THE RAINES LAW ROOM
The Setting
A historic townhouse, moments from Bryant Park.
Why The Grandline
01
Full Property Buyout
The entire resort, exclusively yours — up to 150 guests for receptions, galas, and milestone celebrations.
02
Oceanview Terrace
Cocktail receptions under open sky, up to 60 guests, with the infinity pool as a backdrop.
03
Private Dining Room
Seated dinners for up to 25, in a candlelit room built for toasts and long conversations.
The Spaces
The Rooms
The Parlor
Voices
Our wedding felt effortless — like the space was designed around us, not the other way around.
Jennifer & Daniel
Event Planner, Anand & Co.
The Raines Law Room
At The William
Request Proposal
Midtown East / Bryant Park
Raines Floor Buyout
Reception 150
Sit-Down 65
Hawthorne/Terrace + Peacock Rooms
Reception 100
Sit-Down 65
Hawthorne + Terrace
Reception 50
Sit-Down 40
Peacock
Reception 40
Sit-Down 25
Library
Reception 40
Sit-Down 20
Terrace
Reception 25
Sit-Down 20
Bar Room
Reception 30
Sit-Down –
The Grandline — Private Events
From intimate dinners to full-property buyouts, our oceanfront spaces are shaped around your guest list, not the other way around.
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View the Spaces
The Floor Plan
How the rooms fit together.
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The Setting
A historic townhouse, moments from Bryant Park.
An Invitation
Celebrate your next special event at Raines.
Raines at the William is conveniently located steps away from Bryant Park, Grand Central and Times Square. Tucked away inside The William Hotel (a beautiful historic townhouse that used to be The William’s club in 1924) are our exquisite private cocktail parlors and dining rooms. It is the perfect backdrop for the Raines Law Room experience. Private rooms can be rented individually or combined to make a unique experience for your guests as they flow from room to room.
We look forward to hosting you and your guests, cocktails in hand.
Yours sincerely,
The Raines Law Room
At The William
The Raines Law Room
At The William
The Raines Law was passed on March 23, 1896, by the New York State Legislature. It was nominally a liquor tax, but its intention was to curb the consumption of alcohol by imposing regulations.
History
Among other provisions, it prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday—except in hotels. Most men worked a six-day week, and Sunday was the only full day for drinking at saloons. Under the law, however, hotels were allowed to serve liquor on Sunday, to guests only, provided it was during a meal, or in the bedrooms of the hotel. State statutes allowed that any business was considered a hotel if it had 10 rooms for lodging and served food with its liquor.
Saloons quickly found a loophole by adding small furnished bedrooms and applying for a hotel license. Dozens of “Raines Law Hotels,” often located directly above saloons, opened.
As a contemporary source put it:
“This offered a premium on the transformation of saloons into hotels with bedrooms and led to unlooked-for evils,”
namely, an increase in prostitution, as the rooms in many “Raines Law Hotels” were used mostly by prostitutes and unmarried couples.
Listening first
Every event begins with a conversation. We take time to understand your date, your guest count, and what the evening should feel like.
Careful choices
We suggest only what suits the occasion. No packages, no pressure — just rooms and menus chosen with care.
Considered detail
Our focus is on atmosphere: candlelight, proportion, and pacing, so the evening feels effortless rather than staged.
Beyond the night
We think past the event itself. Many guests return, and we keep your preferences on file for the next occasion.
The Raines Law Room
At The William
The Story
A history of illicit imbibing.
The Raines Law Room stands as a pillar of New York City’s modern speakeasy scene, taking its name from a notorious piece of 19th-century legislation. Authored by John Raines in 1896, the original Raines Law attempted to curb the weekend drinking habits of working-class men by restricting Sunday alcohol sales exclusively to hotels. In response, cunning saloon owners quickly added small furnished rooms to their establishments to meet the legal definition of a hotel, inadvertently giving rise to thousands of “Raines law hotels” that paired Sunday drinking with prostitution. Today, the eponymous bar playfully nods to this history of illicit imbibing, operating out of two sophisticated locations: the original, unmarked Chelsea parlor on 17th Street and a beautifully preserved 1924 townhouse at The William in Midtown.
Stepping inside either location requires finding an unmarked door or ringing a discreet doorbell, instantly transporting guests away from the bustling city streets and into a decadent, Victorian-inspired lair. The aesthetic is dark, moody, and undeniably romantic, characterized by mahogany paneling, open fireplaces, book-lined walls, and plush velvet couches. Dark, gauzy curtains partition the seating areas to give the illusion of total privacy, while quiet jazz plays in the background. In a brilliant touch of old-world hospitality, each private nook features a discreet wall pull-chain or buzzer, allowing guests to seamlessly summon their server without breaking the intimate atmosphere.
What We Offer
Every detail, considered.
Full-property buyouts
Private cocktail parlors
Intimate dining rooms
Chef-driven tasting menus
Bespoke cocktail programming
Sommelier wine pairings
Dedicated events director
Candlelit room settings
Live jazz ensembles
Ambient sound design
Valet parking service
Coat-check service
Flexible floor plans
Receptions up to 150
Seated dinners for 65
Passed hors d’oeuvres
Raw bar and caviar service
Champagne towers
Custom menu printing
Floral and tablescape design
Private entrance access
Green room for hosts
AV and presentation support
Step-and-repeat backdrops
Photography partnerships
Late-night lounge hours
Signature welcome drinks
Dietary accommodations
Multilingual staff
48-hour proposal turnaround
Plan Your Event
Share your date and guest count, and our events director will send a custom proposal within 48 hours.
Request a Proposal
events@thegrandline.com