Where to Book a Private Dining Room in Philly

Whether you’re planning a seated meal for a small group or an office holiday party for 50, try these Philly restaurants with private rooms.

Holiday time means private dining in Philly. And places like Vetri Cucina are ready to play host. / Photograph by Steve Legato

You might be under the impression that it’s the holiday season. And, unfortunately, you’re incorrect. It’s private dining season, the time of year when groups of people who don’t normally dine together decide to try it out. We’re talking about an office holiday shindig happening for the first time in years. We’re talking about your book club, or maybe a 30-person engagement celebration you somehow have the honor (read: torture) of planning.

If you’re savvy, you’ll suggest throwing the party at a restaurant with a private space available. That way no one in the group needs to figure out how to feed all of the people and perhaps the company credit card can get a little workout. Happy private dining season to all who celebrate.

Private Rooms for 8-20

Martha, Kensington
This Kensington wine-and-hoagie spot regularly hosts private parties on their garden patio, which is as close to Eden as you can get in Philadelphia. And while an event out there would certainly make for a dreamy backyard wedding (with a standing capacity of 70 and a seated capacity of 55), Martha also offers smaller party options inside. The semi-private mezzanine can seat 12, for example, with set menus starting at $40 per person. 2113 East York Street.

Vetri Cucina, Center City
The second floor of Vetri’s Spruce Street townhouse has its own dedicated kitchen and team to serve your group a unique take on the restaurant’s legendary tasting menu, either in a private room that seats 18 or at an eight-person chef’s counter. Private events here are typically priced at $235 per person, and there are plenty of Italian wine options to explore as well. If you’re willing to pay, Marc Vetri is even available to cook for your crew. 1312 Spruce Street.

Party time at Middle Child Clubhouse, where you can book a private room for $30 per person. / Photo by Michael Persico

Middle Child ClubhouseFishtown
The Thousand Island Lounge at Middle Child Clubhouse might not be appropriate for the C-suite at your company. (Though, to be fair, we don’t want to make assumptions about how fun-loving and approachable your C-suite might be.) Let’s just say this private room would be especially appropriate for a birthday party or any assembly of people hoping that large-format espresso martinis will flow like Philly tap water. The Lounge is available for groups of eight to 18 people, with a base menu starting at $30 per person that includes burgers, fried-tofu sandwiches, Caesar salads and fries. It’s a good deal. Plus, you can always add on a la carte dishes (and drinks) once you’re in there. Keep this in mind for a last-minute option, as the space is available via Resy. 1232 North Front Street.

Via LocustaRittenhouse
Via Locusta’s private dining space — called “the pasta room” — can hold up to 11 people for a sit-down meal. One advantage of the space is that it overlooks the regular dining room, which prevents dinner from feeling too quiet. Another advantage? Even the least expensive set-menu option (starting at $65 per person) includes three different pastas, plus seasonal vegetables, fluffy focaccia, a main and dessert. 1723 Locust Street.

Kensington Quarters, Fishtown
There are two spaces at KQ available for rental: the outdoor patio, and the 20-person upstairs bar. The outdoor area can accommodate larger groups, but events are weather-dependent. Regardless of where you party, the locally focused menu of seafood works well for a corporate-approved event without feeling too stuffy or formal. 1310 Frankford Avenue.

How could your extended family squabble in a room this elegant? Well, actually, they’ll probably find a way. / Photograph courtesy of The Love

The Love, Rittenhouse
The Love’s private loft space accommodates up to 20 people who are hopefully hungry for Aimee Olexy’s crowd-pleasing, seasonal American food. Menus start at $95 per person (which includes 10-plus dishes) and there’s an option to add on a private bar area and lounge to your experience. Room minimums depend on the night of the week, but for the restaurant’s ambience and central location, the prices are fair. Read more here. 130 South 18th Street.

Ambra’s group dining room. / Photograph by Neal Santos

AmbraQueen Village
Ambra’s dining room (located next door to Southwark) was built exclusively for groups between eight and 10 people. For a flat fee of $2,500, your party will settle in for a family-style, multi-course feast of inventive, delicious Italian food no one will forget anytime soon. That price includes food, drinks, and gratuity. 705 South 4th Street.

Private Rooms For 20-50

Vietnam Cafe, West Philly
As long as you supply at least 30 people, this excellent West Philly Vietnamese restaurant will supply you with seven, family-style dishes of your choice for a set price of $28 per person. Plus, Vietnam Cafe has a private bar available with two bartenders (we’re firm believers in the lemongrass martini here). 816 South 47th Street.

Bloomsday Cafe, Queen Village
If your group is interested in drinking some cool wine, Bloomsday is the spot to reserve. Their private dining space seats as many as 26 people, with room for as many as 35 for a standing cocktail hour. 414 South 2nd Street.

dim sum chinatown

Photo courtesy of Sang Kee Peking Duck House

Sang Kee Peking Duck House, Chinatown
Sang Kee is certainly not the only Cantonese restaurant in Philly offering banquet meals, but this Chinatown staple has the added bonus of an upstairs dining room that can seat up to 60 people (spread across six tables, each with eight to ten guests). The team at Sang Kee works with you to customize the party menu, so you’ll eat exactly the menu of barbecue, crispy string beans, and wonton soup you’re craving. As for drinks, there’s a full bar available, but you can bring your own bottles as long as you’re cool with a $15 corkage fee). 238 North 9th Street.

Royal BoucherieOld City
Royal Boucherie has two private dining spaces. The first is their parlor area, which has full bar, mirror-lined walls, and seating for 40 people. Or, for a more casual, outdoor event, you can rent their garden patio for 25 to 35 people. 52 South 2nd Street.

American Sardine Bar, Point Breeze
American Sardine Bar is an ideal place to meet up with a friend and eat a fried chicken sandwich on a random weeknight. But why not gather all of your friends for fried chicken sandwiches? The upstairs space at ASB is available to rent out for groups of up to 50. This would be perfect for something on the casual end of the private-dining spectrum, especially because they have a separate bar up there. 1800 Federal Street.

Booking the space at Le Caveau means shuffleboard, French hot dogs, and wine galore. Why wouldn’t you want such things? / Photograph of courtesy of Le Caveau

Le Caveau, Bella Vista
If you’re looking to throw a party where a bunch of humans lounge about, drinking interesting wine and snacking on tiny, buttery snacks (as opposed to a formal, seated meal), Le Caveau — located upstairs from The Good King Tavern— is probably your best option for a private event. Imagine it now: cheese, charcuterie, curated wine, Negronis, shuffleboard, mood lighting that makes everyone look 30 percent more attractive, hot dogs stuffed into baguettes. This is what you and up to 55 guests will get at Le Caveau. 614 South 7th Street.

Barclay Prime, Rittenhouse
So you want to throw a party in a steakhouse for some fancy friends? You’ve come to the right place. Barclay Prime has a private room that can fit up to 40 for a seated dinner or 65 for a standing event. If you’re on board for a semi-private setting, the restaurant can also accommodate 30 guests for a reception. Passed bites start at $30 per person and dinner packages start at $100 per person. Find all of the details here. 237 South 18th Street.

Rex at the Royal, Graduate Hospital
This giant South Street restaurant has an adjacent space that can host up to 40 people for a seated dinner. Brunch or dinner packages are both available, featuring Southern classics like fried green tomatoes and she crab soup. Rex at the Royal requires a minimum of 10 guests for private events, with food starting at $40 per person and drinks starting at $35 per person. 1524 South Street.

Private Rooms For Groups Larger Than 50

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Center City
Del Frisco’s team are pros at private dining — they’ve got a half-dozen options for groups as large as 150 or as intimate as 16 people, all with wi-fi, tech setups for presentations, and steakhouse classics that will appease even the grumpiest of attendees. 1428-1432 Chestnut Street.

Yakitori Boy, Chinatown
This is another private dining setting that might feel too raucous for an office party. But we don’t know your work life, so you do you. As long as you’re comfortable singing Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know?” in front of your coworkers, then you’ll have a good time at this Japanese izakaya and karaoke lounge in Chinatown, where you can book a private space for up to 100 people. Open bar packages start at $45 per guest, and there’s a decent variety of custom dining options to choose between. 211 North 11th Street.

A wedding at Barbuzzo / Photograph courtesy of Barbuzzo

Barbuzzo, Midtown Village
The second floor of this Mediterranean restaurant can fit 55 for a seated dinner, or up to 85 for a standing situation. And every event includes a private bar area and a separate kitchen. If your private-dining requirements include “workplace-appropriate” and “crowd-pleasing,” Barbuzzo checks both boxes. 110 South 13th Street.

Han DynastyOld City and University City
Han Dynasty’s food is already served family-style, which means they’re experts at serving food to large groups: twice-cooked pork, cumin lamb, and other Szechuan specialties make for a great private-dining experience at either of their two available spaces. Alternatively, you can sign up to attend one of Han Dynasty’s tasting events for $50 per person, where parties larger than 10 get their own private table. 123 Chestnut Street; 3711 Market Street.