15 New Venues in New York for Spring 2022 Meetings and Events

Gerber Group Hospitality, the team behind The Crown on Hotel 50 Bowery’s rooftop, opened its second outpost at the Lower Manhattan hotel—underground dance club Daphne. The 2,500-square-foot space opened in February and upon entering, transports guests into one of NYC’s discotheque-era nightclubs of the mid-1970s with a swanky space that’s anchored by (of course) a giant disco ball. A dreamy floral installation by New Jersey-based flower and art studio Floratorium helms the venue’s decor, with pink-silk flowers dancing up the walls from the DJ booth and onto the second level. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-4 a.m., the space is available for full buyouts for up to 150 guests, with pricing starting at $7,500. For a more intimate celebration, 20 VIP tables can accommodate smaller parties. Dancing the night away? Quench your thirst with one of Daphne’s specialty cocktails—such as the playfully named “Lite My Fire” or “Some Like it Hot."

In February, Chicago-based hospitality group DMK Restaurants extended their reach into the Big Apple with the opening of The Landing on the second floor of the PENN 1 building in Midtown. The Landing boasts a robust menu, with everything from lemon chicken orzo soup to start followed by a selection of salads, sandwiches, pastas, a ribeye steak or grilled branzino (to name just a few). The 3,515-square-foot casual dining space can seat up to 150 in the main dining room (MDR) or 175 for reception-style events, and the space can be divided into the 716-square-foot MDR east and 790-square foot MDR west. Other event spaces include private dining room (PDR) 1 and 2, which span 555 and 250 square feet, respectively. Perfect for a corporate event, meeting or celebration with live entertainment elements, PDR1 boasts oak wood-paneled walls with sultry velvet seating and accents of brass for up to 30 seated or 40 for a reception-style event, while PDR2’s dark walls and custom black dining table set a more intimate, moody scene for 12. The two rooms can be combined, and each offer a professional AV control system, built-in surround sound, HDMI and XLR. Groups are asked to inquire within for event pricing, which varies depending on the duration of the event.

Calling all over-18s with a sweet tooth because Kinky's Dessert Bar debuted on the Lower East Side on Valentine’s Day of this year, naturally. The 550-square-foot, multi-level space is New York City’s first adults-only bakery celebrating sex positivity and gender inclusivity with a suggestive menu full of sweet (and sexy) playfully named treats, such as the “Tease Me” vegan chocolate chip cookie, “Your Fantasy” chocolate cupcake and “Talk Dirty to Me” strawberry-filled waffle, which is served in the shape of male or female genitalia. The 450-square-foot main floor can accommodate up to 50 standing or 24 seated guests, while the 100-square-foot mezzanine can host up to 20 standing or 16 seated guests. Married couple and food entrepreneurs August and John DeWindt are behind the concept, which they decorated with ice cream parlors of the ‘60s and ‘70s in mind. The pink-and-purple color scheme is offset with a wall displaying vintage posters and graphics, an S&M-themed bathroom and X-rated table decor. The shop checks IDs upon arrival and hopes to offer wine and beer in the near future.

Hyatt Place New York Chelsea is the Hyatt Place brand’s second-largest property in the world. The 45-story, 510-room hotel opened in December complete with 2,250 square feet of meeting and event space, unobstructed views of the Empire State Building and One World Trade, plus an on-site bar, lounge and outdoor terrace. The terrace spans 1,700 square feet and has a retractable roof as well as the ability to be enclosed in glass, perfect for year-round reception-style celebrations for up to 100 guests. The 550-square-foot, indoor private event space boasts 16-foot ceilings and a skylight for natural light during the day or stargazing at night. Event pricing starts from $1,000-$3,000 for room rentals and $20-$75 for F&B per person, depending on the day of the week and time of the event. Have downtime? The hotel is just steps away from the city’s iconic High Line, Chelsea Market, Flower District and so much more.

Located in a four-story townhouse in Rockefeller Center is Pebble Bar—a sleek, multi-level bar and restaurant that transformed century-old pub Hurley’s which, back in the day, regularly welcomed the likes of Johnny Carson (before The Tonight Show moved to LA) as well as David Letterman and the cast of Saturday Night Live, before closing its doors in 2000. Two decades later, in March of 2022, the historic space is back open for business, welcoming events up to 150 in the 2,250-square-foot space, starting anywhere between $75,000- $100,000 for a buyout of the first three floors. At 750 square feet per floor, each level can accommodate up to 50 standing guests and has something different to offer—from the mosaic-tiled ground-floor lobby, to the back-lit brass bar overlooking 6th Avenue anchoring the second-story space and the third floor’s moody dark-blue dining room complete with a marble-lined oyster bar, which can host a seated dinner for up to 35. The 4th floor (pictured) is occupied by Johnny’s, a 25-seat standalone event space accessible exclusively by private elevator, which is notable for its private bar and cocktail lounge (not to mention the grand piano).

Hong Kong-based leading entertainment design firm Upper Class International Designers Limited expanded its portfolio into the U.S. with the opening of Nebula in November. The expansive nightclub and event space spans 11,000 square feet across three floors for up to 693 guests to convene in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The 5,500-square-foot main floor boasts 30-foot ceilings and an open-floor layout to accommodate up to 600 for a reception-style event and up to 400 in flexible seating configurations for a conference or meeting. LED screen panels throughout the space can project custom branding, lighting and design elements for a fully immersive, unforgettable event. A DJ booth takes center stage (literally) with two bars that nod to Nebula’s location on West 41st Street—the east-side Bryant Park Bar and west-side Times Square Bar. The 2,500-square-foot mezzanine, which overlooks the first floor and has a standalone bar surrounded by faux leather banquettes, can host up to 125 standing or 75 seated guests. On the 3,000-square-foot lower level, there are three private rooms designed for more intimate gatherings, from an over-the-top karaoke night to a seated dinner party with a custom menu curated by Nebula’s on-site executive chef and culinary team. Full buyouts start at $30,000, and minimums vary depending on the day and time of an event.

Soothe your soul at Lullaby (and we’re not talking about with a cradle song), a Lower East Side, laid back, cocktail-meets-dive-bar serving up the Dole Whip treat Disney fans know and love with a boozy twist. Officially opened on March 10, the intimate, 800-square-foot space gives off a laissez-faire atmosphere where 40 seated or 74 standing guests can enjoy curated drinks from award-winning, New York-based bartender Brian Miller reasonably priced at $10-$15 per cocktail and $5-$7 for beers. There are 14 seats at the low-lit bar and decor is minimal, accented by a black-granite bar top. A fun addition to make an event more memorable? Lullaby is providing disposable film cameras courtesy of local camera company Manual for eventgoers to take snaps throughout the night. And they can even pick up their developed photos upon their next visit to the bar!

Asian restaurant and bar TLK has been serving up an entirely gluten-free, veggie-forward menu since it opened in the East Village in December. The woman-owned brick-and-mortar restaurant by NYC-based restauranteur Michelle Morgan comes after a delivery-only concept of TLK, which functioned under the name Tiger Lily Kitchen, saw great success during the pandemic. Aside from a host of health-conscious dishes, including koji marinated salmon and lemongrass chicken glass noodles, meatless offerings such as vegan peanut street noodles, spicy grilled Japanese eggplant and celery root steak make for an innovative menu. The bar also offers gluten-free spirits, puts a focus on natural wines made by female winemakers and has a selection of hard kombuchas and local beers. The 1,200-square-foot space’s decor is as fresh and bright as its menu, with pink-velvet booth seating, light-wood floors, custom copper-topped tables and no shortage of live greenery for up to 40 seated or 70 standing guests to enjoy. Event pricing starts at $1,000 per hour.

In late January, chef Gaurav Anand opened Baazi, bringing modern twists on traditional Indian cuisine to the Upper West Side. Menu highlights include tunday ke kebab, made of minced lamb patties, tzatziki and pickled onions to start; an entree of butternut squash kofta, a traditional Middle Eastern meatball dish; and a jalebi sandwich for dessert, which is a made-to-order Indian-style sticky funnel cake served with vanilla ice cream. Spanning 1,400 square feet and two floors, Baazi is available for full buyouts for up to 55 seated or 80 standing guests. Although a first floor-only buyout is unavailable for events, the 800-square-foot second floor can be reserved for up to 24 seated (or 35 standing) guests to dine with a prix fixe menu available at $120 per person, including a la carte drinks. The restaurant’s blue-and-yellow color palette was designed to evoke feelings of dining in the Mediterranean, and noteworthy decor elements include blue-velvet seating, fringed chandeliers and a photo op–worthy indoor olive tree surrounded by a cascade of yellow florals.

Nestled in the West Village is the intimate, 300-square-foot ramen bar Ramen Misoya. Opened in February, the minimalist space boasts modern, blonde-wood furniture and exposed brick accents, perfect for a smaller-scale buyout of up to 20 guests. Bright orange doors lead into the main dining room and 10-foot ceilings in combo with large windows give diners a direct view into the kitchen, which altogether makes for an open- and airy-feeling space despite the restaurant’s subterranean location. This is the second Ramen Misoya location in the Big Apple (the first opened in the East Village in 2011), and it is still the only restaurant in the city dedicated exclusively to miso ramen, which chef and owner Norimitsu “Nori” Nishida enriches with regional Japanese flavors.

The music-infused Hard Rock Hotel debuts in Midtown Manhattan on April 25 and will boast 12,717 square feet of meeting and event space designed by Jeffrey Beers International. Host a 400-person gathering in the Venue on Music Row, a 6,069-square-foot, bi-level entertainment space equipped with an LED screen for hybrid meetings. Or mix and mingle at an indoor-outdoor cocktail party at the hotel’s RT60 Rooftop Bar & Lounge (pictured), an expansive bar located 34 floors up, complete with two outdoor terraces spanning a total of 3,025 square feet. Other notable event spaces include the 3,233-square-foot Rock Star Suite, a specialty suite with floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive views of the NYC skyline that’s perfect for more intimate celebrations; the 2,324-square-foot Sessions Restaurant & Bar, located in a light-soaked atrium; and the 1,812-square-foot NYY Steak, a refined steakhouse characterized by its Mozambique wood walls, antique bronze-mirrored ceilings and blue-velvet seating. To maximize guest experience, take advantage of Audacy Live, a state-of-the-art performance facility located inside the hotel, or BREAKOUT, a brand program for meetings and events in the Hard Rock Hotel's designated event spaces. Immersive offerings include “Learn to DJ” and silent disco sessions; “Spin Art Stations,” where attendees can create their own vinyl artwork using real LPs with custom labels to commemorate their meeting or event; and songwriting workshops with American Idol Season 14 finalist Najah Lewis.

After opening its first-ever outpost in the Bronx more than a decade ago, The Bronx Brewery opened a second Manhattan location in February designed as a brewery, taproom, kitchen and music venue. Built on the foundation of community and creativity, the new East Village spot features art and music from local artists and organizations, such as the colorful, chalkboard-style wall mural by Bronx-based artist Andre Trenier. The inclusive space spans 1,500 square feet, can accommodate up to 75 guests inside—125 including the outdoor patio—and has an eclectic menu of cheese empanadas, fried chicken sandwiches and vegan burgers by Sweden’s Bastard Burgers (The Bronx Brewery is the only U.S. location serving the overseas brand). The taproom, to no surprise, also boasts a selection of beer, curated ciders and wines, including its Y-Series, a selection of limited-edition brews spotlighting “Y” the brand does what it does. Offerings include C.R.E.A.M. (Creativity Reveals Everything About Me), made in partnership with NYC-based creative entrepreneur and graphic designer Steve Lucin, who created the coloring book-style label by layering black-and-white icons representing the city. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of C.R.E.A.M. will go to Lucin’s nonprofit Support Creativity.

Because New Yorkers will never tire of pizza, Macchina opened a permanent location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in November after running a successful pop-up destination out of nearby bar and gastropub The Bedford. Housed in a rustic, old factory with decor noteworthy for its original design elements—such as the tin ceiling with pulley track beams and wood floors—Macchina celebrates Italian-American fare with a modern, pizza-focused menu, including the burrata, shrimp scampi, spinach kale pesto and farmed mushroom pies, to name a few, which are made using four stone-fire burning ovens. The 12-seat bar is serving up an extensive cocktail and wine menu behind a custom-made bar top that encloses milled shelving and a vintage library ladder. Up to 75 guests can attend a seated event in the 2,400-square-foot pizzeria, with full buyouts available and pricing upon request.

An easy-to-find Italian wine bar opened in November in the back of a Lower East Side deli, and it prides itself on being “less speakeasy” and “more drinkeasy.” At One19 Wine Bar + Food, there’s no secret password to know or phone number to call to get in—guests simply have to walk through a curtain to enter the 1,000-square-foot space, made cozy with an exposed-brick interior and blue under-bar lighting. With partial and full buyouts available, event packages start at $40 per guest for up to 32 to enjoy a sit-down meal complete with a selection of wine and food. Buyouts Tues.-Thurs. start at a $1,600 minimum spend, which increases to $2,500 for events held Fri.-Sat. The dining room can accommodate up to 16 seated or 45 standing, while the bar area is perfect for more intimate gatherings of up to 12 seated or 22 standing guests. The concept is helmed by hospitality industry veterans chef Matt Rojas and sommelier Gianni Cavicchi, who have removed chardonnays and merlots from the menu to encourage patrons to taste lesser-known grapes in a welcoming atmosphere. The extensive drink menu of white, red, orange and bubbly wines by the glass, bottle or on tap, pairs perfectly with the Italian-focused food menu, which features shareable dishes such as a customizable charcuterie board and a wine and chocolate truffle flight.

Challenging the traditional white-tablecloth atmosphere of a steakhouse, Vinyl Steakhouse is set to open in early May in the Flatiron District decked out in vintage film and music posters as well as larger-than-life photos of music icons. The 2,000-square-foot steak, wine and music destination is broken into two 1,000-square-foot spaces: a front wine bar for up to 40 for a cocktail-style event and the main dining room, which can accommodate up to 40 for a sit-down dinner. Full buyouts are also available starting at $20,000 for up to 70 guests to enjoy executive chef Alexander Lord-Flynn’s modern menu, featuring affordable cuts of tomahawks and porterhouses. The front wine bar—which starts at $10,000 for events—is characterized by high-top seating and turntables, where owners Kevin and Sofia Flannery will play records from their personal collection of more than 2,000 records across genres of rock, funk, jazz, soul and more. A long, copper-topped cocktail bar beyond the wine bar leads guests into the dining room, which boasts moodier lighting, banquette seating and a semi-open kitchen. Pricing for events in the dining room starts at $15,000.