NYC's best summer party spaces

Imagine the scene: you’ve been hitting the gym all year, chiselling the perfect figure, ready to show off. Now, you could take a trip overseas to some European beach where no one will know you, and you’ll be lost in the great sea of perfectly bronzed Greek abs and thighs. Or you invite your closest friends to an exclusive summer pool party and watch their faces drop in envious shock as you shed the towel and launch a perfect swan dive into the glittering pool.

Enter stage left: The Beach at Dream Downtown. The 5,000 sq ft outdoor pool comes with 70 lounge chairs, two private cabanas, a full-service bar and kitchen, and a DJ booth. That’s basically the ingredient to every amazing party you’ve never been invited to. Time to make amends.

This independently run summer party spot can be found in the old industrial quarter of East Williamsburg, wedged between Grand St. Station and Newton Creek tributary.

Better known for being the sort of large warehouse party venue you’d find yourself dancing in at 4 am surrounded by wide-eyed NYU students, the Monarch is actually an awesome low-key summer party venue to those in the know.

The huge, 1500-capacity space features an excellent backyard that blends industrial brickwork with lush greenery and buckets of natural light. It’s big, versatile, and has a BYO alcohol policy which makes it a very affordable summer party venue offering.

Do you feverishly dream of summoning your inner Thoreau in the great outdoors without actually leaving Manhattan? Well, La Croisette bar might be the ticket. Backing onto Tribeca’s North Cove Marina, Le District has created a charming outdoor space that overlooks the Hudson, with Jersey City just about visible past the sunset haze that rests on the river.

The al fresco setting is large enough for 500 guests, with multiple smaller sections for those sane enough not to invite 500 of their nearest and dearest to their Summer Party.

The food and drink are provided by Liberty Bistro, the popular eatery attached to Le District food hall. This translates to classic French bistro fare: steak frites, mussels, omelets. The good stuff. Wine is available by the glass and there’s a generous menu of $18 cocktails for those who want to see the sun set with a French Mule in hand.

Midtown may seem like a curious spot for a summer party. When you’re fighting your way through the throng of daytrippers, spiderman performers, and lost souls driven mad by the looming billboards of late capitalism, it might be hard to dream of that rooftop frosé.

Persevere though, dear reader! The imaginatively named Midtown Loft & Terrace whisks you up (via a private elevator) beyond the churn to a truly awe-inspiring rooftop terrace. The 4,400 sq ft event space is an ideal summer party spot in NYC. It boasts a retractable enclosed roof, a beautifully landscaped garden, an in-house production company, and, of course, a connected lounge with its own fireplace – essential to any evening summer party.

Private events can cater to up to 150 standing or 100 seated guests on round tables. And that view, well, it has to be seen to be believed.

Mister Sunday is an NYC institution: the weekly party draws New Yorkers of all ilk over to Bushwick for a steady celebration of all things house, funk, and disco. Whilst the well-known party is worth the loss in serotonin, it’s a little-known fact that host Nowadays also offers private hire.

Offering both indoor and outdoor space rentals, Nowadays can assist you in putting on your very own summer party. You get full use of the 5,000 sq ft event space, as well as their colossal 16,000 sq ft yard. That’s a lot of foot. With canopy trees, an outdoor sound system, and a 4 am liquor license, the sky is the limit. Just don’t try and put on a sunday event, duh.