Help! Places to Send Guests Between Wedding and Reception in Manhattan

[nyc711]

Help!
My friend is having a wedding this Saturday in Manhattan. The ceremony will be at a church near 90th and 1st Ave at 4 p.m. and the reception, at 49th and 1st Ave., does not start until 7 p.m, unfortunately.

I am in charge of finding a good place for guests to hang out (have a drink, a snack?) until the reception starts. Does anyone have any ideas?

The bride and groom were thinking that a place closer to the reception would be best, but they're open. There will be about 80 guests at the reception, but we won't need to accommodate all of them.

I think I need to pick something by Wednesday or Thursday, so that they can make small flyers with the suggested places. Thank you kindly for any suggestions!!

[Michele4466]

Something I just remembered... I used to go about 10-12 years ago when I worked in the area but...

Is Metropolitan Cafe still open on 1st Avenue around 52nd St.?

I remember the bar area/ one side of the restaurant was pretty spacious with lots of tables and a long bar... The food is not the best, decent cafe food and some good appetizer type items but for wine/cocktails and a snack, another very good option...

Is this still the case?

[RGR]

I've never been but, yes, Metropolitan Cafe is still there. It's a member of the Ark Restaurants Group.

http://www.arkrestaurants.com/section...

[Michele4466]

Thanks...

I still remember they had HUGE salads but the winner was a banana pudding dessert. Served in an old fashioned sundae/malt tall dish/glass filled with sliced bananas, banana pudding (so creamy and homemade tasting) and whipped cream... YUM!!! I will check out the menu to see if it is still on it :-)

Being pregnant, I may have to make a special trip there!

[erica]

Michelle this place is here, as RGR mentioned. And while it always seems quite crowded, it has always been a mystery to me, living nearby as I do. In my opnion, the food is excretious!!!! Not sure about desserts, maybe that is the secret of their success, but the main dishes are really and truly bad.....why is this place so popular??? I have no idea!

[Michele4466]

Erica,

I have no idea... I have not eaten there for YEARS but I do remember the decent lunch fare (salads, sandwiches) and huge portions...especially for a bunch of youngsters (early twenties) in their first jobs on a Friday "splurge". The back garden was nice and the room was spacious.

Yes, the banana pudding was the best part... I think it is just the space and the varied menu perhaps...

[erica]

World Bar at Trump would be convenient, if pricey.

[nyc711]

Those are great suggestions! and I love Cafe Sabarsky..

Aside from the Beekman, what would be best hotel bar/lounge to recommend? How is the UN Plaza hotel?

[Michele4466]

As I mentioned before, it has been a while since I frequented the area so I do not know how the UN Plaza lounge is now but, perhaps you could offer guests a few options... for the younger, hipper crowd, the W on Lex and 49th has a cool bar/ lounge... a bit east but not too bad, just three or four blocks... then there is the Waldorf for the classic cocktail lounge (I used to love the Cocktail Terrace with the harpist) on 49th and Park... I know there are others closer to 1st, around the UN Plaza and Beekman but someone else can probably help you better with those details than me.

[ceeceee]

there's also the cellar bar in the bryant park hotel (40th btwn 5-6) for the younger crowd, maybe...they have great cocktails and a nice menu for delicious snacks.

[nyc711]

I think the bride and groom and leaning toward the W Hotel bar. Thanks for the help!

[cocopuffs]

If it is about convenience I would say Fiona's (Irish pub)87th and first. Very hospitable staff, not fancy but nicer than most of its kind

[Michele4466]

What about a nice hotel bar...Beekman or another in that area...UN Plaza, Hyatt, Palace, etc.

Been a while since I frequented that area but perhaps a search of the areas hotel lounges... Always comfortable, sizable, good service, less crowded. Additionally, there is always a bar menu and they are clean and comfortable for fancy dress...

[ronzen]

If there are guests coming from out of town, they might appreciate the bar at the top of the Beekman Tower, but only for a drink. for Snacks, how about Sakagura on 43rd street?
http://www.sakagura.com/

[MMRuth]

One idea would be Cafe Sabarsky for coffee and kuche - 86th & 5th. Caryle Hotel for drinks - Mad & 76th. Via Quadronno - great coffee - Mad & 73rd.

[tamasha]

And, they can catch the Klimt show at the Neue before or after Cafe Sabarsky. It's a great, small but lovely museum for out-of-towners. And everyone is familiar with Klimt. They'll fit right in with their wedding attire, too!