The best galleries to rent in Upper Manhattan

Right near the hustle and bustle of Columbus Circle is Evans Gallery. This renovated 1,700 sq. ft. Upper Manhattan gallery has three rooms– the main space, the fireplace room, and a second private room –each a quaint area with light wooden floors. You can expect 24 ft. ceilings and a kitchenette to prepare last-minute snacks and appetizers. Whether you're throwing a surprise birthday party, photoshoot, or hosting a corporate meeting, they have seen it all before.

Evans Gallery is easy to book on short notice and provides up to 60 chairs and tables, speakers, a screen, WiFi, and a projector. And if you like doing things more traditionally, they have whiteboards for you to write out anything for your guests.

As we grow up, we lose the childlike wonder that was second nature to us. If you’re craving that feeling again, an event at this Upper Manhattan gallery might do the trick. The Sugar Hill Children's Museum can be found on the first and lower floors of the Broadway Housing Communities and emphasizes the importance of children being natural artists and story lovers.

The museum itself has toddler time and story hour for actual children, but the spacious and unique event spaces can be the place for your next corporate or social event of up to 250 guests. The Living Room (max. 150) is a vibrant room with bright orange seats and rainbow walls. It’s adaptable to receptions, presentations, dinners, and meetings. There’s also the lobby and courtyard with a garden area, which are ideal for more intimate events.

Claude McKay's 1928 novel Home to Harlem follows Jake, who returns from WWI to explore his native Harlem. This inspired HomeToHarlem, once a website and now a gallery representing the vibrant culture and history of Harlem This Upper Manhattan gallery, across the street from Harlem Haberdashery, is in a historic Harlem townhouse with hardwood floors, impressive staircases, and original etched glass doors.

The 6,600 sq. ft. venue spans over five floors, accommodating up to 100 guests. The expansive space provides versatility and caters to varying events, from art exhibits and jazz poetry nights to intimate weddings and dinners. One floor is known as The Garden Level, a 1,200 sq. ft. space inspired by the Gatsby era. The Parlor floor combines art-filled walls and modern accents, and the upper three floors have rooms for artists in residence.

We all know art is subjective – it means different things to different people. It's nice to have spaces that accommodate exactly what you are looking for, and you can find that at 345 East 104th Street. This Upper Manhattan gallery, accommodating anywhere from 10 to 200 people, has studio and artist spaces available for short-term or month-to-month rentals, all with very different vibes. The studio has exposed brick walls and wooden floors, a bright red couch, a table, and a smaller room with a sink for messy workshops.

The artist’s spaces have a very different atmosphere than the studio, which has an industrial look of concrete walls and floors, exposed brick, and pops of the color red on the beams and doors. 345 East 104th Street emphasizes surrounding yourself with other talented artists, which can be accomplished in this space.

Friends Serge Sabarsky and Ronald S. Lauder brought Neue Galerie (“new gallery” in German) to life, to highlight German and Austrian art. The museum's second floor focuses on early Austrian twentieth-century fine and decorative art, and the third floor has exhibits focusing on German work. This Upper Manhattan gallery allows corporate members and private donors to host private events that include cocktail receptions, seated dinners, and after-hour gallery tours.

One space option is Café Sabarsky, inspired by the Viennese cafés that acted as artistic and intellectual hubs at the turn of the century. The grand piano in the corner of the room is also available to amplify the extravagance of your evening. Additionally, private viewings allow you and your guests to look at the permanent collection and any special exhibits while being informed by trained art historians.

The museum can accommodate 300 guests for a cocktail reception and 60 guests for a seated dinner.