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PARTY
SPACES
The
Plaza Hotel
Fifth Ave. at Central Park So.
212-759-3000
fairmont.com
The landmark hotel still looks like it did in 1907, with all the trappings of moneyed ease. Brides should be aware that wedding reservations are often snatched up a year in advance, but the hotel is under renovation until 2007.
The Puck Building
295 Lafayette St., nr. Houston St.
212-274-8900
puckcaterers.com
This landmarked Soho building boasts more than 14,000 square feet of event space. The high-ceilinged Grand Ballroom is vast and sparsely decorated with white walls and columns, two gorgeous chandeliers, and white curtains that can be parted to yield an incredible amount of natural light (in addition to that let in by the room’s four skylights)—or closed to shield your party from passersby. The seventh-floor Skylight Ballroom seats up to 250 guests. Both are available year-round from $7,000 apiece.
The Rainbow Room
30 Rockefeller Plaza, nr. Fifth Ave.
212-632-5000
rainbowroom.com
The famed local institution offers six private rooms from which to choose, all of which are decorated in the restaurant�s signature Art Deco style. The space accommodates 20 to 400 people for dinner, and the food is provided is by local fixture Cipriani. If you tire of dancing, look out the window to remember why you chose the space: the views of Central Park and the Empire State Building are nothing short of spectacular. Prices upon request.
Sohosoleil Location 1
136 Grand St., Crosby St., Loft 5WF
sohosoleil.com
Located on the fifth floor of a business-and-residential loft building, this 3,000-square-foot studio with unobstructed views of the downtown skyline holds 90 people standing or 60 seated and comes furnished or unfurnished. Proprietor Wendy Friedman did the paintings on the walls and the artsy bathroom tilework (among other things) herself. A full day (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at the loft costs $3,000; half-day is $1,800. Events after 8 p.m. must be quiet affairs.
Splashlight Studios
529-535 W. 35th St., nr. Tenth Ave.
212-268-7247
splashlightstudios.com
If you've always imagined your wedding orchestrated by Leo Castelli, you’ll want to check out Splashlight, a columnless 23,000-square-foot space with brushed-concrete floors, eighteen-foot-high ceilings, and southern and northern city views. There are five individual lofts for rent, including two that open up to a 2,500-foot terrace. Prices range from a mere $4,500 to $30,000 for the whole building.
Tavern
on the Green
Central Park at W. 67th St.
212-873-4111
tavernonthegreen.com
Many couples looking to plan an old-fashioned fairy-tale wedding choose this sprawling, fanciful space on the western edge of Central Park, surrounded by topiary animals and trees with twinkling white lights. In-house event planners arrange everything from flowers to entertainment to wedding souvenirs. Your celebration can take place in the ornate dining room or on one of the garden terraces, and the Tavern accommodates up to 1,400 guests. The suggested wedding menu starts at $110 per guest. Prices range dramatically based on space chosen and number of guests. No outside catering except kosher.
Top of the Tower
Beekman Tower Hotel
3 Mitchell Pl., nr. 49th St.
212-355-7300
topofthetowernyc.com
Situated 26 stories above the street, this restaurant features live piano entertainment and a wraparound terrace that ups the romance factor. Long velvet drapes and slow-burning candles create an Art Deco setting in the main dining area. Catering options are available, and the well-trained staff offers a customized menu for private parties of up to 120 guests. From $125 per person.
Tribeca Rooftop
2 Desbrosses St., nr. Hudson St.
212-625-2600
tribec.com
One of the most popular wedding sites in Manhattan, this bright, indoor-outdoor event space usually books a year in advance, thanks to its wide-open feeling and excellent location. The 15,000-square-foot, skylight-lit penthouse offers striking views of the Hudson River, the Empire State Building, Soho, and Chinatown, and can seat up to 360 guests. Prices, which include open bar and seated or buffet dinner, wedding cake, and décor, run about $165 to $225 per guest.
Twenty Four Fifth
24 Fifth Ave., nr. 9th St.
212-505-8000
theglaziergroup.com
Last year, the former Fifth Avenue Hotel reopened as an events venue, with David Rockwell–designed topiaries in the floor-to-ceiling windows. Etched silver-leaf mirrors set off the cream-colored walls, and chandeliers light the sunken marble dance floor. Just steps from Washington Square (and with floor-to-ceiling views of Fifth Avenue), the building can accommodate up to 200 for dinner, or 400 for cocktails; customized menus starting at $165 per guest, including cocktails. No outside catering except kosher.
'21'
Club
21 W. 52nd St., nr. Fifth Ave.
212-582-1400
21club.com
The elegant townhouse setting of this famed speakeasy turned restaurant will accommodate groups as small as 10 or as large as 800, in rooms ranging from the cozy oak-paneled Club Room (complete with humidor) to the sophisticated Puncheon Room, there the walls are adorned with classic cartoons and sketches. You may choose the chef’s seven-course “Wine Cellar” tasting menu ($450 per person) or plan a menu of your own (from $139). No outside catering except kosher.
Union Square Ballroom
27 Union Square West, nr. 16th St.
212-645-1802
unionsquareballroom.com
Though a few unobtrusive features like recessed floor lighting give it a modern feel, the two-room, 4,000-square-foot Ballroom is generally (and intentionally) a “blank palette” that guests can tailor to any desired style. The venue can host up to 150 seated for weddings at a cost of $150 per person, in-house, modern American catering included and mandatory (kosher allowed). A swank lounge connected to the ballroom hosts cocktail hour.
West Side Loft
336 W. 37th St., nr. Eighth Ave.
212-871-0940
westsideloft.com
Opened in December 2003, the Westside Loft received a stamp of approval from an important tastemaker: It was the site of Jay-Z’s 34th-birthday party. Located in the same building as Loft Eleven and Penthouse 15, it is the most classically decorated of the trio, marked by fireplaces, chandeliers, and a “garden room” with slate floors. The space holds 200 for dinner or 350 for drinks. Prices range from $5,500 to $7,000 (the building’s other venues can be rented simultaneously).
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