The Most Memorable New York City Bridal Shower Venues

Do you know one of the unexpected perks of getting hitched (besides all the obvious and oh-so-wonderful ones)? Planning a wedding means that you get to pencil in some great events before and after the big day. Between the engagement party, welcome brunch, and after party, your wedding celebration isn't limited to just the day you say "I do." The best part? Getting engaged gives you an excuse to organize some quality time with your best gals via your bridal shower.

For those who live in New York City, or for brides-to-be interested in visiting the Big Apple, hosting a bridal shower in the concrete jungle is a great choice all year round. And though NYC may be known for its nightclubs and the allure of staying out until 4 a.m.—making it a go-to locale for bachelorette parties—the city also offers up some amazing venues for your special bridal fête. In fact, New York City is home to some of the most unique and special venues for brides who want to host a pre-wedding celebration no one will soon forget.

Ahead, check out the most memorable New York City venues for a bridal shower your closest friends will absolutely love.

Haven's Kitchen

Nestled on a Chelsea side street, Haven's Kitchen is known to be part café and part event space. What's more, it also houses a unique cooking space—a hybrid of a polished residential kitchen and an efficient commercial kitchen that provides the perfect backdrop for fun food with friends. Book a cooking class and have your party guests congregate around an antique vineyard table—inside the white subway tile, marble, and stainless steel space—to begin a private pasta-cooking class with seasonal variations, beverage pairings, and personalized instruction. After chatting and cooking, you and your girls can finish the evening with a meal you created yourselves! It's all of the fun, none of the clean-up, and a cozy-cool space that feels like home.

The Standard, East Village

While there are plenty of hotels in New York City, The Standard's East Village location tops the list as a venue that all brides should check out when planning a bridal shower. Consider buying out The Garden—their charming and quaint outdoor space—for a summer tea party, or ask your gals to meet up at Café Standard—their cozy café with Parisian vibes—for an afternoon of perfectly crafted cocktails and light bites. Have a large group to accommodate? Organize a paint and sip (which can turn into a dance party) at The Penthouse, their top-floor event space that features panoramic views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Once your fête is over, head over to NO BAR for the after-party, or book a room in advance and spend the night in one of their contemporary rooms.

The McKittrick Hotel

The McKittrick Hotel is the perfect venue to host a bridal shower if you're a bride-to-be searching for a show or a "boozy brunch" to celebrate your engagement status. For instance, the space is home to the fabled "Sleep No More" show (an award-winning theatrical experience that tells the story of Shakespeare’s life), in addition to its popular, secret garden brunch at Gallow Green, its lush rooftop space. Complete with endless carafes of mimosas and big band music galore, a brunch at Gallow Green provides an escape from the city life, allowing you to bask in the rooftop sun and feel like you've been whisked away far, far beyond Manhattan to your own garden oasis.

Palm Court at The Plaza

Nothing says classic New York like high tea in the renovated Palm Court of the Plaza Hotel—it's sort of one of those experiences you never get around to doing as an NYC resident, so all the better to experience with a girls' guest list that includes out-of-town friends, mom, grandma and more. While the tea list is expansive, and the treats are exquisite, the real beauty here is the elegant Palm Court itself, a beaux-arts beauty of a room marked with a signature stained-glass dome, impressive height, and an air of sophistication (but not stuffiness—the hotel pokes fun with adorable accents like Eloise tea kettles, as well).

Murray's Cheese

No one knows cheese as much as Murray's. The Greenwich Village institution has been serving cheese from around the world (and around New York City) since 1940 and has been a destination for foodies and city tourists for several decades. If you want to get educated on cheese with 10 or more of the most important ladies in your life (and really, who wouldn't!), Murrays offers hour-and-a-half-long sessions on topics like Grilled Cheese 101, Mozzarella Making, or Whiskey Pairings (with cheese, of course), as well as custom-designed topics. A break from girly bridal events, classes take place in a private space above their Bleecker Street storefront.

Brooklyn Winery

Set in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Winery produces premium, small-batch wine inside its dramatic, rustic-chic space. With high ceilings, reclaimed wood paneling, and repurposed mid-century décor, it's no wonder the winery is a well-known wedding venue—but few realize they also cater to small groups, especially in the wintery off-season (we imagine it's the perfect warm and cozy candlelit haunt for cold evenings spent with great girlfriends and good laughs). In addition to its awesome scenery and Brooklyn-cool vibe, Brooklyn Winery doesn't have private room charges, and can even add "wine games" and blind-tasting activities to its cocktail party packages.