So your birthday’s rolled around again this year! If you’re anything like me, you likely can never seem to pass up the opportunity to bring your crew together on the one day that’s really all about you. But what if you’re getting tired of the same old house party or pub dinner?
Well fear not, as a city as vibrant and as expansive as Melbourne has you more than covered when it comes to ‘left of centre’ birthday activities. Here are just seven fun things to do in Melbourne on your birthday.
1. Hire a venue, skip the clean-up
Want to add a little pizazz to your birthday party this year? If you’re looking to formalise your historically informal birthday gathering then why not try translating a house party into a slightly more upscale fete? We’re of course, talking about investing in a birthday venue for hire to celebrate your ‘you day’ this year.
Hiring a local party venue space is a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday, like your 21st, or even your 30th, 40th, 50th, or…need we go on? Alongside this, having a birthday in a dedicated event space can also help to not only keep the attention squarely on you, but also to reduce the workload that typically accompanies party planning.
All you have to do is just keep the conversation and good times rolling, with the food and drinks all flowing. And once the last song has played, all that’s left is to pack up and go back to your untouched house at the end of a long and enjoyable day.
2. See your favourite flick in style
Melbourne has no shortage of fancy cinemas, each with their own unique stories. From Lido cinemas to the Astor, there are so many beautiful heritage marvels of architecture that you can go to to watch the latest Marvel movie.
Cinema Nova is Melbourne’s premier location for art-house and international films. And Lido Cinemas’ signature rooftop bar is always an attraction too. And if you live in the northern suburbs, then a trip to the lovingly preserved Westgarth Cinemas will also never fail to disappoint.
If there is a movie you’d like to go and see for your birthday, then don’t make it just another standard cinema-going affair. Go the extra mile and splurge for this one night and see a movie in style at these breath-taking cinema locations.
3. Get into a room…only to escape it
Nowadays, there is an abundance of offerings across Melbourne if you’re after a room-escaping escapade. Despite popular belief, escape rooms are not exclusively reserved to the realm of corporate team-building exercises. An escape room is an excellent way of keeping a smaller group of friends engaged and connected whilst working towards a shared goal. The escape is half the experience, as your group of friends will be excitedly jabbering away about their achievements or how oh so close you all were even well after you’ve left the venue.
5. Let it all out on some inanimate objects
The Break Room in Collingwood popped into existence in 2016 and has been servicing the city’s crockery-smashing obsession virtually ever since. The premise is simple – let out your frustrations of the workweek or of your life in general by taking a baseball bat to cups, plates and even electronics. Step inside a charmingly rustic converted warehouse, with brick walls which feels specifically designed to have ceramic shatter upon impact with them.
4. Escape this one for a virtual reality
VR is the future of interactive media, with even Apple getting ready to get involved in the game in 2024. When it comes to VR gaming, some of the best experiences to be had are still found at the dedicated spaces dotted around the city. Companies like Zero Latency and Virtual Room have done all the expensive legwork for you – renting out warehouses and investing in the expensive VR tech so you don’t have to. This all comes together to give you an experience you and your friends will be talking about for days, and one which far surpasses anything you could have at home.
6. Spend a night at the theatre
Whilst in our current attention economy, setting aside time to attend a live show may feel like a terribly old-fashioned notion of a night out, there is never a shortage of impeccable theatre to see in the fine city of Melbourne. Performances like ‘The Cursed Child’ and ‘& Juliet’ are once-in-a-lifetime shows which are sure to leave you awestruck and tapping your feet along. And with so many amazing theatre venues all across the City of Melbourne, there are always new shows premiering throughout the year. You may even opt to take a chance on smaller acts and more alternative forms of theatre.
7. Sing it all out at a karaoke bar
Melbourne is a city that will never leave you wanting more in terms of its nightlife. And the sheer number of options available when it comes to taking your friend group out to karaoke is no exception! Book a private room at a karaoke bar in the city and let yourselves belt at the top of your lungs, to your heart’s content. Otherwise, there is always the bolder option of going to a public karaoke bar (like Benjys on Lygon Street) and having fun with friends alongside enjoying the potential to make new friends along the way in what can only be described as the most ‘ice breaker-rich setting imaginable’.
~
Just because you’ve done your birthday the same way every year, it doesn’t mean that this year can’t be anything special – especially if you’re gearing up to celebrate a particularly momentous milestone birthday. So expand your horizons and explore Melbourne to organise a birthday party event that is as unique as you – leaving both you and your friends with beaming smiles upon your faces even long after the weekend has come to an end.
Be sure to check out our Melbourne food reviews to see what restaurants and bars might be a good fit for your celebrations.
