Before all the popping bottles of Champagne, the Thames fireworks, the clarion chimes of Big Ben, and the cries of “Happy New Year”, New Year’s Eve begins with just the right amount of drinking and dining to sustain our excitable levels of revelry. Here are 21 London restaurants that have a special meal planned for 31 December 2013.
For those who like dancing with their NYE dinner…
Strip Bar & Steak
The brand new Las Vegas-New York style bar and restaurant, Strip Bar & Steak (pictured above), at Malmaison London hotel in Farringdon is laying on a decadent five course New Year’s Eve menu for diners with exceptional taste and appetites. Once the Champagne & canapés have been dispensed with on arrival, it’ll be time to get stuck into appetisers such as oyster Rockefeller, mains including the signature aged prime USDA New York strip steak, whilst the pick of the desserts must surely be the chocolate peanut butter torte with whipped cream. There’ll be an opportunity to dance it all off though, as a live DJ will be playing until 2am. Tickets, £100 per person, email events.london@malmaison.com to book.
Dover Street
Mayfair’s Dover Street Restaurant & Jazz Bar has been celebrating New Year’s in London for over 25 years now so diners with a passion for live music will be assured of an exciting evening. To complement the three-course NYE menu, an early evening jazz trio will be followed by a full seven piece soul band who will be playing live hits from artists such as Sting, Seal, Lily Allen, Craig David, Beverley Knight and Gnarls Barkley. After the live music, the restaurant’s resident DJ will keep the party going until the early hours. Meal and show tickets are £95 per person, call +44 (0)207 629 9813 for reservations.
Boisdale of Canary Wharf
Calling all Elvis fans! Boisdale of Canary Wharf is hosting a Las Vegas-inspired celebration which, for £145 per person, includes a four-course meal, live entertainment from Suspiciously Elvis and his seven-piece orchestra (expect the likes of Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas and Suspicious Minds), plus blackjack, poker and roulette casino tables.
Searcy’s at The Gherkin
Searcy’s at The Gherkin A Night To Remember takes place on levels 38-40 of one of London’s most iconic buildings this New Year’s Eve, from 8pm until 2am. £250 tickets include Champagne on arrival and at midnight, plus canapés and food station, and unlimited drinks. The £300 VIP tickets are the same as above plus access to the VIP Lounge, Champagne all evening and a lobster and seafood bar. Menus can be viewed here. To book tickets call +44 (0)20 071 7215 or email theclub@searcys.co.uk
Babylon at The Roof Gardens
For those wanting to splash the cash and go for something truly magnificent, how about a unique four-course meal six floors up, on the roof at Babylon restaurant? Not only will you receive a glass of champagne on arrival, wine and beer during your meal, plus a mini bottle of bubbles when you make your way through to the private members club for the DJs and live music, but you’ll also be privy to your own fireworks display at midnight as well as breakfast canapés from 2am. £240 per person (£200 for club members).
OXO Tower Restaurant
If a restaurant with a view is what you yearn for, then OXO Tower, which overlooks the Thames and St Paul’s Cathedral is hosting a special black tie masquerade ball. The impressive London backdrop is complemented by Champagne on arrival, a four-course dinner, and live music from Caroline Loftus and her four-piece band. Tickets are £175 per person.
Inamo St James
Even though Asian restaurant, Inamo St James (pictured above) is only moments from Trafalgar Square, there will be no need to drift away on New Year’s Eve because magic, music and fireworks will all be on the menu. As will a five-course meal which starts with uramaki canapés and fizz on arrival, and continues with lots of delicious Eastern cuisine. Whilst the NYE set menu is served from 7-11pm, The Magic Circle’s John Bulleid will roam from table to table, performing illusions and tricks. The London fireworks display will be shown on the restaurant’s big screen, before DJ Baz provides a funky midnight-4am set, even taking guests’ requests. Set menu is £45 per person. Contact gloria.castillo@inamo-restaurant.com or +44 (0)20 7104 2040 to book.
The Garrison
The much-loved Bermondsey gastropub, The Garrison is laying on ‘proper English country grub’ as part of their New Year’s Eve ‘Garris-tonbury’ party, which requires festival attire such as mucky wellington boots, floral tiaras, ripped jeans and grubby backpacks. Music will include some of the best live recordings from the last 100 years, plus a live musician playing memorable Glastonbury headliner hits.
Village East
A few more paces along trendy Bermondsey Street is the recently refurbished Village East where an Alice in Wonderland Trip Down The Rabbit Hole New Year’s Eve Party will take place. A three-course sharing menu will be served at 6.30pm and again at 8.30pm (diners will enjoy a secret cocktail when they arrive) before the restaurant is later turned into a Mad Hatters tea party with DJs and dancing until 4am. Fancy dress is encouraged.
Disappearing Dining Club
Secret, nomadic supper club, Disappearing Dining Club, returns to the Red Gallery in Shoreditch for an all-night dinner and party. Dinner dance tickets are £100 per person and include cocktails on arrival, canapés, a three-course dinner and then two large floors of raving to DJ-spun balearic disco, electronic and house music until 5am.
Buddha-Bar
The Forbidden New Year’s Eve Spectacular – an intriguing name for a New Year’s party, if ever there were one – will take place at the Buddha-Bar in Knightsbridge. The event is being showcased as a ‘1950s East meets West extravaganza’, fusing inspiration from two 20th century movies: The Last Emperor and Moulin Rouge. There are two dining experiences available – Heavenly or Forbidden (£250 or £350) – which includes party entrance where you’ll find a casino, a hidden carnival, absinthe and Champagne cocktail trolleys, a French string quartet, a performance from Moulin Rouge’s Diamond Dog Dancers, a balloon drop and DJs.
Shaka Zulu
The flamboyant interior of South African mega restaurant Shaka Zulu in Camden is the setting for a five-course gala dinner. Arrive at 7.30pm for a canapé and Bellini reception, where fire eaters and other performers will entertain. The £99 Dinner & Drinking Table option includes your meal, plus entry to the Kings Club where UK soul queen Mica Paris will sing her hits before DJ Tempest spins house music on the decks.
Gaucho Piccadilly
Gaucho’s Argentinian restaurant in Piccadilly will be hosting a live Milonga show, as world-class dancers perform the sensuous Tango Argentino. Meanwhile, you can tuck into pumpkin and goats cheese bisque with black truffle oil; lobster and mozzarella empanada with seared scallops and coconut crispy shrimp; Aji Molido Churrasco de Ancho with Mediterranean pickled salad and fries with thyme; plus white chocolate and Malbec mousse with Drambuie chocolate sauce. Oh, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne for two (£185 per person).
Trafalgar Hotel
With a prime location on Trafalgar Square, The Trafalgar Hotel should prove a popular dining option. Downstairs in the Rockwell Room, there’s a relatively inexpensive six course meal for £65 which includes beef fillet with pan fried foie gras, celeriac puree, baby vegetables and red wine jus. For those who want to party on a budget, the bowl food menu (from £5) at the Rockwell Pop Party looks good value for money, although tickets to the party itself are priced at £40 per person. To make the most of the night, buy a ticket to the Vista Prelude Party (£149) which gets you up on the roof (pictured above) to enjoy views over Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and Big Ben, in addition to party entry, a bottle of Pommery Pop Champagne, and a limited edition celebratory PopKake.
And if you’re after a quieter New Year’s Eve dinner…
Tuttons
If it’s the excited buzz of central London that really gets your New Year’s Eve going, then Covent Garden piazza is right at the heart of the fun. Long-standing piazza restaurant, Tuttons (pictured above) will provide the calm before the storm with its decadent interior and indulgent three course NYE menu which includes wholesome favourites such as scallops, rib eye steak and Champagne mousse. There’s even the option to hire your own private dining room downstairs with personal waiter service for a more intimate celebration. Three courses and a glass of fizz only £49.95. Book by emailing events@cgrestaurants.com
The Orange
Normally the festive season is associated with the colours white, green and red, but for New Year’s Eve 2013, there’s no reason you can’t invite orange to the party either. The Orange public house and hotel (pictured above) tucked quietly away near Sloane Square is offering exceptional value for money this NYE with a three course menu preceded by a glass of NV Billecart-Salmon brut reserve Champagne for only £50 per person.
Boyd’s Brasserie
The glamorous Boyd’s Brasserie is one of London’s most centrally located restaurants and is only a quick saunter to the water’s edge for the fireworks at the London Eye; or equally, to Trafalgar Square. We recommend the lavish six course New Year’s menu for £135 per person which comes with matching wines.
Tom Aikens Restaurant
The Michelin-starred Tom Aikens Restaurant in South Kensington has a three-course menu (£80) or six-course menu (£130) available for dining away from the crowds. Signature dishes such as roast scallop with braised oxtail, truffle and parsnip or beef short rib with fermented grains, beef tendon lovage will feature.
Mestizo
Mexican restaurant, Mestizo in Camden allegedly holds the largest collection of tequilas in the UK which could spell a night to remember, or to forget. Either way, a three-course Mexican meal including welcome drink, live mariachis, and glass of champagne for £60 per person should start the festivities off with the right spirit, so to speak.
Vertigo 42
There is something uniquely grand about sipping Laurent-Perrier Champagne on the last day of the year, while peering down from 42 floors above London, quietly tucking into Maldon rock oysters; ricotta dumplings with spiced tomato relish; and gateau opera chocolate and coffee cake, all lovingly prepared by a Michelin starred chef. For £150 per person, this fantasy could be your reality at Vertigo 42 courtesy of chef Anthony Demetre.
Chino Latino
Chino Latino restaurant at the Plaza on the River hotel is offering a 10-course ‘tasting’ feast – inspired by Peruvian, Mexican and Japanese trends – for £79 per person. Expect to see Kampachi sashimi, Himalayan salt block, red pepper rocoto dressing; Wagyu beef taquitos, aji panca, red onion, jalapeño, avocado; and Chilean seabass, smoked chipotle miso, tenderstem broccoli on the sizable menu.
