Friendsgiving Location Ideas: Unforgettable Places to Host

The beauty of Friendsgiving? Let’s count the ways! From floor picnics in your apartment to rooftop feasts, backyard potlucks, or cabin weekends away, the most memorable Friendsgiving settings reflect your crew, your rituals, and your version of cozy. Whether you’re craving something laid-back or planning a scene-stealing spread, this guide is packed with Friendsgiving location ideas to match any guest list, group vibe, or gathering style.

Table of contents

• At home affairs
• Backyard, patio or porch
• The city escape
• Cabins
• Picnics, parks and gardens
• Community spaces
• Game night Friendsgiving ideas
• Rented studios and creative spaces
• Friendsgiving location tips

1. On location at home

When it comes to Friendsgiving, your own home can be the coziest option of all, especially when you give it a little remix. 

Shift the mood by moving the meal away from the traditional dining table. Try a cozy floor picnic with layered rugs and oversized cushions, serve apps from the kitchen island, or let the living room become a candlelit dining lounge. A few smart tweaks can turn your everyday space into a Friendsgiving backdrop that feels fresh, intimate, and intentional.

Ideas to try:

• Host a floor feast: Layer rugs, scatter cushions, and use crates or low tables for a relaxed-but-stylish vibe. Bonus: a no-shoes setting sets the tone for a night that’s cozy, unhurried, and effortlessly close-knit. 
• Spread the love: Divide the experience: drinks in the kitchen, mains on the coffee table, desserts by the window. Guests get to move, mingle, and discover little vignettes throughout the feast.
• Go open-house style: Not enough seats? No problem. Host an open-house-style Friendsgiving over a few hours. It’s more flexible, more social, and way less pressure.

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Pro tip: Rearranging your furniture for the night can make a familiar space feel brand new. Move that armchair, tablecloth that side table, light some taper candles, and suddenly it’s a whole fresh thing.

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Need help planning the perfect at-home menu? Our Friendsgiving food guide is packed with cozy, crowd-pleasing dishes that are easy to prep and all the yum (penne alla vodka, anyone?)

2. Backyard, patio, or porch

Even the smallest outdoor space can be transformed into the sweetest autumn gathering. Whether you’re working with a backyard, a stoop, or a patch of patio, the key is to lean into warmth, texture, and glow.

Make it cozy:

• Layer the light: Hang string lights overhead, cluster lanterns on steps, or line the table with tea lights in jars. That gentle shimmer sets the tone the second guests arrive.
• Keep guests warm: Offer a stack of throw blankets or bring in a few space heaters if the chill kicks in. A fire pit? Instant win (and s’mores for all).
• Serve the season: A hot drink station makes things feel luxe with low effort. Fill thermoses or slow cookers with mulled wine, chai, or spiked cider. Include cinnamon sticks, star anise, and orange slices for bonus flavor.
• Use natural texture: Let fallen leaves, wooden crates, and rough-cut florals do the heavy lifting. Top crates with pillows for extra seating, or drape a table in plaid or flannel for an autumn-in-motion feel.

3. The city escape

Sometimes the best Friendsgiving location idea is… not your home. If you and your crew are city-adjacent (or just craving a change of scenery), make a day of it with a quick trip into town. A city escape turns Friendsgiving into a mini adventure: part gathering, part getaway.

How to dial in on the city vibe:

• Dinner with a view: Book a private room at a skyline-facing restaurant, a rooftop wine bar, or even a cozy neighborhood café that does seasonal fare. Let someone else handle the dishes while you toast with a view.
• Progressive potluck: Assign each friend a course, then turn the city into your dining room with picnic-style stops at parks, piers, and scenic landmarks.
• Rooftop rental: Choose an hourly rental with rooftop access and transform it into your sky-high dining room. Layer in blankets, warm drinks, and a few candles for maximum vibe with minimal effort.
• Overnight city staycation: Pool funds for a rental with a great kitchen or rooftop, cook together, queue up a playlist, and turn Friendsgiving into part dinner party, part mini vacation.

Still venue-hunting? Explore these character-filled city spaces to get Friendsgiving-ready.

4. A cabin in the woods 

If you’re craving crisp air, starry skies, and no pressure to clear the table in 10 minutes, this Friendsgiving venue vibe is calling. Skip the city bustle and gather your people in a cozy cabin, lakeside cottage, or glamping site for a long weekend of food, fires, and Fall magic.

A change of scenery invites everyone to slow down, unplug, and enjoy the kind of quality time you don’t get from a rushed dinner party. Think of it as Friendsgiving, but with hiking boots and hot toddies. Here’s how to bring it all together:

• Cook together: Assign dishes, split grocery runs, and turn meal prep into part of the fun. Bonus points for someone who brings a cast-iron skillet and knows how to use it.
• Plan a pre-feast hike or golden-hour walk: Work up an appetite and soak in the foliage before settling in around the table (or fire pit).
• Build in downtime: Bring some favorite Friendsgiving games, playlists, journals, and plenty of socks. This is as much about rest as it is about celebration.
• Cozy it up: Pack extra throws, twinkle lights, and a few table-setting touches that travel well—linen napkins, mini candles, dried florals. It doesn’t take much to make it feel special.

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Pro tip: Choose a Friendsgiving venue with a fireplace, fire pit, or even an outdoor grill to add a little rustic ambiance and set the mood for more more more s’mores.

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5. Picnic, park, and garden locations

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where Fall means sunshine instead of snowfall, this Friendsgiving location idea is a no-brainer. A picnic-style Friendsgiving in a local park or botanical garden is grounded, joyful, and effortlessly charming—with plenty of room for blankets, besties, and second helpings.

It’s low-cost, high-impact, and totally flexible. Plus, who doesn’t want to eat mac and cheese under the trees?

To make it work beautifully:

• Scout your spot: Look for a park or garden with restrooms, picnic tables, and a little shade (or filtered light for those golden-hour photos). Bonus if there’s a scenic overlook or cozy grove.
• Curate your picnic kit: Pack collapsible tables, picnic blankets, floor cushions, and a few camp chairs to accommodate varying needs of your group.
• Keep the menu mobile: Think shareable and easy-to-eat—charcuterie boards, thermoses of soup, savory hand pies, sandwiches, or seasonal salads in jars. Add a few sweets and you’re set.
• Bring the extras: Compostable plates, battery-powered lanterns, a Bluetooth speaker, and coolers for wine and cider. Don’t forget trash bags, paper towels, and hand sanitizer. 
• Make it active: Toss in some lawn games: bocce, cornhole, or post-pie frisbee and let people move, mingle, and digest in motion.

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Pro tip: Botanical gardens can make for a stunning Friendsgiving backdrop. Some even allow small private gatherings with advance notice, just check the rules and snag your permit early. If you’re planning last-minute, explore spaces with gardens near you available by the hour on Peerspace.

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6. Community spaces 

Some of the most overlooked Friendsgiving location ideas are the ones actually designed for gathering: community centers, fellowship halls, and even your friend’s apartment amenities. They often have the space, seating, and kitchen setup without the hosting stress.

Ideas to explore:

• Local community centers: Many rent out multi-purpose rooms that are perfect for potlucks, especially if you’re feeding a crowd.
• Churches and places of worship: Fellowship halls and event rooms are often available to rent for a donation or small fee.
• Apartment amenities: Know someone with a clubhouse or reservable party room? Snag it. These spaces offer the ease of home but with way more chairs.

Why it works: You’re not cramming into a one-bedroom, and you don’t need to borrow five folding tables. These venues give you the space to spread out, plate with purpose, and still feel intentional in your setup.

7. Game night Friendsgiving ideas

Who says Friendsgiving has to revolve around a dinner table? If your group thrives on inside jokes, low-stakes competition, and chaotic energy, consider hosting a Friendsgiving game night. It’s part party, part hangout, 100% fun, and zero turkey stress required.

Where to host it:

• Bowling alleys: Reserve a few lanes, customize your team names, and pair strikes with sliders and nachos. Some alleys will let you bring your own desserts or cater from that one taco place everyone loves.
• Arcades: Go retro with vintage pinball, air hockey, or Mario Kart tournaments. Look for arcades that offer party rooms so you can eat, lounge, and compete in peace.
• Board game cafés or barcades: Combine cozy seating, a massive library of games, and casual bites for a night that’s low-pressure but high on laughs.
• Rented rec rooms or event spaces: Bring your own board games or game consoles and set up themed tables of trivia corner, card game lounge, or an Uno chaos zone.

Looking for a space that can handle all the laughter and the inevitable Pictionary drama? Peerspace has game night–ready party venues with the room, vibes, and flexibility to bring your Friendsgiving fun to life.

8. Rented studio or creative space

Sometimes the best Friendsgiving location ideas start with a blank canvas—literally. An art studio, gallery, or open-concept event space offers room to move, space to style, and a refreshing break from the usual dinner-at-home scene. It’s Friendsgiving with a twist: part feast, part art installation, all heart. And, you’ll enjoy these perks:

• No frantic vacuuming or furniture Tetris the night before
• Flexibility to arrange the space around your people, not your floor plan
• A chance to lean into a Friendsgiving theme—moody and candlelit, maximalist and colorful, or even BYO paintbrush

Ways to make it artful:

• Potluck + DIY Station: Set up a long table for dinner and another for a low-pressure craft moment like a “gratitude wall,” collaborative canvas, or mini decor station stocked with washi tape, stamps, and pressed flowers. Guests can personalize name tags, favors, or just get a little artsy between bites.
• Gallery vibes: Use clip lights and floor lamps to create drama, and display photos or past party pics as makeshift “art.” 
• Open layout, open flow: Arrange food, drinks, and seating in clusters to encourage mingling and movement—think cocktail party meets supper club.

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Pro tip: A creative space doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out community centers, co-working spaces, or artist-run studios for rent on Peerspace or Facebook groups for budget-friendly gems that are full of character.

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Friendsgiving location tips: Making any space work

Not sure your space is “Friendsgiving-ready”? Good news: it probably is. Whether you’re hosting in a tiny apartment or borrowing your cousin’s backyard, these tips will help you turn just about any setting into a warm, welcoming celebration.

1. Size up your space (and your guest list)

Before sending your Friendsgiving invites, take stock of how many people your space can comfortably hold for both eating and hanging out. A cozy squeeze can be fun, but elbows need a little room for second helpings.

2. Make the most of what you’ve got

Folding tables, TV trays, or even a few borrowed camp chairs can go a long way. Rearranging furniture—even just for the night—can free up surprising pockets of space.

3. Lean into casual charm

Your chosen Friendsgiving location doesn’t need to include a formal dining room. A buffet-style setup with mixed seating (couches, floor cushions, bar stools) works beautifully and keeps the energy laid-back.

4. Borrow, thrift, or rent

Need extra chairs? Low on serving dishes? Ask your guests to bring what they can or check local rental services. Most people are happy to contribute and love an excuse to bust out their quirky wine glasses.

5. Use every surface

In a small space? Get creative. Turn windowsills into drink stations, use bar carts for dessert spreads, or style bookcases with candles and florals. Function meets flair.

The beauty of a Friendsgiving venue 

Whether you choose to transform your living room into a cozy floor feast, escape to a cabin in the woods, or surprise everyone with a game night twist, it’s not about perfection—it’s about intention. Every space has the potential to become extraordinary when filled with laughter, gratitude, and the kind of friends who feel like chosen family. Here’s to friendship, to gratitude, and to the beautiful chaos of gathering the ones we love, cheers! 

Looking for a space that fits your vision? We’ve got you. Browse thousands of Instagrammable Friendsgiving dinner venues available for rent, by the hour, near you!