Private Dining & Events

The DTA houses a full-service catering operation established to realize your event vision

For information about hosting your private event at the Down Town Association or to arrange a tour of the numerous clubhouse event spaces, please fill out the form below or contact us at [email protected] or 212-809-5508.

Event Inquiry

The Down Town Association is the finest location for any type of private event. The flexibility of our unique building suits a daytime business or luncheon meeting as well as an evening reception or dinner. Unlike any others in Lower Manhattan, our very private rooms offer stunning spaces for any social or business gathering. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary, rewarding employees, negotiating a contract with a client, training staff, and more all happen in our beautiful and functional spaces.

Our menus feature a range of culinary combinations which can be uniquely arranged for any occasion. Our Executive Chef will design a custom menu to fit your budget, prepared only from the finest and freshest ingredients. We take care to work with our clients in creating just the right menu to make any event memorable.

Our Private Dining Managers will assist you with planning your event from the event agenda and room layout to the selection of wines to complement your menu, audio-visual equipment set-up, and more.

Established in 1859, the Down Town Association has a distinguished history as the oldest private club in Lower Manhattan. Our 45,000 square foot Clubhouse is a triumph of 19th century Romanesque Revival architecture and is located on Pine Street, one block north of Wall Street. A New York Landmark, the Down Town Association building has been in continuous use for more than 135 years, longer than any other club building in New York City. Built in 1887 to the designs of noted architect Charles C. Haight, redecorated in 1902 in the Edwardian style, and expanded in 1911 by Warren & Wetmore. Many modern conveniences have been added since, including two state-of-art kitchens, WiFi, built-in audio speakers, and updating lighting, plus new dining tables and chairs and fresh china, glassware and silverware. All the rooms have been refreshed and restored while maintaining the historic feel. The Clubhouse is an elegant reminder of a genteel time and exudes the exclusivity that defined classic New York at the turn of the last century.

Event Rooms & Capacities

Main Bar - First Floor
- Just beyond the stairs, through the marble archway from which George Washington surveys all who enter and down three marble steps, one finds an oak paneled room that continues to serve its purpose of providing liquid refreshment to our guests. Originally, and euphemistically, called The Café, this room was substantially redecorated during the 1902 renovation and is a true Edwardian club room.
  
  The large U-shaped bar and bar back with modern conveniences were added in the mid 2000's and look as if they have always been there. The eclectic mix of comfortable chairs and sofas, including handsome Stickley arts & crafts pieces, added over the years soften what could have been a formal atmosphere. Club members enjoy this special room as a calm respite from urban life for quiet conversation and reading during the day and lively social engagement and dining in the evening.
  
  History
  The Main Bar, originally as The Café, served simpler lunches in 1887 than in some of the grander rooms upstairs. In those days each dining room offered a different menu. Over time a waiting room was needed to manage the large crowd at lunchtime. In 1902 the Club set forth to create a member bar and lounge with a small service bar. The result is a warm, inviting room for members and guests that is a spectacular Edwardian era masterpiece. Through much of the 20th century members enjoyed oysters and beverages from the bar while waiting to be seated upstairs for lunch. To this day oysters remain a favorite of Club members, now paired with martini cocktails. In the early years the oysters would have been harvested locally from the East River and New York Harbor, hence the name of the nearby Pearl Street. Efforts are underway by scientists to restore oysters to the local waters once again.
Reading Room - Second Floor
- The Reading Room is one of the finest grand rooms in New York. Designed in the Jacobean style as part of the 1911 expansion, it recalls the ancient drawing room of an English country home. The room, paneled in oak has a superb quatrefoil ceiling and a magnificent fireplace as the centerpiece. There are walls of diamond-shaped leaded glass windows on the southwest and northeast sides of the room. The antique Tiffany clock on the mantle sits underneath a mounted proud elk that surveys all who enter. To brighten the room the Club houses part of their permanent collection of gold leaf framed 19th century lithograph prints which highlight New York City and Brooklyn in the early 1800s. The grand staircase leading to the room also showcases these works of art.
  
  This room is ideal for a cocktail reception or intimate lecture. Indeed, DTA club members prefer this room for fireside chats with noted book authors. Also, this is the room preferred by the Backgammon Committee for regular member matches at small tables.
  
  History
  The Reading Room is part of the 1911 Clubhouse expansion and retains its original elegance inspired by the 1902 Edwardian era clubhouse redecoration. Historically this room has been used as a waiting area for Club guests and an after luncheon lounge for smoking and enjoying a coffee or port wine. In recent years Club members use the space as a library and remote work area with coffee, tea and water service during the day and backgammon, cocktail reception, or intimate lecture in the evening.
Wainwright Room - Second Floor
- The Wainwright Room is the grandest room in the Clubhouse and designated Club ballroom. The gold rubbed Corinthian columns, silk covered wall panels, extensive dental moulding, and marble baseboards and door surround are an exquisite background to the most elegant gala dinners or wedding receptions. Guests enter through thick wooden hand-carved doors that are works of art. The high ceilings create a spacial atmosphere that can showcase tall table decor. Numerous wall and column sconces can be decorated to add a special color or floral display throughout the room. A wireless sound system and ceiling speakers add versatility for meetings or parties. There are several adjacent service pantries to support a large staff and food staging.
  
  The Club's annual President's dinner dance, the popular steak night, and other large format specialty dinners are held here. This room is perfectly suited for table rounds and has the space for a dais or musical band and dance floor. For larger groups the Wainwright Room can be paired with the Pine Street Room to create dedicated spaces for reception, seated dining, and dancing.
  
  History
  The Club has used this space for grand luncheon and gala dinner dances for many decades. Some years ago the room was transformed into the classic early 20th century ballroom style seen today from its original Victorian luncheon roots. The room is named after Carroll "Sonny" Wainwright, Jr., the Club's fifteenth president from 1985 until 1992. He had previously served as treasurer from 1975 to 1984 and vice president from 1984 to 1985. The glamour of the room and historical feel are appropriate as Wainwright was a descendant of noted New Yorkers Jay Gould and Peter Stuyvesant.
  
  Wainwright was a partner at the law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and from 1959-1962 was assistant general counsel to Governor Nelson Rockefeller. He was involved in Rockefeller family interests, including the Rockefeller Group's sale of Rockefeller Center in 1989. His clients included the American Museum of Natural History, Cooper Union, Vassar College, the New York Community Trust, and the Episcopal Church Pension Group. He was a member of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct and sat on numerous boards including the Greater Yellowstone Coalition which re-introduced wolves into the area despite his owning a cattle ranch. He chaired the board of trustees of the Boys Club of New York from 1986 to 1994 and was a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History from 1968 to 1994, of Cooper Union from 1970 to 1995, and of the U.S. Trust Company from 1981 to 1998. From 1990 to 1997 he was an adjunct professor of law at Washington & Lee University.
Pine Street Room - Second Floor
- The Pine Street Room, on the second floor, offers a column free space suitable for dining rounds and auditorium lectures for a medium-sized crowd. The magnificent entry doors are hand-carved solid wood that were repurposed from an historic manor house. The chandelier and wall sconces were designed and crafted expressly for this brightly colored room, which is also highlighted by a marble door surround and fireplace. The picture frame moulding on the walls and elaborate window drapery create a room of timeless elegance while the high ceilings add volume.
  
  This room is ideally suited for table rounds with optional dais, a single long table, or theater seating. It can be paired with the Reading Room only six stairs below to host larger groups for a standing cocktail reception in one and seated dining or lecture in the other. Also, the Pine Street Room can be paired with the Wainwright Room across the hall for seated dining in one and dancing in the other for larger groups of 75 or more.
  
  History
  The Club uses the Pine Street Room for medium-sized dinners at a long table or table rounds. Also, the Club has hosted many dancing parties in the space when paired with the Wainwright Room for seated dinner. The Pine Street Room's decor and hand-carved wooden doors were updated during the 1902 redecoration of the Clubhouse to match the classic style popular in that day.
Main Dining Room - Third Floor
- The Main Dining Room at the north end of the third floor facing Cedar Street offers one of the largest single rooms in the clubhouse, along with the Wainwright Room a floor below. The very high ceilings and arched windows create a light and airy space for a large crowd. This room is suited perfectly for a theater style lecture, wedding ceremony, or large format dining. The main kitchen is adjacent to the room to facilitate speed from cooking to table. A separate pantry room is useful for additional food staging and service corridor to support numerous staff.
  
  The room decor is highlighted by the historic Zuber et Cie woodblock wallpaper of serene American colonial scenes. The rounded columns are some of the only decoration in the Clubhouse to survive from 1887. The large brick fireplace on the side wall completes the unique flair of this grand space. The DTA club uses the room for individual dining on small tables as seen on this page as well as special events on long tables and auditorium lectures.
  
  History
  The DTA used the room for decades as the primary dining room featuring the "a la carte" menu suitable for client luncheon. This room, now a neo colonial style, was originally decorated in vibrant high Victorian style with stained glass windows and multi-colored Lincrusta on the walls and ceiling.
Babcock & Buffet Rooms - Third Floor
- These two adjoined rooms are located on the western and southern end of the third floor of the Clubhouse facing Pine Street. These two column-free rooms are ideal for mid to large size events that feature the highest ceilings in the building and large windows for a light and bright atmosphere. Both rooms were renovated recently to highlight the custom moulding on the walls and ceiling and with updated antique chandeliers.
  
  The Babcock Room is a long rectangular room with a grand oversized fireplace that offers an elegant setting for cocktails or dinner. The Babcock Room has track lighting in the ceiling that is ideal for product exhibition tables, demonstration tables, or an art display on the wall. Indeed the Down Town Association regularly hosts fine art galleries in this space.
  
  The adjoining Buffet Room is more square in dimension and features arched windows and antique chandeliers. The rooms when combined create a unique venue ideal for partially separated, yet connected, reception and dining, dining and dancing, or reception and showcase experiences.
  
  History
  The Babcock Room is named after Samuel Denison Babcock (1822-1902) who served as Club Vice President from 1877 to 1880 and President from 1880 to 1900, longer than all but the current president. He served as chairman of the building committee for the current Clubhouse that opened in 1887. He was president of the International Bell Telephone Company, vice president of the Providence and Stonington Steamship Company and the City and Suburban Homes Association. He was the founder and first president of the Guaranty Trust Company and a partner of Hollister & Babcock, brokers. He was a prominent director of many businesses particularly insurance, real estate and railroad companies. He served as president of the New York Chamber of Commerce from 1875 to 1882 and was active in the Democratic party of New York, once being offered the office of Governor.
  
  The Buffet Room is named after many years of service offering a daily luncheon buffet to members as pictured above on this page. Below is the same room after the 2019 repainting and staged with a fine art exhibition:
  
  Below is the rectangular Babcock Room set up as a fine art gallery with overhead spotlights and oversized fireplace with a portrait of Samuel Babcock hanging above the mantle. The chandeliers are repurposed from the Lord & Taylor department store main floor on Fifth Avenue in New York that were purchased when the store building was closed.
Gherardi Davis Trustees Room A
- The Gherardi Davis Room A is a larger more square room suitable for intimate dining or a board meeting of up to 20 people. This northeast facing room has a wall of windows with elaborate drapery. The room could be a useful breakout space when reserved with the Founders Suite on the floor.
  
  History
  Gherardi Davis (1858-1941) was Club president from 1931 to 1937, vice president from 1930-1931, and treasurer from 1913-192. He stands as one of the our most generous members leaving the Club his extensive collection of antique silver and a bequest. He was also generous in donating the House Committee table and created the designs for the stained glass ships on the first landing of the grand stair hall. From old records we know that he designed the Game Room on the fourth floor as well as renovations to the Buffet Room on the third floor which transformed the decor from the original Victorian to a more universally classic clubhouse style evoking the Edwardian era.
Whitehead Room B
- The Whitehead Room B is a classic private dining room suitable for intimate dining and board room meetings for up to 10 people. The golden walls provide a bright and cheerful atmosphere with windows facing southwest onto Pine Street. This room could serve as a useful breakout space when reserved with the Founders Suite on the floor.
  
  History
  The room is named after Aaron Pennington Whitehead (1840-1920), the Club's only president to serve non-consecutive terms, 1903-1907 and 1912-1920. He also served as Vice President 1898-1900. Elected a trustee in 1886 he was a lawyer and known as a gentleman ‘of the old school’. He was a director of the Imperial Assurance Company and argued at least one case in front of the Supreme Court.
Mackay Room C
- The Mackay Room C offers a board room sized space for intimate private dining and meetings for up to 14 people. Elegant blue drapery and painted chair rail offer a regal, yet calming atmosphere. A long round-end mahogany table adds to the elegance. The room faces southwest to Pine Street. This room could serve as a useful breakout space when reserved with the Founders Suite on the floor.
  
  History
  Donald Mackay (1840-1912) was elected a Trustee in May of 1886, Vice President in 1900 and President in 1903. He served until his death in 1912 and his term as Trustee was notable in that he attended 294 of 303 monthly meetings since being elected and every meeting from 1900 until his death. He was a senior member and partner of the banking firm of Vermilye & Company before forming Mackay & Company. He served on the Governing Committee of the New York Stock Exchange for more than twenty years and as its president from 1880-1882.
Founders Suite (Rooms D/E/F)
- The Founders Suite (Rooms D/E/F) is named after the three founding members of the Club. These three rooms are often used together to form one large room. The Founders Suite features a lower ceiling, although still high, than on the second and third floors which creates a cozy feeling appropriate for smaller groups, training offsites, and board meetings. The fireplace can be lit to add warmth and charm on a chilly day. A screen tucked in the ceiling can be lowered for projector presentations. When reserved with other private rooms on the floor, this suite could be a general session or plenary space with breakouts in the other rooms. Or use the Founders Suite for dining and the smaller private rooms for meetings.
  
  Traditional board room seating, standing reception, individual small dining tables, and single long dining table layouts suit this room well. These rooms have been repainted to create an elegant dining room or board room setting. Indeed this is one of the favorite spaces for DTA club members to host their literary dinner series at a long table with a service bar in the corner and a crackling fire.
  
  History
  
  Robert Gordon
  Robert Gordon (1829-1918) was our first Club president serving from 1860-1862. He presided as chairman at the organizational meeting of December 23, 1859. He was a member of the banking firm of Maitland, Phelps & Company. He retired to London in 1883 and became a partner in J.S. Morgan & Company. He was one of the reorganizers of the Club in 1877 and served as trustee from that date.
  
  Benjamin G. Arnold
  Benjamin Arnold served as Club president from 1877-1880. As head of B.G. Arnold & Company of 125 Front Street he was a leading coffee merchant in New York. He was the first president of the Coffee Exchange, serving from 1882-1885. He died a member on December 10, 1894.
  
  Robert L. Maitland
  Robert Maitland served as Club treasurer from 1860-1862. Mr. Maitland was one of two members of the constitution and by-laws committee and of the committee on Clubhouse location. He personally purchased 22 Exchange Street for $30,000 to sell to the Club three months later as our first Clubhouse. He founded the Fine Art Committee by donating the first two works of art to the Club. Two years later on August 30, 1862 he repurchased the Clubhouse along with its contents, wines and stores for $32,000 during the uncertain time of the Civil War.