Couples Say “I Do” Overlooking Central Park at ROBERT

The Short Version: There’s nothing more romantic than celebrating your wedding above New York City, where you can see panoramic views of Manhattan from a space that’s immaculately designed. ROBERT, a modern American restaurant, can make that happen with its delicious food, attentive staff, and jaw-dropping views of the city. It’s the perfect place to host both your reception and your wedding. 

Located in the middle of Manhattan, ROBERT is an elegant American restaurant located on the ninth floor of The Museum of Arts and Design. Its contemporary American food and spectacular views of Central Park, Broadway, the Manhattan skyline, and golden Columbus Circle statues make ROBERT a perfect romantic wedding venue.

The restaurant, which opened in 2009, is named after the late Robert Isabell in a nod to the preeminent event designer’s belief that originality is the most important component of an event. 

What better attitude to bring into wedding planning, when you hope that your guests will have a magical experience that’s true to the couple they know. It’s not fun to attend the same wedding over and over again — and ROBERT ensures that your guests will have a unique experience. Emma Weintein, Catering Sales Manager for ROBERT, describes the venue as “sophisticated, celebratory and sexy.” When planning a wedding that aims to wow all guests, these three elements are worth prioritizing. And holding your wedding at ROBERT will guarantee that everyone in attendance leaves the venue raving. 

When you dine at ROBERT, it’s impossible to forget that you’re above the Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle. The space is immaculately designed, with eclectic pink and orange furniture, chandeliers, velvet lounge sofas, and artful lighting. And while the space is colorful and pink, the slick, modern design prevents ROBERT from feeling gendered or girly. The dining room includes pieces from London-based designer Philip Michael Wolfson, a collaborator of architect Zaha Hadid, and LED lights curated by architect and designer Johanna Grawunder. 

Dining at ROBERT feels like being in an art gallery, where everything in the space has been selected thoughtfully and placed intentionally. That is exactly the case. The venue was specifically designed to complement Columbus Circle and serve as a space where diners can mix culture with phenomenal cooking. Guests enter the space through the museum lobby, so there’s no escaping the fact that they’re celebrating you in a place of remarkable art and design. 

While the dining space is contemporary and fun, everything is customizable so you can create the ceremony you’ve always wanted. The venue offers couples the use of a private room on the seventh floor and a screening room as places to walk down the aisle. These rooms can be decked out in flowers, plants, creative lighting, and whatever else the couple may desire. 

Holding your wedding at ROBERT allows you to customize your menu however you want, with the restaurant offering both a seated menu and a buffet menu created by Executive Chef Armando Cortes. The event experts will work closely with you to ensure that the food on your big day lives up to your dreams, starting with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres and ending with entrées and a dessert. 

The hors d’oeuvres can include tuna tartare, veggie spring rolls, or a petite filet mignon, among other selections. The grazing station can be loaded up with seasonal vegetables, prosciutto and melon, and caprese salad. The dinner menu is even more mouth-watering: Couples can choose from branzino, cauliflower steaks, and filet mignon, among other dishes. The drinks don’t disappoint either; from Grey Goose Vodka to LaMarca Prosecco to soda, ROBERT has all of your drink desires covered. The best part? All the food and drink decisions are up to you. 

“With our professionalism and attention to detail, you can be assured that every aspect of your event is made perfect,” Emma said. “Our expert event specialists will assist in creating the perfect event including the presentation of multiple options for catering as well as an extensive wine and beverage list, and the ability to transform the restaurant into the event space of your dreams.” 

It’s rare to find a venue that is as unique and imbued with culture, and yet is willing to accommodate the desires of the couple. The carefully curated dining room ensures that ROBERT won’t lose its identity as a part of the museum. But there’s absolutely no requirement to host your ceremony in this artsy space, given that two other event spaces are yours for the asking. 

ROBERT offers panoramic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline from a chic, contemporary space located near countless hotels, parking garages, and subway lines for your guests’ convenience. It’s private, too. ROBERT accommodates special events by closing its business to the public so only your desired guests will be sharing the space with you. 

ROBERT also allows outside vendors so you can choose your favorite DJ or photographer for your wedding. ROBERT is also meticulously inclusive of all diets and degrees of pickiness, and allows you to have a single complementary menu tasting a few months before the ceremony and provide Kosher meals and children’s menus upon request. 

The restaurant also gets rave reviews from couples and wedding guests. McCall H. (The Knot) said: “From the amazing view of the NYC buildings and Central Park, to the very kind and helpful staff and event planner, to the amazing food — it was everything we could ask for and more!” Both couples and wedding guests leave the reception in awe of the venue and the incredible service, and it’s a relief to know that ROBERT will provide a reliable experience. 

To hold a wedding at ROBERT, Emma advises reaching out 12-18 months in advance to maximize the chance you get your preferred date or month. And once the event is booked, you will work closely with the Catering Sales Managers to plan out menus and other details. Once the date and menu are selected, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing your reception will run smoothly, thanks to ROBERT’s attentive staff, delicious food, and gorgeous setting.