Festival Cafe NYC, Partial Buy Outs
1155 2nd Ave, New York, NY, 10 065 -
From
$2000 min spend
Up to
40 guests
Offers
catering
Internal Catering
allowed
About Venue
Festival Cafe NYC is a lively farm-to-bar cocktail café on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, known for its welcoming energy, seriously good food, and made-from-scratch drinks. Owned by local families and rooted in the community, this spot blends laid-back charm with polished style. Whether you're planning something casual or more elevated, Festival offers a refreshingly personal take on private dining and events.
This is a space people return to again and again for birthdays, engagement parties, weddings, and team gatherings. It’s flexible, unpretentious, and genuinely fun, with a warm atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home. The share-style plates and creative cocktails keep things social and easygoing, while the thoughtful service makes hosting feel effortless.
Guests love the option to go big with full buyouts or keep it cozy with smaller get-togethers. Festival’s team handles the details with care, and there’s a clear focus on quality throughout. Perks like private hire options, custom food and drink menus, and responsive planning support make the process smooth from first enquiry to final cheers.
- Great transport links by subway and bus
- Parking options nearby for easy arrival
- Venue-wide catering with seasonal American cuisine
- Personalised planning support from a responsive team
- Full venue hire or semi-private options available
Just a few blocks from major subway lines and steps from convenient parking, Festival Cafe NYC is a relaxed yet refined choice for celebrations, team events, and unforgettable nights out in one of the city’s most loved neighbourhoods.
About this space:
The Partial Buyout at Festival Cafe NYC offers a semi-private setting that strikes the perfect balance between intimacy and atmosphere. Set apart from the main dining area, this flexible space is great for team dinners, engagement celebrations, or casual cocktail parties where you want a little privacy without needing the whole venue.
With room for up to 30 guests seated or 40 standing, it's an ideal option for mid-sized groups looking for an upscale yet relaxed environment. Enjoy access to the same high-quality food and drink as a full buyout, with the added perk of a lower minimum spend. The space is available for day or evening bookings, and the team offers several easy-to-understand packages to help you stay on budget.
- Capacity: 30 seated / 40 standing
- Semi-private space with flexible layout
- Lower minimum spend than full venue hire
- In-house catering and full bar service
- Wi-Fi, projector, and speaker system included
- Available for lunch, dinner, or late-night bookings
Contact us through VenueScanner to book your Partial Buyout or explore other options if your guest list grows.
Capacity & Layout
Standing
up to 40
Dining
up to 30
Food & Beverage
Catering arrangements
Facilities & Amenities
Disabled access
Air conditioning
Natural light
Premises parking
Audio & Visual
Projector & screen
WiFi
Location
Reviews
- Conny Sw ScarpaApril 2025
Obsessed with the fresh seafood, cute desserts, and the cocktails!! 🍹 Next level. Their spring menu is giving everything it needs to give—flavor, presentation!
- Iana TenzikJune 2025
I ordered there 1 cocktails and tuna tartar and was wondering bill was $61. But honestly I like place and tartar was so delicious and it was pretty big for appetizer. Cocktail I also liked. So I recommend this place 😊
- TeresaMarch 2025
Festival is truly a hidden gem! From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped in a warm and inviting atmosphere, like a cozy celebration. The service was impeccable – attentive without being intrusive. We indulged in a midweek brunch starting with their seasonal Bellini followed by shrimp cocktail and egg sandwiches with fries. We can’t wait to come back for some of their evening specials.
- Lou MMay 2025
Don’t trust the fake positive reviews posted by people with just a few reviews. Extremely overpriced place (a beer is $14) with very subpar food and drinks. We ended up paying ~$300 (before the tip) for three main courses and 7 drinks. The worst service and attitude on the UES - super slow and arrogant waiter. One of our drinks never came even though we asked the waiter 3 times and our friend got pissed off and just ordered it from the bar. In the end we were charged for the drink. After telling the waiter who funny or sad enough turned out to be the owner - he arrogantly refused to take it off the check because he “saw” her holding a Prosecco glass. And the cherry on top of the cake was the automatically added tip that could not be changed - the only options were 25%, 23 % and 22%. The only good thing about this place is the nice design and the live music. Don’t waste your money, time and energy going there.
- Kara La'cruzMay 2025
I've been waiting to come to this restaurant for a few months now. I work in the area and I always pass it, and never went in. So last week I decided to go in, what a huge mistake!! I ordered a Martini first and proceeded to order the soup of the day and a six piece shrimp cocktail. The bartender came back and informed me that they were out of soup. It's 2:00 pm in the afternoon on a rainy day no problems. I just ordered the six piece shrimp cocktail. If you can see from the picture it doesn't look great. Now the shrimp cocktail on the menu shows a three-piece or six piece market price now if you're going to do market price for shrimp cocktail let it be worth the money you're spending on it. My bill came and it was $70 for one martini and six shrimp!!! Are you kidding me for what I was served. I will never recommend this restaurant to anybody. If you are in the area I'm looking for a restaurant there's a fantastic Greek restaurant down the block on 3rd avenue and 59th right across from Bloomingdale's fantastic food & it's always fresh with great customer service.
