Book Holiday Parties Now at 5Church, American Cut, Ray’s Restaurants and More

Holiday parties begin with The Dish. Surely you’ve noticed…the holiday bling, party fashions and decorations emerging in stores and jostling for position amid tailgate gear and Halloween candies. Take the hint and shop for holiday party venues -- we’ve already curated a list for you. Procrastinating only adds stress as your preferred spots will be booked…by someone else. Conveniently, all of these venues accept plastic -- accumulate points and put them to good use in the new year. 5Church Atlanta 5Church Atlanta sets the scene for swanky holiday parties at Peachtree and 14th streets in Midtown, beginning with the moment guests step out of their cars to complimentary valet parking. Cutting-edge design and sophisticated private and semi-private settings welcome intimate dinners or all-out galas for 250 guests or more, and the rooftop patio accessorizes sparkly attire with the dazzling lights of Peachtree Street. Plush banquette seating hugs the walls around The UFO Room, a private dining area set back from the main dining room. Large-scale artwork lends a dramatic air. The Buffalo Room opens off the UFO Room, offering generous space in its own right (and a conversation-inviting central tree sculpture) or a nice flow for large parties. Get an idea of 5Church hors d’oeuvre and menu packages here, including multi-course menus such as the Saucier ($45 per guest), the Sous Chef ($57 per guest), the Chef de Cuisine ($65 per guest) and the Executive Chef ($75 per guest). Email Miranda Miranda,sales@5churchatlanta.com or call 404-400-3669 to start the ball rolling. 1197 Peachtree Street, NE. Ray’s Restaurants  Name drop “Ray’s” at the water cooler and listen to the conversation buzz in eager anticipation. Everyone already knows about the award-winning chefs, mouthwatering cuisine and impeccable service at all three Ray’s Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek. And, to keep the party planner in a jolly mood, each Ray’s Restaurant location boasts a dedicated events manager who cuts stress right out of the picture. In the heart of downtown Atlanta, Ray's in the City welcomes guests into private and semi-private rooms and areas glowing with rich woods and ambient lighting. Consider breakfast or brunch buffets, lunch, pre-selected dinner menus or exciting dinner buffets with stations for stir-fry, pasta, salad, carving or made-to-order sushi. Toast to a full range of bar ideas including mimosa or bloody mary bar add-ons. The Atlantic Room seats up to 50 guests and features a flat screen TV for presentations or slideshows. The flexible, semi-private Chef’s Area dining room seats up to 30 guests for a small dinner party or serves as a cocktail area before a party in the Atlantic room. Host up to 16 guests for an intimate dinner in the Wine Cellar, where three walls of wine surround a large dining table. The Peachtree Room seats 75 guests and presents panoramic views of Peachtree Street. Contact sales and events manager Mandy Hall,mandy@raysrestaurants.com or 404-524-9224. 240 Peachtree Street. Overlooking the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs, Ray's on the River can host riverside events “outside” in the Grand Pavilion, a covered, temperature-controlled environment accommodating up to 120 guests seated or 150 guests for cocktails, as well as a band or DJ and a dance floor for rocking or waltzing the night away. Inside the restaurant, the Private Dining Room pleases up to 70 guests for a formal dinner or a cocktail/buffet reception and the River Room seats up to 30 guests in a semi-private dining space. Opt for pre-selected lunch and dinner menus and consider appetizers, platters, hors d’oeuvre, full buffets and chef-attended carving stations to wow guests. Sounds like what you’re looking for? Contact sales and events manager Nisha Khana and associate Corinne Zucallo at nisha@raysrestaurants.com or 770-952-4209. 6700 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs. In Alpharetta, Ray's at Killer Creek encompasses several space options to accommodate up to 70 guests. Twenty-six guests can be seated for dinner in the private Cellar with its warm woods, stone hearth and fireplace. The dividable Wine-Jordan room seats 60 amid towers of fine wines as well as opening into the private outdoor courtyard. Both rooms house 52” flat screen, satellite dish-equipped TVs for presentations or viewings. Take it outside and celebrate in the Creek Room, a covered and heated outdoor patio overlooking Foe’s Killer Creek and the Upper Chattahoochee Natural Forest Preserve, that easily serves up to 70 guests seated family style or formally at long tables or in smaller groupings. Contact Jessica Savant at 770-649-0064 orjessicasavant@raysrestaurants.com. 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta. Thinking fabulous fiesta? Red and green as in salsa, guac and margaritas? Look to Ray’s Rio Bravo for a casual and spirited gathering place to host or cater your holiday event. Call 770-612-2829 to find out how Ray’s “Rio Fresh Rio Fun” Tex-Mex can send your party into the jolly “olé” St. Nicholas zone. 6540 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs. Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar Beyond the Perimeter, Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar in East Cobb provide lunch, dinner and cocktail party options – and oodles of free parking. At Seed, planners for groups of 15 guests or more can select from prix fixe brunch, lunch and dinner menu options or mix and match from the menus to suit. Gather in a private dining room seating up to 25 guests, a semi-private room for 10-25 guests or on the patio, which accommodates 50 guests for a seated meal, more for a cocktail reception. Download Seed’s Event Planning Guide for more space details and a sample menu. Stem Wine Bar is a mighty vine option, whether for a private lunch event Monday through Saturday or a restaurant buyout reserving the entire space for groups of up to 40 seated or 60 for cocktails. Think about hosting a private wine dinner for a memorable holiday gathering. Learn more in Stem’s Event Planning Guide. For events at Seed Kitchen & Bar or Stem Wine Bar, contact Chris McNeill, general manager, at cmcneill@eatatseed.com or 678-214-6888. 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar Taking the office on an ocean cruise might not be practical, but cruising to Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at The Avenue in East Cobb makes for a deliciously doable venture that will thrill seafarers and landlubbers alike. Seat up to eight guests in the Wine Room, Oyster Bar or at a Chef’s Table. Groups of up to 20 guests can be seated at one table or 28 at multiple tables in the Shiplap Room. Outside, host 26 guests in the covered patio area or up to 50 on the full patio. Follow this link to more information or call 770-635-7641. 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta.

Red Beard Restaurants Red Beard Restaurants -- Gunshow in Glenwood Park and Revival in Decatur – offer private and semi-private rooms to accommodate small and large groups. Anticipating a sizeable crowd? Buy out one of the restaurants! Whatever the size, the expert staff will tailor the details to suit, from customizable menus and bar packages to wines by the glass or bottle, beer, specialty cocktails and more. Both restaurants happily accommodate special requests including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and food allergy sensitive needs. Gunshow‘s open kitchen, shared dining room and family style menu lends itself to groups of 50-70, corporate buyouts or a group reservation for 13-24 guests. The menu changes daily, and Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward will select eight savory and two dessert items from that night’s menu for guests to enjoy family style. Individual chefs will visit guest tables with serving platters bearing their creations. Revival’s versatile floor plan can morph from seating lunch for 10, a seated dinner for 25 or a holiday party for 50. Family style menus for groups of 20-50 guests give a choice of soup or salad, entrée, chef-selected trimmings and a dessert. Contact Red Beard Restaurants events manager JR Zincone at JR@redbeardrestaurants.com. Gunshow, 924 Garrett Street; Revival, 129 Church Street, Decatur. American Cut/The Regent Cocktail Club Nostalgic glamour meets modern glitz at American Cut in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The new upscale steak restaurant offers three floors of top-notch party options: private dining in the American Cut Bar & Lounge on street level, small and large private dining rooms with seating capacities of 14 and 42 guests within the second floor main dining level, and an airy indoor/outdoor rooftop experience at The Regent Cocktail Club. Enjoy local Atlanta executive chef John Adamson’s bold takes on American classics throughout. For a night “out” on the town, book The Regent Cocktail Club, where starry skies and striking views of Peachtree Street and the Atlanta skyline add drama to selfie shots and a sexy backdrop for an evening of handcrafted cocktails. Mid-century modern cocktail club lounge seating invites conversation, and there’s even space for a jazzy trio or other live entertainment. Guests at American Cut and The Regent Cocktail Club enjoy three hours of complimentary covered and convenient deck parking. Contact Nazy Gavahi at 404-536-5432 or ngavahi@ldvhospitality.com. 3035 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 140. Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Host the holiday shindig in Atlanta’s oldest continuously licensed tavern. Lively Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland welcomes guests into an unpretentious environment where an upstairs room accommodates 30 guests for a sit-down dinner or 50 guests for a cocktail reception. Call 404-876-7249 for more information. 794 North Highland Avenue. HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern sets a casual environment perfect for large groups desiring to party in Midtown. Enjoy a mouthwatering menu of appetizers, gourmet pizzas, burgers and other favorites in the laid-back dining room, or kick back with a high-gravity craft beer on the heated and covered patio. Want it all? Consider a buyout to use the entire restaurant or patio. To discuss your visions, fees and menus, call 404-968-2288. 1551 Piedmont Avenue, NE. Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar Those in the Windward Parkway area of Alpharetta won’t have far to go to find a holiday celebration venue. Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar becomes your private restaurant when your group buys out the entire place. Chef Boyd A. Rose’s amazing not-so-secret menus center around Southern American cuisine made from locally farmed ingredients complemented by a bar program of handcrafted cocktails, beers and wines. Secreto can even help companies and individuals conquer holiday wish lists with a gift card promotion that adds a $20 bonus card for every $100 of gift cards purchased. Email Shelly Ball at shelly@secretokitchen.com or call 770-752-0922 for more details. 6195 Windward Parkway, Suite 102, Alpharetta. Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple provides a charming setting for your social gathering or corporate event. Milton’s can accommodate parties of eight to 200 guests, and each event can be specially tailored by request. Download the Events and Catering Menu for a taste of what’s in store when hosting an event in the restored areas of the farmhouse including the Breezeway (16 guests), the Milton Room (40 guests), the Mayfield Room (24 guests), the Broadwell Room (12 guests), the Banquet Porch (40 seated), or the Bar (32-50 guests). Contact sales and events manager Jill Hayes, Jill@miltonscuisine.com or 678-431-8753. 800 Mayfield Road, Milton. Bellina Alimentari The Culinary Club, a private and versatile event space at Bellina Alimentari, is the perfect place to host an intimate dinner party with authentic Italian fare, have fun making fresh pasta in a private cooking class followed by dinner, learn about natural Italian wines in a private wine tasting or just enjoy social time together. For larger groups, the entire bar area can be reserved for an elegant cocktail party where guests can savor cheeses, olive oil and fresh bread, Italian and local charcuterie and more. To book your group’s holiday experience, contact Bethany Thompson at 404-330-9933 or email events@bellina-alimentari-com. Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., NE, N-131.

The Blind Pig Parlour Bar With Victorian era decor and ambiance, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar provides an intimate and sophisticated environment for dining and drinking for up to 80 guests. The 1920s-inspired Buckhead speakeasy features craft cocktails, small plates and live entertainment -- all in a smoke-free facility -- and is available as an event space any day of the week. Contact sales and events manager April Pitman, april@sphospitality.com or 404-931-1251. 128 East Andrews Drive, NW. Dolce Italian Host your holiday party “la dolce vita” style. Dolce Italian offers private and semi-private rooms to accommodate small and large groups. Seat up to 110 in the mid-century dining room or opt for al fresco dining on the wrap-around, covered outdoor terrace overlooking The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. Executive chef Paolo Dorigato’s handcrafted pastas, bold seafood specialties, Neapolitan-style pizzas and more will leave your guests asking for “amore!” Contact Nazy Gavahi at 404-536-5432 or ngavahi@ldvhospitality.com. 3035 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 201. The Southern Gentleman The Southern Gentleman celebrates the essence of the South, and relaxed, yet polished, entertaining plays a major role. Treat guests to a fresh, modern and locally sourced take on Southern cuisine from executive chef Matthew Ridgway along with handcrafted cocktails. Expansive space accommodates up to 150 guests, and dinner menus begin at $35 per person. Patio parties, group dinners and private, customized bourbon, rye or whiskey tastings are perfectly delightful ideas. Contact Simone Dyson, Simone@sphospitality.com or 404-964-9243. The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, 3035 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite A208. Ormsby’s Located on the Westside under the White Provisions building, Ormsby’s feels like one of the city’s best-kept secrets. But it’s a leading destination for gatherings and celebrations of all sizes and stripes, thanks to a variety of games (shuffleboard, darts, bocce ball, board games and pool) perfect for socializing. With a wide selection of craft beers and a menu of classic and creative gastropub favorites, it’s a casual crowd-pleaser. Contact Leslie Battle,lbattle@ormsbysatlanta.com or 404-968-2033. 1170 Howell Mill Road. Gypsy Kitchen An event at Gypsy Kitchen transports guests to a beautiful, out of the ordinary destination where Spanish cuisine mingles with foods inspired by the spice trade of India, Morocco and other countries. Executive chef Matthew Ridgway and staff can create tasting menus, elaborate spreads or passed appetizers matched by a splendid bar program rich in Old World-style wines, craft cocktails and European beers. Contact Simone Dyson at events@gk-atl.com or call 404-939-9840. The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, 3035 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite A209. 101 Steak 101 Steak in Vinings offers multiple private dining settings to suit the needs of holiday events large or small. The Overlook Room accommodates up to 50 guests, while The Board Room sits 12 and The Tasting Room can seat up to eight guests. Executive chef Joe Ahn’s chef-driven catering menu features menu selections that include family style appetizers and side dishes, salads, entrees and desserts. Custom menus are available upon request. Order for the table using their special Thanksgiving Day group menu this year featuring a holiday entree, sides and desserts. $45 per person, $18 for children. Call 770-805-8855. 3621 Vinings Slope SE, Vinings.