Break out of the boardroom and take advantage of the warm summer months with a relaxed picnic-style meeting. From bike rides to indoor options, more hotels and restaurants are offering packages suitable for wining and dining clients and business partners al fresco.
Whether planners are looking to relax on the grounds or take a trip to one of Los Angeles' beaches, Hotel Bel-Air offers its signature picnic, complete with blanket, pillows, and table trays. The menu includes a la carte options such as grilled cheese, assorted charcuterie and salumi, tuna tartare, house-made soft pretzels, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Approximate pricing for a three-course meal starts at $60 per person, with a set-up fee of $75 for each picnic. The picnics are set for two, but guests may contact the hotel for larger party requests. Call 310.472.1211 for more information.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air
For a picnic in Central Park, guests at the Mark Hotel in New York can grab to-go lunches created by famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten to carry or to take via the hotel's custom bikes, which feature details such as monogrammed bells and come with signature black helmets and baskets. The a la carte menu includes steamed shrimp salad, grilled organic chicken sandwich, and a cookie plate, with items ranging in price from $7 to $37. The gourmet basket contains all the picnic essentials as well, including a blanket, cutlery, and condiments, along with an illustrated bike map curated by the chef concierge. To request, call the concierge at 212.606.3129.
Photo: Courtesy of the Mark
The New York Hilton Midtown, located blocks from Central Park, recently introduced picnic baskets from its gourmet market Herb N’ Kitchen. For $68, guests can dine on a Murray’s Cheese plate, two sandwiches, a kale and smoked tofu salad, a slice of New York cheesecake, and a bottle of wine. Call 212.586.7000 for more information. The Hilton Chicago also offers similar baskets from its market, with a variety of options for on-the-go travelers, such as salads, artisanal sandwiches, and gelato. Prices vary. Call 312.922.4400 for more information.
Photo: Courtesy of New York Hilton Midtown
As part of its "Bike with a Manager or Chef" package, Kimpton's the Grand Hotel Minneapolis allows guests to tour the city with a true local. The five-mile guided bike ride, which takes place every Sunday morning at 8 a.m., ends with a picnic brunch at Stone Arch Bridge prepared by chef Kris Koch of the hotel's SIX15 Room. Bikes and helmets are provided. Cost is $20 per person, with a maximum of five guests. To book, call 612.288.8888. The special runs until September 30, and requires 72-hour advanced booking.
Photo: Courtesy of the Grand Hotel Minneapolis
For those groups who want to experience a taste of outdoor dining minus the al fresco part, the historic Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, offers a "Picnic on the Green" lunch special until September 5. Guests as well as the general public can enjoy a three-course pre-fixe lunch menu of classic American fare, including lobster rolls with malt vinegar chips, fried chicken and waffles, and key lime cake, inside the hotel's Green Room restaurant. Cost is $22 per person, not including gratuity. For reservations, call 302.594.3154.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel du Pont
At Corkbuzz Chelsea Market in New York, guests can build their own picnic lunch boxes ($16) to enjoy on the nearby High Line park with a bottle of wine from Chelsea Wine Vault, also located in the marketplace. Menu options include sandwiches such as pulled barbecue chicken, fried soft-shell crab, and grilled cheese, plus popcorn and a house-made chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Contact 646.237.4847 for more information.
Photo: Courtesy of Corkbuzz Chelsea Market
At the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro in Boston, guests can order up a rustic basket with a blanket for dining at the nearby Public Garden or Boston Common. The a la carte menu includes upscale picnic grub such as a roast chicken B.L.T., baked croque-madame, and Connecticut-style crab roll, with prices ranging from $12 to $20. The baskets can serve two to 30 guests. Lunch is available Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Guests need to call one hour ahead to place their order. For parties larger than 10, the Bistro requires 24-hour notice. For more information, call 617.723.7575.
Photo: Courtesy of Beacon Hill Bistro
