As someone who works in hospitality and beverage programs, I attend a lot of events. Very few leave…read morea lasting impression. Raise a Glass to Rye & Blue was one of them. Held at the beautiful rooftop garden at Rockefeller Center overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral, the setting alone was worth the trip. As the sun set behind the Manhattan skyline, guests were treated to an evening that felt equal parts whiskey education, culinary experience, and celebration of American craftsmanship. The WhistlePig team put together an outstanding lineup of cocktails and rare whiskey pours, each thoughtfully paired with a multi-course dinner. Every course felt intentional, from the beautifully presented appetizers and seasonal produce to the perfectly cooked beef course and creative dessert finale. The food wasn't just an accompaniment to the whiskey it stood on its own. One of the highlights of the evening was host Max Miller of Tasting History. His storytelling added depth and context to each pour, connecting American history, whiskey culture, and the culinary experience in a way that kept the entire table engaged. What impressed me most was the attention to detail. The tablescape, service, pacing, glassware, cocktail program, and overall guest experience were executed flawlessly. Nothing felt rushed, and every element contributed to the story of the evening. WhistlePig continues to prove why they are one of the most innovative names in American whiskey. This wasn't simply a tasting event it was an immersive experience that celebrated history, hospitality, and craftsmanship at the highest level. If WhistlePig hosts another dinner like this, don't hesitate. Buy the ticket. -- Jeffrey Umaña @jeffrey.umana

From a wedding guest point of view…read more Wedding was right before the December Storm. This is rated as one of the most expensive venues in NYC. Yes, the views are amazing, however the weather has to be just perfect. Especially if you plan to use the outdoor patio. Which, why wouldn't you? The space itself is not for large groups, wedding party size approximately 50. Plus the wait, bar & other service staff. The location is prime, if you plan to take a car, remember this is NYC & traffic is bad. You can probably walk faster than a cab or car service. Especially during the month of December. NYC gets more visitors in December than all year long. The venue has 2 bathrooms for women which is not good, however worked for this crowd. Think of this location as a once in a lifetime, only if you have the funds for this location. As guests we were thrilled to be invited to such a lavish wedding!

It's a Sunday and all the Art Galleries are closed. You want something different to do besides the…read moreusual shopping, brunch/lunch/high tea... What do you do? Why, stop by the Holiday Home of course!! Held in a historical mansion on the Upper East Side of New York City, come prepared to be inspired and enchanted as you walk through the house, each room designed by a different interior designer, to a different holiday theme (think, New Year's Eve, St Pattys, Christmas etc) or special moment in life. Every single room here is SO gorgeous, with furniture from some of the most luxurious brands in the world. As I walked through the rooms, I imagined what it would be like to live in a house like this, a life of luxury, with cocktails at 3 and constant dinner parties. And if you're one of the lucky few who can actually afford to live in a house like this, then the Holiday Home would serve as a life sized inspiration board for you... You get a catalog at the entrance and it serves as a reference to any piece of furniture displayed in the house. The designers themselves are also there in their respective rooms and are more than happy to talk to you about their work / offer to come design your house (if that's what you're looking for). It is a $35 entrance fee that goes towards the Breast Cancer Foundation, though, even if it didn't, so worth it getting to spend an afternoon in the shoes of an Upper East Sider. Lastly, everyone's so incredibly nice (you'd expect them to be snooty but there are absolutely no airs here), though, I would dress nice and perhaps not show up in sweats if I was gonna go. Haha. There is also an adorable little heated courtyard cafe that serves up ready made sandwiches, teas and (not so yummy) macaroons. But very nice and pretty to sit at. All in all, one of my favorite things we did in New York this past trip! Perfect for getting into the holiday mood (:

Came here for an eyeglass event and the venue was absolutely gorgeous!!! I can definitely see why…read morepeople would book a wedding or other events here.

Thank you for making our trip memorable . One of our most…read morefavorite hotels in NY thats full of warmth , where the staff shine with kindness and knowledge and the walls carry a spirit of welcome. We will surely find our way back soon. Love ~ M~

Fifty Four is an event venue in the midtown east area with a full bar and catering options. I went…read morefor a holiday work event and enjoyed my time there! In particular I really liked their drinks and DJ. They offered all the standard open bar drinks and I liked their tequila sunrise, Paloma, and French 75. Cocktails were sweet as expected but didnt overpower the alcohol. My colleague had asked for something sweet with gin and got this gin-based elderflower drink with citrus notes. It was so good! Food was alright but I appreciated the range of flatbread, pasta, fried rice, and noodles. Didn't get a chance to try their desserts but it looked solid from a caterer. The space was quite nice because they had two floors. First was the entrance with a photo booth and bar area. Second was a bunch of velvet couches with a mini dance floor. Music was loud enough and they have the ability to change the lights/lighting. Coat check area in the front along with a staff member to check IDs. I had a great time at this venue!

We had a great party here! The room was beautiful and our party planner transformed the space! Its…read morereally a great canvas for youre events. The bartenders were also great!

Recently here for a company event. The venue allows for different set up, great for a large…read moreaudience. Great venue for events. The staff is attentive professional and friendly. From the doormen to checking in / picking up your coat and wait staff who notice details - all adding up to a grand experience. Food isn't the best but it's good. The most negative aspect is the location 42nd Street has become so crowded and traffic patterns can't be predicted. However, public transportation is right across the street - Grand Central, you have the subway and MetroNorth and walk 15min west to Port Authority. Otherwise I suggest a cab to the area to avoid the guaranteed over priced parking garages. For the restaurant area on - head over next door for grand treatment as well.

My company recently had it's holiday gala here. The team at Cipriani did an excellent job all…read morearound. We were greeted warmly at the door, quickly and efficiently checked in and handed off our coats. This was important as there were hundreds of us all showing up around the same time. Before I knew it, I had a drink in my hand. The bars were well stocked and well staffed and they turned around drink orders quickly - we never waited long to get a drink. They didn't cheap out on the furniture either. The seats were comfortable and the flatware was very nice, with the Cipriani logo along the top of the plates. The food was excellent. This is usually where almost all banquet halls breakdown somewhere. Whether it is pasta, sides, meat or fish, something just doesn't work. Not the case here, as you would expect from Cipriani. The food was excellent across the board. The pastas, vegetables, potatoes and the meat were excellent. The beef was exceptional for banquet-style dining. Desserts were very good, too. On top of all of this, their staff was swarming around, clearing plates, offering to refill waters, keeping the place clean, etc. - they were very attentive. Cipriani really did an excellent job running our holiday party. I highly recommend them.

So good we came back again!! And they had a late night menu with blistered shishito peppers! The…read moregrapefruit radler was the perfect drink after a long day of walking. We will come again AND hunt down the one in DC when we go home. It's also very low key compared to the chaos outside its doors in time square.

Horrible experience. Today I want to share a very unpleasant experience that my family and I had at…read moreDon Coqui in Edgewater, NJ. ​We had a reservation for 4:00 p.m. We were a party of six: my parents-in-law, my wife, my daughter, a friend, and myself. Our intention was to enjoy the afternoon and watch the match between Norway and England. ​During our visit, we ordered several appetizers, pitchers of sangria, cocktails, and a paella. The bill exceeded $450. ​While we were still consuming our food and drinks, an employee approached us without prior notice to demand that we vacate the table immediately and told us they were bringing the check. We never refused to pay. The only thing we asked was to finish the food and drinks we had already purchased before leaving. ​The situation escalated unnecessarily. The employee started yelling at me, threatened to call security, and shortly after, the hostess intervened, pointing her finger at us and demanding that we leave. While my wife was recording what was happening, the hostess pushed my wife's hand on two occasions. ​Everything was recorded on video. ​I am not writing this to seek a confrontation, but to warn other families about the treatment we received. A restaurant may have policies regarding table time limits, but nothing justifies aggressively treating customers who were actively consuming, willing to pay, and simply asking to finish their meal with respect. ​I hope the management of Don Coqui investigates what happened, takes responsibility, and adopts measures so that no other customer has to go through a similar experience.

Great quiet bar with a good view and excellent drinks. After being in the crowds around Time…read moreSquare, this was a nice place to sit and have a good old fashioned. They used a nice square ice cube and made suggestions on the bourbon.

Stopped at Interlude after a show to have a snack. This bar only serves cold food such a cheese or…read moremeat plates. The views, however, are killer and the ambiance is fun!

Amazing staff!!! Room was super clean and comfortable…read more It was my birthday and our anniversary and they made special accommodations for us which was extremely special. We hope to return!

On the top floor, the room was terribly cold. We kept the doors closed from the balcony, but it was…read morefreezing. Then at the end of our party before the last song was finished they turned the lights up bright and it felt like my Cinderella moment was over. My coach became a pumpkin.

Beautiful rooftop bar on the west side. It's dark and cozy inside; invites intimate conversation…read more The cocktail selection is great, a wide range of tart and tangy to sweet and smooth. The service at Dear Irving is top notch, they are reliable and quick. They understand the difference between providing privacy and providing assistance. Great date night spot.

As I've said previously, I try to avoid midtown. It's congested and touristy and the restaurants…read moreare usually just not that great. But Irving on Hudson is an exception. The view is gorgeous and sweeping. The service is attentive and professional. The drinks are sophisticated. I ended up here because I saw a video about their gin and tonic. Sounds simple, but it's one of my favorite drinks, and I'm always looking for someone who can do it well. I ordered their "dear G&T" and it was a fruity, complex riff on my old favorite. I also got the foreign forage, "a bourbon smash with a mint zing." It was also a delicious take on a classic. They have several types of cocktails, all broken down by spirit and flavor profile. They also offer a lot of spirits made in New York State. They have cocktails with earthy notes, fruity notes, fancy martinis, and a section boasting limited edition and special spirits, if you're "feeling fancy" and wanna cough up 35 bucks instead of 20 or 25! They have a bar snacks menu (sliders, nuts, and the like). I had their thick cut fries and they were light, seasoned, and tasty. I couldn't stop eating them. Midtown or not, I highly recommend this spot, which also has a couple other locations, including Gramercy.