It’s that time of year again. You need to grab your nearest and dearest, pour yourself some champagne and start singing Auld Lang Syne – or miming it.
We’re still unsure as to whether we’ll be allowed to celebrate the new year, but if we are, we’ve found some of the best venues. From live music to decadent dining and extravagant tasting menus, there are plenty of places that are offering a fitting tribute to welcoming in 2021 – and, most importantly, saying goodbye to 2020.
And after recent announcements, we’ve also added in a few dine at home options too.
Dining In…
Coya
Begin your New Year’s festivities with the Agua de Leche cocktail made with a clarified coconut milk punch, sloe gin and mezcal, all expertly mixed and ready to pour over ice. Pop open the Veuve Clicquot Champagne and dine on an indulgent sharing menu, featuring special South American flavours from Coya. The menu features canapés, signature ceviche and main course dishes including Bife Ancho Wagyu (Chilean wagyu sirloin) and Langosto (Grilled lobster, yuzu butter, aji amarillo), with the option of a side of caviar. For those with a sweet tooth, the rich chocolate cake with redcurrant and chocolate sauce is the ultimate finale. Transform your house into a Latin American fiesta with beats direct from COYA Music and a special surprise at midnight
Price: From £280 for two
Website: www.coyarestaurant.com
The Last Talisman
Join The Last Talisman for a New Year’s Eve virtual mixology class. Cocktail master Dre Masso, will walk you through how to make three Talisman classic cocktails at 8-9pm before your celebrations kick off. You’ll receive a cocktail kit which will include cocktail ingredients, garnishes, mixers and a measuring jigger. We will also throw in a bottle of bubbles for the midnight countdown and a couple of tinned Bloody Marys for the morning after. Hosted over zoom, the 60 minute class will give all guests a fun interactive experience of cocktail making to prepare a collection of drinks to enjoy for the countdown. Make sure you order your kit by 27 December to get it in time.
Price: £90 for two
Website: www.thelasttalisman.com
Nobu
Nobu restaurants are launching a series of Omakase Menus for two for takeaway and delivery. Tuck into edamame and yellowtail jalapeno new style salmon sashimi, the famous black cod and miso dish and Anticucho Peruvian style rib-eye steak. Wash it all down with some sake and the job’s a goodun. The best bit? The menus are about 50% cheaper than if you were ordering in the restaurant.
Website: www.noburestaurants.com
Dine Out… If You Can
1. The Ritz
The Ritz is offering a simply spectacular solution to ending 2020 in style. Don your black tie and waltz into the opulence of the Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant, with its glamorous gilded decor. You’ll be enjoying a six-course dinner, champagne and oodles of entertainment. The latter includes ‘The New Atlantics’ ten-piece live band, the traditional sounds of bagpipes from The Lone Piper and a 14-piece military marching band. Stay in the hotel and you’ll be able to stay up until the wee hours of the morning.
Price: £1,500
Where: 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, W1J 9BR
Website: www.theritzlondon.com
2. Searcys
We’re sure you can’t wait to say goodbye to 2020, and it’s only right that you reward yourself for surviving the year with a New Year’s celebration to remember. Welcome in 2021 on top of the Gherkin. Searcy’s is hosting one last hurrah with an extravagant evening feast. Indulge in mains of sautéed chicken, grilled sea trout fillet, shepherd’s pie, and artichoke tortellini, followed by desserts of baked pear and toffee granola crumble, Cypriot lemon tart and black forest marquise. Wash it all down with Searcys champagne and take in the epic views of the city.
Price: £109 per person, including a glass of Searcys Champagne.
Where: 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8EP
Website: www.searcysatthegherkin.co.uk
3. Aqua Shard
For epic scenery, celebrate the new year with dinner at Aqua Shard. Enjoy a contemporary British five-course menu curated by head chef Anthony Garlando. Opt for either the early evening dinner from 5pm and 5.30pm and then continue the evening in the Aqua Shard Bar, or book a later slot from 7pm which also includes a glass of champagne on arrival. To top things off, your evening will be accompanied by the dulcet tones of the glamorous band The Spinnettes.
Price: From £110
Where: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Website: www.sevenrooms.com
4. The Piano Works
Fed up of having to leave early when you’re right in the middle of a good party? We’ve found the solution. The Piano Works in Farringdon will be one of only a few venues in London to stay open until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Not only that, but there will be non-stop live music the whole evening. Having been closed since March, the venue is now taking bookings for festive dinner parties. Grab your bubble and book a live music dinner with dishes including pan-roasted sea bass with herb crusted new potato rosti; turkey parcel topped with cranberry jam and roast potatoes, and ribeye steak, fries and peppercorn sauce. Get ready with your music requests – this will be a night to remember.
Price: £30 with a glass of bubbles
Where: 113-117 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3BX
Website: www.pianoworks.bar
5. Kindred
Fast earning themselves a reputation as the destination reviving Motown and bringing some much needed soul to 2020, the team behind West London’s best kept secret, Kindred, are hosting an unforgettable musical New Year’s Eve soiree. Expect soulful vibes from vocalists Tanya Nicole Edmonds and Nate Simpson, two-hour sets from the Internal Live Touring Band serving upbeat funk and party classics and a DJ set to taking you up to 11pm. And if a quiet dinner with your bubble is more your thing, The Cellar will be open for the finest in London Fusion dining.
Price: From £15 with glass of bubbles included
Where: Bradmore House, Queen Caroline Street, W6 9BW
Website: www.wearekindred.com
6. The Chesterfield Mayfair
Want to see in the new year with a bang? Why not head over to The Chesterfield in the heart of Mayfair and enjoy a sophisticated evening with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Lanson Champagne. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021 and they’re kicking off celebrations early in the Butler’s Restaurant. Dine on an exquisite seven-course tasting menu designed by executive head chef Nathan Hindmarsh and treat yourself to some lip-smacking seasonal ingredients washed down with Lanson Champagne … all with the finest background music you could wish for. This little live concert will of course be Covid-friendly with social distancing and sanitising measures applying to all audience members, musicians and staff. Arrive at 7.45pm in your cocktail attire and get ready to take in this magical ambience.
Price: £250 per person (minimum booking for two people)
Where: 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, W1J 5EB
Website: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com
7. South Place Hotel
Relax, kick back and enjoy a plethora of dining options at the five-star South Place Hotel in the heart of the city. You could choose the tasting menu Angler Restaurant for some fine British fare, such as Dorset crab, Orkney scallop and Cornish turbot. Or cosy up in the South Place Chop House with some honey-glazed duck breast, roasted fillets of John Dory, beef Wellington, and vegan “field roast”. All of the festivities here are themed around the lyrics of a Queen song: “It’s a kinda magic” – and it certainly feels magical. Retire at the end of the evening into one of 80 wonderful bedrooms at the hotel, the perfect way to round off the year.
Where: 3 South Place, Finsbury, EC2M 2AF
Website: www.southplacehotel.com
8. Aqua Nueva
Ring in the New Year with a Spanish Fiesta. Head on over to Aqua Nueva for a mouth-watering selection of Northern Spanish small plates that’ll bring a touch of magic to your celebrations. Enjoy dishes of Iberian ham, hand-picked crab salad, Galician fillet of beef, and a rich chocolate tart for dessert. Take in the venue’s striking mosaic flooring and the feel-good beats from a plethora of DJs playing throughout the evening – and get ready for the party we’ve been waiting for all year.
Price: £95
Where: 5th Floor 240 Regent Street, (Entrance 30 Argyll St), W1B 3BR
Website: www.sevenrooms.com
9. COYA
The theme is ‘Glitz & Glam’ over at Coya. Start with a four-course bottomless Veuve Clicquot brunch and end with a Peruvian feast. Surrounded by gold and silver, experience live performers, Latin-American beats from the in-house DJ, balloon installations, table decorations, a special red-carpet welcome and a glass of Dom Perignon on arrival. The dress code is dress to impress – the more sparkle and glitter the better. Expect the best of Coya’s celebrated Peruvian plates, such as the Cerdo Bao, slow-cooked pulled pork with chipotle and salsa criolla; Ceviche de Lubina y Bergamot, wild sea bass and bergamot with red onion; and Hiramasa a la Trufa, kingfish with dashi, truffle oil and chives.
Where: 118 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1J 7NW
Website: www.coyarestaurant.com
10. Amazónico
Ready to party in style? Get ready for a jungle-themed Studio 54-inspired celebration. The Mayfair haunt Amazónico will host an all-day celebration inspired by disco with a tropical twist. Kicking off in the afternoon and continuing late into the evening, live music will be ringing out. Latin bands will play live Boogie Bossa Nova in the dining room while in the bar and lounge a resident DJ will be dropping some electro beats. Everywhere you look there’ll be luscious foliage, jungle textures, glittering mirror balls, neon lights and shimmering curtains. So don your sequins and get ready to tuck into some Latin-inspired dishes. Two menus are on offer: the Iguazu (£135) with salmon ceviche, and wagyu empanada or the Austral menu (£225) with lobster ceviche and king crab.
Where: 10 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BR
Website: www.amazonicorestaurant.com
11. Nobu London Old Park Lane
New Year’s Eve is a great way to relax after you’ve spent the past few weeks prepping for all your family festivities. And Nobu has sorted out everything in serious style. Wave goodbye to 2020 on Old Park Lane with platter upon platter of sushi and sashimi. Dine on the a la carte menu or opt for the seasonal omakase, a six-course menu that includes a welcome drink, amuse bouche, petits fours and more. Sample seared toro sashimi and seared salmon kurashi sumiso and wash it down with refreshing cocktails.
Price: £150 pp + £90 beverage pairing
Where: 19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1LB
Website: www.noburestaurants.com
12. Stoke Park
Say goodbye to 2020 with a bang at Stoke Park. While Covid restrictions mean they can’t carry on a party past 11pm, they’ve put together a special evening of entertainment and gastronomy. The food has been lovingly prepared by award-winning chef, Chris Wheeler. Retire to one of the mansion’s luxurious rooms with a special New Year’s Eve package. For two nights, you’ll also get a full English breakfast, a three-course dinner The Orangery or Humphry’s restaurants, a five course New Year’s Eve dinner with a live pianist, and champagne, wine and canapés.
Price: From £1,212
Where: Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PG
Website: www.stokepark.com
13. Hutong
Say goodbye to 2020 at Hutong this year and delight in some fiery Northern Chinese cuisine. Located on the 33rd floor of the Shard, your dinner will be coming with a side of stunning panoramic views. The menu includes the Hutong favourite roasted peking duck, alongside pan-seared ginger lobster, wok-tossed tiger prawns, mini black sesame dumplings with coconut sorbet…. what more could you want?
Price: From £110
Where: The Shard, 33 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Website: www.sevenrooms.com
14. The Milestone Hotel & Residences
Over at The Milestone hotel, chef Daniel Putz has a treat lined up for guests to celebrate the arrival of 2021 with fine dining. After foraging for seasonal ingredients, the Putz will cook up wild mushroom tartlets, smoked chicken with truffle, hand-dived scallops and crab ‘cannelloni’, and yellow fin tuna tartare with avocado. And those are just your options for starters. Next up for main, choose from roasted Creedy Carver duck breast, fillet of Dedham Vale beef Wellington, and roasted squash, goats cheese and basil pithivier. Don’t get us started on desserts – cheesecake, parfait, tarts… it’s all ready and waiting for you.
Price: £225 per person
Where: 1-3 Kensington Court, Kensington, W8 5DL
Website: www.milestonehotel.com
15. Hotel 41
Staying at home for New Year’s Eve? Why not treat yourself to a hotel staycation at Hotel 41. Just a short distance from Oxford Circus, you can take in the bright lights and revelry and return to your suite to sip on a glass of bubbles. On New Year’s Eve guests can experience a magical evening full of delicious food and fun live music for an evening to remember. A home away from home, the hotel comprises 30 luxurious rooms and suites, complete with personal butlers, 24-hour room service and staff who outnumber guests two to one. The epitome of luxurious style, the chic black-and-white design of Hotel 41 is enriched by rich mahogany and exquisite furnishings.
Where: 41 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 0PS
Website: www.41hotel.com
16. Aqua Kyoto
Bring in the New Year Japanese style. Tuck into a lip-smacking five-course menu of deliciously unique Japanese dishes. Start with lobster dashi miso soup and yuzu and shiso prawn tempura, followed by wagyu beef sirloin and finish with white chocolate miso tart. Enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival and then swap too cocktails as you listen to the live DJ, who will be delivering the party feels we’ve all been craving.
Price: £115
Where: 5th Floor, 240 Regent Street Entrance, 30 Argyll St, W1F 7EB
Website: www.sevenrooms.com
17. Kahani
For the sophisticated foodies out there, Kahani will (for the third year running) be welcoming you with open arms to tuck into seasonal fresh produce on New Year’s Eve. Kahani, which means ‘story’ in Hindi, is where Michelin-starred chef Peter Joseph rustles up some of London’s finest Indian cuisine. The mouth-watering menu includes monkfish marinated with mint and coriander, smoked goose tikka and tender delhi style lamb rump.
Price: £85pp for 5 courses + £50 for wine pairing
Where: 1 Wilbraham Place, Belgravia, SW1X 9AE
Website: www.kahanilondon.com
18. The Rubens at The Palace
If you don’t fancy an evening meal, why not opt for a New Year’s Day brunch instead? Ring in the new year with a hearty brunch at the English Grill. Enjoy gypsy eggs, Scottish smoked salmon, eggs benedict or brioche breakfast baps to start followed by chicken and waffle, rib-eye steak or Scottish lobster thermidor. Round off with buttermilk pancakes, a brownie waffle sundae or a delicious slice of Mrs Tollman’s vanilla cheesecake served with strawberry compote. Need we say more?
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 0PS
Website: www.rubenshotel.com
19. Sky Garden
Finish this year on a high, up high, at Sky Garden in an array of different food spots. You can choose to be surrounded by music in the Sky Pod (£125) or the City Garden Bar (£95), enjoying a selection of canapés, food and desserts. Or indulge in a four-course dining package at Darwin Brasserie (£165), or an eight-course meal in fine-dining Fenchurch (from £225), all including a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne on arrival. Sky Garden is the foodie place to be to end 2020 in style.
Price: From £95
Where: 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF
Website: www.designmynight.com
