The Upper West Side restaurant scene has a rhythm all its own. It’s residential but busy. Close to Central Park, steps from the Natural History Museum, and lined with longtime neighborhood staples along Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway.
Whether you’re hosting a birthday dinner or a team celebration, the restaurants below offer different formats (from high-energy bars to structured dining rooms), so you can easily match your event space to the kind of night you want to create.
7 Top Upper West Side Restaurants In New York City for Hosting Private Events
These spots offer clear layouts, distinct menus, easy event setup, and quintessential Upper West Side energy. In short, everything you need for a once-in-a-lifetime event.
1. Tiki Chick
Location: 517 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY
Tiki Chick is a retro tiki bar on Amsterdam Avenue with a cocktail-centric setup and a fast-paced service style. The room includes window seats overlooking a patio and a jungle-inspired lounge corner with layered décor.
The layout supports social energy. Think birthday parties, after-work gatherings, or celebrations where conversation and cocktails carry the night.
Because it’s a bar environment, the flow is looser than a traditional dining room, which can work well when you don’t want the structure of plated courses.
Getting there: Tiki Chick is on Amsterdam Avenue in the heart of the Upper West Side. It’s within walking distance of multiple subway lines and easily accessible from Central Park or Columbus Circle. Rideshare drop-off is straightforward along Amsterdam Avenue.
2. Jacob’s Pickles
Location: 680 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY
Jacob’s Pickles has become one of the most popular restaurants on the Upper West Side. It’s known for Southern comfort food served in a large, energetic dining room on Columbus Avenue.
The menu leans into dishes like fried chicken, biscuits, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, and other hearty plates designed to be shared or ordered generously for the table. The bar program features American craft beers and cocktails, keeping the room lively well into the evening.
You’re working with substantial portions and a communal dining style. Guests stay seated, food comes out in waves, and the meal becomes the centerpiece of the gathering. It works especially well for birthday dinners or large brunches where you want a high-energy dining room without feeling formal.
Because the space is bigger than many neighborhood spots, you have more flexibility around group size than at smaller Upper West Side locations.
Getting there: Jacob’s Pickles is located near the 72nd Street subway stop on Columbus Avenue. It’s a short walk from Central Park and the Natural History Museum. It’s also easy to reach via transit and rideshare.
3. Maison Pickle
Location: 2315 Broadway, New York, NY
Maison Pickle opened in 2017 as a second concept from the Jacob’s Pickles team. It runs as a classic American restaurant centered on French Dip sandwiches, house-made bread, fine wines, and craft beer.
The menu is built around substantial dishes like roast beef sandwiches served with au jus and desserts from an in-house pastry team.
For private events, that menu structure changes how your night runs. You’re planning around full plates rather than small bites, so guests stay at the table while courses move in order. The dining room format supports organized seating, making it easier to host a long dinner with speeches, toasts, or structured pacing.
Getting there: Maison Pickle sits on Broadway near the 96th Street subway station, convenient for Columbia students, Upper West Siders, and visitors from the Upper East Side. The Broadway frontage makes arrival simple for both transit riders and rideshare drop-offs.
4. Malka UWS
Location: 161 West 72nd Street, New York, NY
Malka UWS brings Chef Eyal Shani’s Tel Aviv–inspired kosher cooking to the Upper West Side in a non-dairy format, with olive oil at the center of the kitchen. The space includes an open kitchen and a polished dining room that feels elevated but not stiff.
The menu changes regularly and focuses on seasonal vegetables, whole fish, poultry, and meat dishes designed for sharing.
The restaurant works well for corporate dinners and intimate celebrations where you want a structured dining experience with a clear culinary identity.
As a kosher restaurant, Malka provides a built-in option for groups that need kosher dining.
Getting there: Malka’s Upper West Side location is just off Columbus Avenue near 72nd Street, within walking distance of Central Park and major subway lines. The area is easily accessible for guests traveling from both the Upper East Side and downtown Manhattan.
5. Le Rivage
Location: 340 West 46th Street, New York, NY
Le Rivage is a long-running French restaurant known for traditional country-style cooking served in a cozy, romantic dining room.
The interior leans into a classic French look, with warm lighting and intimate table spacing. The menu focuses on traditional French cuisine, including staples like duck, steak frites, and house-prepared desserts, paired with French wine selections.
For private events, the space works well for smaller celebrations, rehearsal dinners, and intimate birthday gatherings where you want the meal to move in order – appetizer, main, dessert – without a bar-heavy or standing format.
Getting there: Le Rivage is located on West 46th Street with access to multiple subway lines serving Midtown and the West Side. The street allows for easy rideshare drop-off, and nearby garages accommodate guests arriving by car.
6. Backstage Tavern
Location: 346 West 46th Street, New York, NY
Backstage Tavern is a multi-level restaurant and bar inspired by Bourbon Street, featuring 30-foot ceilings, a carved-wood bar, chandeliers, and distinct seating areas across multiple floors.
The main floor includes high-top tables and booth seating, while a raised section provides a more private corner. Upstairs, there’s mezzanine seating and a rooftop terrace with a full-service bar that can be enclosed or open depending on the weather.
For events, the flexibility is the headline. You can host smaller groups in one section or take over larger portions of the venue for a more expansive setup. TVs throughout the area also facilitate sports-viewing parties, while a DJ stand provides live music or curated playlists.
If your gathering involves dancing and drinks flowing all night, this layout supports that better than a single dining room ever could.
Getting there: Backstage Tavern sits on West 46th Street with strong subway access nearby. Rideshare arrivals are straightforward, and parking garages operate within walking distance.
7. La Grande Boucherie
Location: 145 West 53rd Street, New York, NY
La Grande Boucherie spans an entire block along 6½ Avenue, operating as a large-scale French brasserie inspired by Art Nouveau design.
The space includes a dramatic indoor dining room, a mezzanine, a full bar, and an expansive outdoor gallery with a soaring arched skylight and heated floors. The outdoor plaza accommodates approximately 150 diners, while the full restaurant can host more than 400 guests across all areas.
You can reserve sections of the dining room for seated dinners, utilize the mezzanine for semi-private gatherings, or host larger receptions that take advantage of the gallery space year-round.
Because the restaurant already runs at high capacity, it’s structured to handle large groups with coordinated service.
Getting there: La Grande Boucherie is located on West 53rd Street with access to major subway lines and Columbus Circle. The central location makes it easy for guests traveling across New York City to arrive, with garage parking nearby.
Book Your Perfect Venue in the Upper West Side, New York City
This list covers a few very different ways to host on the Upper West Side. You’ve got spots where the bar is the main event, to a kosher, seasonal share-plate setup when you want the table to do the talking.
In short, there’s an option for anyone. So, whether you’re hosting a friend or planning an event for a client, you can’t go wrong with the options above.
When you’re ready to book, use the Perfect Venue Marketplace to compare event layouts and seating options in one place. Or, browse more venues in the greater New York area for even more exciting options!
