The best group activities in NYC for small to large groups

Smaller groups can also sign-up together for open enrollment classes and experiences of all varieties. Whether you are looking for something to do during the evening with three of your friends or you are trying to bring 8 people together for an event, consider signing up for one of these events that are perfect for small groups.

Discover your inner chef in a unique cooking class experience, a fantastic way for a group of attendees to express themselves creatively in ways they may have never considered. These events are designed to explore culinary arts beyond traditional cooking, with participants engaging in hands-on activities like making pasta from scratch or crafting intricate desserts. Small group cooking classes focus on the process rather than just the finished dish, offering a memorable experience where participants can bond, create, and savor new culinary adventures in an exciting and unexpected environment.

Another fun activity that is great for groups is a dessert class, either one that focuses on making the dessert (the eating it) or just making it pretty (before eating it). These classes, which can cover anything from learning how to make donuts or churros to detailed lessons in the art of French pastries or vintage cake decorating techniques, are a great way to spend an evening with friends since not only will you learn a practical skill, you’ll also leave the event with an opportunity to share your desserts amongst the group. Whether you and your friends are experienced bakers looking for a challenge or just a group of people who want an excuse to make cookies after work, there is sure to be a class that fits your needs.

NYC has one of the most diverse and eclectic culinary scenes in the world, and you can experience this alongside a small group of friends on one of the city’s many guided food tours. Whether you want to explore the different pizzerias, bagel shops, chocolate makers, microbreweries, or any number of other themed food experiences, NYC is certain to have what you are looking for. These guided tours take the logistics and planning out of the equation, meaning you and your guests can just focus on the important part of the event: sampling the delicious food as an experienced guide tells you everything you need to know about the rich culinary traditions of NYC.

A similar kind of tasting experience, you and your guests may want to consider enrolling in a wine tasting session. Since New York is one of the nation’s leading wine producers, it can be a fun day trip to visit the Finger Lakes and sample some of the state’s wines. However, if you want to be prepared, you can attend a wine tasting experience where a professional sommelier will teach you how professionals taste and rate wine. These courses are a great social event, and there is more than just wine. If you are interested, the event can also include cheese tasting, chocolate tasting, or even spirit tasting.

Let out your inner artist in a unique art experience course, which can be a great way for a group of attendees to express themselves creatively in ways that they had probably never considered. These events tend to be on the abstract side, with participants using balloons, paintball guns, and even their own bodies to put paint onto a group canvas in an event that is more about the process than the finished product. These art experiences are a great way to create memories and experience art in an environment that is wholly new and unexpected.

If you are interested in another unique art experience, consider enrolling your group in a flower arranging course. These courses will see everyone in your group making a living work of art and learning classic, modern, and even ancient floral design techniques. Courses range from simple design courses based on American styles to complex Japanese Ikebana arrangement courses, and these classes provide participants with all the flowers and supplies they need to create their own impressive floral arrangements. Enjoy an evening with friends and show off your creations in one of these fun and accessible art courses.

Art classes make for a great group activity, but they are definitely improved by the addition of a nice glass of wine or beer (or three). In this sip and sew course, you and your friends will be able to learn the basic art of hand-sewing while enjoying your favorite libations (the event is BYOB). Modeled after a paint and sip event, this is a low-stakes sewing course where, even if you don’t really learn anything about sewing, you’ll still be able to have a fun evening out with friends and replace a boring night at the bar with a fun night trying new things.

Learning how to make delicious desserts is always worth investing time in, and doing so as a group comes with a lot of benefits. Not only can you help each other out (or hinder each other, depending on the dynamics of your friendship), but you’ll also be able to share your desserts amongst yourselves once the class is over. There are so many different courses to choose from, so whether you want to learn something easy, like how to make a cheesecake or an apple pie, or something more complex, like croissants or creme puffs, you’ll be able to find a class offered by a professional chef and experienced instructor.

One specific pastry that you and your friends may want to learn how to make is a flaky, buttery French croissant. These pastries can seem intimidating at first, with the many layers of dough and butter required to really nail the croissant, but the recipes are actually pretty accessible, provided you have some assistance and guidance. This class is a great way to introduce yourself and your friends to a pastry tradition you might not otherwise have ever experienced.

There are so many different options available for different groups and teams to engage in that you do not know what kind of event you want to sign up for. There are several factors to consider when looking for a group activity, and this guide aims to help you narrow down your choices and find the right event for you and your group. 

The first (and probably most important) question you should ask is a logistical question: how many people do you think will be attending your event? While it may seem obvious, if you have a group of thirty people, you aren’t going to want to sign up for an escape room, and if you have a group of two people, it will be much easier to decide amongst yourselves what the best option is for the two of you. Some events do work better for groups of certain sizes (like the aforementioned escape rooms), while others scale relatively well (like cooking classes), though at a certain point, the event may feel less personal and more like an individual activity that you happen to be doing near people you know.

By and large, you are going to want to choose an event that has the right vibes and atmosphere for your group or team. Some events, like a woodworking class, a cooking course, or an escape room, are going to require everyone to be relatively engaged and pay attention to the instructor or their team members. Something like a wine tasting event or a cruise, on the other hand, gives people the opportunity to socialize with one another and not feel like there is an obligation to get some aspect of the event perfect. Some events, like mixology courses or other quick cooking classes, as well as things like paint and sip or paint and sew events, fall more into the middle ground of the two since they are more organized and focused events, but they still put more of an emphasis on the group side of the group activity. While there is no wrong answer when it comes to group events, this is an issue that you may want to consider when finding the right event for you and your group.

Similarly, you’ll want to gauge how elaborate you want the event to be and how much you expect this to impact attendance. For example, while it may be a great idea for a lot of groups, a carpentry class or a full dinner cooking class (that takes several hours) might be a bit much for some people, leading to depressed turn-out. This can be an issue irrespective of how much energy the event actually consumes since, for example, you don’t need to do much on a cruise, but it still takes 3 hours to complete, and you have to get to and from the harbor on a Sunday morning. That isn’t a huge ask, but you should consider whether or not it might be too much for some of your guests or team members.

While it may seem like there are an overwhelming amount of options available to you, they can be narrowed down rather easily if you have a general idea of the kind of event you are looking for. Cooking, art, mixology, or crafting events are great for groups looking to learn new skills while having a laid-back experience. Escape rooms or other group games are good for anyone looking for an engaging experience that is still relatively structured. Tours and cruises are well suited for groups looking to take advantage of their time in NYC or who want to visit a part of the city that they have never been to before. With so many options available to you, you’ll be sure to find a group activity that fits your needs.

As much as we may be remiss to admit it, the cost of an event is something that you’ll want to consider when signing up for a group event, particularly as your group creeps up in size. Classes, like cooking and mixology courses, for example, may cost a lot per head (relative to just going out to a nice restaurant), but you get a meal and experience (and a bit of training) out of the event. Escape rooms will have flat fees per participant, and these fees are rarely so high that they are untenable. Events like a paint and sip or a drawing course will be inexpensive, while cruises and guided tours will be on the pricier side.