As Smyth, a Thompson Hotel, nears completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation, the 100-room, boutique hotel debuted its new private dining room in March. The new space, located in the lower level of the hotel, was created in partnership with the hotel’s restaurant, Little Park, making it a high-end place for groups to host business meetings, cocktail parties or dinners in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood.
“The hotel’s private dining room and meeting space defines what companies and meeting planners are looking for when it comes to alternative meeting space,” says Christopher Shiel, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “The natural woods, unique lighting elements and separate, casual seating areas, truly evoke the sense of being in a stylish lounge, rather than a formal meeting room.”
The 1,024-sf event space brings a sense of Old New York to this modern hotel. It features oak paneling mixed with custom-printed, black-and-white-patterned wallpaper as well as a candlelit stone fireplace and a 10-seat mahogany bar with a black stone top. Oak dining tables, vintage leather sofas and mid-century armchairs complete the space, which can accommodate up to 125 in a cocktail setting. The space also features a 75-inch, flat-screen TV for groups looking to get some work done during a meal.
Chef Andrew Carmellini, Little Park’s chef and owner, will customize breakfast, brunch, lunch, cocktail canapé and dinner menus using both seasonal and local ingredients. Breakfast and brunch menus, for example, could feature house-pressed juice blends and free-range farm eggs. The beverage menu is equally customizable, with Old World selections of wine as well as signature and classic cocktails.
“The hotel’s meeting space and large specialty suites, which include outdoor terraces are ideal for teams looking to get out of their offices to meet and have brainstorming sessions,” says Shiel. “At the end of the day when it is time to unwind, our private bar located just off of the meeting space, along with our suite terraces, are perfect for enjoying cocktails and hors d’Oeuvres created by the hotel’s restaurant, Little Park.”
The private event space is part of an ongoing hotel-wide renovation. The hotel revealed a new lobby last fall, inspired by the history and culture of Tribeca. The space is split up into four public areas—the Living Room, Den, Library and Evening Bar—each of which incorporates original art, books and photography from local gallery owners. For instance, the Evening Bar features a four-panel frieze mural, created by Brooklyn-based artist Matthew Benedict, that highlights scenes from Tribeca’s history.
Later this summer, the hotel will unveil a renovation of the guest rooms, including four premium suites that can be used for private events. The 1,200-sf Penthouse Suite, for instance, features an expansive outdoor terrace, audiovisual capabilities and a separate entrance for catering.
