Planning an event in New York City means more than finding one of the best restaurants NYC has to offer. You need food people will enjoy, a dining room that works for groups, and a location that makes sense whether guests are coming from downtown Manhattan, Midtown, or the outer boroughs.
The restaurants below cover a wide range of styles, from Italian food and French classics to wine bars and high-energy dining rooms. Each one works for events because it balances good food and a setting that feels right for a special night, not just another dinner reservation.
14 of the Best Restaurants NYC Has to Offer for Your Next Event
These restaurants are set up to host private events without losing what makes them worth visiting in the first place.
1. The Oberon Group
Location: 233 Butler Street, Brooklyn, NY
The Oberon Group runs several Brooklyn standouts, including June, Rhodora, Rucola, and Anaïs. Each has its own layout and mood, from a candlelit wine bar to a more traditional dining room.
Food across the group is built for sharing and pacing. Instead of oversized plates or complicated presentations, menus lean toward smaller vegetable dishes and proteins.
Wine is a major focus here, especially natural and low-intervention bottles. If you’re hosting guests from downtown Manhattan or the outer boroughs, it’s an easy Brooklyn option that still feels like one of the city’s favorite restaurants, not a backup pick.
Getting there: Located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Easy walk from the F and G MTA trains. Street parking tends to be limited, so rideshare drop-offs are simple on Butler Street.
2. Kitchen 93: Shinka Ramen x Bowery Beer Garden
Location: 93 Bowery, New York, NY
At 93 Bowery in the Lower East Side, Kitchen 93 pairs Shinka Ramen with the Bowery Beer Garden. Shinka’s ramen is all about long, deliberate prep, with broth and ingredients made through a process that can take up to 20 hours.
It’s a straightforward format for group dinners. Guests order individual bowls, and food arrives in a consistent rhythm instead of staggered shared plates. It also includes non-ramen items like flatbreads and bar-style food.
On the Beer Garden side, there's a sports-themed bar featuring a large TV and an extensive beer selection, including many drafts, bottles, and cans.
Getting there: Subway access is simple via the J or Z at Bowery or the B or D at Grand Street. Driving in this corridor is slow, and parking is limited, so rideshare drop-off on Bowery is usually the most predictable.
3. KABIN
Location: 300 Spring Street, New York, NY
KABIN is a Nordic-inspired bar and restaurant at 300 Spring Street in Manhattan. The concept references Norwegian cabin culture (“hytte”) and ties into seasonal celebrations like Midsommar and Santa Lucia.
The food is distinctly Scandinavian, with items like Swedish meatballs served with lingonberry, plus a hasselback potato finished with a Jarlsberg cheese béchamel.
Drinks are a main part of the venue. The menu highlights aquavit alongside cocktails, beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options, so it works for guests who want a full bar program alongside dinner.
Getting there: KABIN is in downtown Manhattan, close to multiple subway lines. You can take the 1 to Houston Street or the C or E to Spring Street. If guests are driving, plan on a paid garage instead of hunting for street parking. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is easiest on Spring Street.
4. Casino
Location: 171 East Broadway, New York, NY
Casino, a restaurant on the Lower East Side, serves an Italian-leaning menu in a compact dining room.
Crowd favorites include items like Tagliatelle Bolognese and pasta with clams, which makes the menu easy to navigate for group dinners where guests want recognizable Italian food instead of experimental dishes.
The setup works best for smaller private meals rather than large buyouts. Tables are close, service moves at a steady pace, and the room supports a seated dinner format where everyone orders their own plate.
Getting there: Casino is near the F train at East Broadway and the J or Z at Delancey Street. Driving in the area can be slow, and street parking is limited. Rideshare drop-off along East Broadway is usually the most reliable option.
5. Farm to People Kitchen and Bar
Location: 1100 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Farm to People Kitchen and Bar is a large restaurant and event space in Brooklyn with a menu built around local farm sourcing.
The kitchen draws on the same network of regional producers Farm to People is known for, so menus change based on what’s available rather than following a fixed rotation. Dishes often include fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, and meat prepared in straightforward ways that scale well for groups.
Indoors, there’s room for large seated dinners or standing receptions, and the venue also includes an outdoor garden area. With an indoor capacity that can handle several hundred guests, this is one of the few restaurants in the outer boroughs that can host large celebrations without shifting into banquet mode.
Getting there: Located in East Williamsburg near the L train at Morgan Avenue. Many guests arrive by car, and street parking is more common here than in Manhattan, though it still fills up. Rideshare access along Flushing Avenue is straightforward.
6. Jupiter
Location: 620 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Set at rink level in Rockefeller Center, Jupiter is run by the team behind Soho’s King restaurant and focuses on handmade pastas, grilled meats, and vegetable dishes that change with the menu. The open kitchen is visible from the dining room, and the layout looks directly onto the skating rink.
For events, Jupiter offers several configurations. There’s a semi-private dining area called La Tavola, a terrace that runs along the rink, and the option to rent out the full restaurant.
The menu is best for seated dinners, and the wine list leans heavily toward Italian wines, which fit well for group meals built around shared courses and bottles on the table.
Getting there: Jupiter sits inside Rockefeller Center, with easy access to the B, D, F, and M trains. Several parking garages operate nearby. Rideshare drop-off is simplest along Fifth Avenue or 49th Street.
7. Tiki Chick
Location: 517 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY
Tiki Chick is a bar and restaurant on the Upper West Side built around a retro tiki theme. The menu is compact and casual, with a focus on fried chicken sandwiches and bar-style food that’s easy to eat during a standing event.
Food service moves quickly, which helps when hosting larger groups that aren’t seated all at once.
Tiki Chick also runs as a cocktail-forward bar with tropical drinks and house cocktails, and the space includes multiple rooms (Bamboo Room and Jungle Room) that can be reserved separately or together.
DJs and late-night events are common, and the layout supports a high-traffic, social format rather than a traditional dining room setup.
Getting there: Located near the 1 train at 86th Street. Driving can be difficult during evening hours, and street parking is limited. Rideshare drop-off along Amsterdam Avenue is usually the easiest option.
8. Jacob’s Pickles
Location: 680 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY
Known for Southern comfort food, Jacob’s Pickles centers its menu on dishes that are filling and familiar. Biscuits are a constant, often paired with butter variations, and the kitchen is best known for fried chicken with crispy skin, shrimp and grits, lemon roast chicken, and other hearty plates.
There’s also a strong house pickle program, with multiple pickled vegetables appearing across the menu.
Group meals follow a seated format, with guests ordering their own plates rather than relying on coursed tasting menus. It’s a practical setup for group dinners or weekend brunch events near Columbus Circle, where the food does most of the talking.
Getting there: The restaurant is close to the A, B, C, D, and 1 trains at Columbus Circle. Several parking garages operate nearby, which is the most reliable option for drivers. Rideshare drop-off along Columbus Avenue is straightforward.
9. Maison Pickle
Location: 2315 Broadway, New York, NY
French dip sandwiches anchor the menu at Maison Pickle, and everything else is built around that idea. The dips are made on in-house-baked bread and served with au jus. The menu also features classic French and American dishes, such as French onion soup and fresh fish.
Desserts are made by an in-house pastry team, making it easier to keep groups seated through the end of the night.
The cocktail list includes spirit-forward options, alongside wine and beer, which fit the restaurant’s comfortable, brasserie-style dining room.
Getting there: Located on Broadway near the 96th Street stop on the 1, 2, and 3 trains. Street parking is limited, so a nearby garage is the safest bet for drivers. Rideshare access along Broadway is simple, especially outside peak traffic hours.
10. HaSalon NYC
Location: 735 10th Avenue, New York, NY
Evenings at HaSalon follow a set structure. The restaurant runs two seatings per night, with the earlier seating kept quieter and the later seating shifting into a higher-energy dinner service.
The menu changes daily and draws from Mediterranean cooking, with dishes served for the table rather than as individual, plated courses.
As the night goes on, music becomes part of the room, and service adjusts to match the later crowd. Events here typically align with the second seating, when the dining room transitions into a louder, more animated environment.
Getting there: HaSalon sits in Hell’s Kitchen, near the A, C, and E trains at 42nd Street-Port Authority. Several parking garages operate nearby for drivers. Rideshare pickup and drop-off along 10th Avenue is usually the most efficient option.
11. Bondurants
Location: 303 East 85th Street, New York, NY
Bondurants operates as a neighborhood bar and restaurant on the Upper East Side, with a menu that reflects Southern influences rather than a single cuisine focus.
Food options include comfort-driven plates alongside brunch items. The bar program emphasizes cocktails, whiskey, and craft beer, and many guests come specifically for the drink menu.
The layout supports casual gatherings more than formal private dining. Tables and bar seating stay close, and events typically run as standing or semi-seated affairs where guests move between the bar and tables.
It’s a practical option for relaxed group events where drinks are the main draw and food plays a supporting role.
Getting there: Bondurants is close to the Q train at 86th Street and the 4, 5, and 6 trains at Lexington Avenue. Street parking is limited along the East Side, East Village, and Central Park, so drivers often rely on nearby garages. Rideshare access along Second Avenue is reliable.
12. Keys and Heels
Location: 1488 Second Avenue, New York, NY
Behind the facade of a locksmith and shoe repair shop on Second Avenue, Keys and Heels opens into a private cocktail lounge set up for events.
The interior is fully enclosed from the street and includes a main bar and open floor space that can be cleared or rearranged depending on the format. A DJ setup and lighting elements are built into the room.
The focus stays on cocktails and atmosphere, with light bar snacks rather than a full dinner service. Events typically run as cocktail-style affairs, with guests standing, circulating, and using the bar as the anchor of the space.
Getting there: Located on the Upper East Side near the Q train at 86th Street. Driving in the area can be slow, and street parking is limited, so most guests rely on rideshare drop-off along Second Avenue.
13. Le Rivage
Location: 340 West 46th Street, New York, NY
Le Rivage sits on Restaurant Row in the theater district, serving classic French cuisine in a traditional dining room. The menu focuses on recognizable dishes, including steak frites, French onion soup, French-style soft-boiled eggs, and other long-standing French staples.
The dining room is compact with cozy tables, so events here work best as seated meals rather than cocktail receptions. Its location near Times Square makes it a common choice for pre- and post-theater dinners, especially for groups that want a set meal and a clear start and end time.
Getting there: Le Rivage is close to the A, C, and E trains at 42nd Street–Port Authority. Several parking garages operate nearby. Rideshare pickup is easiest before curtain time or later in the evening, once theater traffic thins.
14. Backstage Tavern
Location: 346 W 46th Street, New York, NY
Backstage Tavern sits in the theater district near Times Square, with a Bourbon Street theme and a dramatic interior built around a wood-carved bar and roughly 30-foot ceilings.
On the main level, there’s a bar area with high-tops and booth seating, plus a more secluded raised section that gives your group separation without feeling cut off.
Upstairs adds two more options: mezzanine-style indoor seating and a rooftop terrace with a full-service bar and restaurant-style tables. The rooftop can be left open or enclosed depending on the weather.
If your group likes a casual menu that’s easy to eat between drinks, this kind of setup also pairs well with street food-style ordering and late-night favorites like a smash burger.
Getting there: You’re a short walk from the A, C, and E trains at 42nd Street-Port Authority and close to multiple Midtown lines. If guests are driving, nearby parking garages are the most predictable option in this area. Rideshare drop-off is easiest on 46th Street.
Conclusion
New York’s restaurant scene moves fast, with new restaurant openings constantly reshaping where people eat and gather. But when you’re planning an event, novelty alone isn’t enough.
You need a place where the food makes sense for groups, whether that means shared plates that arrive steadily or a menu where everyone can find a favorite dish without overthinking the order.
The restaurants in this list cover a wide range of formats, from casual street-level spaces to multi-floor venues with rooftops and private rooms. Some are best for seated dinners, others for cocktail-style events where guests move around, grab drinks, and save room for whatever comes out next.
If you want to compare layouts and booking options from one platform, the Perfect Venue Marketplace helps you explore restaurants that already support private events.
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