The best meeting rooms to rent in the Upper East Side

Named after the renowned socialite family, Astor House has been an elegant Upper East Side gathering place since 1927. As the home of the New York Junior League, the house has retained its traditional decor, complete with painted portraits, antique furniture, and a grand piano. But don't worry if you haven't been formerly presented to society just yet – anyone can host a meeting in this sophisticated setting.

The four-story mansion has eight separate event spaces, perfect for teams of all sizes. Host hyper-focused meetings in the board room or a refined cocktail hour in the formal sitting room. The house also has a garden for al fresco working lunches or a breath of fresh air in between busy meetings.

The Astor House can accomodate up to 200 guests for corporate events.

You’ll know the Guggenheim Museum as the home of precious works of modern art, but did you know you can rent out several spaces within it for private events? The museum, with its iconic winding architecture designed by Frank Llyod Wright, is a fixture of the Upper East Side and an awe-inspiring place to hold a meeting.

Among the Picassos and Monets, there are five unique meeting spaces. Your guests can mix and mingle along the spiraling galleries of the Perelman Rotunda or take in an engaging presentation in the Lewis Theater. The museum also has a smaller theater space and two cafes that can be configured for dinner meetings or cocktail hours.

The Guggenheim can host events of all sizes, ranging from 40 to 1,000 guests.

If your idea of a perfect meeting is chatting in an airy restaurant with a beautiful backdrop, like Meg Ryan does in When Harry Met Sally, you can do exactly that at the Central Park Boathouse. This Upper East Side landmark restaurant is known for its appearances on the silver screen, and now it's your team's time to shine.

In an idyllic setting by The Lake, your colleagues can discuss their upcoming projects while enjoying a delicious meal and watching the row boats on the water. The menu is inspired by the Boathouse's location and features fresh seafood served in the dining room and nostalgic favorites, like lobster rolls, served in the outdoor cafe.

Central Park Boathouse can accommodate up to 250 guests for private events.

The Upper East Side's history as an extremely affluent neighborhood means that, by planning an event here, you'll walk in the footsteps of some of the most glamorous figures of yesteryear. For example, hosting a meeting at the Lowell Hotel puts you in good company with guests like F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Betty Davis. The star power continues to the present as the hotel serves as a popular spot for Met Gala attendees to get ready in rooms recently redecorated by the Obamas' interior designer.

When they're not being used as Madonna's dressing room, five of the hotel's apartment-style suites are available for meetings. Perfect for confidential discussions, these exclusive suites are a luxurious setting for an intimate team gathering. The Lowell Hotel also offers its library lounge, the Club Room, and its cafe, the Pembroke Room, as private event spaces. Contact the venue for capacity information.

Yes, this 1920s-era mansion would make for a lavish meeting venue, but it would also be the perfect place to carry out a lifesize game of Clue. From the winding marble staircases to the private library, the ambiance might inspire some excellent detective work – or just a very productive meeting.

The wood-paneled Rockefeller Room is the venue's largest space and can host up to 200 guests. However, if your team is a bit bigger you can rent the adjoining Peterson Hall, an auditorium that can accommodate up to 275 guests.

Don't let the crystal chandeliers and hundred-year-old fireplaces fool you, this venue is as high-tech as any other on the Upper East Side. Peterson Hall features a 22-ft. video wall for crisp projections, with a dedicated audio/visual lab for total control of dynamic presentations.