Discover the best venues in Central Park for your next event

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Written by Amanda Healy - March 28 2024


The best venues in Central Park


Kevin sneaks out of his present-filled hotel room to give the Pigeon Lady one of his turtle doves. The Avengers watch Thor, Loki, and the Tesseract return to Asgard by the Bifrost Bridge. Sally eats lunch with her friends at the boathouse, unaware of how close she is to Harry. Buddy the Elf rapidly throws hundreds of snowballs at bullies to defend his little brother.


All these iconic cinematic moments take place in one of the world's most famous green spaces: Central Park. If you want some of that movie magic pumped into your event, keep reading to find the best venues in Central Park.


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harold pratt house & peterson hall central park venue new york
harold pratt house & peterson hall central park venue new york

1. The 1920s-style Central Park venue with endless options: Harold Pratt House & Peterson Hall

Upper East Side, New York

Harold Pratt House is a two-story townhouse mansion, and Peterson Hall is an adjacent conference center. Together, these two spaces create a Central Park venue with everything you could need for a memorable event.


The Hauser Room (max. 45 for auditorium, 50 for reception, 40 for seated dining ), Rockefeller Room (max. 160 for auditorium, 200 for reception, 130 for seated dining), and Rubin Library (max. 100 for auditorium, 120 for reception, 60 for seated dining ), are just a few spaces available to rent. Each room has a distinct atmosphere, but all feel elegant in their own ways.


Peterson Hall has state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, an LCD video wall, multiple microphone options, and different staging selections. The large space is simplistic and doesn’t distract from your event.



ziegfeld ballroom central park venue new york
ziegfeld ballroom central park venue new york

2. Embracing the movie magic at this Central Park venue: Ziegfeld Ballroom

Hell's Kitchen, New York

Movie palaces lined Broadway and Seventh Ave in the 1920s, an extravagant time that Ziegfeld Ballroom wanted to capture in its art deco-inspired space. This Central Park venue opened its doors in 1969 and started as a single-screen theatre, but since 2017, it's had three floors and 20,000 square feet of viable event space.


The sweeping main room accommodates 1,100 guests standing and 800 guests seated. Offerings include cutting-edge technology, catering, audio, video, and lighting packages. The event planners have a vendor list that is exclusively recommended to clients and will help tailor your event exactly how you imagine it. Whether it comes to the food being served or the placement of the tables, your voice will be heard.



the lotos club central park venues new york
the lotos club central park venues new york

3. Mark Twain's old stomping grounds: The Lotos Club

Upper East Side, New York

The Lotos Club opened its doors in 1870 as a gentleman's club for sophisticated writers, journalists, and critics. State Dinner honorees have included Robert Frost, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Harry S. Truman. Ever heard of them? And it only took them a little over 100 years to extend memberships to women— thank goodness.


Even though the club has moved locations since opening, the walls are still filled with history, and this Central Park venue will make your event feel important. The variety of its space means there is something for everyone, and the staff is there to help at every stage so you can step back and enjoy the moment.


Some rooms are large and bright, some dark and worldly, and one is, of course, a library. The spaces include The Grill Room (max. 75 seats or 90 standing), The Ballroom (max. 100 seated), The Library (max. 50 seated for meals), The Wedgewood Suite (max. 20 cocktail reception or 30 for dinner), and The Directors’ Room (max. 30 for meetings or 16 for meals).



pratt mansions fifth avenue central park venue new york
pratt mansions fifth avenue central park venues new york

4. This Central Park venue throws an event just like New York’s elite: Pratt Mansions Fifth Avenue

Upper East Side, New York

Who wouldn't want to live in a mansion? This often unattainable feat can be remedied by renting Pratt Mansions Fifth Avenue for your event. This Central Park venue is made up of three mansions interconnected right next to the MET, with a ballroom overlooking one of the only areas in the city where you can feel in touch with nature.


The Beaux-Arts style and refined architecture give the feeling of a quintessential Upper East Side property. Private parties, weddings, and photo and film shoots are some of the many events you can throw at Pratt Mansions. The space can accommodate events of all sizes, whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for 25 guests or a cocktail reception for hundreds of guests. The ballroom can accommodate up to 150 guests for a seated dinner.



583 park avenue central park venue new york
583 park avenue central park venue new york

5. Your guests won’t be left waiting at this Central Park venue: 583 Park Avenue

Upper East Side, New York

No one can argue that 583 Park Avenue is a striking space so big it feels never-ending. While reminiscing on a bygone era, the space is impressive and efficient, with the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the city. There are two waiters per table, or one waiter for every five guests, with the option of having additional bartenders, coat check assistants, lounge attendants, and doormen.


This Central Park venue has various spaces: the Arcade, the Ballroom, and the Balconies. It can accommodate 700 seated and 1200 standing guests, and there are break rooms in case you need to separate into smaller groups. When renting with them, you can access a page of exclusive vendors, including stage and lighting, invitations and printing, flowers and decor, and valet parking.



Find the perfect venue near Central Park

Central Park is a bustling hub of every kind of event a New Yorker could envision. Wanna have pizza party dressed as a rat? There's a space in Central Park for that. Want to plan a party with every member of extended family - weird, but there's a venue in Central Park for that too. All you have to do is rent it out.

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