10 New Venues in New York for Spring 2021 Meetings and Events

Designed in collaboration with David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, @Ease1345, located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, is a full-service tenant lounge and bookable meeting and conference venue that brings nature in with lush greenery throughout. Ease Hospitality from real estate firm Fisher Brothers Management Co. specializes in customized events, including live training workshops, corporate celebrations, board meetings and full-scale digital conferences, with an emphasis on hybrid and virtual events. The 18,000-square-foot space, which opened in March, includes 5,500 square feet of flexible meeting area, two huddle rooms and a multipurpose gallery. There are eight meeting rooms, as well as the 2,305-square-foot Oasis Assembly conference center, which has a capacity of 200 people. Meeting room rental pricing starts at $1,000 and goes up to $15,000 for a full buyout.

In October, the 186-room Gansevoort Meatpacking unveiled a top-to-bottom renovation of its guest rooms, lobby and common spaces. The new rooms boast high-end tech enhancements including Mirror, the interactive home gym that allows guests to stream fitness classes; Google Nest Hub, which gives guests easy access to hotel and neighborhood information; and wireless charging and keyless entry options. In addition to the existing ground-floor restaurant, the rooftop and the executive boardroom, the property now features the Poliform Penthouse, a 1,700-square-foot duplex that includes 30-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase views of the Hudson River, along with other amenities like a surround sound system and spacious dining area, making it ideal for smaller private events.

Located at the corner of Hudson and King Streets in the Hudson Square area of downtown Manhattan, the latest location of cafe and bakery franchise Maman King, which is known for its coffee and pastries, features a lush greenhouse garden, along with a dining area with rustic wood tables and suspended lighting. Ideal for “micro” events such as birthday dinners and baby showers, the space, which opened in January, measures 2,500 square feet and can fit 50 people seated or 100 standing. Rentals are available starting at $2,000, with a minimum food and drink spend starting at $1,500.

In December, owner Dean O’Neill opened Pekarna, a bi-level restaurant that spans two buildings at 592 and 594 Amsterdam Avenue, located at the corner of West 89th Street on the Upper West Side. Serving an array of Slovenian-American foods, Pekarna (which means bakery in Slovenian) preserves elements of the 100-year-old building including a display of the original dumbwaiter. The space measures just under 7,000 square feet, with 2,400 square feet for upstairs dining and 2,400 square feet downstairs. Pekarna’s total capacity is 320, with 240 seated and 60 standing. Individual spaces include a multimedia room that can hold 50 people; banquet rooms, which hold 40 people and 35 people, respectively; and an outdoor space for 40 people. The spending minimum is $25 per person per hour.

Located in Callicoon, N.Y., Seminary Hill, a working orchard and cidery, offers views of the Catskills and the Delaware River Valley, with a landscape that changes with the seasons, making it a picturesque venue for weddings. Think pink and white blossoms in the spring, growing apples and pears in the summer and vibrant foliage in the fall. For spring 2021, the property is adding on a tasting room, along with the renovated Boarding House accommodations, which feature 17 bedrooms across eight separate apartment units. The Cidery Tasting Room measures 3,500 square feet and can be divided into two separate spaces, about 1,750 square feet each with separate entrances and bathrooms. In total, the tasting room seats 100 people, reception style. Peak season rates (from May to October) start at $17,500; rates for the off season (from November to April) and weekdays (Mondays-Thursdays) start at $12,250. Special tours of the orchard and cidery can also be organized for guests.

Open since September, The Rockaway Hotel in Queens, N.Y., contains 53 guest rooms, including eight extended-stay suites. There's 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including the 5,000-square-foot Harbor Room with floor-to-ceiling windows and the 3,140-square-foot Sun Deck, which seats 350 or holds 500 for receptions. Additional spaces include a prefunction room that hosts 70 seated guests and 90 standing, a rooftop area that holds 300 and a terrace with space for 100. Design brand Destination Haus also recently debuted a decorated guest suite inside the beachside property (pictured) that’s specifically designed for hosting safe private dining and small events.

The land upon which Dutch’s Spirits sits carries a somewhat scandalous past as a former bootlegging operation run by legendary mobster Dutch Schultz. In September, the farm-to-bottle distillery, located in Pine Plains, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley region, opened up again for (legal) business, creating local craft spirits including one of Schultz’s original concoctions. The property currently boasts two event spaces including The Hilltop, which is about 20,000 square feet of lush, level lawn with surrounding valley views that’s perfect for private weddings. The area is available May through October and can accommodate 85 to 250 guests. It comes with a sailcloth tent, paved patio space and 72-inch round tables and crossback chairs, along with a luxury restroom rental for $12,500. The indoor third-floor Distillery View Room is about 1,800 square feet with 21-foot-high ceilings and a view of the distillery floor. The room can seat 75 guests comfortably. Rates are between $900 and $2,000 based on the season. The distillery also offers a customizable beverage program with specialty cocktails and offerings for $35 per person for a two-hour open bar and $60 per person for a five-hour open bar.

Billed as an "elevated axe-throwing destination," Live Axe, a 10,000-square-foot activity venue in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, features seven cage-enclosed axe-throwing lanes, an industrial bar setup and an underground vibe with a Viking theme. Opened in November, the two-story venue includes a private event room with its own bar and three additional throwing lanes. “Axeperts” are on hand to teach guests ax-throwing techniques and the rules of the game, as well as safety measures. Live Axe also has a full food menu and roster of creative cocktails.

Membership-based waterless nail studio GLOSSLAB is set to expand with the opening of its new Tribeca outpost, located at 180 West Broadway, in late April. Founded by Rachel Apfel Glass, the brand also boasts locations in the Flatiron District (which recently hosted Essie’s NYFW party for 100-plus guests) and in the West Village. Ideal for more intimate events, the 700-square-foot Tribeca location will feature six manicure and six pedicure stations, with buyout pricing dependent upon the specific event and needs. Upon reopening following the COVID-19 shutdown, GLOSSLAB has implemented additional health and safety measures at its salons, including installing a ventilation system to properly circulate air.

Set in the historic Beaux-Arts Battery Maritime Building, the newest Cipriani location features the grand look and feel that the restaurant company is known for, along with four major event spaces—the 9,000-square-foot Great Hall, North and West Concourses and the outdoor Loggia, plus three smaller areas (South Concourse and River Suites East and West). Plus, Cipriani South Street will soon debut its first private membership club and hotel within the same facility, called Casa Cipriani. In terms of seating, the Great Hall can accommodate up to 800 banquet guests; the North Concourse, 300; the West Concourse, 200; and the Loggia, 280 for a reception.