Why we built Revelry
Planning a great night out in New York shouldn't mean emailing a dozen bars and hoping someone writes back.
I'm Michael, the founder of Revelry. I've lived in New York for 4 years, and I've always been the person planning the night out — my own birthday, a friend's, a work celebration. I'm out in this city's bars and clubs constantly, and I love bringing people together.
But every time, the actual planning was a slog: digging for a bar that fit the vibe, then emailing a dozen places to find one that could host a group — and half of them never replied.
I tried the other party-booking apps, and they all had the same problem: they don't actually have the places New Yorkers want to go. The genuinely hot, hip spots don't need to pay to be listed — they have a line out the door already. So those apps fill up with venues nobody's excited about.
So I built the thing I wished existed: a hand-curated list of the bars and lounges people are actually trying to get into, paired with a concierge that handles the booking and coordination for you. You pick the spot and your date; we confirm availability and pricing with the venue and lock it in. No phone tag, no inquiry forms, no markup games.
You just show up and enjoy the party.
Birthdays I've thrown here
I don't just run this thing — I live it. Here's how my own NYC birthdays have evolved over the years. Click through:
2022Too intimidated to actually book a party, so I just had dinner with a few friends. I'm pretty sure this was taken at Mr. Purple (lol).
A real concierge — not just a directory
The entire point of Revelry is to take the pain and hassle of finding the perfect party venue off your shoulders. You tell us the vibe, the date, and the headcount — we do the chasing, the emailing, and the negotiating.
And because I'm right here in New York, I'm not just an inbox. If something needs sorting, I'll email, call, and — if it really comes to it — show up at the venue in person to make sure your night goes off without a hitch. That's what our fee buys: a real person in the city who has your back.
What makes Revelry different
We feature the venues people genuinely want — chosen on merit, not because they paid to be there.
We handle the back-and-forth with the venue — availability, pricing, the reservation — so you don't have to.
Free to browse and request. You only pay when your date is confirmed.