This Italian cafe from chef Ignacio Mattos offers a seasonal menu of ingredient-driven antipasti and excellent housemade pastas, alongside a small but frequently changing selection of meat and fish secondi. While the food and aesthetic both draw from Estela’s signature understated elegance, the space itself is considerably larger, with high ceilings and windows peering out onto Sixth Avenue. Altro Paradiso offers two spaces for your party: the private outdoor casita, which seats up to twenty guests, and the semi-private lower dining room, which accommodates 40.

Since 1906, this landmarked brownstone on Restaurant Row has served both traditional Piedmontese and American cuisine, with a hefty Italian-leaning wine list that’s been praised by Wine Spectator. The parlor floor is reserved for private dining - this includes the Rose Room, the Wine Library, the Mirror Gallery, and the Garden Room (the original dining room of the 1874 townhouse), each with its own original fireplace alongside restored woodwork and charming period details. Individually the rooms comfortably seat between 18 and 36 guests, but they can be combined to accommodate larger groups as necessary.

Located in the building that once housed New York’s first Chinese theater on a picturesque stretch of Doyers Street, Chinese Tuxedo - much as the name suggests - serves a spiffy takes on mostly Cantonese fare typically reserved for banqueting. The bi-level space retains historic details like original columns and stripped, concrete walls, which have been paired with midcentury furnishings and lighting, towering tropical plants, and contemporary art — an eclectic mix, but it works. The Moon Room, separated from the first floor dining room by Chinese deco-inspired wood-cut panels, accommodates up to 28 guests.

The trek to Danny Meyer’s latest venture at Manhattan West brings you through what can only be described as an open-air mall, but once you arrive at the sprawling second storey trattoria you’ll be rewarded with chef Hillary Sterling’s excellent house made pastas and live-fire cooking, alongside an extensive Italian wine list. One floor above the main dining room, Ci Siamo offers a private dining room which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with photo-worthy views of the Empire State Building, plus its own dedicated bar and an outdoor terrace. Seating configurations allow for up to 30 guests at a single long table, or 40 guests at multiple tables.

Chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske’s original spot on Orchard Street has earned a Michelin Star, as well as a two star rating from the New York Times. A self-proclaimed “New York Restaurant,” Contra offers two ever-evolving tastings to showcase the state’s best produce - a shorter 5-course menu ($110) and an extended 9-course menu - and much as the name suggests, the duo’s creative cooking often goes against the expectations of fine dining. The bar dominates the front half of the restaurant, while a row of tables flanked by a long wooden banquet leads to the semi-open kitchen in the rear. The narrow but cozy space seats 34 guests.

Homestyle Japanese cooking is front and center at this established West Village brasserie, an airy space with lofty ceilings, large windows framed by dark wood paneling, and an open kitchen. Audiophiles will delight in their recently opened music bar, pairing vintage turntables and Westminster Royal High Fidelity speakers with a tasteful collection of rare records from around the world. EN’s private spaces – all modeled after Meiji era dining rooms, offering both tatami and western style seating – double down on the domestic charm of the restaurant, lending a sense of intimacy to just about any party.

Serving Carroll Gardens for more than twenty years, this neighborhood joint from Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo (commonly known as simply “The Franks”) has become a bonafide dining destination, offering a hearty menu of family style Italian American dishes in a homey atmosphere. A converted blacksmith’s stable in the garden, faced in rustic brick with a lighting installation by conceptual artist John Wigmore, provides a uniquely nostalgic dining space for up to 40 guests.

Historically known as simply “the very famous restaurant in Brooklyn,” this fabled chophouse and seafood restaurant operated on Fulton Street for nearly 125 years, with the grand dame of Southern cooking, chef Edna Lewis, notably running the kitchen in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The gilded era dining room remains one of the only standalone restaurants in the city to receive both individual and interior landmark status from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. In 2021, Gage and Tollner reopened under the auspices of Chef Sohui Kim (of The Good Fork and Insa), whose menu thoughtfully reimagines the standout dishes of the past century for a new era. Two private dining rooms offer an air of Victorian elegance, including a marble-topped brass bar, custom wainscoting, and two ornamental fireplaces. The Edna Lewis Room and Dolphin Bar seat thirty and twenty respectively - the spaces can be combined to accommodate a larger group.

Hutong, an elegant Chinese restaurant with locations in Hong Kong and London, made its stateside debut in the cavernous Bloomberg Building space once occupied by Le Cirque. The room has been completely reimagined, inspired by visions of deco glamour and the swinging culture of 1920’s New York and Shanghai. Hutong describes itself as a Northern Chinese restaurant, though there is a fair amount of Sichuan cuisine on offer, alongside dishes from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong province, as well as extensive dim sum service. Four private dining rooms can be rented individually or combined as needed to accommodate parties of different sizes - Jinyu and Jiuwan each seat ten guests, while Mao’er and Liulichang each seat eighteen.

Tucked beneath an historic 1830s townhouse a couple steps off the cobblestones, Jac’s On Bond is the newest neighborhood hangout from the team behind Ray’s and Pebble Bar. Drawing inspiration from 90s haunts, Jac’s is neither a bar nor a club; it’s an inviting space with amber lighting and cozy booths where one can be guaranteed an expertly-made cocktail, an impressive bite, and a good time. Come for a caprese martini and stay for a round of pool or two; enjoy a menu of craveable, elevated bar snacks by Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske. The private room at the back of the space seats up to 36 guests at two long tables.

Tucked inside the Roman and Williams Guild boutique, chef Marie-Aude Rose’s La Mercerie is an ode to everyday French cooking, marrying classical training with a taste for seasonal ingredients. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the tableware - all of which can be purchased in the on-site shop - doubles down on quotidian (or shall we say, quotidien) Francophilia, including rustic stoneware, hand blown glassware, and subtly embroidered linens. A private dining room, outfitted with Roman and Williams luxury furnishings, seats up to twenty four guests.

Located at the corner of Ludlow and Canal, this wine bar from Golden Age Hospitality (the group behind spots like Acme, Le Crocodile, Bar Blondeau) sits at the heart of Dimes Square, offering a variety of bistro staples alongside a tightly curated list of natural wines and well executed classic cocktails. Despite being hip to the latest trends in biodynamic bottling, the food and the vibe are decidedly old school, drawing on the vintage look and feel of tabacs, low key watering holes that dot the streets of Paris, frequently identified by a red diamond-shaped sign. The downstairs private dining room seats up to 30 guests.

Operated by Delicious Hospitality (the same group behind Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones), Legacy Records serves an inviting menu inspired by the Northern Italian coast, with a substantial crudo section and excellent pastas. The Ken Fulk-designed restaurant, which includes a walk-up cafe in addition to its main 85-seat dining room, is an exercise in midcentury glamor, with a main dining room contrasting glossy green with teak, leather, and brass. The Test Kitchen swaps in burgundy for green but otherwise draws on a similar aesthetic, offering space for up to 30 guests to enjoy a seated dinner with views of the open kitchen. The adjacent drawing room offers space for an addition 14 seated guests, or can be used as a standing area for cocktails.

Ignacio Mattos’ Rockefeller Center restaurant is inspired by Italian all-day cafes, reliable outposts equally outfitted for a quick morning espresso and pastry or a leisurely afternoon lunch. Later in the day, it’s all about aperitivo, whether you fancy a spritz or one of the finest martinis the city has to offer. Antipasti are the star of the show, but there are a few secondi should you crave something a bit more substantial. Eight can dine at the baker’s table, while the terrace and upstairs spaces are available for groups of up to thirty.

Both the menu and the interior design at Mel’s celebrate the hearth as the beating heart of the restaurant - shareable dishes from their wood-fired grill oven complement a color palette of warm reds and yellows radiating from their tile-clad pizza oven out into the dining room.  A dining counter runs the length of the open kitchen at the center, with two semi-private spaces occupying the front half of the restaurant - the nook can seat 14, while the semi-private front room accommodates up to 30 guests.

James Beard-nominated Chef Alex Stupak’s latest act, a sleek eatery inside The Hugh, Midtown’s newest food hall, offers a tight but diverse menu of globally-inflected New American fare. Press has understandably fixated on their $29 hotdog, largely concluding it’s worth every cent, but it would be a mistake to overlook the creativity across the F&B program, capturing the breadth of New York’s culinary landscape. The private dining room, nestled deep inside the restaurant with views of the adjacent kitchen, offers an ideal space for unstuffy business lunches with up to 22 guests. The room can accommodate up to 45 for cocktails.

Since 2013, the Michelin-starred Musket Room has charmed New Yorkers with a menu of internationally-inspired fare, offered a la carte or as an affordably indulgent tasting. The women-powered restaurant is presently helmed by chef Mary Attea, who received a James Beard nomination for Best Chef: New York, with pastry chef Camari Mick turning out imaginative sweets like a caramelized parsnip mousse, shaped like actual parsnip. The garden dining room accommodates up to 25 guests for a seated dinner.

This sprawling restaurant from Sunday Hospitality offers creative takes on izakaya fare, from a seasonal selection of binchotan skewers, to a three course Buddhist duck feast, alongside a thoughtful beverage program with inventive cocktails and an extensive menu of sake, wine, and shochu.

James Kent’s fine dining venture at 70 Pine Street, perched some sixty stories above Crown Shy, offers an extravagant tasting menu with sweeping skyline views befitting a C-suite (The space did in fact previously serve as the clubhouse for AIG’s executive team). The 62nd floor, one floor below the main dining room, includes two suites exclusively for private bookings. The East and North salons seat 20 and 25 guests respectively, and each features a private terrace. The salons can also be combined to accommodate 40 seated.

Much as the name suggests, Sunday in Brooklyn is perfect for brunch on Sunday in Brooklyn, with a commendable variety of well-executed sweet and savory options and a solid cocktail program. The same easygoing and welcoming ethos that characterizes the daytime service spills over into the evenings, with an approachable menu of New American comfort fare. Sunday in Brooklyn boasts three private spaces: The private dining room on the third floor seats up to sixteen, while that on the second floor seats 26. For a larger party, the sun room comfortably accommodates up to 50 seated guests.

A dimly lit space with tin ceilings and exposed brick walls, this pioneer of the natural wine movement has served biodynamic bottles from small producers since 2008, alongside a sizable menu of tapas and a beloved $1 oyster happy hour that draws in the after work crowd. Two private dining rooms, featuring dark wood wainscoting and restored crown moldings, can accommodate up to 35 guests each for seated dinners.

In a neighborhood that doesn’t lack for stuffiness, Uva offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere, along with dependable (if safe) Italian cuisine and a surprisingly expansive wine list. The rustic decor of the main dining room blends classic pre-war New York details with Tuscan farmhouse charm, while the back garden is an enchanting al fresco space open for all seasons. The private wine room, an intimate subterranean space whose walls are lined with bottles, comfortably fits up to 25 diners.

A quick skim of the menu might suggest this is simply another run of the mill, seasonal, New American joint, but Vinegar Hill House, situated on a charming cobblestone street a stone’s throw from the waterfront, punches above its weight. The relaxed main dining room with its copper bar and salvaged accent pieces offers the comforts of a neighborhood spot while dishing up destination-worthy food.  Groups of nine to 32 guests can book the private dining room with a working fireplace, the historic carriage house, or the back garden.

To call Wildair a wine bar is to vastly undersell it - an offshoot of Contra, the neighboring venture from chef owners Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske offers a more casual but no less creative taste of their whimsical culinary stylings in the form of shareable small plates, alongside an all-natural wine list of highly drinkable bottles from extraordinary producers around the world. Make sure to save room for dessert. The main dining room, an unadulterated space with exposed brick walls and slate-topped high tops, is available for buyouts, and can seat up to 31 guests.