The Best New York City Engagement Party Venues

Michelin Stars, iconic skyline views, and impressive international cuisine give these engagement party hotspots a permanent place on our list of New York's chicest pre-wedding venues. Rent out a private room or have your guests post up on a rooftop with million-dollar views, and allow friends and family to lavish you with love. From New York's hip Nolita neighborhood to hidden gems in Brooklyn, there's no limit to the endless party possibilities offered from these leading locations to celebrate the most important time in your lives. Whether you are planning to get married in the Big Apple, or just want to treat your guests to a memorable pre-wedding destination fête, we would be hard-pressed to find a better city to toast to your love.

Keep scrolling for our top engagement party venues in New York City. It is a concrete jungle where dreams are made of, after all.

Available as a private event space, this chic mix of both indoor and outdoor space rests at the top of New York's influential NoMad Hotel. Breathtaking views more than 12 stories above bustling city streets present a stunning vantage point of Manhattan's famous skyline, beautifully accommodating the 1,950 square feet of elegant seated dining areas, and a wide variety of cocktail reception options.

The Musket Room

A Michelin-starred downtown favorite, The Musket Room replaced its New Zealand-inspired menus in 2020 for a more globally-inspired approach led by new Executive Chef Mary Attea, who brings a mix of New American, Asian, and French techniques to the menu.

Freemans

This hideaway, modeled after a colonial American tavern, was discovered after owners William Tigertt and Taavo Somer located the space at the end of an unused alley just off the Bowery. Freemans has been one of Manhattan's best-kept secrets ever since its opening in 2004. The menu, which is full of simple, rustic, and traditional recipes keeps seats full of locals all year long.

The Beekman

Influenced by the rise of New York's downtown developments, The Beekman's contemporary space pays homage to authentic Victorian design and turn-of-the-century architecture. The inside of the fully-restored nine-story atrium boasts the outdoor views of some of Manhattan's most celebrated landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and the Freedom Tower.

The Wythe Hotel

One of the OG spaces that put Williamsburg on the map as a hipster oasis, the Wythe Hotel was created inside of a former cooperage built in 1901. Located on the East River waterfront, the Wythe's character can't be beat: see heavy yellow pine beams and ceilings, the original masonry, arched windows, and cast-iron columns throughout. With numerous intimate spaces to host parties, the ground floor Main Hall, Lemon's Bar (a bright rooftop bar space with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, seen above), the Cooper Room (a brick-enclosed cellar-level space with vaulted ceilings, original masonry, and handmade tile floor), or the Outdoor Garden (an open-air brick-walled courtyard with rich original character and European tiled floor) are best suited to an engagement party.

Little Owl the Townhouse

An extension of the restaurant and Little Owl the Venue, Little Owl the Townhouse is housed within an iconic West Village townhouse, built in 1910 and renovated by famed architect and designer S.R. Gambrel. The intimate and bright multi-level space gives way to numerous hosting options—have a proper seated brunch or dinner at a long farm table, or opt for a one- or multi-floor cocktail party. The space can be customized for each couple's taste (we love the mid-century accents and minimal tablescapes seen above).

The Brooklyn Winery

An inherently romantic space, the Brooklyn Winery is one of our favorite venues for wedding and pre-wedding events. Not many places in New York can boast full-service events with wine made onsite. The newly renovated location not only has an incredible living wall that serves as a backdrop to festivities, but the 3,500 square feet of event space can accommodate 175 people for seated gatherings and up to 300 people for cocktail party-style events. The space even has a private bridal suite for couples to get ready and refresh at the event.

The Garret East

The Garret East is an Alphabet City cocktail bar that feels more like a perfectly coiffed, mismatched living room (albeit, with a chic steel-topped bar) than a traditional watering hole. The whitewashed brick main room couldn't be more inviting, and the inspired cocktails make for an intimate gathering for you and your closest friends and family. The space is also home to the speakeasy-style, hidden 20-seat restaurant, Dinnertable, which can also be rented for a private dining experience for up to 15 people.

St. Mazie Bar and Supper Club

St. Mazie has become an icon of Williamsburg's south side, tucked away at the end of Grand Street. Step through the doors into the roaring '20s—on the main floor, a long, lean bar leads back to a corner filled by live music acts ranging from upbeat jazz to swingin' flamenco. Head back to the overgrown garden in the back, where grapes grow from the tangled vines overhead, or move down to the cellar for the full late-night supper club experience. Rent out the whole space for an evening steeped in Jazz-era charm.

Sel Rrose

Sel Rrose feels like it was plucked from the streets of early 20th century Paris, full of moody romance and rustic opulence. Named in honor of Rrose Sélavey, the female alter ego of Marcel Duchamp, the Bowery cocktail and oyster bar features a sprawling white marble bar with a French-infused cocktail program—after a few of the effervescent Lavender Piscines, you may just see the ghost of Ernest Hemingway sitting on the barstool beside you sipping an absinthe...

Freehold Brooklyn

The Freehold is a hotel, just without the rooms. Following in the footsteps of the iconic Ace Hotel, Freehold offers up a "lobby" space for the upwardly mobile Williamsburg crowd, complete with 16-foot high ceilings, mid-century mod couches, a sprawling bar, and an outdoor space with ping-pong and DJ sets. Not to mention, the "concierge" who hands out boxes of Monopoly and Risk, along with cocktails and frothy beers. Excellent for an afternoon outdoor bash or an all-out dance party.

Glasserie

Located in the former Greenpoint Glass Works factory (built in 1860), Glasserie is about as out-of-the-way, hidden gem as you can get—but well worth the trek. The ambiance is just right, with a combination of new and old-world accents, from hanging orb lights to exposed brick walls and seafoam green geometric wallpaper. The food focuses on Mediterranean fare with flavors from the Middle East, with recipes that follow the chef's bloodlines from grandmother to great-grandmother.

Charlie Bird

The interior of Charlie Bird is electric—from the mustard-yellow wraparound leather benches and banquettes to the Basquiat-style graffiti art and vibrant Italian design, the whole restaurant feels like a celebration. It's no-holds-barred New York energy, with the food and drink chops to back it up. Rent the intimate, color-popping private dining room for up to 14 diners or the whole restaurant for a real party.

Maison Premiere

If you and your soon-to-be spouse are lovers of craft cocktails and oyster towers, Maison Premiere should be your go-to. A James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Bar Program, the Brooklyn hotspot is reflective of turn-of-the-century establishments in New York, Paris, and New Orleans. If the green fairy is your jam, Maison Premiere boasts the largest collection of premium absinthes in New York City, and the establishment’s ode to the spirit can be found center stage—the world’s most accurate working replica of the Absinthe fountain which once flowed in the famed Olde Absinthe House of New Orleans pours chilled water for all your guests.

Tavern on the Green

For the couple who wants to go with the ultimate, classic New York City route, Tavern on the Green fits the bill to a T. The historic restaurant has been capturing the spirit of the Big Apple since 1934, and in 2014, co-owners Jim Caiola and David Salama re-opened Tavern with a completely redesigned space and menu that harkens back to the original landmark. For a more casual setting than the interior dining room, opt for the outdoor courtyard seen above.

The Clover Club

The Clover Club's website claims: "We can make you funnier, smarter, and dance better." And we agree. The Clover Club originated with a select group of Philadelphia journalists who, from 1882 until the 1920s, met once a month at the Bellevue Hotel to drink and eat and talk. The Brooklyn bar strives to follow the same course, providing a cozy space to eat, drink, and be merry among your closest compatriots, enjoying life to the fullest. Not to mention, the cocktails are exquisite and the fireplace warm.

Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel

You may know the McKittrick as the venue that hosts the debaucherous, immersive show Sleep No More. But tucked away on the top regions of the hotel lies an urban oasis—Gallow Green. For a spring party, Gallow Green is transformed into a whimsical secret garden set in an abandoned train station in Scotland. And for a fall or winter soirée, enter The Lodge at Gallow Green, a cozy hideaway where guests discover a mountaintop ski cabin nestled in a secluded forest of real pine trees. Inspired by Scottish bothies, the cabin’s charming, lived-in vibe comes complete with cozy fireside seating, warm plaid blankets, hiking boots, sleeping bunks, and a library.

Castell Rooftop Bar & Lounge

If you want city views to serve as your engagement party backdrop, there’s no better place than the Castell Rooftop Bar & Lounge. Set atop the 21st floor of the AC Hotel in Times Square, you and your guests will be surrounded by the iconic Manhattan skyline. Yet your party will still have an intimate feel as Castell is a tasteful refuge from the bustle below. The space boasts both interior and exterior accommodations, so weather is no concern.