In London, there are seemingly endless ways to glide into the new year on a festive note. Falstaff brings you a selection of the best venues for New Year’s Eve.
The fireworks display in London is one of the best and most anticipated in the world, but what’s the best way to spend the hours leading up to it (and the hours afterwards)? Londoners and travellers are spoilt for choice: hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and many other locations offer special packages for the last evening of the old year, and the first hours of the new year.
Falstaff found some of the most exciting places to spend New Year’s Eve, NYE, in London:
If your budget is not too tight after high inflation and other things that happened in 2022, you might consider spending the last hours of the year at a famous London landmark: The Savoy offers its own event called ‘It’s Showtime’, which starts with a Champagne reception in the River Room, followed by a four-course dinner with paired wines in the Lancaster Ballroom, accompanied by show-stopping entertainment. The riverside location gives revellers a very good opportunity to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Watching the musical Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club sounds like a recipe for a hugely enjoyable NYE in London. For those who want to make it even more special, The Moët & Chandon Suite at the Kit Kat Club is available with special bespoke packages including access to the firework display from the Southbank. With a capacity of just 26, it is deemed the ideal private theatre hideaway. Boasting its own bartender and VIP host, guests at the suite will be offered exclusive entry to the club, enjoy the best seats, and benefit from a dedicated space throughout the pre-show and interval.
The Coral Room, a Martin Brudnizki-designed space at The Bloomsbury Hotel, will host a 1920s themed party on NYE. Live music will be played by a four-piece band starting with classic funk and soul and then moving on to disco to bring the party to life. For guests dining in Dalloway Terrace and staying at the hotel, there will be free entry to The Coral Room to enjoy the festivities; non-guests will have to spend a minimum of £50. Reservations are recommended.
Twenty Two has been one of the most exciting openings in London this year. The restaurant at this new hotel, overlooking Grosvenor Square, will offer luxurious eating on NYE: Executive Chef Alan Christie has created a six-course menu with two dishes for each course, starting with a White Bean and Truffle Veloute and a Foie Gras Terrine with Quince and Toasted Brioche. The main courses will include jewel-like Grilled Hand Dived Scallops with celeriac and sea greens, and a heartier dish of Roast Fillet of Beef with wild mushrooms and crispy potatoes. The menu, which starts with a glass of Champagne on arrival, is available at £290 per person. For those who want even more luxury, an additional course of 125g exquisite caviar is available for an additional £100 (minimum of four guests per party).
Nestled in the heart of Hanover Square, a short walk from Bond Street, The Maine Mayfair invites you to a glamorous start to 2023. The restaurant has £125 and £250 set menus to celebrate the last evening of this year. The three-course menus have a variety of offerings, from delicious starters such as their signature colossal shrimp cocktail with horseradish sauce, beetroot salad with walnuts and goats cheese, and trios of tartare tuna, salmon and steak, to mains such as the filet mignon rossini, fresh lobster taglioni with paprika cream and parmesan, spicy shrimp linguine and New York Sirloin, all with the choice of sides. Also included in the £250 set menu is a celebratory Champagne toast at midnight. Good to know: every seat in the house faces the main stage to enjoy the entertainment at the Maine.
Want to enjoy a view of London’s skyline and a front-row seat of the fireworks across the city? You could head to ‘8’, a rooftop bar at the hotel The Londoner which offers a variety of signature package experiences. The Blanc package starts at a minimum spend of £600 for a table of two; guests are invited to enjoy 8s cocktails, a bottle of Dom Pérignon Brut Vintage and their signature Japanese small plates. The option to upgrade to the Rosé package includes a bottle of Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Vintage and starts at a minimum spend of £800 for a table of two. Both packages are also available for tables of four and six. And those who need even more private space can take over a private booth for up to eight guests.
BiBo at Mondrian Shoreditch is well-known for casual lunches and fine dinners. Chef Dani García has brought a vibrant cuisine to London; his dishes include the Oxtail Brioche, a pulled oxtail brioche with thin mushroom slices, DG sauce and rocket and Jamón Croquetas, creamy and crunchy ham croquettes with tomato powder. The Andalusian chef defines himself as an “artisan of flavor” who manages to combine the products of his land with the techniques and ingredients of an international cuisine. For NYE, he has created a menu that includes beef tenderloin, green pepper corn sauce & french garden potato and crispy sea bass in yellow sauce. There is also a vegan menu with cauliflower and wild mushrooms pie and meloso rice. Prices: £100 per person, add wine pairing at £60; vegan menu £90pp.
The Milestone Hotel & Residences, set in a Grade II listed building opposite Kensington Palace, offers an affair of live music, Champagne and a tasting menu. Dishes at their New Year´s dinner include Scottish Highland Venison Tartare, Langoustine & Salmon Raviolo, Champagne Sorbet with Passion Fruit Curd and Guanaja Chocolate Parfait with Clementine and Cardamom. Guests will also have a selection of fine leaf teas and petit fours. Prices for dining in old-world charm: £255 per person; £185 for the vegetarian menu.
Junsei has become one of the best dining spots in Marylebone. The yakitori restaurant will offer a special tasting menu experience on NYE. It is called Omakase – at this Japanese tradition, meaning “I´ll leave it up to you”, guests let the chef take control of the entire meal. You can sit back and enjoy the 6-course menu with a glass of fizz while the chefs are in action and cook dishes including A5 Wagyu over flaming charcoal. Cocktail, wine and sake pairings will be available for a full Omakase experience at Junsei. During the festive season, Junsei offers a limited-edition festive Sando, and with the arrival of Junsei’s new delivery arm – Tamashi by Junsei – some of the treats are available for home delivery within a 2-mile radius of the restaurant, from Belgravia to Belsize Park.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style with live entertainment and plenty of Champagne at M Canary Wharf, named one of the best openings. Guests can choose from à la carte dishes or opt for the specially curated New Year’s Eve menu, both enjoyed against the sounds of a live DJ and electro violinist. Later they can marvel at the exceptional riverside views of London’s famous fireworks display from midnight.
Ping Pong restaurants also have guests' New Year’s Eve wrapped up. All five restaurants will have the option of a £50 per person set menu available as original, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, as well as 90 minutes of bottomless bubbly or beer. Soho and St Katharine Docks will have live DJs all day and Southbank restaurant – all good location for watching the best fireworks in London – will be having a specially ticketed party from 6pm to 3am, starting at £150 for free-flowing drinks packages and a set food menu. Apart from that, all six Ping Pong restaurants (Bow Bells House, Soho, Southbank, Covent Garden, St Christopher’s Place and St Katharine Docks) in London offer their festive menus up to January 2023, including Crab & Champagne dumpling, Mushroom & chestnut griddled gyoza, and Black & gold custard bun, amongst others (£35 per person)
