The top venue spaces to rent in Chelsea, NYC

There are very few places in New York that host both wedding dresses and bowling shoes, but Chelsea Piers is one of them. This flexible event space is both an elegant riverside venue and a sports-cum-recreation complex, meaning you can host anything from sit-down dinners to multi-sport activity outings. There’s even a reception room with a golf simulator attached, letting you entertain that one friend who won’t stop inviting you to his country club upstate – looking at you, Gary.

With several event rooms to choose from, you can host anywhere from 50 to 300 people. Book the Sunset Terrace at golden hour for a practical party with a backdrop, or venture into one of the many sports spaces for something more thrilling. You can even do both – but maybe drink after you disport.

Every New Yorker is bound to drag their feet across the High Line at some point: playing tour guide for friends, maneuvering through tourists, or strolling tensely next to your Hinge date, hoping that the exit at Gansevoort St appears sooner than expected. Still, it’s a great escape from the traffic below, once a train rail and now lined by native plants and community gardens to give you a breath of fresh air without leaving the city.

If you’ve ever wished you had the place to yourself (and can’t be bothered getting up at the asscrack of dawn), you can book a variety of spaces along the High Line to host anywhere from 70 to 475 people. All event revenue goes toward the upkeep of the public spaces, so you can party hard and, maybe for once, feel good the next morning.

The baroque decadence of the Hotel Chelsea has hosted an array of guests for the nearly 150 years it’s been around. From everyday patrons to cultural icons like Warhol and Dylan, the neon red light projecting along the side has attracted visitors seeking what Arther Miller once called “the high spot of the surreal.” If that’s not convincing, I don’t know what is.

The lovingly restored spaces within the hotel allow anything from intimate gatherings to big dinner receptions for up to 100 people. The Bard room, a grand, chandelier-adorned ballroom infused with historic detail, is perfect for large gatherings. For private dinners or smaller daytime meetings, book the Tea Room, which has been converted from the original General Manager’s office and retains its iconic ceiling mural. Party like Iggy, ponder like Twain, or even have a whirlwind affair like Cohen and Joplin. We can’t stop you.

Dating back to 1817, the buildings at this venue mirror an Ivy League campus – with a bit more added humility. With a historic chapel, a lush private garden space, conference rooms, and the grand Refectory Hall, you can host everything from weddings to conferences to extravagant dinner parties. The Refectory boasts a cathedral-like charm, with gilded arch ceilings and towering stained glass windows. It’s so secluded, you’ll forget you’re in New York and not Hogwarts.

The capacity in these spaces varies between 50 to 300. RHC provides catering, bespoke for each event, including canapés, plated dishes, and small plates. You can choose your cuisine, so if you want Southern smoked baby back ribs at your wedding, go for it. Just make sure you have a backup dress.

If you’ve ever come across a glass building that looks like it’s been draped with an oversized duvet insert and wondered, “God, what is that thing?” – It’s The Shed. Despite sounding like a rustic-themed warehouse bar in Bushwick, it’s a massive art and culture center tucked among the luxury developments of Hudson Yards. Still, it doesn’t try to hide its pretentiousness: its 50-page philosophical apologia says that “a party can be treated with the same rigor and aesthetic sensitivity that is currently attributed to a painting or a theater piece…”. We have to agree.

The Shed is designed to be a flexible community space, and if you work in the area, you might catch its duvet-looking shell retracting on a nice day. It brings together established and emerging artists for concerts, operas, exhibitions, plays, and fashion shows – and these can all happen simultaneously. Its various spaces are available to rent for events hosting up to 1,200 people, and its adaptability means it’s ideal for even the most absurd of parties.

Sometimes, you want a homey feeling for your event but don't necessarily want to use your own home, and that's okay. You don’t need to cram all your friends and colleagues into your too-small apartment (that you pay way too much rent for): Highline Lux is an intimate, lived-in event space for groups of 50 or less.

The furnished apartment has bright white walls and natural light, with darker accents throughout the social area and kitchen. In the evenings, mood lighting and a sound system help curate the atmosphere to fit your function, all with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Whether it's a photo shoot or a dinner party, guests will feel comfortable in this Chelsea venue.