Planning a private event in Manhattan means sorting through a lot of options. The city is packed with great New York City restaurants, but far fewer that can actually handle group logistics without turning the night into a hassle.
The restaurants below offer a range of formats for events across New York City, from multi-room spaces near Penn Station and Times Square to more contained dining rooms suited for seated dinners.
Some are better for daytime gatherings, others for evening events, but all are set up to host private groups in a way that makes planning easier.
10 Best Manhattan, New York City, Restaurants for Private Gatherings
Each restaurant below offers a defined layout and enough flexibility to support private events without relying on temporary setups or off-menu workarounds.
1. Markette and The Argyle
Location: 326 7th Avenue, New York, NY
Markette and The Argyle operate side by side in Manhattan, offering two connected restaurant spaces that can be used separately or together for private events.
Markette is the brighter of the two, with a dining room built around an open, airy layout, visible greenery, and details like fresh flowers that suit daytime events and brunch with friends.
The menu focuses on prix fixe-style dishes and cocktails rather than formal fine dining, making ordering simple for mixed groups.
Next door, The Argyle shifts the tone. Lighting is lower, and the room is better suited to evening events, corporate dinners, or seated celebrations that need a more enclosed setting.
Getting there: Markette and The Argyle are located near Penn Station, with access to multiple subway lines and commuter rail. Driving is possible, but traffic can be heavy in this corridor, so guests often rely on rideshare drop-off along Seventh Avenue.
2. Hurley’s Saloon
Location: 232 West 48th Street, New York, NY
Hurley’s Saloon is located a short walk from Times Square in Midtown Manhattan and operates as a multi-level restaurant and bar with three interior floors and a rooftop garden.
The setup includes a full-service bar on each level, private booths, and dedicated rooms that can be reserved for parties of different sizes. The menu sticks to Irish pub food with American staples. Guests will find burgers, fries, chicken dishes, seafood, and steak options rather than chef-driven tasting menus.
Indoor and outdoor dining are both available, depending on the weather, and the venue is designed to handle volume without compressing guests into a single dining room.
Getting there: Hurley’s is steps from multiple subway lines near Times Square and has a parking garage directly across the street. Rideshare drop-off on West 48th Street is straightforward, though it can be slow during peak theater hours.
3. HaSalon NYC
Location: 735 10th Avenue, New York, NY
HaSalon runs two seating options each night, both by reservation. The first seating is quieter and more controlled, with the same menu served at a slower pace. The second seating shifts the room into a louder, more animated environment, with music becoming part of the dining experience.
The menu changes daily and draws from Mediterranean cuisine, with an emphasis on vegetables, fish, and light meat dishes. Service is built around sharing rather than individual plates, which shapes how private events work here.
Getting there: HaSalon is located in Hell’s Kitchen, near the A, C, and E trains at 42nd Street–Port Authority. Guests driving in from outside Manhattan often use nearby garages. Rideshare drop-off along 10th Avenue is generally the most reliable option.
4. Passerine
Location: 36 East 20th Street, New York, NY
Passerine is a seasonal Indian restaurant in Manhattan led by Michelin-starred Chef Chetan Shetty. The menu is shaped by two sources: spice blends prepared by Chef Shetty’s mother in Pune and produce sourced from the Union Square Greenmarket.
That combination results in dishes that follow Indian cooking traditions while changing with what’s available locally.
Instead of a large menu built for volume, Passerine focuses on a tighter selection of dishes served in a structured flow. It’s a good fit for private dinners centered on cuisine and conversation rather than cocktail-style movement.
Getting there: Passerine is located near Union Square, with access to the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, and W trains. Street parking is limited in this area, so guests often rely on rideshare or nearby garages.
5. Casa Louie
Location: 455 West 37th Street, New York, NY
In Hudson Yards, Casa Louie focuses on Italian food built around familiar formats that work well for group dining. The menu includes pizzas, pastas, and entrées inspired by coastal Italy.
Notable items include burrata with pistachio pesto, fried calamari with Mama Lil’s peppers, and a Carbonara pizza finished with guanciale, pecorino, and a runny egg yolk. The pasta selection includes malfadine bolognese made with dry-aged beef and veal.
The dining room is designed for seated meals, with tables arranged to accommodate groups without pushing into a cocktail-style layout. An Italian-focused wine list supports shared ordering.
Getting there: Casa Louie is a short walk from the 7 train at Hudson Yards–34th Street. Drivers typically use nearby garages rather than street parking. Rideshare drop-off along West 37th Street is usually straightforward outside peak traffic hours.
6. The Grey Dog
Location: 242 West 16th Street, New York, NY
What started on Carmine Street has grown into several Manhattan locations, including this spot in Greenwich Village. The Grey Dog operates as a neighborhood restaurant serving straightforward American food across breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Portions are generous, the menu is broad, and dishes are familiar, which makes ordering easier for groups with different preferences.
This location works best for informal gatherings rather than structured private events. Tables are close, and the atmosphere stays casual throughout the day. It’s commonly used for brunch meetups and group meals where the focus is on eating and conversation rather than a defined program.
Getting there: The Grey Dog is near the 1, 2, and 3 trains at 14th Street and within walking distance of several West Village subway lines. Street parking is limited, so rideshare or public transit is usually the easiest option.
7. Vin Sur Vingt
Location: 230 East 51st Street, New York, NY
Vin Sur Vingt, often shortened to VSV, operates as a neighborhood wine bar with several locations across New York City, including this Midtown East outpost.
The format follows a classic Parisian bar à vin model, with a menu built around small plates designed to pair with wine rather than stand alone as full entrées. Tables are close together, and the dining room favors seated service over standing receptions.
Wine drives the experience here. The list includes bottles and by-the-glass options that encourage sharing at the table, which shapes how private events are run. Food plays a supporting role, making this a better fit for intimate gatherings focused on drinks and conversation rather than a full dinner program.
Getting there: Vin Sur Vingt is located near Grand Central, with access to the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S trains. Driving in Midtown East is slow, so guests typically rely on subway access or rideshare drop-off along East 51st Street.
8. Le Rivage
Location: 340 West 46th Street, New York, NY
On Restaurant Row in the theater district, Le Rivage is a traditional French restaurant with a menu built around classic dishes.
Dishes include French onion soup, steak frites, and other staples that are familiar to diners who prefer straightforward ordering over experimental formats. The dining room is table-driven, with a layout that supports seated meals rather than cocktail-style events.
Because of its location near Times Square, Le Rivage is commonly used for group dinners tied to theater schedules.
Getting there: Le Rivage is close to the A, C, and E trains at 42nd Street–Port Authority. Midtown garages are plentiful in this area, which is often easier than searching for street parking.
9. Jupiter
Location: 620 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Inside Rockefeller Center, Jupiter is an Italian restaurant with multiple built-in options for private events. The dining room looks directly onto the skating rink, and the open pasta kitchen is visible from many tables.
The menu focuses on handmade pastas, grilled meats, and vegetable dishes, supported by a wine list centered on Italian producers.
For private gatherings, Jupiter offers several defined spaces. La Tavola functions as a semi-private dining nook for smaller groups, while the Rinkside Terrace runs along the rink and supports aperitivo-style events.
A full restaurant buyout is also available if you want to shift the space into a dinner-and-dancing format rather than a strictly seated meal.
Getting there: Jupiter is located at Rockefeller Center, with direct access to the B, D, F, and M trains. Multiple parking garages operate nearby for guests driving in. Rideshare drop-off works best along Fifth Avenue or on surrounding side streets.
10. Malka UWS
Location: 161 West 72nd Street, New York, NY
Malka UWS is a kosher, non-dairy restaurant focused on Israeli cuisine. The open kitchen is part of the dining room, and olive oil plays a central role in how dishes are prepared. Everything is made in-house, and the menu changes regularly to reflect what’s in season.
The food is structured for sharing. Plates include seasonal vegetables alongside larger fish, chicken, and meat dishes designed to be placed in the center of the table.
Getting there: Malka is near the 1, 2, and 3 trains at 72nd Street. Street parking is limited on the Upper West Side, so guests driving in often use nearby garages. Rideshare pickups and drop-offs along West 72nd Street are usually straightforward.
Find The Best Manhattan Venue For Your Event
Manhattan offers no shortage of places to eat, but hosting a private event narrows the field quickly. From multi-level spaces near Times Square and Penn Station to more contained dining rooms closer to Central Park, each of the above options is guaranteed to help you host an unforgettable event.
Whether you’re planning a seated dinner, a cocktail-style event, or a full buyout, the right venue comes down to fit.
Location, service style, and how food is served at the table matter just as much as the cuisine itself, especially in a city as dense as New York City.
If you want to compare layouts and booking details across these spaces in one place, Perfect Venue Marketplace makes it easier than ever.
Browse hundreds of restaurant event spaces in Manhattan and the surrounding New York area, and find a spot that calls to you!
