New York City has no shortage of fantastic venues perfect for celebrating a young person’s coming of age. While our list of ultimate party venues is as varied as it is comprehensive, one common current runs through them all: Each promises a distinct affair to remember—regardless of what kind of tone you want to set.
LET’S EAT
Apella Event Space, at Alexandria Center at 450 East 29th Street, can hold up to 300 guests for a cocktail reception, 250 seated theater-style, and various other setups for smaller events. All food and beverages are exclusively catered by Tom Colicchio’s restaurant Riverpark and sandwich shop ‘wichcraft. apella.com
Guastavino’s window-filled building under the Queensboro Bridge at 409 East 59th Street was named for the distinctive terra cotta tiles adorning its arches and vaults. The look is classic New York—these are the same tiles that are in the subway stations and Grand Central Terminal. guastavinos.com
Opia Restaurant at 130 East 57th Street in Midtown has adjoining rooms, which means you can host 14-300 people for a sit-down dinner with dancing, or just serve drinks and passed appetizers. Price per person varies depending on the menu and number of guests. opiarestaurant.com
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Arena at 135 West 41st Street in Bryant Park has New York’s largest programmable L.E.D. lighting system and has been home to some of Fashion Week’s swankiest affairs. It’s a great space for budding fashionistas to celebrate their milestone. arenanyc.net
Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theatre is great for bar or bat mitzvahs. This unique theatrical experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else, guaranteed to be an outing that your group will never forget. Party packages—which include discounted tickets, the name of the mitzvah child on the L.E.D. screen, and a merchandise item for each guest—are available for groups of 10 and up. Located on Lafayette Street between 4th and Astor. blueman.com
Hudson Terrace at 621 West 46th Street is a turn-of-the-century up-scale nightclub. Overlooking the Hudson River, this midtown Manhattan landmark can host up to 400 guests in one of its party spaces, which include an old-world salon, an outdoor garden terrace, and an open-air retractable rooftop garden lounge. hudsonterracenyc.com
Melrose Ballroom, located at 36-08 33rd Street in Astoria, has a large three-floor venue that can seat up to 1,000 people. The first floor ballroom seats around 700 and the second floor mezzanine seats another 100, with the lounge on the third floor also available for use. Catering options are available through the Melrose Ballroom. melroseballroom.com
LOFTY IDEAS
eSpace at 635 West 42nd Street is a clean, modern space just steps from Times Square that can hold up to 600 guests for a seated dinner. Teens will be thrilled to discover the wireless internet access which they can use to post real-time updates of the evening. espaceny.com
The Glasshouses at 545 West 25th Street offer a blank canvas of windowed walls. Choose from a room with 11- or 14-ft ceilings; the starting price to rent either space is $7,500, and both hold 150 people for seated dinners or 200 for cocktail receptions. theglasshouses.com
Home Studios is a conveniently located loft in the heart of Manhattan. With 14-ft ceilings and maple floors, the 4,000-square-ft space at 873 Broadway offers classically simple furniture, in addition to an elegant ambiance and access to top caterers for privately hosted parties. homestudiosinc.com
The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers at Pier 60 is a waterfront space that can hold 160-900 guests for a cocktail reception and 350 for dinner with dancing. Floor-to-ceiling windows have sweeping views of the Hudson and the lights of New Jersey. An outdoor patio makes this a perfect spot for a warm weather cocktail hour. chelseapiers.com & piersixty.com
Tribeca 360 provides breathtaking panoramic views of Manhattan in over 30,000 square feet of space. In addition to offering views of the scenic cityscape, the minimalistic décor of the architecturally designed venue is highly versatile. To top it off, a 3,000-square-ft hickory wood dance floor can be enjoyed by up to 700 people. threesixtynyc.com
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
The Craft Studio (and its prime UES location) can now be rented out for mitzvah parties with a fun and creative feel. The venue has disco balls and high ceilings, and can be transformed to suit any theme, with plenty of space for additional furniture, tables, and decor. Plus, there’s a huge menu of craft stations to select from and space for up to 75 people. craftstudionyc.com
Hard Rock Café at 1501 Broadway is ideal for a party that really rocks. Every room in the venue is filled with music memorabilia, and you can rent the café’s indoor/outdoor space overlooking Times Square. hardrock.com
New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th Street, Queens, offers an out-of-this-world setting. Holding your affair in their North Wing gives your guests an opportunity to explore outer space, dance with the stars, and even check out the interactive exhibits. nysci.org
Providence at 311 West 57th Street has a 13,500-square-ft space featuring three levels and four bars to cater to any preferences and tastes. Formerly a church and studio where Sinatra, Hendrix, Streisand, and Stevie Wonder recorded their music, this space provides the setting for a grand party. Features include a state-of-the-art sound system, intelligent lighting, plasma displays, and projection screens, all designed to add personalized special effects to the party. metronomenyc.com
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Bowlmor Lanes in Union Square is the only indoor spot in New York City where you can play mini golf, play bocce ball, bowl, eat and drink, and hit the dance floor all in one night. This super-fun spot is perfect for an activity-packed mitzvah celebration. bowlmor.com
Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine, brought to you by former New York Knicks star Clyde Frazier, is a perfect spot for basketball-loving bar and bat mitzvah kids. This 10,000-square-ft restaurant, located at 485 10th Avenue, features a free-throw court in addition to the typical dining room and bar and lounge spaces. Forty-two TV screens, a nine-screen video wall, and treats by a Latin focused culinary team round out the entertainment offerings. clydefraziers.com
Dave & Buster’s at 234 West 42nd Street, on the third floor is a great pick for a fun-filled mitzvah celebration. Everyone can let their inner child out at this 31,500-square-ft gaming venue. D&B can hold parties for as few as 10 or as many as 1,200 guests. daveandbusters.com
Lucky Strike Lanes at 624-660 West 42nd Street has fun to spare for your upcoming Mitzvah celebration! Hold your party in the main bowling area or rent the ultra-private Luxe room for fetes of up to 200 people. bowlluckystrike.com
MetLife Stadium, home to the Jets and the Giants, offers a variety of options for your mitzvah celebration. From an intimate wooded lounge to a bustling and colorful field-side club, their state-of-the-art event spaces are sure to provide a unique and memorable experience. Each of their five stadium clubs are inspired by prominent New York City venues and designed by world renowned architect David Rockwell. With the ability to accommodate events of all sizes, MetLife Stadium is a mitzvah must! metlifestadium.com
SPiN New York, which is partly owned by Susan Sarandon, takes ping pong out of the suburban basement and transports it to a sleek and hip setting. Now imagine that setting transformed in a mitzvah party for kids, with all the dancing and hoopla, plus something else that you can’t get anywhere else: Lots of ping pong fun and games. newyork.wearespin.com
Yankee Stadium, at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx, is a dream come true for baseball aficionados. The Legends Suite Club extends from home plate down each baseline for unparalleled views of the ball field. Or try the Great Moments room, which is adorned with images of historic plays in Yankees history. yankees.com
CHIC CHOICES
Located on East 77th Street, 202 East can host up to 120 guests on the second floor of a two-story townhouse, while the space’s discreet appearance allows for a great deal of privacy. The refined décor features light gray, gold, and turquoise color motifs that create a soft environment, further enhanced by wall-mounted candles, adjustable lighting levels, and high vaulted ceilings. Food is not provided at the venue and must be catered from elsewhere. 202east.com
The Angel Orensanz Foundation, at 172 Norfolk Street, was built in 1849 and is the oldest surviving synagogue building in New York. They don’t build them like this anymore—the interior was designed to resemble Paris’ Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the sanctuary was designed to resemble the Sistine Chapel. It can hold up to 250 for a sit-down dinner with a dance floor (for 300 guests, add $500). The price ranges from $15,800-17,800 Monday through Thursday and $19,800-21,800 Friday through Sunday. orensanzevents.com
Broad Street Ballroom at 41 Broad Street retains all the elegance from its original use as a banking hall. The 5,700-square-ft ballroom is wrapped in a 220-ft mural chronicling the history of commerce by sea. Features include a state-of-the-art AV system perfect for showing a photo montage and seating for up to 300 guests. broadstreetballroom.com
The Edison Ballroom, the former Times Square Supper Club, retains its Art Deco style in a space that can hold up to 600 people. Use their kitchen staff or bring in your own. Prices range from $100-180 per person. edisonballroom.com
Eventi offers a sleek and chic setting in a scene-defining neighborhood located at 851 Avenue of the Americas. Popular features include the Big Screen Plaza, a giant multimedia art screen, for displaying footage or branded logos, distinctive catering, a large veranda terrace, a sit-down dinner for 250, and much more. eventihotel.com
The Garrison offers private rooms with natural light. The elegant interior design by Tony Chi is purposely classic and neutral, flexible to fit any theme. Located just an hour north of NYC, The Garrison is easy for your guests to reach on your family’s big day. Creative cuisine from Chef Vin Mocarski’s kitchen is tailored to your event. There’s room for playfulness, like retro dessert stations featuring homemade versions of Twinkies and Oreos. thegarrison.com
Harmonie Club, at 4 East 60th Street, is the second oldest social club in New York City, dating back to 1852. Its posh Beaux Arts design outside and traditional wood paneling inside make this locale a classic choice. harmonieclub.org
The Liberty Theater at 233 West 41st Street in Times Square was originally built in 1904, and for many years was home to some of New York’s finest theatrical productions before undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007. It’s now a restaurant and event space that can accommodate parties of almost any scale. libertytheaterny.com
LIFE…The Place To Be is a modern industrial event venue located in Westchester County. LIFE features 29,000 square feet of flexible event space, offering all of the conveniences and technology of a full-service banquet facility. LIFE includes plasmas and projection screens, LED lighting throughout the venue, a state-of-the-art sound system, Arcade Games, Mini-Bowling, Laser Maze and Laser Tag, a climbing wall, and more. LIFE can accommodate 30-1,000 guests and allows both adults and kids to enjoy every minute of an event from dinner to games, with a separate area for adult cocktails, ultra-modern seating, and lounge furniture. lifetheplacetobe.com
Slate has the ultimate lounge vibe, brimming with comfortable oversized plush chairs and sleek sofas. Resembling a large living room, the highly social atmosphere features a wall-to-wall line of 12-ft doors that lead to a VIP lounge and the Studio dining area. The 16,000-square-ft venue at 54 West 21st Street accommodates various party sizes, and the staff kindly offers to honor special requests. slate-ny.com
Union Square Ballroom combines understated modernism with chic warmth. The venue, located at 27 Union Square West offers state-of-the-art sound and light technology, vaulted acoustic ceilings, and recessed perimeter floor lighting. Seating up to 400 guests, the room’s “blank palette” design allows for creative décor and room design. unionsquareballroom.com
W New York Union Square is an innovatively re-mixed space that is home to a 2,300-square-ft Great Room. With ceilings that are 23 feet high and opulent turn-of-the-century décor, the room at 201 Park Avenue South still boasts detailing from the original 1911 Guardian Life Beaux-Arts building and can accommodate up to 200 people. wnewyorkunionsquare.com
