New York City’s endless supply of standout restaurants is enough to keep a dedicated eater occupied every night of the week. Though when it comes to sharing the experience with friends, limited capacity and busy reservation lines can make a group reservation as challenging as finding a cab on a rainy night in Manhattan. Luckily, many of the city’s best restaurants offer private dining experiences, all bookable in advance, where friends and loved ones can come together while also diving into some of the most delicious menus the city has to offer. From a laid-back tavern serving American cuisine to one of New York’s most famous fish restaurants, these 44 private dining rooms can accommodate your next private Big Apple soirée in style.
A friendly heads-up: most spots on this list are available for full and/or partial buyouts; and do note that restaurants’ group policies vary — some opt for a set menu, others don’t; some are bookable via Resy, while others encourage you to reach out directly.
We’ve also reached out to Amber Mayfield, the founder and CEO of New York-based To Be Hosted, a full-service events agency that specializes in dinners and food-focused gatherings to ask her for her best tips for planning holiday celebrations at restaurants. You can find her tips below.
Newly Added: Blackbarn, Bourbon Steak, Delmonico’s, The Golden Swan, Joji, and Winona’s.
A Pro’s Tips & Tricks for Picking a Restaurant Private Dining Room
Amber Mayfield is no stranger to booking restaurant private dining rooms for her many clients throughout New York. As the founder and CEO of event agency To Be Hosted, it’s her job to find the best spaces to accommodate her clients’ gatherings. We asked her to share her best advice for choosing the right restaurant private dining room for your needs; here’s her checklist of things to ask and look for when booking a private dining room:
- What’s the capacity of the private dining room?
- What kind of table arrangements can you have?
- What’s included in the package? What’s the cost per person?
- Are there corkage fees for bringing in your own wine or bottles?
- How flexible are you with any substitutions to the menu or the package?
- Does the private dining room have its own dedicated restroom? Or bar? Or sound system?
- Can you play your own playlist? Or bring your own musicians?
- Ask if you can view the private dining room in person before you book. “There are a lot of great photos of private dining rooms, but they’re nothing like experiencing it in person,” she says. “I recommend collecting all the information online first and then scheduling a site visit, and also booking a reservation to try the food, too.”
- If you’re booking for the holidays, try to book as early as possible. “Restaurants will be very busy so starting to plan early is best,” Mayfield says. “Make sure that if the restaurant has deadlines on head count and menu selections that you adhere to them.”