ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2023 and updated in 2024.

I am someone who will take any opportunity I can to celebrate.

I love birthdays because they give me a chance to show someone I care about how much they mean to me, just a little extra that day. Bad things are bound to happen and must be endured; why can’t we take time to appreciate what good we are lucky to have?

But the thing about celebrating someone is that you shouldn’t give someone a gift that you want, you should give them what they want: even if that means no celebration at all.

Here at #ThisIsÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, we’ve come up with a huge variety of local options to celebrate in whatever form or fashion the VIP would want on their special day. We’ve broken down the guide in two ways: group size and budget, so you can easily find ideas that work best for your needs. Cheers!

Couples

On a budget: Road trip! Drive up to Mount Lemmon or down to Parker Canyon Lake in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ County with homemade sandwiches, chips and your favorite candy bar and go on a cute hike. Grab a singular drink at a place with views like . Get a big box of pan dulce from . Get as many tacos as you want from your favorite shop, like , or .

For our mid-budget girlies: Picnic with wine, cheese, in-season fruit, a baguette, pastries or sandwiches from . Pick up flowers from a local florist like . Or go with a classic: a date night for two at the restaurant you really like but don’t go as often because it’s just a little too nice or out-of-the-way for everyday, like , ,ÌýÌý´Ç°ù . I also love going to the movies at or , even though it’s a chain. If you’re into wine, go to a tasting at or  and then eat at a nearby restaurant downtown.

³¢±ð³Ù’s splurge: Book a day trip or an overnight at for horseback riding or enjoy a romantic dinner at a restaurant like ,Ìý, , ,Ìý, ,Ìý at the Ritz-Carlton, or .

Small groups

Back to homepage

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

On a budget: Take a dive bar crawl through ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ classics like , , , , , , , , and . Here’s a of favorite dive bars. Maximize your budget with a walkable route down Fourth Avenue, a designated driver or splitting the ride-share with as many people as you can comfortably fit. Here’s our guide to the , which is free to ride.

For our mid-budget girlies: Go to a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ restaurant with a lot of history and atmosphere, like , , or . If the person you’re celebrating loves meat, check out a classic steakhouse like , , or . If they’re vegan, maybe check out a restaurant with a great selection like , ,Ìý, or . But go where you like! For some, that means . For others, that means . For my closest friend, it means .

³¢±ð³Ù’s splurge: Book a spa day at local resorts like or . You can get a taste of these luxurious experiences with a day pass or fully commit to a staycation. Massage? Facial? Say less.

Big group

On a budget: A potluck or barbecue at your place! Bonus points if you can recruit someone with pool access to host. If you don’t have the hookup, consider a for a hotel with a pool, like Hotel McCoy, where rates for day use start at $20 per person.

For our mid-budget girlies: Order catering from your favorite restaurant. If you'd rather dine in,Ìý’s beatific patio is a favorite for large groups, and they accept reservations for parties of eight or more.Ìý not only has large tables for casual use, you can also with a set or open bar tab and catering. Other options to look into if you want to make a larger reservation: , ,Ìý,Ìý, ,Ìý, , , , ,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý.

³¢±ð³Ù’s splurge: Find a restaurant with a lot of seating and even more views, like Ìý´Ç°ù , or brunch at . and offer central locations for a party that continues downtown. For parties of 12 to 112, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Botanical Gardens offers onsite, but you can also fit a mid-size group on their patio, like my family has done for Mother’s Days past.ÌýYou can also take a trip to the  and make a reservation at Ocotillo Cafe (reservations may be made for parties of 8 or more). Also try: , 's rooftop bar or .Ìý

All ages

On a budget: Reserve a spot in a park. (We have more information on how to do that .) You can bake a cake, or order one in advance from bakeries like or . When I worked at Whole Foods, I was always impressed with our cakes made with fresh fruit, which actually turned out to be some of the cheaper cake options in the area. I’d wager AJ’s makes a good cake as well. Make it extra fun with a piñata from Food City.

For our mid-budget girlies: Grab milkshakes at then mini golf or hire for some kid-friendly entertainment. If you’re a sporty group, head to the batting cages at local spots like . A non-local option with nice views and food in-house is . If I were a kid, all I’d want is a couple friends and a snickerdoodle pancake from . Or a slumber party with pizza from or . If you’re looking for a restaurant that has options for kids and adults, try with a kids menu, a big outdoor space and games. Or there’s , which has kid-friendly favorites like pizza, tacos and hamburgers. has a cute lil kids menu and an even cuter gift shop for on-site presents. 's our big list of kid-friendly restaurants, which includes larger spots like .Ìý

³¢±ð³Ù’sÌý²õ±è±ô³Ü°ù²µ±ð: Rent out a gymnastics or trampoline park like , Ìý´Ç°ù . Or throw a party at . For more ideas, check out our archived story about kids’ birthdays .