New York's Best Private Dining Rooms

[Emyr Thomas]

Emyr Thomas from Bon Vivant shares his thoughts on the best private dining rooms in New York.

The Wine Cellar at the 21 Club
With its fascinating history from the prohibition era, the Wine Cellar at the 21 Club is today considered one of the most coveted private dining rooms in New York. Up to 22 diners can enjoy a three course lunch or a seven course tasting dinner in what was once the most famous speakeasy in the city.

The Modern
The Modern is a fine dining restaurant featuring French-American cuisine located at the Museum of Modern Art. Overlooking the Sculpture Garden, the private dining room is adorned with Danish furnishings and tableware, which can seat up to 64 people, or the room can be divided into two separate private rooms to feel more intimate. Menus start from $65 for lunch and $150 for dinner.

Gramercy Tavern
Gramercy Tavern is one of New York’s most popular restaurants, serving classic American dishes with a commitment to locally sourced ingredients in a relaxed and friendly setting. The private room can accommodate up to 22 guests with menus starting at $65 for lunch and $130 for dinner.

Bellecour Room at Daniel
The Bellecour Room at Daniel, featuring Daniel Boulud’s award-winning contemporary French cuisine, can accommodate up to 90 guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner or up to 150 guests for cocktail receptions. The Bellecour Room was elegantly redesigned in August 2008 by Adam Tihany and is naturally lit through a series of floor to ceiling windows facing the heart of the Upper East Side. Lunch menus from $80; dinner from $150.

Adour at the St Regis
Adour, by Alain Ducasse, was developed by The Rockwell Group on the concept of giving guests a state of the art experience with wines. Adour offers two private rooms, which can accommodate up to 16 guests, featuring mirrored ceilings and fabric-covered walls. The private vault room, which can accommodate up to 14 guests features an 11 foot dining table with a white goatskin surface positioned under a sculptural element comprised of hand blown glass spheres suspended from the ceiling. For wine lovers, this is a great experience. Dinner menus start at $120.

Asiate at The Mandarin Oriental
Asiate offers contemporary cuisine with an Asian twist in a stylish setting with stunning floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The private dining room can accommodate up to 10 guests.

Buddakan
Famed for its grand and flamboyant decor, the vast Buddakan is a visual feast, which also features good Asian fusion cuisine. Buddakan is cool, trendy and a great place for a lively dinner with friends, where you can revel in its opulence until the early hours.

The Spotted Pig
A firm favourite with celebrities, The Spotted Pig is a traditional pub that focuses on high quality English and Italian cuisine that relies on local, seasonal and organic food. They can offer antipasti for groups up to 30 starting at $65 per person, a cocktail and canapé party for up to 35 guests starting at $50 per person or a roasted suckling pig dinner, served family style, starting at $110 per person for up to 22 guests.

Bobo
Bobo is based over three floors of a century old townhouse in the heart of the West Village, with beamed ceilings, exposed brick and large candlesticks adding to the seductive and intimate vibe. Bobo offers contemporary American food, with menus starting from $65. The private room can accommodate 16 people, with the larger Den being able to accommodate up to 28.

River Café, Brooklyn
Located under the Brooklyn Bridge, The River Café offers a beautiful setting for private dining with spectacular views overlooking New York Harbour and the Manhattan skyline. The Terrace Room can be used for parties of 30 to 100 with menus from $98 for dinner.