Your lease
Manhattan leases routinely require specific limits, landlord additional-insured status, waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording, plus a certificate before you get the keys.
Fine dining, cafés, bars and nightlife across Manhattan, from the Upper East Side and Midtown to the West Village, Tribeca and the Lower East Side. Lease-compliant coverage, same-day certificates, service in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
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In Manhattan, the lease is the first underwriter.
A Midtown lunch counter, a Tribeca chef's table and a Lower East Side cocktail bar can all sign the same kind of lease and still carry very different risks. Build-out value, alcohol, delivery and staffing change what belongs in the program and how the market prices it.
Manhattan rents, build-outs and leases are among the most demanding in the country. Your insurance has to keep up.
Manhattan leases routinely require specific limits, landlord additional-insured status, waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording, plus a certificate before you get the keys.
A Manhattan build-out can cost more than the business itself. Insure it at replacement cost, not the depreciated value on a older policy.
Under General Obligations Law §11-101, serving a visibly intoxicated patron or a minor can create liability when that person later causes harm. Liquor liability has to be on the policy, not excluded by it.
In New York, workers' compensation applies from the first employee, with no minimum headcount. DBL and PFL disability coverage also applies to restaurants with employees.
Outdoor seating, delivery riders and grease-trap and fire-suppression maintenance all affect how underwriters price and cover your risk. We flag them before you quote.
Signing a lease before opening? We bind lease-compliant coverage before opening day and adjust the policy as payroll and sales come in.
In New York, a Manhattan restaurant needs workers' compensation as soon as it hires its first employee. Kitchen staff, servers, bartenders and delivery drivers are all covered. Disability benefits coverage (DBL and PFL) applies to restaurants with employees as well.
Fines for operating without coverage are steep, so we set it up before your first shift. Questions about payroll or headcount? Email us.
Why one submission matters. When several agents send the same restaurant to the same carriers, the market gets blocked and your quote slows down.
| Policy | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BOP for a small restaurant or café (GL + property) | $150–$700 per month |
| Fine dining and nightlife (higher limits and exposure) | Often above the BOP range |
| Liquor liability | Priced separately; higher for bars and late-night venues |
| Workers' comp and DBL/PFL | Priced on payroll and class codes |
Market guidance, not quotes or guarantees of coverage. All coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions and underwriting approval.
Fill out the form or email your documents. We will follow up in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Small to mid-size Manhattan restaurants and cafés typically pay in the $150 to $700 per month range for a Business Owner's Policy. Fine-dining rooms, bars and nightlife venues with high limits, liquor exposure and large payrolls often price above that range. Liquor liability and workers' comp are priced separately, and your lease's required limits are usually the biggest price driver.
Yes. Manhattan leases commonly require $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate or higher, landlord additional insured status, waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording. Send us the insurance exhibit from your lease and we will bind a policy that matches it, then issue the certificate, usually the same business day once bound.
In practice, yes. New York's Dram Shop Act allows an injured third party to sue an establishment that served a visibly intoxicated person or a minor. Standard general liability policies exclude alcohol-related claims, so any venue serving alcohol should carry liquor liability (dram shop) coverage.
Yes. New York requires workers' compensation for virtually all employees, including kitchen, floor, bar and delivery staff, along with disability benefits coverage (DBL/PFL). Operating without it exposes the business to penalties and personal liability for workplace injuries.
Yes. We bind coverage for signed leases and build-outs before opening day, so the landlord receives a compliant certificate and the liquor license process can proceed. After you open, we adjust the policy to your actual payroll and sales.
