Complimentary bubbly, groovy tunes, delicious eats and extravagant happenings can be found all around Austin this New Year's Eve. If you still need plans, follow our ultimate guide to New Year's Eve dinners, parties and shows to ring in 2015.
Best restaurants
Weather Up: Treat yourself to a special dinner on the upstairs terrace of Weather Up. The five-course meal includes caviar, beef tenderloin and more — all with cocktail pairings. Seatings are available at 7 pm and 10 pm. $150
Swift's Attic: The evening's four-course menu will offer dishes such as fried Lockhart quail, seared rare albacore, coconut panna cotta, wine pairings and more. On top of that, the bar will remain open to the public (for no cover charge) with drink specials and dancing all night. Seatings are available at 6 pm, 8 pm and 10 pm by reservation only. $75-$110
Gardner: Be one of the first to taste items from Gardner's new winter menu. The New Year's Eve courses include vegetarian-friendly options in addition to beverage pairings for an extra cost. The restaurant opens at 7:30 pm. $65-$100
Bess Bistro: The West Sixth establishment is keeping it ritzy with six courses and optional wine pairings. Some of the dishes include rabbit agnolotti, herb-crusted short rib and roasted monkfish. While you're dining, enjoy live tunes from Lex Land. Reservations are required for this dinner, which begins at 4:30 pm. $125-$175
NO VA Kitchen & Bar: Choose from food and drink specials such as the New Year's Risotto and Ring it in Right, while you listen to Taylor and the Wild. After dinner, all guests are invited to dance to the beats of DJ Mr. F beginning at 10 pm. Dinner reservations are encouraged and begin at 6 pm.
The Bonneville: Watch the Austin's New Year fireworks display through the windows of The Bonneville while you enjoy a special four-course prix fixe dinner menu with a Champagne toast. The restaurant opens at 4:30 pm. $75-$110
TRACE at the W: TRACE is offering a special menu for those looking for a delicious dinner or a pre-party plate before they boogie next door at the two different W parties. The prix fixe menu includes foie gras agnolotti, Texas wagyu carpaccio and more. TRACE opens at 5 pm. $115
Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden: Head over to Rainey Street for a legendary Banger's Saturday Smokeout (on a Wednesday because, you know, New Year's Eve). Get yourself a plate of smoked prime rib, bacon potato gratin and butter poached lobster sausage. Dinner starts at 8 pm. $23
Travaasa: If you want to get out of the city, drive to Travaasa in the Hill Country for a night under the stars. Menu options include seared sea bass, foie torchon, rum runner pie and optional wine pairings as well as complimentary truffles and a midnight Champagne toast. Seatings begin at 6 pm. $65-$110
The Carillon: Maximize the number of options at The Carillon with the seven-course tasting menu featuring ahi crudo, wagyu ribeye, seared foie gras and more. Seating times are at 5 pm and 8 pm only and reservations are required. $125-$205
Finn & Porter: Customize your courses with this New Year's Eve menu that includes choices for carnivores and vegetarians alike, from braised lamb shank ravioli to roasted mushroom soup. The restaurant opens at 5 pm. $85
Best parties
Studio Palm Door: One Year Anniversary Celebration: Palm Door on Sixth is throwing a combination anniversary and New Year's Eve party with a Studio 54 themed setup. The party features musical guests Escort and Holiday Mountain as well as complimentary treats and a midnight Champagne toast. $100
GILDED at Justine's Brassiere: Lose yourself in a golden wonderland during the GILDED party. We're talking food, dancing and cocktails on top of a performance by Golden Dawn Arketra. The folks at Justine's have even created an online look book to provide inspiration for your outfit — and to give you a little taste of what the night will hold. $150-$175
Drop the Ball at W Austin: The first of two New Year's Eve parties at W Austin includes tunes from Go Go Garcia, party favors and a complimentary glass of Champagne at midnight. If you want to step it up a notch, elevate your night with a VIP package for 15 and treat everyone to reserved seating, more complimentary drinks and your own server. $50-$2,500
Light Up the Night at W Austin: If that's not enough glitz for you, check out the W's second event with music courtesy of DāM-FunK and DJ Mel. General admission gets you an open bar, a Champagne toast and midnight bites, while a VIP ticket gets you reserved seating, lounge access and complimentary valet parking. $150-$300
Shake it Off! at the Highball: If you need one last taste of this year before we head into the next, check out the 2014 theme party aptly name "Shake it Off." Celebrate with all your favorite hits of the year, a Champagne toast and goofy hosts. Booth and karaoke room reservations are available for the evening. $30-$400
NYE 1968!!! at Hotel Vegas: Hotel Vegas is celebrating with a little help from 1968. A variety of modern acts will be performing as some of the '60s biggest names, such as Holy Waves as The Beach Boys, King Pelvis as Elvis Presley, Sweet Spirit as Marvin Gaye and many, many more. $20
Raw Paw's New Year's Dance Revolution: Are you in the mood to groove? Raw Paw is hosting a dance party sendoff with Mother Sip Connection (a collaboration between Mother Falcon and SIP SIP), SPEAK, Calliope Musicals and more. When you're not dancing, enjoy drinks from the bar and complimentary cocktail mixers from JuiceLand. $20-$35
2nd Annual New Year's Eve Charity Gala & Casino Royale: Give back to the local community and celebrate New Year's Eve in style at this casino-themed charity gala benefiting C5 Texas. Perks include a premium open par, buffet dinner, silent auction, casino games and much more. Tickets start at $150
New Year's Masquerade Ball at Vulcan Gas Company: Feast your eyes on "Vulcan Vixens" dressed in full body paint and revel in the midnight countdown with a complimentary Champagne toast and balloon drop. VIP guests will also receive bottle service and full access to the entire venue. Tickets start at $50
Big. Fat. New Year's Eve. at Gourdough's Public House: Join Gourdough's to celebrate New Year's Eve at the new downtown location on Fifth Street. There will be donuts, food, donuts, party favors, donuts, music, bottomless Champagne and (of course) donuts. $25
GATSBY: Roaring '20s New Year's Eve at Highland Lounge: Head on down to the Highland Lounge in your 1920s garb for a special Gatsby-themed party. Your evening will feature a complimentary swing dance lesson, a performance from Avant Glam Cabaret and live jazz from CHICO CHICO. The midnight Champagne toast will be followed by the Electro Booty Swing Dance Party with DJ Happy Happy James. Admission is free before 10 pm; $10 after
2nd Annual Totally Awesome '80s New Year's Eve Bash: Sixty years after the previous party (in spirit), Off Key DJ Productions is putting together an ultimate '80s extravaganza at Austin Roller Rink. Admission includes your skate rental, karaoke room access, a cash balloon drop and music from by DJ A-Wall. $15-$35
Speakeasy's Legendary New Year's Eve: Now back to the '20s! Speakeasy will host an old-school party featuring Sauce, the stunning 10-member collective led by Carlos Sosa .VIP packages and reserved seating options are available for purchase. Tickets start at $44
Casino Night at The Goodnight: The Goodnight is hosting an all-inclusive Casino Night party with a full bar, unlimited bowling, $5,000 in chips for casino games, appetizers, a raffle, a Champagne toast at midnight and more. $100
Russian House of Austin New Year's Celebration: Greet 2015 with mystery and poise during a masquerade at the Russian House of Austin. A performance by Ilya Goldstein and appearances from Ded Moroz and Snegyrochka will round out this New Year's Eve event. $65-$500
New Year's Party at Hotel San Jose: Music from DJ Chino Casino, pictures in the photo booth and celebratory bubbly make this free soiree at Hotel San Jose the perfect party option.
Fado Irish Pub's New Year's Eve Big Pint Drop: Forget the ball. Fadó Irish Pub is having a New Year's Eve Big Pint Drop. Come by and enjoy live music from the Blaggards, party favors, two Champagne toasts (one for midnight in Ireland, of course) and an optional prix fixe dinner beginning at 5 pm. $15
Austin's New Year: POSTPONED — The City of Austin has postponeD the annual New Year's celebration due to inclement weather. A rescheduled date has yet to be announced.
Best shows
The ABGB New Year's Eve with 8 1/2 Souvenirs: Dance your way from 2014 into 2015 with 8 1/2 Souvenirs' cabaret swing music. $15-$20
The Eggmen: This local Beatles tribute band is hosting two shows at The Westin Austin at The Domain. Enjoy a family-friendly show at 6:30 pm or attend the band's evening dinner show (with a special midnight Champagne toast) beginning at 8 pm. $12-$80
T Bird and the Breaks: This Motown ensemble will be playing at Stubb's with Afrofreque. As a bonus, each ticket to the concert comes with a complimentary (and delicious) buffet as well as a Champagne toast. $45-$50
Bob Schneider with The Wind + The Wave at Paramount Theatre. $82-$112
Grupo Fantasma with Gina Chavez at The Belmont. $30-$60
The Sword with Pallbearer, Boyfrndz, Mayeux and Broussard at Emo's. $25-$30
Shinyribs at Stateside at Paramount Theatre. $49-$54
Peelander Z with DRAKULUS, Sniper 66 and host JT Habersaat at Red 7. $17
East Cameron Folkcore with Clyde & Clem's Whiskey Business, Leo Rondeau, Carson McHone and Stargazers at The White Horse. $10
Sphynx, Silk Rodeo, Grape St., A. Sinclair, The Sour Notes, Mom Jeans and Lowin at Cheer Up Charlies. $5-$7
THIS WILL DESTROY YOU with Ringo Deathstarr and Nathan Brown at Holy Mountain. $16
James McMurtry with Jon Dee Graham and The Painted Redstarts at The Continental Club. $20
The Highball is hosting a 2014 themed party appropriately dubbed "Shake it Off!"
