New York City is the city that never sleeps, providing the ultimate birthday experience.
Turning 21 is a huge milestone, especially in the U.S., where it indicates a passage into adulthood and, of course, an ability to drink alcohol legally. New York City provides the perfect atmosphere to ring in this important event. Hundreds of restaurants and bars, from the ultrachic to the cozy den, are available for reservation.
Eating
A fancy dinner starts the night off right.
A classy dinner is a surefire way to start the night out right. Try Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Ave. at 24th Street. You'll need to call well in advance for reservations and plan on dropping some money if you eat there. For those who have a lighter wallet, Emporio in SoHo has well-reviewed, moderately priced Italian fare. Bar Boulud on the Upper West Side serves well-priced French cuisine. Reservations aren't necessary for these places, but they are preferred. In any event, it's best to call ahead.
Drinking
There are bars on virtually every street in New York City. Take your pick.
The city houses many bars, from the small and homey to the huge and raucous. You can find a bar on pretty much every street in Manhattan. The Barrow Street Ale House between 7th Avenue and 4th Street is a roomy bar with a neighborhood feel. It's open all day, so you can start early. For a trendier time, Max Fish, at the cross of Ludlow and Houston streets, features the best CD jukebox in town and a hipster crowd. No reservation necessary, but you may want to call ahead to see if you can get on the entry list so you're not waiting in line. Some places accept birthdays as a legitimate VIP pass.
Dancing
The Big Apple is the perfect place to dance the night away.
The 13 Bar between Broadway and University Place is a three-floor dance club featuring jazz, trance, rock and soul any day of the week. If you are looking for hip-hop and R&B, head to 2i's between 7th and 8th avenues. You'll find two floors of dancing there. If you're looking to eat and dance all at the same place, Au Bar rests between Park and Madison avenues. It's open from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., so plan on eating late. No reservations are necessary.
Other Entertainment
Night bowling can be the perfect ending to an NYC night.
If you want to liven up your evening, check out late-night bowling alleys, pool halls and arcades. Chelsea Bar & Billiards is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. It's located between 5th and 6th avenues. Meanwhile, Bowlmor Lanes at 110 University Place is open until the wee hours of the morning, for those who want to try their hand at a few strikes. The city is also home to dozens of comedy clubs and adult arcades.
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