9 incredible ideas for celebrating a birthday in Los Angeles

Thanks to year-round sunshine, it’s hard to go wrong celebrating your birthday in Los Angeles. In terms of festivities, this city’s famous sprawl is a huge advantage, giving you a vast variety of both activities and neighborhoods to choose from. Go for a beach day in funky Venice or trendy Malibu, chill at any number of sparkling rooftop pools, pick your favorite cuisine and take a food tour, or choose the neighborhood that best fits your style and go bar-hopping with friends. This guide to a birthday in Los Angeles has all the inspiration you need for your big day.

1. Celebrate your birthday at the beach

No matter when your birthday might be, Los Angeles’s temperate climate makes planning a beach day with friends a no-brainer, and thanks to the city’s variety of oceanfront, you can easily choose a beach to match your festive vibe. Head to Venice Beach for an offbeat day, Santa Monica for a combo of shopping and sunshine, or Malibu’s Surfrider Beach for laidback vibes.

Insider tip

If you’ve never taken part in Los Angeles’s love for surfing, your big day is the perfect time to try it. Sign you and your willing pals up for surfing lessons at a beach in Malibu. Raising a toast to your birthday later will be even better with this accomplishment done.

Address

Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA

Opening hours

Open 24 hours

2. Lounge by a rooftop pool

If you’d prefer cabana service to sand, pick a few close friends and get a day pass for one of this city’s many rooftop pools. Often, though not always, found atop hotels, these pools are the ultimate see-and-be-seen place to be if you want to celebrate your big day with some glamour. Plus, you can’t beat the view (of the actual cityscape, not just your fellow patrons).

Insider tip

If you want a more relaxed scene, plan your poolside birthday in Los Angeles on a weekday when you’ll have fewer crowds. Or, if you’re in a major party mood, continue straight on to celebrating after a day on the loungers: Many pools host DJ sets and other events on the weekends, so check the schedule ahead of time to see what’s on.

3. Have a playful afternoon at Santa Monica Pier

The first carousel began delighting visitors to the Santa Monica Pier back in 1916. This historic pier, known for its restaurants, amusement park, and arcade, has been entertaining LA locals and visitors alike ever since. There are many things to do in Los Angeles on your birthday, but the Santa Monica Pier is one of the most nostalgic, energetic options among them.

Insider tip

Within Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park is the name of the amusement park itself.

Address

Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles, CA

Opening hours

The pier is open daily, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

4. Pick a neighborhood and bar-hop

Cocktail bars, whiskey bars, jazz clubs, rooftops…downtown Los Angeles has a plethora of them all. West Hollywood is a reliable option for a tony night out, particularly if you’d like the bar-hopping to give way to a proper dance floor at a club. For a lower-key range of options, plan your bar crawl in perennially hip Los Angeles neighborhoods like Silver Lake or Echo Park.

Insider tip

Fancier spots may have a dress code, so if your heart is set on a specific venue, be sure to check ahead.

Address

Downtown Los Angeles

Opening hours

Bars in Los Angeles are allowed to stay open until 2:00 AM; clubs may stay open later.

5. Get a birthday art fix at a museum

Birthday things to do in Los Angeles are hardly limited to beaches, bars, and amusement parks, and spending your birthday in air conditioning is a solid choice on a hot day. Try the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for everything from ancient art to contemporary interactive exhibits, or visit The Broad to see Eli and Edythe Broad’s massive personal collection of contemporary art. If you’re going with a big group, booking entry tickets ahead of time or arranging a group tour is a great idea.

Insider tip

Los Angeles’ museums aren’t just about the visual art: They’re often venues for great live performances and events. Check their calendars for fun ways to turn your cultural birthday outing into a proper party.

Address

LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Opening hours

Monday to Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

6. Spend a day hiking the trails with your friends

If you’re into Los Angeles’s love of all things health and wellness, hit the trails on your birthday. The city has a huge range of hiking available for all abilities: Enjoy great views from Runyon Canyon, or head to Point Dume for coastal hiking. If you want lots of options for your walk, choose among 36 miles of trails in Topanga State Park, the largest wildland in the world that’s still completely within the boundaries of a major city. Just be sure to pack plenty of water.

Insider tip

Thanks to its proximity to the Hollywood Hills, Runyon Canyon is your best bet for a possible celebrity sighting on the trail.

Address

Point Dume, Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265

Opening hours

Point Dume:
Daily, sunrise to sunset

7. Pack a picnic

If you’d prefer to celebrate your birthday with a more relaxed outdoor activity in Los Angeles, take advantage of the city’s reliably good weather, pack a picnic, and set up shop at one of LA’s surprising number of scenic parks. If you’re feeling fancy, there’s Will Rogers Memorial Park in upscale Beverly Hills; or, for a more away-from-it-all setting, try the shores of Franklin Lake in Franklin Canyon Park. For a pleasant neighborhood vibe that’s close to bars and cafes, Echo Park Lake is a great urban option.

Insider tip

Combine a cute birthday activity with a photo op and rent one of the swan pedal boats available on Echo Park Lake.

Address

Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles, CA

Opening hours

Daily, 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM

8. Take a foodie tour of a Los Angeles neighborhood

More dynamic and varied than a sit-down dinner, shake up your birthday meal with a food tour featuring some of the best food in Los Angeles. The only question is where? Two tasty areas to head to are Koreatown and Little Tokyo, while East LA is where to go for a range of Central American cuisine. And if you’re looking for food across the hipster-contemporary vein, you’ll find it in Downtown LA’s Grand Central Market.

Insider tip

Koreatown is also home to karaoke bars and spas with evening hours, so plan a dinner-hour food tour, then segue right into the next phase of your birthday festivities.

Address

Grand Central Market, 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Opening hours

Daily, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM

9. Embrace your inner child at a theme park

Los Angeles (well, technically nearby Anaheim) is where the concept of the modern-day amusement park was born. In addition to Disneyland, both Universal Studios and Six Flags Magic Mountain are great options if your ideal birthday involves roller coasters and plenty of adrenaline. At Universal Studios, you can tailor your day around your favorite movie, but all three parks offer different kinds of entertainment like live shows and fireworks.

Insider tip

Take a break from thrill rides by taking the Studio Tour at Universal Studios for a behind-the-scenes look at how movies get made.

Address

Universal Studios Hollywood,100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA

Opening hours

Monday to Tuesday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM