Win big by sharing your event sourcing insights.
Complete our latest survey on event location selection for the chance to win a cutting-edge VR Headset!
Take the survey.

New Private Rooms That Will Make You Want to Throw a Party

I visited Daniel, the Dream Hotel's Crystal Room, and the Standard (the new one) in search of the next best party space.

The new look of Daniel
The new look of Daniel
Photo: E. Laignel

A New York Times four-star review of Adam Tihany’s redesign of Daniel made me wonder if there had also been a revamp of its private dining room, the Bellecour.

The answer is oui! You really should book your next dinner or cocktail party there, and let me tell you why. For starters, walking down the entry stairs is still one of the best “jueje” moments the city proffers. The new lighting fixtures with dotted porcelain panels by Bernardaud that mirror the new place settings add a new glow and zip to what has always been a perfectly proportioned set of rooms. 
 

This is a major refurbishment, which means there’s so much to see. I’m just giving you a heads up. In the past, there was a little “church and state” vibe, but now the Bellecour and the adjoining bar and lounge match more seamlessly to the new Daniel, which is more contemporary overall. As a reminder, Bellecour still has a second private entrance with gracious full-sized windows facing 65th Street. (I deplore venues with no windows, don’t you?). To take a tour, call Ryan Buttner at 212.933.5261.

I got the rundown on Mr. Boulud’s other doings, including two new restaurants in Vancouver on the eve of the Winter Olympics (and the second DB Bistro, my Midtown favorite), and a downtown boite DBGB (get it?) on the Bowery set to open in April.

For a knockout night on the town, I recommend checking out the redo of the Crystal Room at Ava, which sits atop the Dream Hotel on West 55th Street. It’s a tent on a roof, so I expected drafts, but Stanford Tents was the vendor, and it’s snug as a bug, fake fireplace and all. It has those Philippe Starck chandeliers, which still look new, and built-in spots for custom lighting. There’s room for about 100 people comfortably, and the Times Square view is spectacular, with smoking decks to boot.

All sorts of celebrities go there, big names, but one that should matter is Martha Stewart, who perched on a stool right next to me for a private office celebration. The place is run by Rick Addison of Lounge Bars Inc., who is new to me. Courtney Van Jahnke is the knowledgeable and low-key creative project director who helps run special events (she is also a fine art photographer). In fact, all the staff was friendly and with it. Whoever is in charge of hiring has a good eye.

This is a late-night kind of place, with fancy drinks (a raspberry brandy number was tasty if syrupy for $14) and simple bar food. Although outside catering is sometimes allowed, they try to steer you to their on-site providers, Serafina and Dean & Deluca, no slouches.

The space has a built in V.I.P. room. I can’t stand them, but for a hotspot like this I guess it is a necessity. 

Finally, I wanted to check in on venues at the new Standard Hotel over the High Line in the meatpacking district, which is now open-ish. The hotel is, of course, the NBT (next big thing) and deserves to be. André Balazs, whose places always have great buzz, has finally gotten himself an important building. 

The hotel’s main restaurant won’t open until June and isn’t even yet named, so I have little to report. But I did get a rundown on event spaces from Alessandra Rocchi, who you’ll be calling soon to reserve a spring date for fashion/style events, if you are smart.

There’s still plenty to choose from at the Standard. Inside, the Highline Terrace has more than 4,300 square feet with indoor and outdoor parts and the Hudson River as a backdrop. The Sean Hausman-designed Lounge is 3,200 square feet, and finally, there’s the 3,000-square-foot Plaza room. All have amazing High Line views. (Look in Vanity Fair at Todd Eberle’s photos if my word won’t suffice.)

After an evening of looking at these three establishments—all different, all really quite good—I wished I was still booking events.