The best restaurant buyouts in New York City

On a picturesque corner of the West Village is Little Owl, a neighborhood bistro with Meditteranean-inspired dishes. It may be where Central Perk is supposed to be, but you won’t find that orange couch here. You will, however, find a Joey – Chef Joey Campanero that is, who has curated a menu overflowing with seasonal ingredients, hand-caught local seafood, and treasured recipes from his childhood (the bone-in pork-chop and gravy meatballs are standouts). Prix-fixe menu options are available for groups over 7, and for more elaborate affairs, the Little Owl Townhouse event space a block over offers multi-course lunches, dinners, and passed hors d'oeuvres.

The Little Owl restaurant accommodates up to 30 guests for a sit-down meal, and the Townhouse space can host up to 40.

No one can evoke the atmosphere of a New York City diner better than lifelong New Yorkers themselves, and that’s exactly what Sunday to Sunday is. More than anything, it’s a community affair – in this corner of the Lower East Side, you’ll find girls catching up over brunch, lifelong lovers smoking cigarettes at the sidewalk tables, and families enjoying a comfort meal at the end of the day.

On the menu, you’ll find childhood favorites like grilled cheese and tomato soup, milkshakes with sprinkles, and spaghetti and meatballs. The space is small enough to feel local, but big enough to host a full buyout of up to 75 guests. A blend of contemporary, trendy design and all-American retro decor gives the space a funky edge. There’s a 25-person private dining room downstairs if you want to to split an event between floors.

The rustic decor of Juliette evokes the atmosphere of a countryside garden party: draping greenery hanging from the ceilings, vines climbing up the walls, and vintage-inspired signage hanging above bistro tables. Bifold doors lead out onto the Winter Garden, a skylight-covered dining room that can expand into the main dining space. The full restaurant can accommodate up to 110, including the elegant rooftop space –weather permitting.

Juliette’s menu offers brunch and dinner. Ingredients are sourced locally and seasonally for French onion soup, Parisian steak tartare, and diver scallops with ratatouille. For events, you can choose from two prix-fixe menu options, passed hors d’oeuvres, or buffet-style raw bars and charcuterie boards. Open bar options begin at $36/guest, with plenty of French wine, obviously.

*ilili *means “tell me” in Arabic, and if you’re having trouble hearing what your friends are saying over the hum of city diners, you may as well book the entire restaurant. This Lebanese-Meditteranean restaurant is in the heart of the Flatiron District and offers dining options for up to 150 seated guests (or 210 standing). A full buyout includes exclusive use of the ground floor Dining Room & Mirrored Room, the second floor Bar Room & Tented Room, and the main Bar & Lounge. Each smaller room can also be rented out for private dining.

The decor is elegant but the meals are encouraged to be family-style, with hot and cold mezze options and main plates like lamb chops, whole roasted chicken, and a mixed grill plate with a little bit of everything. There’s plenty of space, but each table will echo the intimacy of Middle Eastern family meals, so it’ll never feel like too much.

You didn’t think we’d skip out on an Italian option, did you? La Pecora Bianca is a NYC chain that doesn’t feel like a chain – each location’s decor varies, but the food remains consistent. Pastas are made daily in-house, and family-style menus are offered for lunch and dinner, with highlights like whipped ricotta and truffle honey, rigatoni with vodka sauce, and branzino. The menu isn’t over-complicated and the setting is relaxed, making it an ideal spot for casual and elevated events.

The Upper West Side location has two floors, including a main dining room, and a 38-seat mezzanine space. A full buyout accommodates 100 seated guests (130 reception) and the interior boasts French doors, high ceilings, and curved windows letting in plenty of natural light and a touch of greenery. Just steps away from Central Park and across from the Natural History Museum, you’re right by what makes the neighborhood so special.