The best spots for private dinner parties in New York, London and Paris.
NEW YORK
Gramercy Park Hotel Private Roof Club
2 Lexington Avenue;
212.920.3300
VIBE: An eccentric’s penthouse with art by Julian Schnabel on the walls and olive trees on the terrace.
CROWD: Nightcrawlers from fashion and film, including the Olsens, Narciso Rodriguez and Gwen Stefani.
CUISINE: Wakiya, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, or a vast catering menu that includes sushi, Italian and Spanish fare.
PRO/CON: You don’t have to be a member to book a party./No live music allowed or changing the placement of the plants.
COST: $250 to $500 per person; includes beverages.
La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street;
212.752.1495
VIBE: The private room upstairs is cozy with antique rugs, a fireplace and owner Charles Masson’s beautiful floral arrangements.
CROWD: Everyone from New York social lions to business and media titans to politicos.
CUISINE: Classic, including mushroom risotto, chocolate soufflés, lamb chops or Dover sole.
PRO/CON: The service, atmosphere and food are among the best in the city./The stairs to the private room are vertiginous, so beware of too much fine wine.
COST: $250 per person (20-person minimum); includes one glass of Champagne.
Inn LW12
7 Ninth Avenue;
212.206.0300
VIBE: Gastropub-slash–Canadian hunting lodge.
CROWD: Downtown fashion types including Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
CUISINE: Diet-killing comfort food like poutine (french fries with cheese and gravy).
PRO/CON: Anything goes—as long as the Inn is left as it was found./Battling the ’hood’s B&T crowd.
COST: $75 to $250 per person; includes beverages.
LONDON
Annabel’s
44 Berkeley Square;
+44.207.629.1096
VIBE: Homey and intimate, with sexy, velvet tomato-colored sofas.
CROWD: Old-world posh types such as Tom Parker-Bowles and new-money tycoons like Philip Green.
CUISINE: Mostly Italian, some English comfort food.
PRO/CON: Bartender Mohamed is like an old friend to regulars./The club is strictly members-only (membership is roughly $1,500).
COST: Approximately $160 to $200 per person; beverages not included.
The Soho Hotel
4 Richmond Mews;
+44.207.559.3000
VIBE: Sophisticated country house with a dash of a private club.
CROWD: Media and fashion types and West End actors.
CUISINE: Unpretentious English and Continental fare.
PRO/CON: Roaring fires in the winter./Each of the four separate private dining rooms only accommodates 25.
COST: Approximately $200 to $400 an hour for a room, plus approximately $100 per person for food, wine and service.
Shoreditch House
Ebor Street;
+44.207.739.5040
VIBE: Industrial chic—exposed brickwork contrasts with luxe chandeliers and plush velvet armchairs.
CROWD: Artsy types who have set up camp in gritty Shoreditch.
CUISINE: A mix of traditional British and modern European (rabbit with olives and thyme).
PRO/CON: Lots of rooms mean lots of different atmospheres from which to choose./The rooftop, which seats 160, can get pretty noisy.
COST: Approximately $1,200 to $2,500 to rent a room, plus approximately $80 to $125 per person for food and beverages.
