Retirement Party Venues for Rent in New York City, NY

Your Guide to Renting Retirement Party Venues in New York City, NY

A retirement party should reflect the interest and the personality of the soon-to-be retiree. It should also be a special event celebrating their years of hard work and the person themselves. To ensure it is a true success, we have jotted down a few ideas to help you get started planning!

Before the party:

• Set the budget. Before making any decisions, establish how much money you have to work with. Having a budget will guide each of your decisions and help you throw a successful party without the need to overspend.

• Create the guest list. As we’ve already mentioned, your budget will set the direction of your event planning, including the size of your guest list. Think carefully about how many of your coworkers you will invite and whether you want your family members to join the celebration as well. If you’re throwing a surprise party for the guest of honor, ask their family members or closest friends who won’t want to miss the event.

• Choose the location. With a budget set and a guest list in hand, you can start looking for a place to throw the retirement party. Start by having a look around the local area but in case you can’t find anywhere suitable for your needs, check out neighboring boroughs. A city like New York offers a huge number of venues of all sizes, so you will be able to find somewhere great without a doubt.

• Decide on a theme. Parties are more fun with a theme! And the sky's the limit when it comes to choosing one for your retirement celebration. First, think about the soon-to-be retiree’s hobbies and favorite things to see if they inspire a few ideas for a fun theme idea. However, you can also always decide on a non-related motif that can still pump up the fun. If you’re lost for ideas, we have some in mind you could get inspired by: how about a casino night, a Bon-Voyage! adventure, a 1920s cocktail party or a Western evening for a West-World lover?

• Make a party playlist. If there is one thing that can’t be missed at any party, it’s music! And what’s a better way to celebrate retirement than with a playlist that will take the guest of honor on a trip down memory lane?! Create a mixtape with songs spanning the decades all the way from their childhood years up to the present day. To make it even more meaningful and special, ask their family and close friends if there are any songs that have an important meaning for the honoree, such as their wedding song, and include all of the suggestions in the playlist as well.

At the party:

• Guest of honor. Make sure the soon-to-be retiree is celebrated properly! Prepare decorations and small props for people to wear that will remind everyone about the guest of honor. A nice touch would be to put up a banner with the name of the party, as well as a picture station honoring the retiree with plenty of photos taken over the course of their career. You can also ask the guests to bring any photos of the guest of honor to include as well.
• Delicious food. It goes without saying that catering at a party is a must. If your party has a theme, think of choosing the kind of menu that will match it. For example, when throwing a tropical-style celebration, prepare grilled dishes, lots of fruit and any bold flavor combinations you can think of. Don’t forget about a custom cake! Find a design that reflects the honoree and either have a random bakery make the cake or ask your trusted baker to create some sweet magic.
• Bespoke cocktails. Serving alcohol at your party isn’t a must yet it is often expected. If you’re set on a non-alcoholic party, feel free to modify classic cocktails and simply prepare mocktails. It doesn’t matter what you choose in the end, your drink options are endless and what will be served all depends on your ideas. A nice touch to a retirement party would be creating a cocktail menu with drinks named after important accomplishments in the retiree’s life. We suggest you make sure that they not only taste great but also look appetizing.
• Make memories last forever. Take as many photos as possible! We suggest you hire a professional photographer or ask any of the guests who may be passionate about photography to take pictures during the party. To spice things up a bit, rent out a photo booth and strike a pose with fun props. 
• Games and activities. What’s a better way to get to know the retiree better than to play a round or two of trivia about them? This way you will be able to have lots of fun, as well as learn new things that perhaps you didn’t know about your former colleague. Depending on the guest of honor’s interests and ideas, you can host a karaoke night.

FAQs about Retirement Party Venues in New York City, NY

How much does it cost to rent out a retirement party venue in New York?

In New York City, you will find venues suitable for every pocket. Hourly rental fees for retirement party venues range from around $25 to $350 per hour. It is also common to find places offering special event packages that start at $20 and reach up to $65 per person. (Based on data from Tagvenue.)

Which NYC boroughs have the best venues for my retirement party?

In case any of your guests will be travelling from afar, it’s worth having a look at places located near Penn Station. Manhattan is also filled with fantastic spots of all styles and sizes. We recommend you check out Midtown, SoHo, or Tribeca, to name a few. For anyone living in Brooklyn, we suggest you have a look around Williamsburg or Brooklyn Heights. And don’t forget about Queens! Astoria, Jackson Heights or Flushing are great places filled with spots suitable for any taste.

Where can I host a small retirement party in New York?

The options are truly endless. It is quite common for people to throw their retirement parties at their favorite restaurants. They either rent out the whole place or just the dining room. If you’re looking for somewhere with more privacy, consider renting out a loft or a studio apartment where nobody will (hopefully) disturb you.

Can I throw an outdoor retirement party in NYC?

Absolutely! The city’s hidden backyards, as well as terraces and gardens adjacent to restaurants and cafes, are all waiting for your retirement party. We strongly recommend Upper West Side's Private Backyard at Pekarna - an intimate outdoor space for up to 80 guests, boasting plant-filled walls and flexible layout. Another cozy garden space you can easily rent out for your retirement party outside is the Williamsburg-based Midnights where delicious food, cocktails and unique ambience are a certainty.