8 Best Chelsea & West Village Bars for Private Parties

Finding the right bar for a private party in NYC takes more than a Google search. This list covers the best options in Chelsea, the West Village, and nearby neighborhoods, plus a few spots worth the short trip. Birthdays, corporate happy hours, brand events, all of it.

Global comfort meets downtown cool in the West Village

Members Only West Village takes its name from the iconic 1975 fashion brand, and the space lands somewhere between a downtown cocktail bar and a place you actually want to spend a few hours. The vibe is exclusive without being cold. Craft cocktails, elevated bites, and a room that feels intentional without trying too hard.

The full venue holds up to 110 guests for a private buyout, making it one of the better options in the West Village for groups that want the whole space to themselves. Works for birthday parties, brand events, or a corporate dinner that doesn't feel like a corporate dinner.

The West Village has a way of making everything feel a little more special at night, and this spot fits that. One of the most walkable, low-key parts of downtown Manhattan, which your guests will appreciate.

Nautical cocktail bar on the SoHo-Greenwich Village border with a DJ booth and photo booth

The Folly sits on West Houston Street right at the edge of SoHo and Greenwich Village, close to the Broadway-Lafayette B/D/F/M stop. The nautical theme sounds like a gimmick until you're actually inside. Reclaimed wood, marine details, and a bar that makes you want to stay longer than planned.

What sets it apart for private events is the built-in equipment: a DJ booth, a projector with full AV setup, and a vintage photo booth on site. You're not paying extra to rent any of it. The mezzanine fits 30 for a private section, and the entire venue handles up to 175 for a full buyout. The seafood menu, oysters and lobster rolls included, gives it a leg up on bars that only serve chips.

Works well for birthday parties, engagement parties, or corporate happy hours where people actually want to hang around. No minimum spend makes it easier to plan around a real budget.

Greenwich Village dive bar with a private back room steps from Washington Square Park

PubKey is a Bitcoin bar, which is either the most interesting or most niche thing you've heard today. Either way, it works as a venue. Located on Washington Place literally steps from the Washington Square Park arch, it has that classic NYC neighborhood bar energy: 1930s ceiling, exposed brick, checkered floor.

The front banquettes work well for smaller groups of 10 to 20 who want a dedicated spot without full privacy. The real score for private events is The Attic, a back room with four skylights, custom lighting, TVs, and enough space for around 85 guests. There's a carpet ready for dancing if your group gets there. Full venue buyout goes up to 125.

The West 4th Street A/C/E/B/D/F/M station is right there, meaning easy access for anyone coming from Chelsea, the West Village, or Midtown. No minimum spend, pub food that's genuinely good, and a vibe that's laid-back without feeling cheap.

45-foot marble bar and a downstairs speakeasy in Tribeca

Little More is the kind of place you take people when you want them to be impressed. The centerpiece is a 45-foot marble bar under a 16-foot library of spirits, and the dark serpent murals and botanical wall make it look like nowhere else in downtown Manhattan. It's on Reade Street in Tribeca, a short walk from the Chambers Street 1/2/3 and A/C stops.

The cocktail program comes from mixologists who came up at Apotheke, so the drinks are actually good. The food menu runs Little, More, and Most, from small bites up to things like vertical spiral lasagna and crab mac and cheese. It's a real menu, not an afterthought.

Private event options include the entire upstairs and bar for 150 guests, a downstairs speakeasy for 40, and several configurations in between. Works for birthday parties, product launches, corporate dinners, or holiday parties where people will talk about the room afterward. No minimum spend.

Two-floor Tribeca cocktail lounge with vintage New York glamour and a private second-floor bar

Boss Tweeds is at 41 Murray Street in Tribeca, two minutes from the Chambers Street 1/2/3 and A/C stations. The ground floor sets the mood fast: red wallpaper, tropical murals, gold accents, velvet seating, and chandeliers. It holds 125 on the ground floor for cocktail receptions and larger private events.

The real draw is Lady Tweeds on the second floor. Gold paneled walls, floral mosaic tiles, red leather benches, and its own marble bar. It fits up to 65 guests and feels like a genuinely private room. The mezzanine in between handles up to 35 for smaller groups who want a semi-private spot overlooking the main bar.

A strong pick for milestone birthdays, corporate client dinners, and engagement parties where you want the space to do some of the work for you. Cocktail service is tailored to your event, not just a standard open bar setup.

Lower East Side cocktail spot with a private basement and loungey upstairs

Kind Regards took over the old Cake Shop space on the Lower East Side and kept some of what made that basement worth going to. There's a disco ball, a dance floor, and a cocktail program that holds up. The loungey upstairs seating makes it easy for groups to settle in before moving downstairs.

The entire downstairs holds 150 for a private buyout, which is solid capacity for an LES bar without the typical nightclub price tag. The upstairs lounge works for semi-private gatherings up to 100. It stays open late, which matters when your birthday party is just getting started at midnight.

Works for album release parties, product launches, birthdays that turn into full nights out, and corporate socials where people want to actually dance. Close to the Bowery and a short walk from Spring Street.

Moroccan-influenced speakeasy lounge inside the Bryant Park Hotel

Célon sits inside the Bryant Park Hotel on West 40th Street, directly across from Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. The 42nd Street B/D/F/M and 7 trains put you right at the door. Intricate tilework, warm ambient lighting, and plush seating across a two-tier layout make it feel more Casablanca than Midtown Manhattan, and that's a compliment.

The bi-level layout gives you real flexibility. Reserve the upper tier for around 50 guests, the lower tier for up to 100, or take the full venue for 150. A DJ booth is available for rental when you want to push the energy up. Handcrafted cocktails and light bites keep the experience from feeling like a generic hotel bar.

Works well for corporate receptions, client entertainment, bridal showers, and birthday parties where the location needs to impress. Midtown access makes it easy for guests coming from all over the city.

Sun-soaked SoHo loft with 15-foot ceilings and a built-in DJ booth on Broadway

The Farm SoHo Loft is on Broadway between Grand and Howard Streets, in a historic building that's been doing a lot of heavy lifting for SoHo's aesthetic for decades. The Canal Street station serves about six different lines, so getting your guests here is easy. On the second floor, you walk into a 1,000-square-foot space with 15-foot ceilings, panoramic windows, and enough natural light to make any event look good on camera.

The reclaimed wood bar tables, designer antique props, and lounge chairs give it a distinct character that most raw spaces lack. The built-in lofted DJ booth, projector, sound system, and dimmable lights mean you're not starting from zero on setup. Outside catering is allowed, which is a real advantage if you have a specific caterer in mind.

The main event space holds 50, with a separate lounge area for 16. Works for birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, corporate off-sites, and product launches that need a visually distinctive backdrop without a massive price tag.

If you want help narrowing down options or need someone to handle the back-and-forth with venue coordinators, Litty's concierge team can do that for you. Reach out at getlitty.com and tell them what you're planning.