The Sanctuary Reviews

We hosted an employee appreciation event for our team of 45. Everything was exceptional. The food, drinks, hospitality, and location were perfect. Our team enjoyed the delicious appetizers, fresh pizza, cocktails, and outdoor games. This is our 2nd time at Sanctuary. We look forward to this event every year.

My fiancée and I loved the space since we first walked in, and after finishing the tour we could envision our big day happening at The Sanctuary. Amelia was great since the very beginning and even shared with us a detailed proposal catered to our guest count previous to us touring the venue. We had an amazing experience thought the planning process, and didn't have to be dealing with a ton of different vendors since they offer catering, and our package came with DJ and wedding cake included. Their team was always responsive to all of our questions during the planning process, and our day went really well. We had the ceremony offsite and our cocktail hour was amazing. The food during our reception was more delicious than during the tasting and drinks were flowing all night long. All of our guests had a great time at the party, and I truly can say that I had the most magical wedding at The Sanctuary.

Our wedding at The Sanctuary was everything we dreamed of and more! The staff went above and beyond to make our day seamless and unforgettable. Our guests are still raving about how beautiful everything was.It was an absolutely perfect experience, and we wholeheartedly recommend this venue to anyone looking for an exceptional setting and an outstanding team for their big day!

The Sanctuary on Roosevelt Island provided the dreamiest backdrop for our wedding last month! Their entire team went above and beyond for us on our big day. Our friends and family raved about the location, the ambiance, the food, the service.

About an hour before our ceremony started, it began to pour outside- and we were meant to have an outdoor ceremony! My husband and I sat in our vintage taxi parked out front of the venue, and watched The Sanctuary staff run around in the torrential downpour to save our ceremony and move everything indoors- and the fact that the rain only put us about 15 minutes behind the original schedule?! I’m still not sure how they managed it.

Would also like to send a special shout out to Amelia, who more recently joined the Sanctuary team as event coordinator- she was not part of the team when we first signed out contract, but she proved to be an invaluable resource to us on the day of the wedding. She is a fabulous addition! Alfonso gave us our first tour of the venue that made us fall in love with the space. Frank was so patient and kind and answered all of our questions- and even helped us accommodate a last minute addition guest who was originally too ill to attend our wedding but who luckily recovered well enough to be able to come.

Thank you again to the Sanctuary team from the bottom of our hearts for helping make our wedding the most magical and special day of our life!

My husband and I had our wedding here in September and we were blown away by the entire experience. All of our guests – from NYC locals to out-of-towners – commented on how magical the venue and the setting were. Alfonso, Kat and Amelia were thoughtful, attentive and SO thorough. They are total pros, and also just lovely people. In addition to all of the beautiful decor, food and ambiance, I have included a photo of Alfonso hand delivering a cocktail to me because he wanted to ensure I enjoyed myself while chatting with the guests. Not pictured: when he brought plates of food to my husband and I to make sure we got to eat! Cannot recommend it more highly!

The team at the Sanctuary was truly incredible from start to finish in the planning process and the day of our wedding. We were truly blown away by how stunning the venue is and how versatile the spaces are - from indoor and outdoor options for ceremony to spaces for getting ready to an incredible tent for dinner and gorgeous church for dancing. Alfonso was highly communicative and helpful leading up to the wedding to make sure everything would be seamless and Amelia our day of coordinator knocked it out of the park. she was attentive to every step of the day and thoughtful of our guests and us. The whole staff was truly excellent throughout the event and we got rave reviews from guests about food and drinks! Thanks guys!

If we could give them 6 stars, we would! The Sanctuary was incredibly communicative, helpful, and kind from start to finish. Everything was taken care of for us, including on the day of the wedding when there were multiple capable staff members present.
We very much wanted to get married in NYC, our home for our entire adult lives, but weren't sure we could make it work with our budget. Not only is The Sanctuary incredibly budget friendly, but it is a true unicorn of a place in NYC. No other event space in the boroughs is so spacious, so lovely, so down-to-earth, and yet also one stop from midtown! We received multiple comments from out-of-town guests about how nice it was.

Other highlights include:
-A very full bar, including great non-alcoholic options as well
-DELICIOUS menu; including an extra pasta entree and a great selection of desserts- we didn't need to have a wedding cake due to everything available!
-The getting-ready space- multiple rooms and bathrooms available right on site for the wedding party

Tell everyone you know about this place!

Such a special venue for our wedding day -it truly was like a fairytale. Gorgeous Manhattan views, spectacular event tent and intimate, romantic chapel. Alfonso was wonderful to work with -nothing was too much trouble (and we had many requests).

The Sanctuary provided an exceptional venue for our Fiji Independence Day celebration! The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, perfectly capturing the spirit of the occasion. The staff were attentive and ensured everything ran smoothly, from the moment we booked with them, to details of the decorations. It was a memorable experience for everyone who attended. Highly recommend The Sanctuary for any special event!

We loved our wedding at the Sanctuary, and the team was amazing to work with, always going above and beyond in their communication and desire to make everything perfect for us. The food was great- the venue is just beautiful, and everyone said what a wonderful time they had. Alfonso helped with the preparations and Kat managed everything day of, so that, along with our wedding planner, we had everything taken care of in an organized way and could just enjoy the most magical day of our lives. It is also more affordable than other venues we looked at, and we loved how special the space is. The twinkly lit tent! The red heart! We will remember it and them forever, and we are forever grateful!

This was our first child's first birthday, and let's just say we went quite a little bit over the top. The Sanctuary delivered above and beyond any and all expectations. We are looking forward to our #2 and to the next first birthday celebration, as well as many more parties to come.
The staff was super helpful and considerate. The food and drinks great. Our guests were blown away by this hidden NYC gem. We cannot recommend them enough.

Frank, Alfonso, and the entire team at Sanctuary were an absolute pleasure to work with. Their timely responses, consistent communication, and extraordinary efforts to manage my pre-wedding nerves and requests were truly commendable. Kat's culinary skills are Michelin-worthy and will satisfy even the pickiest NYC foodies.

The venue feels like a fairytale escape from the city, perfectly capturing and highlighting the stunning skyline and river views. My wedding vision board came to life effortlessly in such a beautiful setting. We are forever grateful for making our special day so easy, memorable, and magical. Thank you, team! We can't wait to return for future anniversaries and celebrations!

The folks that run The Sanctuary are really great. Alfonso was with us every step of the way to make sure our wedding was exactly our vision. The food was delicious, and we were able to customize some of the options to fit some cultural foods we wanted. Great staff, yummy food, good drinks!

We recently had our wedding reception at the sanctuary and it was an amazing experience. This venue is great for a small budget intimate wedding. Amelia and her team helped us plan this event. We planned our event in 3 months without a wedding planner and they worked with us. They were very accommodating to our intercultural family needs and on the day they coordinated everything perfectly. They have special deals and I would highly recommend to try those. There were so many delays from our end to finalize and keep the communication going because of our busy schedules but they made sure to reach out to us when needed and were very patient. We gave them an outline of the day and they ensured to complete the detailed vision. I highly recommend this venue and this team.

This is not only a beautiful space but a full service venue. Alfonso the owner is very professional and handles everything down to the last detail. The food was phenomenal and the bartenders are amazing. 12/10 recommend!!!!

Sanctuary is really an exceptional event space. Very thoughtfully organized and staffed by extremely attentive, accommodating, competent and pleasant people. Our interaction with Amelia, the event manager, instantly put us at our ease. All the arrangements were taken care of with professional ease and minute attention to detail to items like flowers on every table, sound track selections and lighting. The sightlines of the Sanctury are absolutely spectacular with the East river and upper east side of Manhattan occupying the entire west side. Highly recommended.

We had our May wedding at the Sanctuary and could not have been happier with the experience. The venue itself was stunning and we loved all the different spaces within it for creating distinct moments throughout the night. Guests both from NYC and from out of town said what a special place it is, and how it felt like seeing a different side of the city. Alfonso and his team went above and beyond, going over our timeline with us to make sure everything would run smoothly, and were very accommodating with some special requests we had. The food also exceeded expectations: people are still telling us how delicious the sea bass and dessert table were in particular, and I’ve never been to a catered event with such perfectly crisp veggies - don’t know how they did it. It was a magical time, we’re so grateful!

We had my daughter’s birthday party at the sanctuary! It was wonderful! Alfonso's coordination and attention to detail were impeccable, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Kat's culinary skills were outstanding, with delicious food that impressed all the guests. The setting was beautiful and the atmosphere was perfect for our special occasion. Thank you to Alfonso and Kat for making our day truly memorable.

Our wedding at The Sanctuary on Roosevelt Island was absolutely perfect. The venue itself is stunning, set in a beautifully restored stone church right on the river. The staff were exceptional in facilitating on the day of. We felt completely at ease, knowing everything was being handled efficiently. Frank and Alfonso were always available to address any questions or concerns, ensuring we were happy at every step. Their dedication and attentiveness made a significant difference in our overall experience.

Our guests loved the bar and appetizers that were passed around. The food was also outstanding, very delicious! We were able to customize our menu during a planning tasting, and everything turned out as we hoped.

One of the venue’s standout features was the attached house, which provided a convenient space for us to get ready, store our belongings, and even have a pre-wedding shot. This added convenience made the day flow much more smoothly.

Throughout the day, we experienced no issues or hiccups. The seamless coordination allowed us to fully enjoy our celebration without any stress. We were able to focus on spending time with each other and our loved ones (which is all that really matters).

We wouldn’t hesitate to book another event at The Sanctuary, whether it be another wedding or a different occasion. Their exceptional service and beautiful venue made our wedding day all we could hope for!

We held a dinner for about 200 people attending a conference on Roosevelt Island. The staff was amazing from start to finish. They helped us plan the event and accommodated our needs. The food and cocktails were wonderful! Everyone had a great time at this beautiful venue!

What an amazing venue! The location is such a gem, and everyone we worked with really cared about us and helped us every step of the way, especially Frank and Alfonso. Kat and her team in the kitchen crafted a delicious menu and all my guests said how amazing the experience of visiting the Sanctuary was. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to have an amazing event that isn't so typical cookie cutter catering hall - much more personalized, fun, and special!!

We had a winter wedding, planned five months out. We got a good rate for a Friday wedding, with service and food that matched a full-price day. We brought in decorations, but didn’t need to—the winter seasonal decorations made the venue look festive. The food was tasty according to our guests—we didn’t eat much. The drinks flowed. The younger guests loved the pizza bar. The desserts were very good and well presented. The servers and staff were friendly. The parking was very convenient. We had our ceremony offsite, but for an on-site event, the house would be a great place to get prepared/dressed. Highly recommend.

We recently had our wedding at The Sanctuary, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. From the stunning waterfront location with breathtaking city views to the seamless coordination, everything was perfect.

Frank and Alfonso were exceptional in managing the event, ensuring that every detail was taken care of, allowing us to truly enjoy our special day. Kat, the chef, prepared the most delicious meals that our guests are still raving about. The food and beverage service was top-notch, with a variety of options that catered to all dietary needs and preferences.

What stood out the most was the flexibility and support provided by the team. While their team handled the venue and catering aspects impeccably, they allowed us to bring our own touch to the décor and music, making our wedding uniquely ours.

We highly recommend The Sanctuary to any couple looking for a beautiful venue with outstanding service!!

We feel so lucky that we were able to get married at the Sanctuary. They accommodated all of our requests and helped us have a beautiful wedding. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

The Sanctuary hosted our Friday evening wedding in Dec. ‘23. The planning was straightforward; the pricing transparent; and the cost appropriate for an off-season Friday wedding. The venue is very pretty sitting on the East River—the photographic options are lovely. The holiday season decorations made the venue sparkle inside—I don’t know that we needed our own decorations on top of theirs! The venue responded well to our DJ’s inquiries, which helped that process work well. Frank and Alfonso were very hospitable and professional. The food, drinks and service were excellent—the homemade pizzas were a hit with the younger guests. We appreciated that they can offer vegan/vegetarian options easily; and that they think about how to minimize food waste…nice to have an ethical venue! The side house, which is a wedding party suite, is very generously proportioned with lots of room to dress. (We had the ceremony off-site, but if you have your ceremony here, the site inside or on the river is really convenient, lovely and quite a good deal.) Also, while some materials say parking is limited, it was available on our day which made our guests’ experience easy for them to arrive and for them to get home. (Btw…gps directions can be a little confusing but finding the location is a little treasure revealed on the river.) When we visited to check out the venue and for our tasting, we saw some Cornell parties going on—they can handle a variety of events easily, which was reassuring. A positive lovely celebration!