The best cheap venues in NYC

We’re about to tell you something that’ll make you glad you clicked on this article. Evalyn’s has no booking fee or minimum spend. Yes. It’s free. For up to 100 guests. Spaces include the indoor back area with a private patio, an outdoor space, and the wrap-around bar, and each event has a dedicated server. So, what’s the catch? We searched long and hard for the answer – there isn’t one.

Only 30 minutes from downtown Manhattan, Evalyn’s is a contemporary tap house serving a blend of Northern European and local Brooklyn personality. Under a striped awning on a quiet corner of Gowanus, Evalyn’s glows from within with warm lighting and a lively atmosphere. Community events, Tuesday Trivia, and live music make it a staple of the neighborhood.

On tap, Evalyn’s offers a menu of over 20 rotating beers from near and far, as well as cans and bottles. Entrees include spaetzle mac and cheese, hanger steak, and currywurst. If you’re not too hungry, try their bar snacks – beer-brined brisket sliders, crispy shrimp wontons, and a glorious warm pretzel that comes with whipped brie. The stuff of dreams.

This neighborhood bar in the Lower East Side is a rare affordable venue in Manhattan. With a vibrant, nook-like ambiance, it feels like a special find in a big city. Portuguese tiles, open shelving with colorful bottles, and distressed white brick create a relaxed, rustic atmosphere for any intimate event.

Standout sharable dishes include crispy duck salad, avocado crostinis, and heirloom tomato with burrata. Entrees are also available for dinner, with a variety of burger options, chicken paillard, and even vodka rigatoni. Pair it with one of their natural wines – available by the glass or a triple flight for $15 – or housemade sodas. Their eclectic cocktails have fig-infused bourbon, orange blossom, and celery bitters.

The intimate space is ideal for a group of up to 50 standing guests (30 seated). The minimum spend is $1000 a session, and the price per person can be as low as $20 a head.

This craft beer emporium in Greenpoint is designed like the aesthetically pleasing home of a Scandinavian lumberjack. Sleek wooden interiors, globe lighting, and a white marble bar are what make up Tørst (“thirst” in Danish).

The minimalism stops at the decor, though: 21 rotating draft lines of craft beer change daily – sometimes sooner – and come from all around the world. If that’s not enough choice, there’s also a rotating can menu. Pair your drinks with bar snacks like chicken wings, roasted mushroom tacos, and pickled veggies. Happy Hour offers half-price beer and wine bottles, $10 cocktails, and $12 Danish hot dogs with fries.

Rent the whole space from a $450 minimum spend for up to 45 guests – only $10 a person.

Find a piece of Old Miami in the East Village at The Last Resort. This hidden dive bar sports bright vintage decor, a jukebox, and a slightly tacky tropical vibe (but in an ironic way, so it’s still cool). A collection of board games are available, and weekly game nights host Bingo and music trivia. They’re open til 4 AM three days a week, in case that Monopoly game gets a little too intense.

Classic cocktails like the Spicy Margarita and Moscow Mule are on the menu from only $14 ($10 during Happy Hour). A variety of draft beers and spirits are also available, and it’s the kind of bar with staff that’ll make you anything if you know how to ask for it.

Rent the entire space for up to 74 standing guests for a mere $100 minimum spend, and event packages are available for corporate and birthday parties from $500.

Okay, you’ll probably still have to pay city tax on your bar tab at this Gramercy Park spot, but it’ll be hard to tell if you’re hosting an event. With different hosting options for 5 to 60 guests, it’s easy to find an option to suit your budget.

The Winslow brings British pub culture to the Big Apple, with warm lighting, leather booths, and communal wooden tables offering an inviting atmosphere. Blending inspiration from U.K. community bars and gin houses, this joint specializes in gin from around the world, using them in their $15 inventive cocktails. Try the “Pear Pressure”, made with Condesa prickly pear & orange blossom gin, or the “Kind of A Big Dill” with Whitley Neill aloe and cucumber gin. Order favorites from across the pond like fish and chips or Shepherd’s Pie, or stick to local favorites like jalapeño mac n’ cheese.

Rent the back room for 30 guests for a $600 minimum spend, the semi-private banquette section for 40 guests and a $300 minimum spend, or the high-top area for up to 60 guests and a $900 minimum. A group of 10 to 15 can also be hosted in the Nook, a single communal high-top area with a $300 minimum spend. Hosts are free to decorate or bring their own cake for a $15 flat fee, and party platters are available as add-ons.