12 August 2022

Celebrating your birthday? Here's how to do it for free!

| Evelyn Karatzas
Start the conversation
Birthday party

Here’s a list of where you can go to make your birthday a little more special – on the cheap! Photo: Todor Tsvetkov.

Is it that time of the year again where you have to sit awkwardly in front of a cake, blushing, as your friends and family surround you and sing that song?

Whether you’re at an age where you’re happy to be young and celebrate or you’ve reached the point of buying a question mark birthday candle, birthdays are meant to be a joyful celebration.

To add to the fun, we’ve created a list of some of the places in Canberra you can go for complimentary treats on your special day.

You might want to save this article for future reference!

It doesn’t matter if you’re turning one or 101, there’s something fun (and free) for everyone on their birthday.

Food and drinks …

Smoothies

Who doesn’t need a little Boost on their special day? Photo: Boost Juice.

Boost Juice

If you’re a fruity juices and smoothies fan, be sure to sign up and become a Boost ‘vibe member’ to receive a free original-sized Boost drink of your choice. This can be redeemed two days before or after your birthday too!

Boost Juice is located all over Canberra including at the Canberra Centre, Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen, Canberra Outlet Centre (DFO), Majura Park Shopping Centre and Marketplace Gungahlin.

Churros

Did someone say churros? Photo: San Churro Woden, Facebook.

San Churro

What could be better than eating free churros on your birthday?

At any time during your birthday month, head down to San Churro in Woden to receive your complimentary birthday churros – the Churros for Two.

The offer is open to any ‘el SOCIAL’ member of San Churro who has made a full-priced purchase at San Churro in the past 12 months prior to their birthday. All you need to do is show your birthday email and photo ID in-store. If you’re not a member yet, sign up here, it’s free.

Chai

Who can resist a free bubble tea on your birthday? Photo: Chatime Australia.

Chatime

Sip-sip hooray, free iced tea! As part of Chatime’s Loyal-Tea member program, you can get your hands on a free large bubble tea with any mix-ins of your choice.

Whether you’re after a pearl milky tea or a classic peach or mango black tea with popping pearls and rainbow jelly, being a member is worth it if it means you get a free drink on any day of your birthday month.

All you need to do is be sure you are signed up to the Loyal-Tea program (sign up here) and make sure you have made a purchase at Chatime in the three months prior to your birthday. You will then be sent an email to redeem your complimentary tea.

Chatime is located at Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen, Gungahlin Marketplace, and in two places on the ANU campus.

Kebab

Some presents should stay wrapped. Photo: Ali Baba.

Ali Baba

Birthday presents won’t be the only thing you’ll be unwrapping on your special day this year. Getting your Ali Baba kebab is simple. Sign up to Ali Baba’s loyalty program and show your ID and birthday email in store to redeem.

Ali Baba can be found in the Canberra Centre, Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, Wanniassa, Phillip, in Southpoint Shopping Centre and Riverside Plaza Shopping Centre in Queanbeyan.

Pad Thai

You can’t resist a free pad thai box at Wokitup! Photo: Wokitup!

Wokitup!

Wokitup! offers authentic flavours of South-East Asia and noodles on your birthday.

To redeem your free noodle birthday box, sign up to Wokitup’s Loyalty Membership System and present your unique email to any store across Canberra.

As well as receiving free noodles, for every dollar you spend, you will receive one point, once you’ve earnt 100 points, you get a $10 voucher to spend too!

You can find your nearest Wokitup! store on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, Emu Bank in Belconnen and Crawford Street in Queanbeyan.

Subway

Celebrate your birthday right with a six-inch sub from Subway. Photo: Subway Australia.

Subway

Don’t stress about where to go for lunch on your birthday this year, as Subway has you covered with a free six-inch sub and drink.

This special offer is sent out the day before your birthday and is only valid on the day. To be eligible, sign up for Subway’s Subcard membership program and enter your details.

Subway is in the Canberra Centre, Manuka Shopping Precinct, Majura Park Shopping Centre, Dickson, Caltex Canberra Airport and Canberra Outlet Centre (DFO).

Coffee

What’s your go-to coffee at Gloria Jeans? Photo: Gloria Jeans Australia.

Gloria Jeans

Start your birthday properly with a complimentary small cup of coffee from Gloria Jeans. To be eligible, sign up to Gloria Jeans’ rewards program for free, and you’ll be able to use your birthday voucher at the start of your birthday month and it will be valid for four weeks.

You can find Gloria Jeans at Riverside Plaza in Queanbeyan and Gungahlin Village.

Muffin

Ain’t muffin better than a freebie on your birthday. Photo: Muffin Break.

Muffin Break

If you’re looking for a light snack on your birthday, head to Muffin Break to enjoy a complimentary muffin in your birthday month.

Just sign up to the Muffin Break Rewards online or download the app, and start earning and counting down till your special day.

Muffin Break is located at Majura Park Shopping Centre.

tea

Tea for two and two for tea at T2. Photo: T2 Tea.

T2 Tea

Calling all tea-lovers! If free Chatime iced tea doesn’t interest you, T2 – the specialty tea store that focuses on reinventing and reimagining the humble tea leaf – is giving away a free full-sized takeaway cup of tea for its members. To tea up your gift, register and become a part of the T2 Tea Society here.

T2 is located in the Canberra Civic Centre, Westfield Woden and Westfield Belconnen.

oporto

Because you’re the most oport-ant person on your big day. Photo: Oporto.

Oporto

As part of Oporto’s birthday freebie, when you sign up to be a member of the Oporto’s Flame Club, you’ll get a free meal for your birthday and a $5 voucher when you sign up.

To sign up, visit Oporto Flame Rewards.

Oporto is located in Garema Place in the city, in the Canberra Outlet Centre (DFO) and in the Canberra Centre food court.

Yoda

Your birthday it is. Celebrate with a Yoda Soda you should. Photo: Reload Bar and Games, Facebook.

Reload Bar and Games

If you’re looking for a place to have a drink on your birthday, if you spend $15 on drinks at Reload Bar and Games, show your ID to the bartender within a week of your birthday and claim your jug of Yoda Soda – a Star Wars-themed special cocktail drink (valued at $20).

In retail…

There are plenty of places to go and get cheeky birthday discounts in store in Canberra – here are a few to get you started …

cotton on

Cotton On to a birthday voucher. Photo: Cotton On Australia.

  • Cotton On $10 voucher to use in-store at Factorie, Cotton On or Supré during your birthday month
  • Bonds $10 gift card for your birthday
  • Crossroads $10 voucher
  • Pandora 15% discount on regular-priced jewellery items in their birthday month
  • Swarovski – 15% off Birthday voucher
  • H & M 25% off one item on your birthday
  • Glue Store $10 voucher
  • Adidas 15% off discount code
  • General Pants & Co. 20% off discount code
  • Anaconda $10 reward on your birthday if you become an Adventure Club member
  • City Chic $20 birthday voucher and other bonuses during the year.

Have we missed any stores, shops or eateries? Let us know in the comments!

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.