6 New Venues in Philadelphia for Fall 2022 Meetings and Events

Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook’s hospitality group CookNSolo has spent the past 15 years bringing the diversity and vibrancy of Israeli cuisine to Philly. The debut of Lilah in April marked CookNSolo's ninth concept in the city. Lilah is a brand-new event space located at the edge of Fishtown, and boasts 7,000 square feet of gathering space inside a repurposed, early 20th-century warehouse. There's room for up to 250 seated or 300 standing guests, and the vibe is industrial-chic, complete with concrete flooring, exposed brick walls, and enormous windows allowing for plenty of natural light. A fully customizable food menu aims to showcase Israeli dishes and traditional Jewish cooking. Pricing begins at $22,750 to occupy the entire venue.

The magnificently colorful Grand Palace opened in August, and with more than 16,000 square feet of event space, the expansive venue can seat up to 700. Ideal for banquets, fundraisers, large wedding parties, and even corporate and karaoke events, Grand Palace offers as many as 10 courses of elevated Chinese food served banquet-style—and with 200-plus menu options, every guest is sure to find something they'll enjoy. Outfitting a wall of the massive banquet space is a 272-square-foot LED screen for hosts to display photos, videos, or other promotional assets of their choosing. For smaller groups looking to break out into song, there are four private rooms fully equipped with karaoke systems.

Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse opened a new outpost on Sansom Street in September with a 900-square-foot private, second-floor mezzanine dubbed "The Mezz" (pictured) that can be reserved for up to 100 standing or 60 seated guests. Hosting a larger to-do? The 1,800-square-foot main space can be reserved in its entirety, with a $500 deposit required to reserve. Perfect for food-forward events, Cavanaugh's Rittenhouse boasts a pizza oven, 22 televisions perfect for viewing sports, an 11-foot media wall, dart boards, and more. Classic sports bar offerings are on order, such as buffalo chicken dip, build-your-own burgers, and a Philly cheesesteak, plus no shortage of taps.

Located just steps from 30th Street Station, Garces Trading Company opened in early September at Circa Center. The airy, contemporary restaurant seats up to 130 in a sun-soaked dining room thanks to floor-ceiling windows, with bamboo light fixtures and an open-format kitchen that allows for guests to watch their farm-to-table food being prepared. When not buying out the venue or occupying the balcony dining room for intimate events of up to 35, Garces Trading Company also has a fast-casual cafe, a coffee shop with two exclusive coffee blends, a marketplace, and more. For events, a full-service dining room plus two spaces for private dining and meetings are available.

Aleksandar Stojnic’s full-service restaurant and bar Restaurant Aleksandar opened in Rittenhouse in August. Large, east-facing windows bring sunlight into the converted industrial space, which is juxtaposed by comfortable furniture and family-drawn art on the walls. The eatery serves American food with Eastern European influence from a scratch kitchen with locally sourced ingredients. Fare is inspired by family heirloom cookbooks with roasted vegetables, fish, and game birds at the forefront (think: Philly jawn pierogies, spotted prawns with saffron rice, and wild mushroom risotto) and an obvious awareness of eating with the eyes first. The bar and three dining spaces are available for private events of up to 98 seated guests or 100 guests at a cocktail event.

Chef Jose Garces’ restaurant Buena Onda opened a new location in Rittenhouse Square in August. The brightly decorated restaurant boasts 1,700 square feet of space with indoor and outdoor seating for up to 48 people. And with a goal of bringing the spirit and cuisine of the Baja Peninsula to Philadelphia, decor is coastal, and the menu boasts classic Mexican fare (think: red chile short rib burritos, fish tacos on house-made tortillas, and "buena bowls") as well as sangrias and margaritas, of course. Also featured at the Rittenhouse outpost is the first-ever Buena Onda Marketplace, offering grab-and-go items, snacks, merchandise, and gifts. For planners looking to throw a fiesta, consider setting up a build-your-own taco bar for $25 per person, and add on chips, from-scratch guacamole, and all the fix-ins for $35 per person.