Where to Find BYOB in NYC For Your Dinner Or Event

Wondering where to find BYOB in NYC? With the high costs of everything in New York City, bringing your own bottle (BYOB) is a great way to save costs without skimping on the best parts of an outing with friends or family! You can bring a bottle of your favorite wine for a fun painting class, a few cans of beer to a nice dinner with friends, or even plan a BYOB wedding reception for friends and family.

BYOB regulations in NYC are a little strict here compared to the rest of the country, however. So what is involved in choosing to bring your own bottle in the Big Apple? As masters of event planning, Peerspace is here to help, with tips covering everything from BYOB rules to venues in NYC that allow for it!

Is BYOB allowed in NYC?

BYOB NYC regulations are a little stricter than those in the rest of the country. Venues in New York State can’t operate as a BYOB establishment unless they, a) already have a liquor license or b) have a capacity of under 20 people. A venue that allows BYOB, does not have a liquor license, and has the capacity for 20 or more people runs the risk of violating the NYS Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

Otherwise, BYOB is legal in New York and NYC! Given the legal framework NY State follows, it also means that BYOB tends to involve more hoops to jump through for customers. Corkage fees and limitations on bottle sizes are much more common in NYC than in other big cities like Philadelphia.

Customers put up with them anyway because the general cost of living is so high in NYC that if you’re going to eat out then you might as well splurge! Plus by buying your own liquor you can have just the right bottle for a proposal or anniversary dinner rather than hoping the venue has what you like. Businesses also profit from BYOB policies since they know customers appreciate the choice of bringing a preferred bottle.

What events are BYOB-friendly?

Do you like bringing your own bottle to a nice dinner with your partner or friends? Restaurants are some of the most common BYOB NYC venues. You can also make BYOB a part of wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners. Dance parties, art meetups, comedy clubs, karaoke gatherings, live performances, social mixers, and game clubs can also be BYOB if the venue allows for it!

These awesome social mixer ideas will help you plan a memorable gathering, BYOB or not!

Which New York City venues allow BYOB?

BYOB rules aren’t so strict in NYC that it’s impossible to find a venue! Restaurants offer endless possibilities if you’re looking to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party, or other special event. New York City is one of the world’s top food cities and you’ll find BYOB restaurants that include every cuisine! 

What if you’re looking to join or host a creative event, like painting classes or DIY crafts, where you want to have a glass of wine while you work? Look for BYOB art studios in NYC! You can paint a selfie portrait of yourself, work a pottery wheel, or make charm bracelets with friends while enjoying a bottle with your besties! 

What are the rules for a BYOB space?

The BYOB NYC landscape is a little different from other major cities. For starters, you’ll find that corkage fees are much more common and more expensive. Expect to pay anywhere from $10-$90 for a bottle of wine, with prices varying for beer and other beverages. 

Higher corkage fees are common in NYC since venues that offer BYOB and have seating capacity for more than 20 people must have a liquor license. Therefore, the venue prefers that you buy their liquor over bringing your own. Plus the cost of living is just higher here, in general! Corkage fees help cover the costs of glassware, the time servers take to pour drinks, and the time dishwashers take cleaning your cups. The fees also discourage heavy drinking, which prevents rowdy patrons from disturbing guests, making a mess of things, and being general nuisances.

That said, there are several BYOB NYC venues that don’t charge corkage fees. Most of them have capacity for less than 20 people, which skirts New York State regulations for alcohol consumption. Fewer people getting drunk means less of a hassle for the police, hence the set limit on how many people can bring a bottle or two to a venue! You may find other regulations in place, such as restrictions on the size of a bottle or accessories like coolers. So always inquire beforehand, even if a venue is listed as BYOB-friendly, so there are no unwelcome surprises once you show up to party!

What venues are BYOB-friendly in NYC?

Art classes where you can bring your own beverage are a great option for a date night, bachelorette party, or other fun time! Have you tried a paint-and-sip class yet? You can bring a bottle of your favorite wine while working on an artistic masterpiece! Paint and Sip Studio NYC is a popular choice! You can either BYOB or enjoy a free glass of wine at any of their open sessions.

How about BYOB restaurants? Lovers of Thai food should check out Hug Esan, a restaurant offering Northeastern Thai cuisine. Their BYOB regulations are quite reasonable, with $5 per bottle corkage fees and $1 per can of beer. Unlike most Thai restaurants, Esan-ese cuisine has a lot of Lao influences given the geography, offering a delightfully different dinner experience if you feel Thai’d out!

Basque cuisine is a must-try for NYC foodies and Txikito delivers in spades! Enjoy tapas, wood-fired peppers, roasted squid, and other Northern Spanish delicacies along with your bottle of choice wine. Txikito has a reasonable (for NYC) corkage fee of $15 per bottle.

Higher-end restaurants tend to charge more for bringing your own bottle. Locanda Verde is a beautiful Italian restaurant in Tribeca where celebrities go to eat well! From bolognese pasta to pan-seared king salmon, there’s something for everyone on the menu. Since they are a fine dining restaurant that has its own wines to serve, corkage fees run $35 per bottle, with a two-bottle maximum.

Karaoke clubs are some of the rarest venues for BYOB but NYC does have Gagopa Karaoke on West 32nd St. as an option! They are BYOB-friendly but also have a beer and wine menu if you want to just show up and have a good time. Gagopa Karaoke is open 7 days per week and has rooms with enough space for up to 30 guests to have a great time singing together!

Book a private BYOB NYC venue with Peerspace

Do all of the corkage fees, capacity limitations, and select menus bother you? Why not book a BYOB NYC venue through Peerspace instead? We have the largest collection of online space rentals in the nation! From small cafes to elegant banquet halls, our venues make it clear whether you can bring your own bottles and what amenities are included with your rental!

For example, this cozy eclectic cafe in Union, NJ, is BYOB-friendly and includes a smart TV, space for 50 guests, and close proximity to public transportation. You even gain a helpful person to help set up and facilitate the party for the duration! 

How about a more upscale venue for a fundraising gala, wedding reception, anniversary dinner, or other major event? Check out this full-service 5th-floor loft in Midtown Manhattan! A fireplace, speaker system, and views of Manhattan are just a few of the available perks. The venue providers also offer a BYOB rental rate that includes 4 staff members to assist with anything you need plus cleaning after the party is over! 

How much does it cost to rent a restaurant for a night? Learn all about it with our handy guide.

How do I find BYOB NYC venues on Peerspace?

Finding a BYOB-friendly event space in NYC is easy to do using the Peerspace website! All you need to do is head to our front page and type in the kind of activity you’re planning under the “What are you planning?” search bar. Next, type in your location (New York, NY, USA), and add a date if you want to screen out venues that may be booked in advance.

Once you hit search, you’ll be shown all of our listings in the New York City area, with the option of expanding your search further by panning out on the accompanying map. See the search bar that says “Find spaces with specific keywords?” Type in BYOB to narrow your search down to listings that specifically allow you to bring your own bottle! 

Where to find BYOB in NYC: conclusion

As you can see, BYOB is tricky but not impossible in NYC! As long as you are willing to pay corkage fees and limit consumption, there are more than a few restaurants, clubs, and cafes that say okay to you bringing a bottle or can. Peerspace also has a wide selection of venues where you can plan the BYOB event of your dreams! From intimate cafes to spacious loft venues, our party venues near you are a breeze to book!

Find unique event venues in NYC on Peerspace