NYC Private Dining

On the Lower East Side, Cocktail Bodega and Cocktail Bodega Underground offer two separate venues or one giant one for a company holiday gathering. Both floors serve booze-spiked smoothies and juices served alongside dishes like kimchi Reubens, wings, and jerk-chicken satay. The upstairs space is reminiscent of a school cafeteria with white walls, big windows, picnic-style tables and benches, and primary color-tiled floors. The underground space has a full DJ setup in addition to graffiti-style walls, creating a more club-like atmosphere. For events, the upstairs space holds 225 and the downstairs area holds 125; the entire venue is available for buyouts.

Boomer Esiason’s Stadium Grill opened in September in the Bowlmor Times Square location, and the sports bar and eatery has stadium-style seating on each of its four tiers. Complete with TVs for sports-loving guests, the Grill is available for private groups, with room for 40 in each of its tiers or many as 200 in the entire space. Bowling at the giant facility can also be added on to the price for a private event.

Located in Flatiron, Tre Stelle offers dishes like pesto gnocchi and Nutella cheesecake with customized menus and special holiday offerings available for private events. Outfitted in warm beige tones, the space is modern with an artistic edge—there’s a rotating art gallery wall. The restaurant is available for as many as 65 diners, or there’s a private dining room that seats 40 or holds 50 for receptions.

Part of the Public Theater’s recent renovation, the Library opened in early October. The mezzanine bar and lounge was designed to evoke a vintage library atmosphere with bookcases, a card catalog drawer serving as the hostess stand, distressed leather chairs, and tufted banquettes. With food and drink by chef Andrew Carmellini, the space offers room for 60 seated or 100 standing. Other eye-catching details to take in: old posters from theater performances and a custom steel chandelier over the bar that also doubles as a wine rack.

Antica Pesa, which opened its doors in October in Williamsburg, is the sister restaurant to the original, 1922-established outpost in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood, which is quite similar to the Brooklyn area. The 2,300-square-foot space was designed by Barc Studio and has a vintage-meets-modern feel achieved through white chandeliers, leather sofas, an open kitchen, and a fireplace to anchor the whole space. The restaurant is available for buyouts, seating 74 or holding 200 for receptions. For smaller gatherings, the communal table in the middle of the venue seats 20.

Occupying a 2,500-square foot restored bank building from the late 1800s, Brinkley's Station opened in September. The menu of American fare is made from all organic and locally sourced ingredients, which is paired with a wine and beer list from New York State wineries and breweries. The restaurant also boasts a wide variety of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free dishes. The 25-foot cathedral ceiling space is available for buyouts, holding 150 for receptions or 80 seated; a semi-private mezzanine space has room for 30.

Located in the financial district, Felice 15 Gold Street serves an Italian-focused menu with 16 wines by the glass in addition to over 100 other bottles of wine and cocktails. There's a 1,072-square-foot dining room on the first floor and the upstairs wine bar La Soffitta (meaning "attic" in Italian) has leather banquettes and walls are lined with wine bottles. The upstairs space has the capacity for receptions of 74 or 24 seated; combined with Felice, the space holds 200 guests. Several packages are available for large groups, including a two-hour happy hour special and additions such as a meat slicing station and tasting dinner.

Gaonnuri, a penthouse space with views of the Empire State Building, serves Korean fare including classic barbecue. The 10,000-square-foot venue boasts large windows and skylights to take in the surrounding views and holds 250 for buyouts. There are also two private spaces available for events: a room with the capacity for 40 guests, and a private lounge for 30.

Housed in the meatpacking district's Hotel Gansevoort, Toy serves modern Chinese fare like dim sum and shrimp "toast" cigars, which are complemented by a raw bar selection and sushi. The space, designed by Jeffrey Beers International, gives off a fantasy vibe with an abstract mirrored ceiling, a seasonally updated porcelain-like wall graphic, and theater lighting. While the restaurant is available for buyouts of as many as 250 people, gatherings can also take over the private dining room for 35.

Named after its namesake neighborhood, the 3,500-square-foot Flatiron Room opened in September. The bar doles out a wide variety of whiskey—it houses 500 varieties. Flatiron Room is available for buyouts, accommodating 225 on the two floors. The first floor boasts a black walnut bar, leather banquettes, sliding ladders to reach booze cabinets along the walls, and a stage for live entertainment. A private tasting room is also available for events, with room for as many as 45 for receptions. Snacks like Scottish eggs, oysters, braised short ribs, and cheese and charcuterie plates are served on boards to promote sharing. Miguel Aranda, previously of Daniel and Bar Masa, serves up cocktails for non-whiskey lovers like a lavender gimlet.