shopping at University Village
It’s your birthday, so treat yourself! Seattle’s University Village is an outdoor shopping plaza with something for everyone. Once you’ve found the perfect birthday gift, you can fuel up at Shake Shack, Hello Robin, or one of the many other eateries there.
12. Book a visit at a Seattle cat cafe
If you’re a cat lover, the hardest decision you have to make on your birthday is which Seattle cat cafe to visit: Seattle Meowtropolitan or Neko Cat Cafe. Who knows? You might even wind up going home with a new best friend.
13. Take a class with a friend
If you want a hands-on activity planned for your birthday, consider taking a class. The Works Seattle offers crafty DIY classes, The Pastry Project offers baking classes, and you can even take a cocktail class high up in the Smith Tower Observatory Bar.
14. Go out dancing
It’s your birthday and you just want to dance. Head to Dragster, High Dive, or Nectar Lounge in Fremont or go to Capitol Hill and dance your heart out at Neumos, Chop Suey, or Havana.
15. Have a relaxing spa day
If a relaxing birthday is in order, check out our list of the best saunas and spas in Seattle.
16. See a live show
Whether you want to get dressed up for the ballet or symphony, or you want to enjoy a few laughs at an improv show, Seattle has no shortage of live entertainment at all times.
17. Go out to a ball game
Sunny birthdays call for having a beer and a Seattle dog while cheering on the Mariners. If your birthday doesn’t fall during baseball season, you could also have some fun rooting for the Sounders or the Seattle Kraken.
18. Book a weekend getaway
If you want to get out of the city for your birthday but can’t afford the plane ticket, check out these epic destinations near Seattle.
19. Have a budget-friendly birthday
On a budget this year? No worries! You can celebrate your birthday without spending any money with the help of this list of free things to do in Seattle.
20. Camp in a national park
If being in nature revitalizes you, spend your birthday in one of the three stunning national parks in Washington. Olympic National Park was named one of the best road trips in the country. It has beaches, mountains, and even a rainforest!