Not only will the Grammy Awards be moving from Los Angeles back to New York in 2018—the after-parties and other music-industry events are returning as well. New York City is no stranger to “Music’s Biggest Night”; next year will mark the 10th time that the ceremony will take place in the Big Apple. And the city has no shortage of venues ideally suited to Grammy parties. Whether event attendees want to sit where music legends have been, experience an A-list nightclub, or try their own hand at music-making, New York has them covered.
Here’s a look at the restaurants, bars, and clubs ideally suited to celebrate music.
Correction: The original version of this story featured a venue that is closed. BizBash regrets the error.
Sandwiched between Chelsea and the meatpacking district, 1 OAK (short for One of a Kind) was the site of Rihanna’s Met Gala after-party. Boasting a rotation of renowned DJs and surprise performances, the New York flagship of the venue brand plays host to a variety of stars. It is owned by the Butter Group, with catering by Iron Chef and Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli of Butter Midtown and design by Roy Nachum. It can accommodate as many as 375 people for reception-style events.
Sister venue Up&Down, a sprawling nightclub with different experiences on its two floors, is another favorite of Rihanna. Just west of Union Square, the 9,000-square-foot space can hold 272 people on each floors. The venue comes with amenities such as a DJ booth, built-in stage, photo booth, and a private karaoke room. Food again is provided by Guarnaschelli, with interior design again by Nachum.
Calling itself a “tudor-style tequila warehouse,” Mexican restaurant Bodega Negra features a copper-penny disco ball, screens made from repurposed Mariachi uniform details and guitars, along with banquettes upholstered in reclaimed military tents, animal hide, and traditional Mexican serape textiles. Located at the Dream Downtown hotel, the eatery seats 108 and provides private dining for 24 guests.
If coolness can be achieved by osmosis, Grammy parties must be held at the 40/40 Club. Co-owned by hip-hop music mogul Jay Z—who has won 21 Grammys—the recently renovated sports and entertainment venue spans 12,000 square feet and offers multiple V.I.P. rooms for viewing parties and large HD televisions throughout the space. The multilevel venue holds 120 guests.
Between its music-theme decor and ties to a major industry magazine, the 5,700-square-foot Chord Club by Billboard will keep guests engaged in the tunes business. The Upper East Side venue provides two recording studios, vocal coaches, sound engineers to work with event guests, a DJ room, and a private event space that holds 75 people for receptions.
For an event venue near Grammy ceremony venue Madison Square Garden, the Skylark fits the bill. The 7,000-square-foot cocktail bar in the garment district offers expansive city views and holds 200 people for receptions or as many as 30 guests in private rooms. The enclosed lounge is open year-round, while a 140-person roof deck is seasonal. The small plates menu from Abigail Kirsch includes dishes such as lobster tacos wild mushroom kebabs and mac ‘n’ cheese cupcakes.
A popular spot for star-studded parties, the Gilded Lily is a 4,000-square-foot subterranean bar and club in Chelsea. Featuring an interior by Roman & Williams, the venue includes a gold-glitter embedded floor, a sunken dance floor, and a massive chandelier synched to the music. The space seats 150 guests or holds 250 for receptions.
With a main floor alcove room dubbed “the Boombox,” Marquee, the Chelsea mega-club, can host 1,200 people and is often used for corporate events. The sound system can be synced with images on a massive LED screen and five moveable rigs of LED lights.
The storied Diamond Horseshoe event space sits in Midtown’s Paramount Hotel. A 5,000-square-foot ballroom can accommodate as many as 300 guests seated or 508 standing. Smaller spaces are available on site, including a 24-foot circular center bar.
A number of stylish event spaces are available at New York Edition, boutique hotel creator Ian Schrager’s luxury concept for Marriott. There’s 2,100 square feet of meeting and event space, including three studio spaces that, combined, seat 102 guests theater-style or 80 banquet-style; there’s pre-function space for receptions, and a 14-person boardroom. Additionally, three 1,350-square-foot penthouses are available for events. The property’s on-site eatery, the Clocktower restaurant—co-owned by prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr—will plan custom menus for events and features a funky and photo-friendly purple pool table.
