Best NYC Restaurants & Bars for an Office Holiday Party (2026)
Thirty recommendations for a proper team dinner, drinks with room to mingle, or a holiday party with something to do.
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A good office holiday party gives people a reason to stay after the first drink. That might be a long table covered in pasta, a private bar where colleagues can move around, or a few rounds of shuffleboard that get different departments talking. The best choice depends on what your team would actually enjoy and how much of the evening you want to organize.
This guide covers restaurants and bars across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, from small private dinners to company celebrations with a few hundred guests. We've included dependable group restaurants alongside more distinctive places, with the room or party format that makes each one worth considering. Capacities and prices come from venue event pages and brochures checked October 19, 2026.
If you want a quick starting point: Draught 55 for a Midtown drinks party, Ci Siamo for a celebratory dinner, The Winslow for a small casual team, Manhatta for skyline views, and Royal Palms for an activity.
NYC office holiday party venues at a glance
| If you're planning | Start here | Why it makes the shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| A straightforward Midtown drinks party | Draught 55 | Two private spaces and food and bar packages |
| A small casual gathering | The Winslow | Several reservable sections with published minimums |
| A special dinner near Penn Station | Ci Siamo | A private floor with its own bar and Italian food to share |
| A familiar restaurant with clear package options | The Smith | Private rooms and a published cocktail reception package |
| A classic New York steakhouse dinner | Keens or Hawksmoor | Characterful rooms and a meal that feels celebratory |
| A private Sichuan dinner | Café China | Small rooms and larger combinations for family-style dining |
| Cocktails near Rockefeller Center | Pebble Bar | Small group bookings and Johnny's private bar |
| A skyline celebration | Manhatta | Separate rooms for seated dinners and larger receptions |
| A large seated company dinner | Carmine's Times Square | The Sinatra Room seats up to 230 |
| A party with an easy activity | Royal Palms or SPIN | Games, drinks and a place for the group to gather |
| A food-focused Brooklyn celebration | Rule of Thirds | Japanese private dining and larger indoor event rooms |
| An indoor party in Queens | Bohemian Hall | Several indoor rooms, including the Den with its own bar |
NYC restaurants for a team holiday dinner
These are the places to book when the meal is the point. Each has a named private or semi-private room, a published capacity, and food that gives the table something to talk about.
Ci Siamo
440 W 33rd St Ste 100, New York, NY 10001, USA
Live-fire Italian served family-style, on a private event floor with its own bar and a view of the Empire State Building, two minutes from Penn Station. Private dining room: 50 seated or 75 standing. Book the indoor room for December; the terrace depends on weather. December Mon–Sat dinner minimum is $11,500 (food $185 per person), with much lower lunch and Sunday minimums if the team has flexibility.
Hawksmoor NYC
109 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010, USA
A restored assembly hall with stained glass and tall ceilings, so the evening feels like an occasion before the steaks arrive. Ty Whoppity room seats 12 for an intimate dinner; the bar hosts 40 seated or 80 standing semi-privately; a full buyout takes 146 seated or 220 standing. No hire fee, but a food-and-drink minimum applies.
Keens Steakhouse
72 W 36th St., New York, NY 10018, USA
When the brief is 'make it feel like New York,' this is the answer: carved wood, historical photos, and the Bullmoose Room's working fireplace for a winter dinner. Private rooms run 25–75 guests depending on room and meal; Bullmoose holds up to 36. Dinner menus start at $202 per person, with the event quote setting the full cost.
Quality Bistro
120 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
French brasserie with brass lighting, antique mirrors and a marble fireplace in the Avenue Room. Avenue and Boulevard rooms each hold 40 seated or 50 reception; combined, 80 seated or 100 standing, a handy size once you've outgrown a typical private dining room. The Boulevard Room's interior windows close for a presentation.
Union Square Cafe
101 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
The Park & Irving Room pairs a seasonal meal with original artwork in a warm, understated setting that works across ages and seniority. Park & Irving: 40 seated or 45 standing. The semi-private Alcove seats 10 at one oval table. Add the adjacent Parlor Bar for drinks before dinner as a separate part of the booking.
Scarpetta
88 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
House-made pastas and a polished room, with a choice of spaces so a smaller team isn't lost in a room built for eighty. Private Dining Room seats 30 with its own sound and screens. The Studio takes 50 at a long table or 80 reception; the Library seats 20 or holds 30 standing. Studio and Library are on the lower level.
The Smith (NoMad)
1150 Broadway, New York, NY 10010, USA
Practical first call: familiar American brasserie food, a private bar and published packages that give you a benchmark before other quotes arrive. NoMad private room: 50 family-style seated, 20 plated, 75 cocktails. The October 2026 brochure lists an evening cocktail package at $85 per person for two hours or $100 for three, with five passed hors d'oeuvres and premium open bar, before tax, gratuity and the date's room minimum.
The Smith (Midtown East)
956 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA
Same dependable formula as NoMad, with the larger private room: 60 family-style seated, 20 plated, 75 for cocktails. The October 2026 brochure's evening cocktail package is $85 per person for two hours or $100 for three, five passed hors d'oeuvres and premium open bar, before tax, gratuity and the date's room minimum. Easy for a Midtown East office.
Café China
59 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
A table full of Sichuan dishes gives dinner a social rhythm, and the published room minimums help early. Breeze, Flower and Snow rooms suit roughly 8–12 each (24–30 together). The Moon Room seats 30 with a $2,000 minimum for up to three hours; Moon plus Parlor holds 48 seated or 60 reception semi-privately. Rooms are upstairs with no wheelchair access, and the restaurant can't accommodate strict vegan, kosher or halal requests.
ilili NoMad
236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA
A Lebanese mezze spread keeps the meal social and is a change from the usual steakhouse or Italian booking. Upstairs Bar Room: 40 seated or 50 cocktails with its own full bar. Tented Room (indoors, despite the name): 20 seated or 25 cocktails. Ground-floor Mirrored Room: 40 seated or 45 cocktails. The upstairs spaces overlook the main restaurant, so expect energy rather than quiet.
La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park
20 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
Good-looking lower-level rooms, pasta and a manageable Midtown team dinner. Library North and Library South each seat 30, or 60 combined, closing off with sliding doors and with screens and music controls; Library South has its own full bar. A small team can take the semi-private Alcove for 9–12. Rooms are downstairs, so ask about a step-free route if needed.
Carmine's Times Square
200 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036, USA
For a large company dinner where the food should be plentiful and the room should feel like a party. The upstairs Sinatra Room takes 230 seated or 275 standing, with its own entrance, bar, restrooms, coat check and presentation equipment. That's a different booking from a few big tables downstairs. You're here for the private setup and the scale, not a quiet neighborhood feel.
Manhatta
28 Liberty St 60th floor, New York, NY 10005, USA
Skyline and harbor views from the 60th floor make the setting part of the celebration. Roebling Room: 60 seated or 100 standing, with a $15,500 fall–winter dinner minimum plus sales tax and a 24% administrative fee (about $19,220 before tax at the minimum). Bay Room Lounge: 150 standing, couches stay in place. Rockefeller Room seats 35.
Bars for an office holiday party with room to mingle
These bars have a reservable section or a fully private room, food that's more than a snack spread, and enough space for people to circulate between conversations.
Draught 55
245 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022, USA
One of the most practical first calls for drinks, substantial food and a space of your own. The glass-enclosed Atrium has a fireplace and takes up to 140; the wood-paneled Cellar Bar, with its own entrance, takes up to 50. Both come with a dedicated bartender and staff. Silver Bar Plan runs $50 per person for two hours or $60 for three, minimum 30 guests, food extra. Minimums vary by season, and December has a longer cancellation window.
Porchlight
271 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA
The Den is a cocktail party with a relaxed feel: lounge seating, board games, darts and a projector for up to 40. The semi-private Partial Bar holds up to 65 with the energy of the main room. Convenient for Hudson Yards, High Line and Javits offices. The tradeoff is the holiday minimum: the Den's two-hour minimum is $3,500 on December weekdays, before tax and gratuity.
The Dead Rabbit
30 Water St, New York, NY 10004, USA
Guinness, cocktails and an Irish pub setting give a Downtown team an easy start, with upstairs event rooms away from the main bar. Green Room: 20–35 guests. Occasional Room: 35–60. Private rooms run their own music, food stations are replenished through the party, and non-drinking guests get adjusted package pricing. No cash bars or separate checks, so plan a company-hosted evening.
The Winslow
243 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
The right first call for a small office that wants cocktails and food without hiring a whole venue. The Nook works for 10–15; the Back Room seats 18–20 or holds 25–30 (semi-private, $700 minimum for three hours before tax, gratuity and card fees); larger high-top sections are available. Minimum spends, not rental fees, and the wider bar stays part of the night.
VALERIE
45 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036, USA
Art Deco styling and a serious cocktail list give Midtown holiday drinks a dressed-up feel, with spaces from a reserved section to the whole building. Semi-private happy-hour areas take up to 45. The Blushing Bar is listed for 30–75 with a full private bar. The ground floor holds 180 standing and the full venue 280. A reserved area in the main bar will still feel like a busy night.
Pebble Bar
67 W 49th St, New York, NY 10112, USA
A townhouse setting for a small, polished gathering in the middle of Midtown. The third floor takes seated groups of 7–14; a section of the second-floor bar can be reserved for 8–22 (semi-private). Johnny's, reached by private elevator, holds up to 50 fully private with its own entrance, restrooms, coat check and bar. Pebble Bar suggests six to eight weeks' lead time for Johnny's around the holidays.
Albert’s Bar
140 E 41st St, New York, NY 10017, USA
The most persuasive feature is how easy it is to get to: steps from Grand Central, so Midtown colleagues and commuters both have a simple train home. The events team handles seated dinners of 10 or more and cocktail receptions of 15 or more; smaller standing parties of 10–15 go through a separate reservations contact. Send the headcount and they recommend the space.
Loreley Beer Garden
7 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002, USA
Seasonal decorations and an informal party with beer, cocktails and food to share. For winter, start indoors: the Garden Room seats 22 (semi-private) and the Party Room & Lounge hosts up to 65. The Lounge can be booked exclusively, but Loreley also offers shared weekend reservations with no minimum, and a free reservation doesn't give you your own room, guaranteed seats or the music. Book the private option if that matters.
Houston Hall
222 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014, USA
A beer-hall layout gives a big group an obvious place to congregate, and the full kitchen means the food can go beyond a snack spread. Communal tables hold 20 each; the VIP Tap Room holds 30 with a private bar and TV; the back half takes 80–100, with larger private events possible. The Tap Room is the better starting point for a smaller, more contained evening.
Holiday party venues with an activity
An activity gives the evening structure and gives colleagues from different teams a reason to talk. The thing to check at each of these is whether the booking includes a space where the group can gather between rounds.
Swingers NoMad
35 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001, USA
Mini golf gives small groups an easy reason to mix, with food and cocktails on site. The thing to book is a space where the team can gather between rounds: a regular reserved area isn't private, and reserving one doesn't give the group exclusive use of a course. Larger groups go through the events team; the venue advertises space for events up to 525 overall.
SPIN New York Flatiron
48 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, USA
Ping pong is easy to join for a few minutes, and the seating, food and bar give non-players somewhere to spend the evening. Book through the Flatiron events team so table time, food, drinks and group space are planned together, and build any speech or awards moment into the plan before games begin.
SPIN New York Midtown
1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, USA
The Midtown SPIN at 1626 Broadway, with 10 Olympic-grade tables, a full bar and DJ nights, handles private events the same way as Flatiron. Book through the events team so table time, food, drinks and group space are planned together, and schedule any toast before the games start. Easier for a Times Square or Midtown West office.
Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club Brooklyn
514 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA
A tropical setting and shuffleboard courts give people something to do without requiring everyone to play. Cabana parties start at 10 guests and scale past 100; cabanas and half-space bookings are semi-private, a full buyout gives you the venue. Courts run $60 per court per hour with drink packages from $15 per person per hour (zero-proof) or $20 (beer and wine), two-hour minimum. Food comes through separate caterers and is billed separately. Bookings open 75 days ahead.
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Bowling, music and Blue Ribbon food for a louder celebration that feels like a night out rather than an office dinner. Two ways to book: lanes during a public show, which comes with that concert's noise and crowd, or a private buyout where the events team sets layout and headcount. Build the proposal around bowling time, food, drinks and any required concert admission.
Office party venues in Brooklyn and Queens
These make sense when the team already works or lives nearby, or when the venue itself is worth the trip. Every capacity below is for an indoor room, which is what matters in December.
Rule of Thirds
171 Banker St, Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA
The Brooklyn option for a team that cares about the food, with a Japanese menu that suits a shared dinner. Indoor private dining rooms seat 10, 16 or 20, with two combinable for 30. The Atrium holds 80 seated or 100 standing; the Corner Bar holds 150 seated or 200 standing. The larger event spaces have their own entrance at 29 Norman Avenue, so put the right door on the invitation.
Brooklyn Winery
61 Guernsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA
Food, wine and event setup handled together inside a working winery. The May 2026 brochure lists the Gallery at 56 seated or 100 cocktail and the Atrium at 120 seated with a stage or 200 cocktail; a full buyout takes 175 seated or 325 standing. The Atrium with its stage is the room for dinner plus a company presentation. The smaller Harvest Room is also used for events; ask the events team for its current capacity.
Radegast Hall & Biergarten
113 N 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Big tables and a beer-hall atmosphere for a team that would rather share food and move around than follow a dinner program. For a dedicated space, focus on the Bier Haus: its own entrance, bar and restrooms, with a listed event capacity of 125 and the layout arranged separately. The Main Hall includes the front bar and garden, so the Bier Haus is the contained choice.
Threes Brewing
333 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217, USA
Tiny Montgomery sits inside the brewpub and can be booked alone or with the adjoining café and bar, which lets a smaller Brooklyn office have a contained party with good beer. The room holds 50 for cocktails and mingling, or 75 with the café and bar. Grand Army is the exclusive food partner, so party food is part of the conversation with the venue.
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
29-19 24th Ave, Astoria, NY 11105, USA
The beer garden is the famous part, but the indoor rooms are why it belongs on a winter shortlist. The Den holds 50 dining or 70 cocktails with its own bar, pool and darts. The Library holds 40 dining or 60 cocktails. The larger Hall takes up to 250 depending on layout. Start with the Den for a casual team party, the Library for a more contained meal.
A few more options for a specific brief
Five alternatives for a narrower need: Christmas decorations, a Midtown rooftop, indoor mini golf on the west side, an Astoria dinner, or Midtown bowling.
Lillie's Victorian Establishment (Union Square)
13 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Worth an inquiry for an elaborate Victorian setting and a seasonal party; the Union Square room is the one with the over-the-top Christmas decorations that start mid-November. Handles private-event inquiries. If the decorations are the reason you're choosing it, ask which rooms will be decorated on your date before you commit.
Lillie's Victorian Establishment (Times Square)
249 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
The Times Square Lillie's, two blocks from Broadway theaters, takes private-event inquiries and is the easier of the two locations for a Midtown West office. Its seasonal look is a white winter theme rather than Union Square's red-and-green. Ask which rooms will be decorated on your date if that's the point of the booking.
Dear Irving on Hudson Rooftop Bar
310 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
An alternative for skyline cocktails in Midtown, with rooms on the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel. For a December party, book an indoor room with a view and treat balcony access as weather dependent. The venue's broad capacity figures include the balconies, so ask for the indoor count.
Puttery
446 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014, USA
Indoor mini golf for a company in Chelsea or Meatpacking, and the west-side alternative to Swingers. The second floor with the Lodge course takes up to 125; the third floor with the Museum course takes up to 150. The whole-building figure includes a rooftop, so plan December around a single floor.
The Bonnie
29-12 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105, USA
A neighborhood option in Astoria for cocktails and a team dinner. Ask about the indoor Oak Room for a winter gathering; the garden is a separate space and not the December plan.
Frames Bowling Lounge
550 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018, USA
Bowling in Midtown West when Brooklyn is too far for the team. Catered group packages and several activities, including a dedicated two-lane private bowling room for 10–20 guests, plus billiards, ping pong and karaoke rooms. Inside the Port Authority building at 9th Avenue and 40th Street.
What an office holiday party in NYC costs
The number that matters is the total for your group, in the room you want, for the length of the party. A menu price covers different things from an open-bar package, and a room minimum can be higher than the cost of the food you first pick.
These are venue-posted reference prices checked October 19, 2026. The December rows are seasonal minimums; the others are general packages or booking policies. They're starting points for comparing options; the date-specific quote sets the bill.
| Venue and option | Published reference price | What that figure means |
|---|---|---|
| The Winslow Back Room | $700 minimum for 3 hours | Food and drinks count toward the minimum. Tax, gratuity and card fees are extra. General policy. |
| Café China Moon Room | $2,000 minimum for up to 3 hours | Food-and-drink consumption minimum for a room seating 30. Tax and gratuity are extra. |
| The Smith evening cocktail package | $85 per person for 2 hours or $100 for 3 hours | Five passed hors d'oeuvre selections and premium open bar. Tax and gratuity are extra; the date's room minimum must also be met. Brochure dated October 16, 2026. |
| Draught 55 Silver Bar Plan | $50 per person for 2 hours or $60 for 3 hours | Bar only; food is additional. Minimum 30 people, all guests participating. Tax and gratuity are extra. Spring 2026 brochure, still the venue's current packages as of October 19, 2026. |
| Porchlight Den in December | $3,500 minimum, Monday–Friday, for 2 hours | Food-and-beverage minimum with no room rental fee. Tax and discretionary gratuity are extra. |
| Ci Siamo private dining room in December | $11,500 dinner minimum, Monday–Saturday | Food-and-beverage minimum. Family-style dinner food is $185 per person; drinks are additional and count toward the minimum. Tax and gratuity are extra. |
| Manhatta Roebling Room | $15,500 dinner minimum, September–December | Food-and-beverage minimum, plus sales tax and a 24% administrative fee. |
| Royal Palms cabana party | $60 per court per hour, plus drinks from $15 per person per hour | The $15 tier is zero-proof; beer and wine are $20 per person per hour. Two-hour party minimum. Food, administrative fees, tax and gratuity are additional. |
Some worked examples. Fifty guests on The Smith's $100 three-hour package comes to a $5,000 package subtotal before tax and gratuity, provided the room's date-specific minimum doesn't require more spending. At Ci Siamo, 40 dinners at $185 is $7,400 in food, but a December Monday–Saturday booking still carries an $11,500 food-and-beverage minimum. Drinks count toward that minimum; it isn't an $11,500 room fee on top of dinner. At Manhatta, the Roebling Room's $15,500 minimum plus its 24% administrative fee comes to $19,220 before sales tax, assuming spending stays at the minimum.
If the first quotes are too high, change the timing or the format before stripping the food down. Ci Siamo lists a $3,500 December lunch minimum and a $3,000 Sunday dinner minimum, against its much higher Monday–Saturday dinner threshold. A smaller reserved section, a shorter reception or an earlier meal can also suit the team better.
How to choose a place your team will enjoy
Decide whether people are coming for dinner. A 6 p.m. party needs enough food to get people through the evening. If you choose a cocktail reception, ask for substantial stations, platters or enough passed food to make that clear. Put the format on the invitation so colleagues know what to expect.
Choose the right amount of privacy. A private room is useful for a shared conversation, a speech or a company moment. A reserved section can feel more sociable for casual drinks. For ten people, one good table may work better than a room designed for forty.
Make the plan work for people who don't drink. Choose food people will look forward to, include appealing nonalcoholic drinks and leave room for conversation or an optional activity. Ask how the beverage package treats non-drinking guests; that policy varies by venue. Royal Palms lists a zero-proof package, and The Dead Rabbit describes adjusted package pricing for guests choosing nonalcoholic drinks.
Put access and dietary needs into the first inquiry. Name any step-free route, seating, dietary or allergy requirements before settling on a room, including the route to restrooms. An accessible main dining room doesn't automatically make an upstairs private room accessible.
Give people an easy way home. Pick the neighborhood around where colleagues will be leaving from and going afterward. If the group includes commuters, a convenient Midtown room may be the most popular choice. A Brooklyn venue makes more sense when the team already works or lives nearby, or when the venue itself is worth the extra trip.
Ask for the complete event price. The proposal should identify the room, timing, food, drinks, minimum spend, service or administrative charges, tax and any gratuity. Include activity charges, equipment and coat check where relevant. A minimum spend means the company commits to that level of eligible purchases; it's different from paying a separate room-rental fee.
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