10 New Venues in New York for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events

Originally opened in 2010, InterContinental New York Times Square unveiled a refresh of its 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space in February. It only took about one month for the 607-key hotel to install new wall and floor treatments to its 4,000-square-foot, pillar-free Gotham Ballroom (pictured); 1,302-square-foot Washington Square Park room; and the intimate, 520-square-foot Executive Boardroom (which can accommodate 300, 100, and 12 guests, respectively). Each venue space now features an earth-toned palette to highlight the InterContinental hotel’s revamped emphasis on nature in the middle of the Big Apple as well as new art installations. The Stinger, the hotel’s on-site cocktail bar, also got a face-lift, now boasting new soft seating in the lounge. The eatery can accommodate partial or full buyouts for events, with a menu that focuses on comforting American classics like roasted chicken, lump crab cakes, and steak au poivre alongside bespoke cocktails.

Self-described as “an evocative menagerie,” Le Bar Penelope opened on Sept. 12, bringing old-world European charm to the Upper East Side. From The Avra Group, the lounge and piano bar spans a total of 3,000 square feet—including a 320-square-foot private dining room for seated affairs of up to 26. Le Bar Penelope’s lounge, meanwhile, can accommodate as many as 100 seated or 150 standing guests within 2,680 square feet. On the menu, expect raw-bar bites, including caviar tastings and elevated American and Chinese dishes (a step away from Avra’s typical Mediterranean concepts) designed for sharing. When hosting events here, no additional decor is necessary as the venue boasts handblown light fixtures, animal-printed table lamps, bespoke murals over green velvet banquettes, no shortage of greenery, and a skylight outfitted with its original stained glass.

For its 10th anniversary, the five-star Park Hyatt New York on Billionaires' Row is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar series of enhancements that began in June and are set to wrap up in early 2025. Aside from upgrades to its collection of 210 guest rooms, 92 suites will also see a revamp—including Park Hyatt’s opulent, 3,500-square-foot Manhattan Suite (pictured) set 25 stories up on the property’s top floor. Perfect for an upscale affair, the Manhattan Suite will soon have the option to connect with two guest rooms, each featuring 140-square-foot balconies with stunning views of Central Park. Together, the spaces will create a three-bedroom wraparound suite complete with a spacious living area and dining table for up to eight, plus a fully stocked wet bar, a butler’s kitchen, and a private office. Consider the forthcoming Rossano Ferretti salon or Spa Nalai, which will each open new locations at the Park Hyatt as part of the renovation. For a more traditional event space, the hotel also offers 8,000 square feet of designated venue space, including the 3,100-square-foot Onyx Ballroom and 650-square-foot Terrace Boardroom for receptions of 180 and 60, respectively.

On Sept. 20, The Penn District welcomed Alessa Cucina e Bar to its world-class campus that covers two city blocks and sits atop Penn Station. Designed to bring a slice of “La Dolce Vita” to the bustling corner of Manhattan, Alessa puts an emphasis on housemade Italian cooking—including pizzas made in an Italian-imported oven. The restaurant is expansive, offering 5,400 square feet across two levels. It can all be bought out for large-scale events with up to 450 guests. Or, either of the two floors can be reserved alone: The main floor can accommodate 155 seated or 270 standing guests, while the second floor can fit 75 seated or 140 standing. Smaller affairs with up to 30 guests can also be accommodated, as Alessa was designed with events in mind. Each corner of the eatery features a different vibe with a unique hand-painted mural, though they all fit together to make a cohesive restaurant design where the devil is in the details (even the pizza ovens feature mosaic designs). Inquire within for pricing.

Just one block from Bryant Park, Hyatt’s Grayson Hotel welcomed a new event venue in early August called Bar Harta. It’s an indoor-outdoor wine lounge from leading food and beverage Apicii Hospitality (which is also behind Bowery Road and Studio 59) that offers 1,502 square feet of space to eventgoers who enjoy a glass of vino. Bar Harta operates as an extension of Harta, an all-day Mediterranean restaurant that opened on Grayson Hotel’s ground floor back in November 2022. Bar Harta, however, is located on the hotel’s second-floor terrace. There are 30 wines on offer by the glass, half carafe, or bottle, plus a menu of small plates designed for mixing and mingling. Buyouts are on offer for seated events with up to 150 guests or standing events for as many as 200. Inquire within for pricing.

Roughly 10 miles from the Lincoln Tunnel outside of Manhattan is The Hudson Rose, a swanky all-day restaurant that opened in Nutley, N.J., in August. The Hudson Rose is expansive, taking up roughly 10,000 square feet across three floors—including its 3,300-square-foot Harlow Room (pictured), a dedicated event space for as many as 200 guests that includes the smaller Rose Room (which can host 40 guests on its own) as well as the Harlow Lounge. The lounge space, which is notably equipped with its own bar, can also be booked on its own for gatherings of up to 80 guests. There’s also a first-floor private dining room that’s completely enclosed in glass for intimate dining events for up to eight guests. Inquire within for pricing.

The Henson quietly opened in early June and offers guests an elevated, homey experience. Located in the Catskills just two and a half hours outside of New York City, the 16-bedroom estate is available for buyouts for group retreats, getaways, and weddings alike. For a smaller to-do, there are more than seven dedicated venue spaces on site, including a 425-square-foot private dining room (pictured) for 22 guests to wine and dine. Consider making use of the PDR’s show kitchen to host a cooking class or private chef-curated dinner. The Gardens, a floral and fragrant space, takes up half an acre and can welcome as many as 140 guests. Also outdoors: a roof deck and dining deck. Each can host up to 36, but the latter also offers a fire pit and impressive views of The Henson’s gardens. The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Matilda, boasts its own 2,200 square feet of space, and the 400-square-foot Living Room, dubbed “the soul of the property,” can be reserved for team meetings or cocktail hours with up to 15 guests.

CANTO, an upscale Italian spot in the West Village (particularly beloved for its frozen espresso martinis), expanded to the Upper West Side in early September. CANTO described its new outpost as “a refined older sibling to the original,” nodding to sleek finishes such as lime-wash walls, antiqued glass accents, and a hand-painted mural courtesy of artist Karina Smyrnova. CANTO’s indoor dining space spans approximately 1,600 square feet (not including a seasonal, alfresco patio space) that can accommodate up to 75 seated guests for a food-focused event or 90 for a standing affair. Menus for brunch and dinner are on offer, with event minimums ranging anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 depending on the day of the week and time of the year.

New York City landmark hotel The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York unveiled a complete renovation in September, bringing contemporary touches to the corner of 50th Street and Lexington Avenue—where the hotel has sat since the 1920s. The new Beverly Suite boast 975 square feet of space and are a perfect option for gatherings of up to 10. Meanwhile, the redesigned, 1,500-square-foot Benjamin Suite on the hotel’s 22nd floor is fit for hosting events of up to 30. Elsewhere on site, four modular spaces—together dubbed The Lexington Rooms—offer flexible arrangements for guest lists of up to 100, while the Corner Room is ideal for receptions of 75 and notable for its frosted French doors and clustered teardrop chandelier. In response to customer feedback, The Benjamin’s recent revamp also brought the debut of the 380-square-foot Sonesta Work Suite, designed for up to 10 professionals to gather for a meeting or remote work session.

Wallflower, a ’70s-inspired listening bar and speakeasy cocktail lounge, opened on Sept. 18 by Parched Hospitality Group, which is also behind NYC’s popular Australian-style cafe Hole in the Wall. Wallflower is yet another trendy spot from the hospitality group located on the penthouse lounge level of Hole in the Wall’s Flatiron location. What’s different about Wallflower, though, is its midcentury modern furniture and design—nearly all of which is available for purchase—alongside a menu of classic cocktails and light bites (think: shrimp cocktail and rotating bread-and-dip flavors). Full venue buyouts are available for all of Wallflower’s 1,800 square feet of space, which can accommodate up to 100 standing guests. There are also half-buyout options on offer for the “Terrace Room” (aka the front half of the restaurant that includes a terrace) for up to 35 guests, and the “Bar Room” (the back half, or bar side) for up to 65. F&B minimums for events range anywhere from $2,500 to $5,500.