New Year's in Austin
Go-to restaurants for New Year's Eve in Austin — and for brunch in 2014
Whether your last meal of the year consists of a smorgasbord of appetizers or a lavish, multicourse feast, it should certainly be memorable.
We’ve rounded up some of the most delicious ways to bid farewell to 2013 and welcome in 2014 with arms (and mouths) wide open.
New Year's Eve
Sway is throwing a yellow-robe party in honor of the Thai monk tradition of donning the color as a symbol of letting go. The $150 tickets include dinner, open bar, champagne toast and dancing.
Bread & Circus Supper Club is hosting a 1980s-themed Breakfast Club party at the Palm Door. For $50, the tickets include dancing, costume contest, photo booth, light bites 9 pm - 11 pm, champagne toast, and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from midnight-2 am.
Once again, Justine’s will be throwing a decadent and surreal soiree, this time turning the premises into the streets of Shanghai for a Kubla Khan-themed affair. The $175 tickets include entry, champagne and bites based on Asian street food. There will also be performances by Chinese dragon dancers, Burning Man DJ Joro-Boro and a special secret guest.
Uchi and Uchiko will offer a special Omakase menus for $125 per couple (in addition to their regular menus). Offerings include congee with uni and shiso; hirame crudo with coconut, macadamia, Meyer lemon and chili (Uchi) and clay-aged strip loin with black radish, miso and oats (Uchiko). Call for reservations.
Gateway Guesthouse is hosting a six-course Greek feast with wine pairings, followed by Greek song and dance with open bar.
parkside will be hosting a four-course prix fixe menu downstairs, while the rooftop will morph into a party zone, compete with hors d’oeuvres and sweets by chef Shawn Cirkiel, full bar, champagne toast, several DJs and a photo booth. Early bird tickets have sold out, but $150 tickets are still available.
The W Hotel offers several different options. Choose from a four-course prix fixe dinner at Trace 5 pm - 7 pm ($115) or a three-course dinner from 8 pm - 10 pm ($95), where you’ll be served indulgent dishes such as lobster mac and cheese, Wagyu carpaccio and antelope loin.
Meanwhile, the Remix & Revelry party will take over the entire second floor of the hotel, with dinner by the bite, an open bar, a champagne toast and performances by Max Frost, DJ Bird Peterson and more. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission is still available for $225. Additionally, the Living Room is hosting a more intimate Drop the Ball party. $200 tickets include nibbles, bubbles and a cocktail hour from 9:30 pm until midnight.
Foreign & Domesticwill host two seatings (one at 7:00 pm and one at 9:30 pm), both serving five courses and wine pairings for $100. Selections include crispy oysters, caramelized cauliflower and roasted loin of venison.
The Goodnight is hosting a casino night for $100 per person, which includes full bar, passed appetizers, dance party, 5K in chips for "gambling," a raffle ticket to win a trip to Las Vegas, unlimited bowling and game tables and midnight champagne toast.
Arro will be offering a three-course tasting menu with seatings 5 pm - 8 pm and a five-course tasting menu with seatings 9 pm - 10 pm. Offerings include skate wing meuniere over hazelnut pilaf and braised short rib over carrot puree.
The Bonneville is celebrating its one-year anniversary on New Year's Eve with a four course prix fixe menu and champagne on arrival for $70 ($100 with wine pairings). Enjoy grilled Littleneck clams, Maine lobster, potatoes Dauphinoise and profiteroles — all with a view of the Lady Bird Lake fireworks.
Olivia’s special New Year's Eve a la carte menu includes decedent options such as lavender lamb prosciutto, black truffle foie gras, whole mallard duck and tobacco panna cotta.
Join Hopfields for their New Beers Eve dinner, which comes with hors d’oeuvres, three courses and four drinks for $95, or opt instead for after-dinner drinks and complimentary champagne for $50.
qui is offering an early seating 5 pm - 6:30 pm, which consists of three courses and a bottle of bubbly per couple ($125). Their late night party goes from 9 pm to 2 am, with a buffet, open bar with signature cocktails and a midnight champagne toast.
Swift’s Attic is offering a four-course prix fixe menu ($75) with reservations available at 6 pm, 8 pm or 10 pm. Each course comes with several options to choose from, such as grilled prawn brochette, masa gnocchi parissiene and braised Windy Hill goat shoulder.
Olive & June will host a decadent five-course prix fixe dinner for $90 a person.
Contigo is throwing a New Year's Eve party under its heated tent, complete with open bar, buffet and post-midnight taco bar for $75.
Hops & Grain is throwing a black and white party featuring customized mason jar glasses, a balloon drop, DJ dance party and food from Gonzo food truck.
Mulberry is offering two seatings (7 pm and 9 pm) for a five-course meal including such dishes as oysters and caviar, beef bourguignon and caramel crepes with tangerine sorbet ($80 per person).
Brew Exchange is throwing a DJ-fueled, Roaring Twenties-themed party with table packages available.
The Omni Hotel Southpark will be hosting a Mediterranean dance party, starting with a four-course feast and featuring belly dancers, a samba troupe, a hookah bar and music by DJ Kamel. Package options range from $65 to $125.
Searsucker is doing a four-course menu for $65 while a DJ spins. Dishes include takes on classic, elegant fare such as beef tartare, surf & turf and osso bucco.
Hotel San Jose is hosting a dance party open to the public from 8 pm to midnight and featuring their delicious signature cocktails.
Bar Louie is hosting a bash for $45, which includes signature cocktails, DJ dance party, champagne toast and post-midnight breakfast buffet.
The Carillon’s chef Josh Watkins has created a seven-course tasting menu available for $125 on New Year's Eve, with seatings between 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm.
The Driskill Grillis featuring a traditional, five-course prix fixe menu at 5:30 pm ($109) and 8:30 pm ($129).
Trioat the Four Seasons will be hosting a five course dinner for $98, which includes a champagne toast and admission to the lobby lounge New Year’s Eve party with live entertainment by Murphy’s In-Laws until 1 am.
Salt & Time is offering a four-course menu with several different options (including one for vegetarians) with one seating at 8 pm.. Tickets vary in price and include champagne toast.
Malverde’sNew Year's Eve party runs from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am and includes open bar, champagne toast, DJ dance party and photo booth. $100 tickets are still available.
New Years Day
Counter Culture’s vegan brunch will feature blackeyed peas, grits and greens to the tune of DJs Jim Bradford and Dennis Campa and live music from Topper James.
Nurse your hangover with the hair of the dog at the “Recovery Brunch” hosted by the Flying Saucer from 11 am to 3 pm, featuring $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas.
Gourdough’s is serving a “hangover brunch” from 10 am to 5 pm and offering cabbage and blackeyed peas in addition to their doughnut-laden menu.
Olivia’s New Year's Day brunch features foods considered good luck in various cultures, from blackeyed peas in an eggs Benedict to pulled pork savory pancakes (pigs are said to bring progress) and grape and pomegranate salad (in Spain, 12 grapes are eaten at midnight for good luck through the year).
Searsucker will feature a brunch from 11 am to 6 pm with various New Year's Day specials in addition to their regular menu, as well as $2 mimosas, $4 Bloody Marys and a DJ-fueled day party.