Bar Mitzvah Venues for Rent in New York City, NY

Your Guide to Renting Bar Mitzvah Venues in New York City, NY

Although in the secular world a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy are still very much children, Jewish law considers them adults. Bar and bat mitzvah celebrations are usually held on the day of a child's 13th birthday and include a festive meal followed by music and dancing (as long as it’s not Shabbat). Clearly, careful preparations are crucial for a joyous celebration but trust us - it’s all worth it! 

How to plan a Bar or Bat Mitzvah party?

Choose the date. Make sure to schedule the event for the child’s Jewish birthday or shortly thereafter. Most bar or bat mitzvah celebrations take place directly after the synagogue ceremony. If you’re not able to have the party on the day of the actual bar mitzvah, you should at least plan an additional small celebration on that day and throw the big party shortly after.

Create a guest list. Parents often make the mistake of first selecting the venue and catering, only to realize later that the venue won’t accommodate their guest list t or that there won’t be enough food for everyone. This is why you should plan the guest list before making any arrangements. When it comes to the people you’ll be inviting for your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, there is no rule - simply invite family and friends to celebrate this important event in your boy or girl’s life.

Book the venue. Before making any booking, get ready for browsing. Shortlist either the most convenient locations, the venues that have been recommended to you or those you particularly liked. You should also work out which style and size venue suits your needs the best. Perhaps you’d prefer to pay more for a great setting and save on the decorations or the other way around? It’s all up to you.

Plan food and beverages. Bar and bat mitzvah menus pose quite a challenge. Not only caterers but also hosts wonder how to please the palate of every guest. It all depends on the age of your attendees, but keep in mind that children may not want to eat the same as adults. We suggest you prepare two separate menus so that each guest is full and happy. While kids are happy to eat on the go, adults usually enjoy a sit-down dinner - consider that as well when planning the party layout.

Set the theme. We strongly suggest you pick a theme for your bar or bat mitzvah party. It will make your child feel truly special about this day, differentiate the event from others, as well as make it more fun for all of the child and adult attendees. Before you decide on the theme and start preparations, ask your child what they want for their party. After all, it’s their special day and they should be at the center of everything. Popular options include sports, tropical or Hollywood themes, but whatever the child is interested in can be done. Be as creative as you want but, more importantly, listen to your child’s desires and ideas.

Hire entertainment. It’s a party, so we suggest you hire some extra entertainment! To fill the space with music and make sure everyone dances as much as possible, think of getting a live band or a DJ. You can discuss the song choices beforehand and ensure there are tunes that people of all ages will enjoy. To make the bar or bat mitzvah memories last forever, think of renting out a photo booth alongside a professional photographer. That way every guest will have a small souvenir to mark the special occasion. Consider also hiring a person who will entertain the youngest guests during the party. They could either do arts and crafts together or play games.  

In case you need more information on how to throw a successful bar or bat mitzvah celebration, here are some additional tips & tricks:

• Honor special guests. Pay your respects to the parents, grandparents or anyone else that, in your opinion, plays an important role in the child’s life. Have them bless the wine and challah, either already in the synagogue or at the beginning of the party.
• Personalize the party favors. These can be various things, such as T-shirts, mugs or sports caps, but one thing is necessary: the bar or bat mitzvah child’s name has to be on the favor. If you wish to, you can also add the date of the party next to the name. 
• Encourage the bar or bat mitzvah child to learn Hebrew. Why so? They’ll be able to read their Torah portion instead of memorizing it. It’s a small thing but will definitely make the celebration even more special. 
• Decide on the age of the guests before you send out any invitations. Once you’ve made up your mind whether it will be kids only or mixed ages, you can start planning the party. Your decision will determine such things as the kind of entertainment you’ll be renting out for your event or table layout.

FAQs about Bar Mitzvah Venues in New York City, NY

What kind of gifts can I give for a bar or bat mitzvah?

Traditional gifts include religious or educational books, religious items, gift certificates or money.  Monetary gifts in multiples of 18 have become particularly popular as they are considered lucky. For a bat mitzvah girl who is about to begin lighting Shabbat candles after this special day, her parents or grandparents will gift her a candlestick. For a bar mitzvah boy, on the other hand, his parents or grandparents usually give him his first set of tefillin.

How much does it cost to rent a bar mitzvah venue in NYC?

This will vary depending on the venue’s size and location. You can rent a place and pay for each guest for an event package with prices varying from $20 to $53 per person, if you pay for just the hours you’ll be using the venue for - expect hourly rates between $500 and $2000 per hour. Some NYC spaces offer special packages where you pay only for the session. These session fees start at $1100 and can reach as high as $4600 per session. (Based on data from Tagvenue.)

Where in New York can I find the best venues for a bar/bat mitzvah?

It doesn’t matter where in NYC you live, there are great venues that are ideal for bar or bat mitzvah celebrations in every corner of the city. If you’re looking for somewhere in Manhattan, we recommend you have a look around the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side and Washington Heights. The best Brooklyn spots are located in Crown Heights, Flatbush or Williamsburg. Any Queens lovers should check out Forest Hills or Kew Gardens, both areas filled with venues of all sizes.

What kind of equipment should the venue offer for a successful bar mitzvah party?

PA system, as well as microphones and speakers, are a must for any bar mitzvah party. They will all come in handy during the speeches and for the later celebrations. If you wish to have some extra entertainment for the event, ask the venue manager if there are any extra light fixtures available at the place of your choice.