Nightlife

Holiday In

The Hot List: 2011 Holiday Parties

It’s not a competition. Officially. But people expect big things out of your holiday party (last year’s reindeer petting zoo set the bar pretty high). So we went ahead and found five private rooms for the five parties we know you’re thinking about. First come, first served...

THE WET BAR

The Rooftop at Hôtel Americano

You Require: Nothing fancy, just a hot tub.
You’ll Receive: Well, technically, it’s more of a private hot lap pool, but before you throw your hands up in disgust, consider that it’s on a roof and it’s attached to a glass-enclosed alpine grill. Handy if the lifeguard elves you hired get hungry. Or start pruning.

THE DEN OF INIQUITY

The Double Seven

You Require: Something really swanky.
You’ll Receive: Mick Jagger’s leftovers... in lavish Meatpacking-nightclub form. Both the Stones front man and Madonna have previously hosted parties here. The bar is made of crocodile-embossed leather. The walls are ultrasuede. And the passed canapés all have Keith Richards’s seal of approval.

THE FIRE HOUSE

The Edmont Room at the Caulfield

You Require: That “home for the holidays” feeling.
You’ll Receive: Your very own wood-burning fireplace. And your very own tequila-and-ginger-beer cocktail to sip by said fireplace. Also, live music and queso fundido. Because a crackling fire only accounts for 61% of a successful shindig.

THE SAFE HOUSE

The Basement at Crown

You Require: A maximum-security dinner party.
You’ll Receive: A lovely private table for 20, set up in the city’s most well-appointed panic room. It’s all hidden behind a soundproof fake bookcase in the basement of a UES town house. Perfect in case your party reaches DEFCON 2.

THE ROYAL BASEMENT

The Lower Level at Kingswood

You Require: The kind of subterranean cocktail den that encourages questionable behavior.
You’ll Receive: A low-lit basement of dark wood, distressed mirrors and copious amounts of small-batch bourbon. Hole up at one of the strategically nooked banquettes and let the action come to you. And by action we mean baked brie croquettes.