How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Restaurant? (2025)

• Why rent a restaurant in the first place?
• How to rent a restaurant on Peerspace
• Types of restaurants you can rent on Peerspace
• So how much does it cost to rent a restaurant?

How much does it cost to rent a restaurant? Anytime you’ve ever wanted to host a party outside your home with delicious catering, you’ve likely asked yourself that very question.

After all, it’s not a party without food, so why not host your next big event where the magic happens? No matter your event, a restaurant can serve as an excellent event space.

From meetings and corporate parties to rehearsal dinners and milestone birthdays, there are some events that just belong in a restaurant. Even a Thanksgiving meal with your large extended family might call for a restaurant room rental. Restaurants are the perfect, all-inclusive event venue.

But how do you go about renting one? And what will it cost you? Peerspace is here to answer the question: how much does it cost to rent a restaurant? We’ll also illustrate how easy it can be to rent one using our simple and comprehensive platform. Let’s get started!

Why rent a restaurant in the first place?

Hosting a party at your home can be exhausting. Take some planning off your plate and let yourself relax by renting a restaurant instead. Restaurants come with several amenities that make party planning a breeze.

No post-dinner cleanup

One of the biggest perks of hosting your next party in a restaurant? No cleanup! The last thing you want to do after pulling off an incredible event is clean up after your guests.

More space for your guests

As much as you may love to host, not every party can comfortably happen in your home. Renting a restaurant can give you more space, so you won’t have to leave anyone off your guest list. Restaurant venues are available in a range of sizes to suit both large and intimate gatherings.

Style and amenities on hand

Making your home party ready can be a hassle. When you book a restaurant, you don’t even have to worry about decorating. You can let the interior design of the restaurant speak for itself. Find a place with decor and architecture that fits your event theme, and you’re good to go.

Most people don’t have enough seating on hand for a party, and renting extra tables and chairs can be an expensive hassle. But if there’s one thing restaurants will have a lot of, it’s tables and chairs.

Food and drinks on-site

Renting a restaurant takes a huge load off your back because the most important part — the food — is already covered! There’s no need to worry about cooking, hiring a catering crew, booking a bartender, or keeping takeout warm and fresh. When you rent a restaurant, it’s a one-stop shop, with the food and drinks all on-site.

Renting a restaurant makes it easy to check off everything on your event planning list.

Speaking of events, here are some of our favorite unique catering ideas to try at your next important gathering!

How to rent a restaurant on Peerspace

To rent a restaurant, start with an easy venue search on Peerspace. New to Peerspace? It’s only the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to find and book restaurants, cafes, lounges, bars, and basically any type of venue you can think of.

To start your search for the right restaurant for your needs, head to our homepage. Enter the type of event (such as “dinner”) into the search bar along with the city.

Then under “What kind of space are you looking for?” choose “restaurant.” From there, browse through the listings until you find your dream space. Be sure to read the list of amenities and host rules to make sure the restaurant can accommodate your event. Take note of any booking minimums to be sure your event fits into the timeframe.

Once you have confirmed that the restaurant has what you are looking for, enter your event date and start and end time to start the booking process. Then hit ‘Request to Book’ to get in touch with the host. From there, you’ll be well on your way to hosting a memorable event.

Restaurants may have rules that prohibit outside food and drinks, so check with your host before looking into any of our catering services.

Types of restaurants you can rent on Peerspace

You can easily use Peerspace to book any type of restaurant you like! Simply search for restaurants in your metro and see what pops up. You can book casual cafes, gastropubs, high-end establishments, and any other type of eatery.

To ensure you book the perfect restaurant for your event, be sure the host offers the type of catering you want. Also, check if you can rent the full space or just a private dining room, as restaurant rentals offer different options and the total price will be affected by the amount of space you book. And finally, ensure the restaurant’s ambiance is a great match for the type of event you’re hosting.

Want to check out specific restaurants? Great!

Here are a few of the different types of restaurants you can find on Peerspace:

• This modern, industrial coffee shop in Seattle, WA (pictured above)
• This unique, elegant, cozy “under the barrel” restaurant in San Francisco, CA
• This East Village bright, spacious, beach-vibe venue in New York City, NY
• This downtown cafe with European design in Toronto, ON
• This SXSW cozy restaurant in East Austin, TX
• This downtown lounge and restaurant in Manchester, UK
• This rustic central cafe in Minneapolis, MN

You get the picture! With Peerspace, you can easily rent a restaurant in cities across the globe. Since each listing shares multiple photos, a description of the space from the host, and reviews from past renters, you know exactly what to expect before you show up for your event.

Oh, and let’s not forget that each listing has upfront pricing! You never again have to wonder “how much does it cost to rent a restaurant?” when you use Peerspace.

Planning a rehearsal dinner? Consult this guide to pull it off beautifully!

So how much does it cost to rent a restaurant?

Let’s break down the answer to the question, how much does it cost to rent a restaurant?

Restaurant rental rates typically range between $100 and $500 per hour. Some of the more upscale locations may have rates priced in the thousands.

Let’s use a couple of the restaurants we listed above as examples. On the higher end of the scale, we have the SXSW cozy restaurant on the east side of downtown Austin. It charges $1,000 per hour, which may seem pretty steep, although it is a spacious Japanese-style eatery that seats 100 guests and can provide food and beverage catering.

Much less expensive, yet still on the higher end of the scale is the unique “under the barrel” restaurant in San Francisco. It boasts distinct architecture and a charming setting and can provide food and beverage catering for groups of up to 60 guests. It costs $300 per hour although catering charges are on a per-case basis, so be sure to reach out to the host with your requirements.

On the lower end of the price scale is the central Minneapolis cafe. For only $100 per hour, you and your guests can enjoy food and drinks in its warm and rustic setting. It also has space for 150 guests and has received lots of rave reviews from past renters.

Overall, coffee shops and cafes are usually on the lower end of the price range, and venues with large dining rooms tend to cost more. The more casual the place, the more likely it will fit into a smaller event budget.

Price isn’t always dependent on seating capacity, however. Many restaurants set their prices based on what they include in the rental. If your rental price includes a food and beverage package, the hourly rate will be higher. The opposite will be true if you have to buy food and drinks separately.

When in doubt, reach out to the restaurant’s host before booking to see what the hourly rate includes and if it’s ideal for you and your event.

How much does it cost to rent a restaurant: conclusion

By now, you have a pretty good idea of how much it costs to rent a restaurant. You also know that you can easily rent a restaurant through Peerspace to enjoy a beautiful space that provides all the amenities you need with a straightforward price tag.

Keep in mind that the space you are booking is normally used for restaurant patrons, so the rental rate may depend on the menu prices and popularity of the eatery in order to make up for the revenue lost during your event.

Find unique restaurant rentals on Peerspace