Recreation — Restaurant in New York

I will start off by saying that I always read reviews whenever travelling for restaurants, hotels, etc however I rarely write reviews unless my experience was so horrible that I want to warn others. I felt that I absolutely had to write this review for Recreation because I honestly was super hesitant to go there after reading some seriously bad reviews. The motivation I had to try it out was for my teenage kids who love basketball and were intrigued by this half court inside the restaurant. So I braced myself and went and had zero expectations .. well boy was I so pleasantly surprised by the whole experience!! First of all I emailed them in advance because I wasn’t sure if my teens would be allowed in as I thought it was more of a bar than a restaurant. I received a very professional and helpful email in return explaining that the kids were welcomed and just weren’t allowed to sit at the bar (obviously) so that was perfect. We headed there for a late lunch and from the extremely patient hostess to the lovely, polite and professional waitress and the lounge like decor- the ambiance felt extremely comfortable and fun. The food was tasty, fresh and fairly priced and I also found there was a decent selection of what to eat for a bar.. oh and they have a great coffee machine if you love good coffee! The lounge area was so cozy and eating/drinking there while spending time playing board games, skee ball and of course basketball was such an added bonus!!! My kids met other kids and loved their experience there too.. another bonus!.. so yes!.. I would definitely highly recommend this place to anyone, but especially families with kids (tweens/teens) who can spend some time in a cool fun place with their family while in NYC!! I know that we will definitely go back each...

This is a fun bar in Manhattan's Financial District located on the 3rd floor of the Moxy Hotel. It has a combo bar/co-working vibe which I think is a great way to get all day use of the space. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your familial status), the comfy lounge area that also features an arcade game zone is also a big attraction for the little ones, which the bar staff seem to have no problem allowing during weekday/weekend daytime hours. This can become really distracting when you're trying to enjoy a cocktail with your partner or friends over the loud crashing of huge Jenga blocks, skee-ball or anything else the kids can get their hands on. But then again, if you're in the city with family and you need the kids distracted while having some adult time, then this should be one of your saved places. We were probably there too early as they had DJ equipment set up but no music, so we didn't get to enjoy the night ambience. The drinks were on point and the servers were friendly, although service could've been a little quicker given the place was relatively empty. We had a few good draft beers and the Lady Luck which was a cucumber infused vodka cocktail that would've been even better with a great quality gin. All in all a fun stay that I...

A phenomenal event experience at Recreation NYC, made perfect by Cherish, Joe and their staff.

The event planner, Cherish, is knowledgeable and was able to understand and execute my vision. She crafted a tailored and personal experience.

The food was exceptional. Recreation's menu was delicious and complemented the space's playful vibe.

The space itself is more than a typical venue. With a variety of entertainment options from board games and a vintage arcade allowed for guests to never be bored, it created a dynamic and engaging environment.

The on-site manager, Joe, provided outstanding service. I had my timing incorrect (we were late by an hour) Realizing that the arrival times had been incorrect, Joe’s reaction was calm, flexible, and accommodating. He worked to adjust on the fly, ensuring everything stayed on track. Joe's grace and commitment to success solidified the view that Recreation is in a league of its own.

Note: This was for a corporate event … For a venue that combines a fun atmosphere with top-tier service, consider Recreation...