Updated: May 02, 2023

Holiday Party Venues & Ideas in NYC, NY

You found our list of holiday party venues & ideas in NYC, New York.

Holiday party venues and ideas in NYC are locations and activities that can be part of your holiday celebrations. Examples include The Musket Room, Paint Nite, and Brooklyn Winery. Choosing the perfect location and activities for the holiday party may do wonders for morale and team building.

These ideas are inspirations for company Christmas parties and holiday team building experiences. These items are similar to event venues in NYC and New York City corporate events.

This article contains:

  • small party venues in NYC
  • company holiday party venues in NYC
  • holiday party ideas in NYC for adults
  • holiday party entertainment ideas in NYC

Here we go!

All-inclusive holiday party in NYC (includes venue)

Looking for a one-stop shop for your company holiday party in NYC? We can help!

Your event includes:

  • A beautiful, premium venue space in Manhattan for 2.5 hours
  • Catered light bites
  • Bartender and drinks package
  • Professional photographer / videographer
  • Professionally edited video recording of the event
  • Hosted Merry Mixer or Gingerbread Wars experience

You can also include optional upgrades to enhance your event.

List of company holiday party venues in NYC

New York City offers many party venue options, from beachy retreats to grand, historic ballrooms. Regardless of your venue preferences, this list presents a starting point for your search.

1. The Musket Room

The Musket Room, located in the Nolita area, is ideal for a chic, sophisticated holiday party. New Zealand heavily influences the fashionable restaurant’s décor and menu, and the food is genuine. You may have a nice dinner party for 60 to 80 guests, including friends, family, and employees. If you are looking for small party venues in NYC, then The Musket Room is a great choice.

The exposed, lime-washed brick walls, brass chandeliers, floral arrangements, and padded chairs give this venue a one-of-a-kind, rural-meets-urban aesthetic. The scenery is stunning, and the cuisine is out of this world. Ribeye steaks from New Zealand, oysters from Wellfleet, and specialty drinks await you at the venue.

Learn more about The Musket Room.

2. Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall is a great place to visit for a performance, but hosting your event there is a different experience. A total of six event venues are available at this historic concert hall, from the rooftop patio to intimate dining rooms. The Weil Music Room is an elegant oratory venue with high ceilings and a distinctive catwalk over the podium. On those rare, balmy winter days, guests may move their festivities to the adjoining Weil Terrace Room. The venue’s in-house chef uses locally sourced products to make fresh, delectable meals. Carnegie Hall overlooks Central Park and the New York skyline, making it a remarkable setting. The space can accommodate between 200 to 300 guests.

Learn more about Carnegie Hall.

3. 501 Union

501 Union is a local favorite in Brooklyn that was once a classic car restoration shop. You can get 3,900 square feet of prime raw industrial space by combining The Atrium with The Main Space. The space is yours to transform anyway you choose, and the venue managers will assist as part of the rental price. Staff members such as an operations manager and a host are available on the day of the event, and several in-house rentals are also available. You can also choose a caterer from the authorized list.

Learn more about 501 Union.

4. 620 Loft & Garden

620 Loft & Garden is a beautiful garden retreat and a favorite rooftop location in Manhattan. The location provides a true New York City backdrop for your celebration, with views of the Radio City Music Hall marquee and the splendid St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The rooftop’s year-round tenting and prime location in front of Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree make it an ideal venue for a holiday celebration. The hosts provide luxurious fur coverings to keep guests toasty throughout the seated meal. This venue can accommodate 120 attendees seated and 165 standing.

Learn more about 620 Loft and Garden.

5. Rainbow Room

The legendary Rainbow Room, open since 1934, elevates any occasion to a unique level. The iconic building, located sixty-five stories above the world-famous Rockefeller Center, has four flexible event rooms you can lease individually for smaller gatherings or collectively for larger events. The venue is adaptable and has hosted countless opulent weddings, stylish Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and other important celebrations. You can also host a beautiful corporate dinner. In addition to the stunning scenery, the venue has a top-notch kitchen staff that can cater to your company’s specific tastes for the event. The Rainbow Room offers seating for 300 and a standing room for 600.

Learn more about the Rainbow Room.

6. Lightbox

Lightbox is a great place to have your company’s holiday party/ The venue offers light projections and activities in an interactive, tech-enabled atmosphere. Lightbox, a former Midtown industrial garage, has hosted events and dinners for some of the country’s most well-known corporations. You will get the full-service treatment for your holiday event since there is an in-house digital and design team, a food and beverage team, and a production and planning team. Lightbox will help you plan the best workplace holiday party every step of the way. The event space can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Learn more about Lightbox.

7. CNVS

CNVS is a state-of-the-art event venue explicitly built to showcase technology. The use of projection mapping enables radical makeovers and fantastic branding possibilities. For your event, envision a celebration that begins in a forest with projections of trees, then moves to a glittering cityscape while incorporating logos and brand messaging at every turn. The venue lives up to its name by being a blank slate that may be embellished in whatever way you desire. The room also has audiovisual professionals and a state-of-the-art kitchen that would wow even the most seasoned cooks. The “visual comet” tunnel entry to the annual Hot List event is fantastic, as are the branding projections during this charity event.

Learn more about CNVS.

8. Versa NYC

Versa’s motto, “Rooftop. Restaurant. Experiences.” describes the spirit of the stunning and engaging event venue. This venue is right by Madison Square Garden and is great for a New York City holiday party. The space features plenty of white lounge furniture and tables that look like driftwood, and the gray wood walls give off a coastal vibe. Up to 800 guests can dine at Versa.

Hosting a holiday party at Versa feels like you have escaped to a tropical paradise decorated with palm prints and greenery on the walls. You can utilize the venue’s TVs to broadcast logos, brand films, or relate to your party theme. You can also visit Versa in the warmer months to take advantage of New York City’s largest retractable rooftop, which provides breathtaking panoramas of the sky and the city below.

Learn more about Versa NYC.

9. Central Park Zoo

The Central Garden at the Central Park Zoo is covered by a nearly 200-foot-long clear tent that allows guests to take in views of the sky and the beautiful, natural surroundings without worrying about rain on the day of the event. During the day, this corporate summer party uses a bright space for interesting entertainers and lounge spaces for gathering. The Central Park Zoo provides a unique location and fantastic and informative entertainment for your guests. Your visitors will have a great time participating in activities like feeding the sea lions and seeing the snow monkeys play. The garden has seats for 700 and space for 2000 standing guests.

Learn more about Central Park Zoo.

10. THE POOL

THE POOL may have a summery name, but it is great for a winter holiday party. The building housing the seafood restaurant was designed by architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson. The Pool is a local landmark known for its aesthetic value. However, the restaurant’s environment is not the only feature for which it is famous. The venue also serves delicious, beautiful, and healthy cuisine, with a special focus on seafood.

The proximity of THE GRILL, an adjacent restaurant, adds even more adaptability. You may have the cocktail hour at THE GRILL before moving on to dinner at THE POOL. You can buy out the two venues to accommodate bigger holiday gatherings of about 400 attendees.

Learn more about THE POOL.

11. Brooklyn Winery

Brooklyn Winery is a perfect setting for this year’s business Christmas party. The 25-foot glass ceiling atrium, barn wood walls, hanging plants, and antique furnishings make it simple to create a cozy, intimate atmosphere, even in winter. In keeping with its name, this establishment is a winery, making the wine pairing dinner an excellent option. Brooklyn Winery can also combine in-person and remote components to help you raise a glass to your entire crew, no matter where they are on the globe. You can also give your staff a bottle of wine, premium wine gifts, or a wine-tasting kit at the end of the night if you book with Brooklyn Winery.

Learn more about Brooklyn Winery.

12. Apella

Amazing water views and abundant windows characterize this bright spot. The clean, all-white design of the location makes for a stunning party venue and serves as a blank canvas against which you can create your most elaborate holiday displays. You can turn the room to blacklights for a neon party to glow in the dark pink for a glitzy celebration. You are only restricted by your own creativity. With ten suites, Apella is ideal for smaller group meetings leading up to the company’s annual New Year’s Eve party.

Learn more about Apella.

List of holiday party ideas in NYC

New York City is magical during the holidays. From bowling and escape rooms to painting lessons and pizza-making classes, the city offers perfect settings for groups of all sizes to have fun, make lasting memories, and bond through shared interests and experiences. The following is a list of holiday party ideas in NYC for adults.

1. Gingerbread Wars

Host the ultimate gingerbread showdown with your team. Our world-class event hosts will bring real gingerbread houses to your group and lead your team through a series of fun, festive, and competitive activities that culminate in crowning your office’s Gingerbread Wars champion. This event is creative, fun, and fully facilitated for NYC’s best darn company holiday party.

Learn more about Gingerbread Wars.

2. Bronx Zoo’s Winter Wonderland

The Bronx Zoo transforms into a wintry paradise throughout the holiday season. It seems like wherever you turn, there is another festively decorated tree, a choir singing holiday classics in perfect harmony, or a performer wandering about on stilts. One popular feature is the lantern safari, which allows visitors to observe lighted animals such as giraffes, polar bears, and sea turtles from all around the globe. Additionally, you will enjoy the s’mores station, hot chocolate, and diligent ice carvers.

Learn more about Bronx Zoo’s Winter Wonderland.

3. Bowlmor Lanes

Bowlmor has 48 blacklight bowling lanes, making bowling an exciting experience. The bowling lanes are accessible for private parties, and the vibe of this hangout is amplified with vintage leather couches and big video walls. The laneside menu at Bowlmore is packed with tasty snacks like crab and artichoke dip and avocado hummus, in addition to specialty beverages. Bowlmor Lanes also has another location in Chelsea.

Learn more about Bowlmor Lanes.

4. Big Deal Casino

Big Deal Casino is not a conventional casino but a venue for hosting parties, seminars, or learning the art of poker. As the story goes, poker started in the city’s speakeasies during Prohibition, which paved the way for the poker craze that the film Rounders sparked in 1998. This “casino” is the perfect spot to go if you and your crew are looking for a lively and exciting atmosphere to connect. Big Deal Casino has a 2,500 square feet area that can accommodate up to 200 guests. The venue offers complete bar and catering services for events.

Learn more about Big Deal Casino.

5. Gagopa Karaoke

Singing your heart out in a private karaoke room is a great way to bring a group closer together during the holidays. Guests may get a private room at Gagopa Karaoke for $32 per hour for up to four people, with an extra $8 per hour for each extra person. Space for up to 30 guests is available. More than 20,000 songs are available in English, while another 10,000 are available in Spanish. The venue also has tunes available in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese languages.

Learn more about Gagopa Karaoke.

6. Circle Line Sightseeing

Riding the BEAST Speedboat Ride is a great way to get your group’s adrenaline pumping. When you join a Circle Line Sightseeing tour, you will experience the thrill of riding Hudson’s waves at 45 miles per hour. Your ride is a custom-built 70-foot speedboat that will bring you within 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty and provide you with breathtaking views of midtown and lower Manhattan. When you factor in the upbeat music and hilarious antics of the captain and crew, you have a memorable time together at sea.

Learn more about Circle Line Sightseeing.

7. Paint Nite

Amateurs to seasoned artists alike may have fun at Paint Nite. Even if you have never used a paintbrush, you will still leave this event with a masterpiece. You can enjoy your favorite drink while learning acrylic painting techniques with an experienced teacher. Every item you need to be creative, from canvases to paintbrushes and paint, is included in the price of admission.

Learn more about Paint Nite.

8. Chocolate Noise

Due to its novelty, a chocolate tasting is an excellent addition to any business event. You might think of chocolate tasting in the same vein as wine or cheese tasting. You can get in touch with Chocolate Noise for a personalized holiday event that teaches as it entertains. Cacao beans roasted to perfection, fresh cacao fruit juice, and a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates are all available for sampling. Chocolate-themed party activities include chocolate quizzes and blind tastings, with chocolate treats as rewards. Megan Giller, a chocolate expert, and teacher at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education, will lead your team during the activity.

Learn more about Chocolate Noise.

9. Pizza School NYC

For some quality time as a group, consider taking a trip to Pizza School NYC to learn how to make a classic Italian meal. You will work with your teammates and rely on teamwork and expert dough-stretching skills to make a real, homemade pie. Then, you can enjoy your mozzarella-laden masterpieces. A heated piece of pizza is one of the greatest unifiers in the history of the world. If you are considering holiday party entertainment ideas in NYC, visiting Pizza School is a great option.

Learn more about Pizza School NYC.

10. Brooklyn Botanic Garden

You cannot help but come upon this green 52-acre park if you happen to be strolling down Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is a major attraction, with Japanese maple trees and wooden bridges. If you return for a visit at the end of April, you might get to see Cherry Esplanade when the pink cherry blossoms appear. The Shakespeare Garden is also noteworthy since it has more than eighty plant species mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays.

The garden has many landscapes, including 13 gardens and five conservatories. Additionally, activities and displays are available all year long, such as seminars for planting with the whole family and a Chile Pepper Festival in October. Once you have rested your weary bones in Brooklyn’s beloved green space, you could stroll down the street to two staples, Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum.

Learn more about Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

11. Metropolitan Opera House

Even if you are not attending a performance, you may still enjoy a stroll in the building’s courtyard. Limestone construction, a sparkling chandelier in the foyer, and excellent acoustics in the performance hall are just a few of the many luxurious features of this edifice. Many visitors to the city have praised the opera house as a visual and auditory treat. Each season, the American Ballet Theater performs in the spring, and the Metropolitan Opera Company performs in the fall and winter.

Learn more about the Metropolitan Opera House.

12. Beat the Bomb

Beat the Bomb combines a traditional arcade and an interactive puzzle area, offering a unique and exciting experience. You will have one hour to complete five different interactive activities, including a laser maze, in teams of up to six individuals to defuse a paint bomb. The “hazmat” suits and helmets your crew will wear will protect them from paint splashes. Since this activity can accommodate up to two teams simultaneously, it is ideal for small to medium-sized groups. However, only 10% of teams can defuse the device, so be sure to bring your A game.

Learn more about Beat the Bomb.

Conclusion

Corporate holiday parties in New York City are a big reason why the city is the “city that never sleeps.” Celebrating the holidays in New York is unique. It is common knowledge that finding suitable locations for a holiday party in New York City may be challenging. From sheltered rooftop bars, to award-winning restaurants, to quiet lounges, NYC offers plenty of options for work holiday parties, friendly get-togethers, or formal Christmas dinners.

Next, check out company holiday party favors and Christmas icebreakers.

FAQ: Holiday party ideas in NYC

Here are frequently asked questions about holiday party ideas in NYC:

What are some good venues for holiday parties in NYC?

Some good venues for holiday parties in NYC include The Pool, Versa, and CNVS. Since your team members already spend a significant amount of time at work, it is best to celebrate the holidays somewhere else. You may also include seasonal activities in the venue, such as ice skating or a trip on a sleigh during the Christmas season.

What are some good things to do for holiday parties in NYC?

Some good activities for holiday parties in NYC include Painting a canvas with Paint Nite, going bowling at Bowlmor Lanes, or getting on a speed boat with Circle Line Sightseeing. No matter what you are looking for, NYC has the ideal location for your holiday party.

How do you plan a fun holiday party in NYC?

Proper planning allows you to throw a fantastic holiday party for your workplace in New York City. If you are hosting an event off-site, you must remember to make arrangements for transportation for your guests so that they can get there and back safely, mainly if alcoholic beverages will be offered. You also need to decide your budget and theme.

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Author:

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.
Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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