Alongside magical window displays, festive markets, and the famous Rockefeller Center tree, grand holiday parties are a staple of the season. With high ceilings, ballroom-style parlors, chef's kitchens and cozy, working fireplaces (no Yule Log channel required), New York’s mansions and classic brownstones are ideal for holiday gatherings. These eight homes on the market add outdoor space and unique features to make them ideal for year-round entertaining:

Upper East Side - 7 East 88th Street

Invite guests to step off the elevator into the solarium, join drinks in the garden, or mingle in the parlor beneath soaring, 12-foot ceilings with space for a grand piano and lounge seating at this 19th century limestone townhouse, located on a prime Carnegie Hill block steps from Fifth Avenue and Central Park. Host 10-seat dinner parties to liven up the winter season, and lighthearted gatherings in the summer after strolling through the park. Now configured as two triplex and two simplex apartments, this 6-story property is well-positioned for transformation into a single-family dream home.

Upper West Side - 1 West 67th Street, 909

The grandest residence at Hotel des Artistes, this 3-story home is defined by one of the City’s great entertaining spaces, a dramatic 44’7” x 16’6” living and dining room, complete with a fireplace, oversized South-facing windows, and 17’9” ceilings that opens on to a paneled library with a bookend fireplace. This iconic building has been a part of New York art history for more than a century, built as an atelier with studio space for artists. The home now boasts central air-conditioning, a Sonos music system, private terrace, media room and landscaped main terrace with a gas fire pit, making it perhaps the most striking home for entertaining in Manhattan.

West Village - 313 West 4th Street

A meticulous renovation has transformed this 19th century townhouse into one of New York’s most modern residences, while paying careful reverence to its original aesthetic. One of the city’s most coveted townhouses for indoor and outdoor entertainment, the 5,300 square foot home features a 500-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar, theater room, 8-seat formal dining room, and a relaxed parlor with floor-to-ceiling windows and a charming wood-burning fireplace. These spaces complement an equally inviting, 800 square-foot garden, landscaped across two levels with an outdoor kitchen, BBQ grill and lounge furniture. An elevator sweeps guests from the basement to the fourth floor of this 5.5-level home, although we expect the impressive helical staircase will spark conversations among your guests.

Midtown East - 244 East 48th Street

Entertain up to 100 of your closest friends at this completely renovated 6,800 square-foot townhouse with plenty of room to relax, mingle and gaze on the skyline from the rooftop deck. The airy 6-story home boasts an open parlor room floor with 11-foot ceilings and a cozy gas fireplace, a chef’s kitchen, private garden with lounge seating and multiple conversation areas. An elevator whisks guests to all floors.

Upper East Side - 107 East 61st Street

A theater room fit for the Super Bowl, soaring great room ceilings, a 40-foot swimming pool and 8,500 square feet of living space are only part of what makes 107 East 61st Street a home truly made for entertaining. A high-speed elevator whisks guests to five of six stories, with a spiral staircase accessing the penthouse, while a landscaped terrace offers impressive views Park Ave and the Manhattan skyline. The real highlight for hosts, however, is something guests may never see: a private garage with a lift to accommodate two cars, allowing for seamless shopping, planning and home access, no matter how bustling the streets outside may be.

Brooklyn Heights - 59 Middagh Street

A backyard fit for children’s birthday parties and classic BBQs, this 29-foot mansion combines the best of New York living with suburban charm, including the space of a 6,300 square-foot mansion and a 1,000 square-foot backyard. Easily add a pool table to great room, a grand piano to the parlor, and an 8-person dining table to the garden. The flexible, modern layout, complete with an elevator servicing all five floors, allows for year-round entertaining. Lying just 5 minutes from Wall Street and 25 minutes from Midtown, this Brooklyn Heights home is also an easy destination for friends to reach, no matter their borough.

East Village - 56 East 1st Street

With 20-foot ceilings and multiple outdoor spaces, including a rooftop deck, this chic industrial property, located near eight subway lines in the heart of the East Village, is well-equipped for holiday entertaining, whether commercial or residential. Now configured with three units and ground-floor commercial space, the 6,090 square-foot property can be converted into a duplex apartment or a grand single-family home.

Upper East Side - 167 East 69th Street

A rare 25-foot wide carriage house with 7,200 square feet of living space, light on all four sides, a landscaped terrace designed for summer cocktail parties and a sweeping ground-floor studio space with 14.5-foot ceilings, this curb-cut mansion, located on a well-known artists’ block, is a home for owners who love to entertain. A grand hall with a perimeter staircase and tall arch windows provides further space for social gathering, with an opportunity to add a rooftop deck.

West Village - 150 West 11th Street

Well-designed for intimate social gatherings, this historic townhouse on a coveted, tree-lined street in the West Village will inspire guests with a 19th century charm that incorporates a modern aesthetic, including exposed brick, five cozy wood-burning fireplaces, and multiple living spaces for relaxed conversation. Take advantage of the chef’s kitchen for holiday dinner parties and a private, landscaped garden for lively summer gatherings.

Brooklyn Heights - 38 Monroe Place

Once home to a famed Civil War Colonel, today this 19th Century historic home is a modern townhouse reimagined for relaxed living and entertaining. The 7,200 square-foot home, gut renovated by architect Jose Ramirez, boasts a unique open layout with seamless entertaining in mind, an elevator servicing all five floors, a rooftop deck with sweeping Manhattan views, and a garden fit for al fresco dining.

Upper East Side - 119 East 95th Street

A classic Carnegie Hill townhouse on a tree-lined street with abundant original detailing, this 4-story brownstone epitomizes the cozy holiday atmosphere of intimate gatherings with friends and family. Host dinner parties in the formal dining room, outdoor soirees in the large, north-facing garden, and social gatherings in charming parlor. This inviting home also offers unused, intact FAR to expand your square footage.

Harlem - 116 West 130th Street

Set in the heart of Harlem, blocks from the Apollo Theater, Ginny’s Supper Club and the lively restaurants, music venues and cocktail bars that define the neighborhood, this classic, 3-family brownstone adds a charming, private venue for holiday parties and intimate social gatherings, indoors and out. The newly renovated 4-story property boasts 12-foot ceilings, an open-concept floor plan and picture windows, with a 16’x46.5’ garden. As configured, the home has 2-bedroom owners’ duplex and two 1-bedroom floor-though apartments to generate additional income.

South Street - 138 Beekman Street

A rare, single-family townhouse in heart of the Seaport District, this 4-story home stands on a charming, cobblestone street just steps from the Financial District, Brookfield Place, notable restaurants, theater, bike paths and parks. A private garage allows for spontaneous adventures outside the city and the freedom to travel as you please. The option to easily drive also allows for seamless shopping and planning as you entertain. A fully landscaped rooftop deck overlooks the New York skyline, providing an ideal venue for summer social gatherings. Inside, this newly renovated home welcomes your guests to an airy, light-filled space with elegant decor and warmly decorated living areas.

Looking for the ideal home for entertaining, or thinking of putting your townhouse on the market? Let's talk! Call us at 212-371-8200 or email info@lesliegarfield.com.