In New York, a number of significant event and meeting venues opened this year. Here's our picks for the best restaurants, party rooms, hotels, corporate event venues, conference centers, private rooms, and cultural spaces that debuted in 2018. These new and renovated New York venues serve groups of all sizes for private and corporate events, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Union Square Hospitality Group opened its first dedicated event space, Bay Room, in Lower Manhattan. Towering over lower Manhattan on the 60th floor of a Liberty Street skyscraper, the space has sweeping views of New York Harbor from the East to the Hudson rivers, including the Statue of Liberty. The venue seats 520 guests or holds 580 for receptions. Catering is by Union Square Events, and the space's amenities include access to audiovisual equipment, Ketra intelligent lighting, automatic shades on windows, and Wi-Fi.
A new cultural hub on the East River, Pier 17 is a multi-space venue that's become a go-to for statement events—like Spotify's Hot Country Live concert headlined by Carrie Underwood and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, both of which took place on the expansive rooftop this summer. Located in the Seaport District, the venue, from the Howard Hughes Corporation, offers a backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and views of other city icons such as the Empire State Building. Recently opened is R17, a new rooftop bar and restaurant that's enclosed for the winter but will shift to an open-air setup in the summer. The space seats 60 and was designed by Rockwell Group.
A New York institution and favorite of the city's power lunch set, the Four Seasons Restaurant relocated to a new Midtown space after a high-profile move from the Seagram Building. Opened in August, the restaurant from owners Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini features a New American menu from executive chef Diego Garcia and a pastry program from former White House executive pastry chef Bill Yosses. The design is Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld's first project in the United States and aims for an elegant, mid-century modern feel with elements pulled from around the world. There's hand blown glass beads from the Czech Republic in the 20-seat Bar Room as well as an Italian terrazzo floor and a light installation by London-based designer Michael Anastassiades in the 110-seat dining room. The second-floor private dining space seats 100 for lunch or dinner or holds 150 for receptions.
Freehand New York hotel opened in the former George Washington Hotel in Flatiron in January. Designed by Roman and Williams, the hotel offers 395 guest rooms—including two penthouse suites—and five dining options, including the Simon & the Whale restaurant and the George Washington Bar, helmed by restaurateur Gabriel Stulman. A rooftop location of the acclaimed Broken Shaker is planned for the spring. The hotel also is launching “The Freehand Fellowship” in partnership with the Bard College MFA program and Live Arts Bard, Bard College’s artist residency and commissioning program, in which selected artists will have the opportunity to live, work, and exhibit at the hotel.
A high-concept attraction for groups, Spyscape is an interactive museum about spycraft. The midtown space was designed by the buzzy architecture firm Adjaye Associates and features high-quality audio and lighting design. Guests receive R.F.I.D.-enabled devices upon entry and can use them in experiences that illuminate the art and science of spying. Examples include challenges such as using a profiling system developed with a former British Intelligence official, testing agility in laser-equipped tunnels that recall a movie set, and attempting to fool a lie-detector test. The museum opened in February, and it is available as a ticketed experience for groups or as a venue for events with as many as 600 guests.
A new exhibit at the New York Aquarium offers an unbeatable view for events: the creatures that populate "Ocean Wonders: Sharks." It's the first new exhibit since 2012, when Hurricane Sandy destroyed half of the park. Long anticipated, the Coney Island attraction features more than 115 marine species, including 18 different types of sharks and rays, and has experiences like a walkway with a coral reef on three sides with marine life flowing all around. The exhibit is available for private events. The space seats 120 guests or holds 450 for cocktails and has a rooftop bar that overlooks the boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean. The entire aquarium can accommodate more than 2,000 guests.
Pilot, a seasonal oyster bar in New York from the team behind Grand Banks, opened in August. The bar, which is located aboard an American schooner in Brooklyn Bridge Park, serves nautical-theme cocktails and oysters from New York and across the country. The bar’s commitment to sustainability includes a zero-waste policy and a partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, a citizen science project coordinated by the New York Harbor School that aims to restore one billion live oysters to the New York Harbor by 2030. The 150-foot-long boat offers three event options: the Captain's Table for private dining for as many as 12 guests, cocktail parties on the foredeck for 30 guests, and full buyouts for reception-style events for as many as 150 guests.
Ophelia lounge opened in February atop New York’s historic Beekman Tower. Sitting 26 stories high, the greenhouse terrace offers 360-degree views of the city skyline and the East River. With its 1920s architectural details and 1930s-inspired design, the cocktail lounge highlights the rich history of the Beekman Tower, which was built in 1928 as a residence for working women. The venue is composed of the Grand Terrace, the Outer Terrace, and a private dining room. The 4,500-square-foot space, which seats 100 guests in all, combines modern design and historical elements. The menu offers reinventions of classic cocktails, and the lounge features unique curios such as 1930s tarot cards and antique photography.
Located within Union Square Park in the pavilion building, the restaurant Bocce USQ conjures the spirit of relaxed Italian summers with a menu of pizzas and sharable dishes and a beverage menu of spritzes, frozen cocktails, and Italian wine. There's also an outdoor bocce court for guests to participate in the Italian pastime. The design concept, from Gachot Studios, includes playful touches such as lighting fixtures that resemble bocce balls. Overall the venue seats 99 inside and 62 outside. It opened in June and will stay open through October before transitioning to delivery for the winter. Catering will remain available year-round.
Sony Hall, a music venue from Blue Note Entertainment Group with sponsor Sony, opened in the former Diamond Horseshoe space at the Paramount Hotel near Times Square in March. The 12,000-square-foot venue underwent light renovations and now has Sony technology integrated into the space, but it retains amenities such as extensive lighting and sound capabilities, a full-service restaurant and bar, and more. The space holds as many as 1,000 guests standing or 500 for seated events and can be adapted with a center stage, a catwalk, and other customizations.
