Some of us prefer to stay home on New Year’s Eve but some of us prefer to go big, especially when ringing in once-in-a-lifetime 2020! Forget cooking at home this New Year’s Eve and worrying about what to purchase to entertain guests and family. Make your holiday easy and memorable by booking a festive night at one of the many fabulous Los Angeles restaurants offering price-fixed menus, champagne toasts, and cocktails extraordinaire.
Start 2020 off right.
Cantina Frida in Beverly Hills
Upscale Cantina FRIDA in Beverly Hills, the glamorous gorgeous sister restaurant of FRIDA Mexican Cuisine, is a few months old. The new grand location already packed each night on 252 N Beverly Drive will welcome guests on New Year’s Eve with a 4-course menu for $120 (per guest) including a welcome margarita and champagne toast. At this chic Mexican-Californian restaurant, select your preferred option for each course. Since we previewed the menu recently, some of our favorite dishes include Lobster Sope, Crema Poblana soup, Branzino, Filet with spicy pepper mashed potatoes, and Sweet Potato Crumble. For those who want to come to the party starting at 11 pm (without dinner), the cost is $40.
Cleo Mediterraneo in The Orlando Hotel on West Third
Cleo’s New Years’ Eve Roaring 2020 celebration will include Charleston Lessons, a Tarot Card and Poetry Reader, Period Cocktails and Whiskey Flight. Roaring 20’s costumes are welcome. For $95 per person (plus drinks & gratuity) starting at 8 pm and going till 1 am, a three-course Prix Fixe menu can be reserved plus a champagne toast at midnight and dancing. The new chef Jan Claudio (SBE Group and Scarpetta at the Fountainbleu in Miami) takes brunch and dinner to another level with perfectly executed ricotta pancakes, crisp calamari, crab cake Benedict, and juicy burgers with crumbled feta. For New Year’s Eve, courses include steak tartare or scallops, wild mushroom tagliatelle, and braised veal Osso Bucco or sea bass.
For party-goers who want to take the hassle out of finding a ride home, The Orlando Hotel is offering an overnight package ($485+restaurant tax/gratuity and room tax ) where guests can take the elevator “home” after ringing in the New Year. The NYE package includes a three-course prix fixe dinner with Champagne Toast, DJ and dancing, and Standard King Room with breakfast the next morning.
A “no-hassle” NYE is happening at West Hollywood’s newest player – Pacifique. Upon arrival, the full moon looks like it was captured in this romantic dimly lit restaurant den. Pacifique is doing things a bit different – no preset menu and no cover charge. You can expect a DJ getting the party started and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.
The Culinary Directory Chef Wes Whitsell (formerly of Manuela, Gjelina, and Soho House New York) and their new Chef de Cuisine Jeff Luster (formerly of Michaels in Santa Monica) bring a new perspective to the California Pacific cuisine and have carefully curated a fun casual fare menu with an Asian flair. Start with the Fall Mule, a whiskey flight, or an expertly crafted cocktail to ring in 2020. Bee’s Knees, Mezcal Margarita, Paloma or Lychee Love Potion should be high on your ordering list. Dishes we recommend sharing include Karaage fried chicken with Yuzu Kosho Aioli, pork and shrimp dumplings, a New England style roll heaping with crab, burrata salad, crispy brussels sprouts, and fried spicy tuna sushi roll.
Former Pearl’s on the Sunset Strip is still as cool as ever, but this time with a new chef to up the game. On New Year’s Eve, complimentary champagne will be served at Warrior throughout the 4-course dinner for $99 per person. The menu curated by Top Chef winner Chef Hung Hunyh comes complete with Instagram worthy shots, a rooftop outdoor space, and dinner times at 7:30 and 10:30 pm. Courses include dish options like Oysters & Caviar (2 pieces per person), Fried Cauliflower (vegetarian), Wagyu Beef Tartare (3 oz portion), Cantonese Lobster Noodle, Wagyu Beef Steak, Toban Mushrooms (vegetarian), Kung Pao Tofu (vegan option), and Chocolate Molten Lava Cake or Coconut Ice Cream (vegan option).
The newest addition to Santa Monica nightlife is tropical live music lounge Canary near the new Proper Hotel. Don’t miss Sunday Jazz Nights with Grammy-award winning musicians, burlesque dancers and special guests, their speakeasy bar behind the main bar, and of course legendary drinks created by LA Bar God, Devon Espinosa. Specialty cocktails like the Cafe Fria with Giffard banana liqueur, rum agricole, cold brew coffee, pineapple, and stout syrup will never leave your bored with your drink.
For Canary NYE 2020, a premium open bar will take place from 9 pm – 2 am from $115 to $2500 depending on your “playa” level. The experience will be curated by Zen Arts with a Complimentary Midnight Champagne Toast and Interactive Photo Booth. Expect sounds By LA’s Finest: DJ Kurr, Tucci, Toon and more.
Celebrate 2020 with a Prix Fixe Menu with Abernethy’s second guest chef – Chef Jason Fullilove. Fullilove’s five-course prix fixe modern soul food menu highlights dishes that evoke feelings of warmth and comfort including Shrimp Bisque, Parsnip Soup, Crab Toast, Grilled Little Gem Salad, Curry Fried Cauliflower, Roast Free-Range Chicken, BBQ Bone-in Short Rib, Shrimp ‘n Grits, and Squash Agnolotti.
The restaurant hosts a roster of emerging culinary artists with a new chef featured every few months to give patrons an ever-changing culinary experience and the opportunity to taste new flavors and cuisines. Abernethy’s opened with inaugural Chef Shirley Chung and her progressive Chinese American menu during the fall. Chef Fullilove will be in residence through March, followed by Chef Ryan Costanza cooking Mediterranean Island cuisine this spring.
Reservations at Abernethy’s on New Year’s Eve brings revelers into the FREE seventh annual Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A.The annual bash extends this year from Hope Street to Los Angeles Street with activities on The Music Center Plaza and throughout Grand Park. Abernethy’s offers incredible views of the event’s signature 3-D video projection and light show on the west side of City Hall. This year’s midnight countdown features joyful and timeless images of the beautiful Angeleno community.
From 5 pm to 1 am (reservations accepted until 10:30 pm), the $79 prix fixe menu is recommended although an al carte menu is available at the bar. The outdoor Mullin Wine Bar across the courtyard is also hosting light bites (cheese board) with choice of wine or champagne for two or four.
Mediterranean vibes. California-Mediterranean cuisine. A stone’s throw away from the heavy beat of LA. Santuari makes an easy escape from the Hollywood Hills, Toluca Lake, and Studio City areas. The dreamy setting is Rock the Casbah Greek-style. Chef Brendan Mica and his culinary team are preparing a 5-course menu that can be upgraded with wine pairings, black truffle, and caviar additions. Learn more LaLaScoop and why we loved dining here.
The scratch run kitchen will showcase the following on their New Year’s Eve menu: Salmon Rillette Crostini, Smoked Trout Caviar, Butter Poached Maine Lobster, Anson Mills Risotto, and Grilled Wagyu with a parsnip puree and veal jus. For the last bite, enjoy a Mille Crepe Cake and Dark Chocolate Ganache.
Two seatings can be booked at 6 pm or 9 pm on December 31. Purchase online for $120 each (excluding tax and tip)
WP24 by Wolfgang Puck in Downtown LA
At the Ritz-Carlton, find sky-high New Year’s Eve city views with your 7-course menu. Atop the 24th floor, guests will enjoy a welcome cocktail at WP24 before dining on dishes like Hamachi Sashimi, Char Siu Colorado Lamb Chop, and Prime New York Sirloin. An expansive display of sweet treats and bottomless New Year’s Eve punch will be available all night in the restaurant’s Dessert Lounge. Seatings are available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for $169 per person.
Sample a special 3-course menu for $150 per person with a first seating starting at 6 PM. For children under 6, the price is $75. A second seating starting at 9PM includes a 3-course menu with a Bollinger champagne and Louis XII Cognac toast, along with VIP lounge access.
A Midnight-Moon Lounge Party will take place in CUT Lounge from 9PM – 1:30 AM with an Astronaut themed DJ and a Bollinger champagne and Louis XII Cognac toast. Bottle service is available. Adults only. $150 per person.
Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air
New Year’s Eve will include a live band featured throughout the evening. The first dinner seating will be from 5:30PM – 7:30PM with an a la carte menu. The second seating will be from 8PM – 11PM and will include at 5-course tasting menu, champagne toast, party favors and balloons at midnight.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Beverly Hills
The Bazaar at SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills offers two seating options – one to kick off the NYE celebration and the other to ring in midnight with a Spanish masquerade. The menu includes selections of decadent tapas and festively luxe specialties like caviar and truffles, as well as premium champagne and wine package options. The first seating is from 7:30-9 p.m. and includes 12 savory and 3 dessert courses for $175 per person plus tax and gratuity, with an additional truffle and caviar supplement available.
The second seating is the Midnight Spanish Masquerade from 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m., which includes a welcome champagne toast, 12 savory and 3 dessert courses with truffle and caviar, the midnight countdown and entertainment (killer DJ beats and full dance floor) for $325 per person plus tax and gratuity. An $800 endless Dom Perignon package is available upon request, in addition to a $350 endless Veuve Clicquot package, or $120-220 for wine pairings with the meal.
Additionally, The Bazaar’s newly launched ticketed cocktail tasting menu experience, Bazaar Flight at Gate: Bar Centro, is boarding for its last flight of 2019 from 7:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. The cocktail tasting journey around the world includes 10 cocktail destinations with exclusive NYE libations and a tableside culinary pairing as well as access to Bar Centro’s Midnight Spanish Masquerade. Tickets are $400 per person plus tax and gratuity and are available exclusively via Tock. For more details, please call 310.246.5555.
The airy greenhouse restaurant atop of The Line Hotel in Koreatown is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration dinner divided into two seatings with prix fixe menus created by legendary Chef Josiah Citrin. The first seating from 5-6:30 p.m. includes a three-course menu for $79 per person with supplemental courses like the White Truffle Risotto. From 8:30-9:30 p.m., a five-course menu will be offered for $165. Highlights include Grilled Maine Lobster, Grilled Black Cod, Coffee Crusted Steak, and Four Cheese Agnolotti.
Dance the night away and your dinner off by heading downstairs to the hotel lobby or finagle your way into the 80’s Breakroom 86 around the corner for some retro tunes – always a good time when the records spin and the live dancers come out.
From 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Chef Akasha Richmond will offer “steak-house” style specials along with à la carte selections – Roasted Oysters with Chili-Lime Butter and Bread Crumbs; Iceberg Wedge Salad with Remoulade, Smoked Blue Cheese, Bacon and Egg; Parker House Rolls with Sesame, Fried Shallots, and Whipped Charred Scallion Butter; Bone-in-Ribeye for Two with Salsa Verde or Mustard Cream Sauce; and John Dory with Melted Leeks and Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette.
Choose among ample Sides of Loaded Pommes Purée with Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, and Chives; or a Mushroom Sauté of King Trumpets, Beech and Cremini. Complete dinner with Olive Oil Cake with Schaner Farms Lemon Curd and Tangerines. Also, learn more about Akasha’s acclaimed Vodka & Latkes Party for Hanukkah from December 22 – 29 online.
SKYBAR in West HollywoodThe famous SKYBAR at the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip is your go-to Hollywood location poolside perched above the twinkly Los Angeles skyline. SKYBAR’s luxurious La Belle Epoque Party will consist of a three-hour premium open bar with cocktails, beers, and wines. Dance with the stars beneath the stars. Toast to 2020’s new beginnings with complimentary bubbly. General admission starts at $139.
Happy 2020!
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