Amelia HallBirthday is that one time of the year when you can indulge in whatever you want and nobody gets to say anything. And if you found yourself in Vancouver on your special day, you’re in for a treat!
The vibrant city of Vancouver is bustling with activities you can do to have an epic birthday, and we’re here to help you get a rundown of them! From adrenaline-pumping adventures to laid-back celebrations, Vancouver has you covered!
- Pamper yourself at Willow Stream Spa
- Laugh out loud at The Improv Centre
- Channel your inner detective at Vancouver Mysteries
- Strike pins at Commodore Lanes
- Feast in the clouds at the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
- Engage in a competitive beach volleyball game at 6 Pack Indoor Beach
- Soar above the city with Harbour Air Seaplane Tour
- Explore the world with Flyover
- Cruise through picturesque waters with Harbour Cruises
- Make your own masterpiece at 4Cats Arts Studio
- Hop on a winery or brewery tour hosted by Vine and Hops Wine and Craft Beer Tours
- Treat yourself to a shopping spree at CF Pacific Centre
- Dance the night away at The Roxy Cabaret
Pamper yourself at Willow Stream Spa
Address: Floor 1, Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9, Canada
Website: https://www.fairmont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver/spa/willow-stream-spa-fairmont-pacific-rim/
Contact details: 604 695 5550
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
At Willow Stream Spa, the focus is on you—your comfort, your well-being, and your relaxation—making it one of the best places to spend your birthdays. I mean, aren’t birthdays supposed to be about celebrating you and focusing on you?
Instead of stressing yourself over the hustle and bustle of preparing traditional birthday festivities, head over to the spa and spend the day enjoying skincare treatments, a Swedish-style sauna, steam inhalation, mineral bath, hot tub bath, and more!
Willow Stream Spa is also connected to the Fairmont Pacific Rim, so you can take your visit to the spa to the next level by having a full-blown staycation at the hotel! It’s your day, go on and do things that’ll make you feel special.
| Pro Tip: Willow Stream Spa allows customers to order meals and drinks from the hotel restaurant, so take advantage of that! Order about 45 minutes before your treatment ends because that’s typically how long it takes for the food to be delivered. |
Laugh out loud at The Improv Centre
Address: 1502 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4, Canada
Website: http://www.theimprovcentre.ca/
Contact details: 604 738 7013; [email protected], [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday and Tuesday: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Wednesday to Friday: 1:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Saturday: 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Sunday: 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Birthdays are meant to be spent with laughter and joy, whether with friends or on your own. As such, one of the best ways to celebrate life and fight birthday blues is by catching a fun show at The Improv Centre and drowning yourself in laughter.
The centre promises an evening filled with laughter, spontaneity, and a unique brand of humour that’s sure to leave you and your guests in stitches. They hold different shows throughout the week, so there’s always something new when you come back!
If you’re already planning a birthday party at home, you can also book their improvisers to come to you and make the party even more fun! You can even customize the skits to include details about you and your guests!
| Pro Tip: If you want to come to the centre to watch a show, please check the themes for the day, as some may contain content that you might not like, such as sexual content and mature themes. |
Channel your inner detective at Vancouver Mysteries
Address: 550 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6, Canada
Website: https://vancouvermysteries.com/
Contact details: 778 707 1962
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Escape rooms are cool, but it’s your birthday, and cool isn’t enough to celebrate such a special day. Instead, be a bit more extra and solve puzzles and mysteries scattered throughout the entire city!
Vancouver Mysteries takes escape games to the next level by making downtown Vancouver the playground of its players. You’ll move from location to location, solving puzzles, looking for clues, and completing challenges to finish the game.
They also have pop-up mystery games that can be brought wherever you and your guests are, which is ideal if you’re quite far from downtown. You can also opt for a scavenger hunt game if solving mysteries isn’t really your cup of tea.
| Pro Tip: Each team needs a minimum of two players and a maximum of 6 players, so invite your friends or relatives to play with you. Their Mega Mystery can even accommodate up to 120 players if you’re hosting a big party! |
Strike pins at Commodore Lanes
Address: 838 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2C9, Canada
Website: http://www.commodorelanes.ca/
Contact details: 604 681 1531
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Commodore Lanes has been in business since the 1930s, and it remains one of the most well-loved recreation centres in the city. Of course, that is for a lot of good reasons!
The place has a whopping 17,000 square feet area that can accommodate up to 250 people, perfect for a huge party! There are also 12 lanes for 5-pin bowling, 20 billiard tables, an arcade, a virtual dart game, and foosball tables to keep you entertained.
But that’s not everything! Commodore is also a fully licensed lounge, so you have an unending supply of beverages for your party!
| Pro Tip: Bring cash because Commodore only accepts cash for drink purchases. There’s an ATM inside, but there’s a $2.50 charge for cash withdrawals. |
Feast in the clouds at the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
Address: Harbour Centre, 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6, Canada
Website: https://www.topofvancouver.com/
Contact details: 604 669 2220, [email protected]
Lunch: Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Brunch: Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Happy Hour: Monday to Sunday: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Dinner: Sunday to Thursday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday to Saturday: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
When you have absolutely no idea how to celebrate your birthday, having lunch or dinner at a good restaurant is a classic and fool-proof way. Although traditional, a meal at the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant is nowhere near boring and dull.
This upscale restaurant is located 553 feet above ground and has an unobstructed panoramic view of the stunning Vancouver, mountains, and ocean. It completes one revolution every hour, ensuring you have a dynamic view of the city.
But the revolving aspect of the restaurant is literally just the cherry on top because the real highlight is the food! From their tasty appetizers to the sumptuous main courses, the restaurant’s food is nothing short of exceptional!
| Pro Tip: Consider reserving a table for 6:00 PM to get a beautiful view of the sunset! Plus, you can enjoy the view of both day and night if you eat around this time. |
Engage in a competitive beach volleyball game at 6 Pack Indoor Beach
Address: 13180 Mitchell Rd #115, Richmond, BC V6V 1M8, Canada
Website: http://www.6packbeach.com/
Contact details: 604 321 6800, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
For the sporty birthday girl or boy, won’t an 18,000-square-feet area filled with 700 metric tons of sand where you can play indoor beach volleyball be the perfect place to spend an active and unforgettable birthday?
6 Pack Indoor Beach, the only one of its kind, allows you to enjoy a competitive game of beach volleyball, whatever the season is. This means winter and fall babies who can’t go to the beach can now finally enjoy a fun game of beach volleyball on their birthday!
Not only that, you also get to enjoy 1.5 hours of archery tag! All equipment, like bows, arrows, face masks, and more, will be provided by 6 Pack, along with a referee to host and supervise the game!
| Pro Tip: This is perfect if you have a big friend group or family that you want to spend your birthday with since the archery tag needs a minimum of 8 players to proceed. Also, do tell your friends to test the temperature of the water first when you’re washing off the sand. It can get quite hot. |
Soar above the city with Harbour Air Seaplane Tour
Address: Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada
Website: http://www.harbourair.com/
Contact details: 604 274 1277
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Why celebrate your birthday on land when you can be extra and celebrate it in the air? Forget about hiking to the highest point of various parks and just go on a seaplane tour from Harbour Air and see Vancouver from a bird’s eye view!
Harbour Air offers different seaplane tours that fly over Vancouver. Instead of terrestrial views, you can get a magnificent panoramic view of the city’s skyline, the city’s parks, the Alpine lakes and glaciers, and more.
The best part about their tours? You have the option to customize the tour however you want, including picking the aircraft, the route, the departure time, and the total flight time!
| Pro Tip: There’s a cafe called Cockpit Café where you can have breakfast or spend time while waiting for your flight. If you’re flying with Harbour Air, you can get a complimentary coffee or tea. |
Explore the world with Flyover
Address: 999 Canada Pl #201, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1, Canada
Website: https://www.flyovercanada.com/
Contact details: 855 463 4822
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
If the idea of renting an actual plane feels a bit too extra and expensive for your birthday celebration, FlyOver is the perfect alternative! Although virtual, it gives you a bird’s eye view of Canada at a price that’s not even a quarter of the price of an actual plane tour.
FlyOver’s flight motion seats that hang you suspended in the air, wraparound screen, and special wind, mist, and scent effects will give you a realistic feeling of flying over Canada. There’s also a 25-minute audio-visual show introducing the country.
The highlight of riding FlyOver, though, is that you can fly to a different country while still being in Vancouver! They have shows that let you have a bird’s eye view of other beautiful countries, like Taiwan, Hawaii, and so much more!
| Pro Tip: Buy your tickets online! FlyOver offers cheaper tickets online, and you’ll also be more likely to score discounts than when buying at the gate. |
Cruise through picturesque waters with Harbour Cruises
Address: 501 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2W9, Canada
Website: https://harbourcruises.com/
Contact details: 604 688 7246; 800 663 1500
Operating hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
If the thought of celebrating in the air feels too lofty and the land seems a bit blah, why not celebrate it in the sea? Hop on a cruise, sail through the waters, and admire the stunning beauty of Vancouver Harbour.
Harbour Cruises Ltd. has tour packages that include buffet-style dinner or luncheon, live music, and, of course, hours of cruise rides along Vancouver’s iconic landmarks. You can also charter a private cruise and customize everything according to your wishes!
While the cruise’s food and cozy interior might tempt you to stay inside, there’s more to explore on the cruise’s spacious decks. They’re the perfect areas to relax, soak in the surroundings, and take your mandatory birthday photos!
| Pro Tip: Get in the area 15 to 20 minutes before boarding time to find a good parking spot. It can be hard to find a parking spot at times since a lot of people are joining the cruise, so you might miss out on your ride if you don’t get there early. |
Make your own masterpiece at 4Cats Arts Studio
Address: 3573 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 1M1, Canada
Website: https://4catsmain.com/
Contact details: 604 568 0403
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
At 4Cats Arts Studio, you don’t have to be Michelangelo or Bernard Palissy to create a masterpiece. You just need the will to create one and the help of the shop’s instructors, so spend a day at the studio if you’ve been dying to unleash your creative side.
The studio offers various guided workshops, including clay wheel, mug making and painting, clay snowbird making, bubble pottery, impressionist flower painting, and so much more. You can literally make a birthday gift for yourself while learning new things!
4Cats is also family-friendly, so it’s the perfect place for moms and dads who want to celebrate their birthdays with their lovely kids!
| Pro Tip: Please don’t wear white, any clothing that can be easily stained, or your favourite shirt! Remember that you’ll be working with clay, and you can get pretty messy while doing so even when the studio gives you an apron. |
Hop on a winery or brewery tour hosted by Vine and Hops Wine and Craft Beer Tours
Address: 8284 Sherbrooke St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4E8, Canada
Website: https://vineandhops.ca/
Contact details: 800 601 9483, 778 320 3409; [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sitting in a fancy restaurant and enjoying a bottle of wine can feel repetitive for those who often celebrate birthdays that way. That’s where Vine and Hops Wine and Craft Beer Tours step in to redefine your birthday experience this year.
Rather than confining your celebration to a single venue, Vine and Hops will bring you to Fraser Valley to explore three to four wineries and taste various flavourful wines. They even organize everything, from pickup and drop off to lunch and photo taking!
If you’re more of a beer person, there’s also a 3 brewery stop Vancouver brewery tour. Instead of just sipping beers in a pub, Vine and Hops will take you backstage to not only taste but also truly experience the craftsmanship behind each glass!
| Pro Tip: While it can be tempting, please don’t go pre-drinking before your scheduled tour. Vine and Hops won’t allow you to join, and they won’t refund anything, so just wait for the tour to start. |
Treat yourself to a shopping spree at CF Pacific Centre
Address: 701 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5, Canada
Website: https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/property/cf-pacific-centre
Contact details: 604 688 7235
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thursday and Friday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Birthdays are the best days to splurge and buy whatever you’ve been eyeing for the past year because you have the excuse that it’s your day. And luckily for you, Vancouver just happens to have the best place for that, CF Pacific Centre.
Whether you’re eyeing that designer handbag or the latest tech gadget, CF Pacific Centre is a haven for indulging your shopping fantasies. With its wide list of international and local brands, you’re sure to find the perfect items to make your day truly special.
Have we also mentioned that the mall is a paradise for all foodies? Well, it is! It has a massive food court with an extensive list of food choices, so you can also have a mini food trip after your shopping spree.
| Pro Tip: It’s best not to bring your car since parking can be really expensive and you can just use the parking fee to buy things for yourself. The mall is just right beside the Sky Train station, so it won’t be that inconvenient if you just ride it. |
Dance the night away at The Roxy Cabaret
Address: 932 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L2, Canada
Website: https://www.roxyvan.com/
Contact details: 604 331 7999
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Friday to Sunday: 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Birthdays are all about getting loose and having a blast, so what better way to spend it than dancing to your heart’s content and enjoying a sip of whatever drink you want?
The Roxy Cabaret provides the perfect venue for your birthday celebration and a night filled with revelry and joy. It always has an energetic crowd, pulsating music, and a lively dance floor that creates an electric atmosphere, perfect for a wild and fun birthday night!
And if that’s not enough, The Roxy Cabaret also offers birthday packages to make your day even more special! You can have a VIP line for your group, up to 5 complimentary covers, a table reservation, and a surprise birthday gift from the club itself!
| Pro Tip: Look up the club’s themes on their website to choose which theme would be best for your party. Remember to choose a night within the week of your birthday so you can avail of the birthday package. |
