With all the gift exchanging, parties and feasts you have over the next couple of weeks, it’s easy to drop the ball on New Year’s Eve, no pun intended. If a night of Ryan Seacrest and chill is your thing, by all means, indulge. But if you want to get all dressed up and have somewhere to go you’ll want to make your reservations ASAP. To help save you time, I put together a list of the top spots to party on New Year’s Eve. The reservations are on you. 3, 2, 1 book…
Ring in 2017 With Pulse’s Updated Guide
Almond, Bridgehampton
End New Year’s Eve with a four-course prixe fixe meal starting at 9pm and begin 2016 with a champagne toast. Snacks, cocktails and an a la carte menu with holiday specials will also be available. Go there.
Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton
Spend New Year’s Eve where you spent your summer. Hamptons hotspot Nick & Toni’s will offer a la carte specials including truffle cauliflower soup, wood oven roasted lobster arrabiata and roasted spaghetti squash and caramelized white chocolate profiteroles with pomegranate. Go there.
Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett
At $20, Stephen Talkhouse’s New Year’s Eve party is an unbeatable bargain. Nancy Atlas will provide the soundtrack for the evening. Leave the kids with grandma because this bash is 21 and over. Go there.
The Fox Hollow Inn, Woodbury
Turn New Year’s Eve into a staycation with an overnight stay in a luxury suite at The Fox Hollow Inn. Dance the night away at a gala that will include a live DJ, then enjoy breakfast for two the next morning ($619). The New Year’s Eve party is also open to non-hotel guests at $160 per person. Go there.
Chateau Briand, Carle Place
Ring in 2016 with grand style dinner and dancing. Pick your party from a menu of three options: From 8:30pm-2:30am, hear live music by The Voices as you enjoy cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner and dessert ($175 per person). If you prefer someone on the ones and twos, there are two options that include DJs and great eats. Guests can choose to have cocktail hour and a sit-down dinner with dessert ($150 per person) or cocktail hour and a buffet dinner with dessert ($100 per person). Go there.
The Carltun, East Meadow
Perfect for a quiet date night. Dig into an a la carte prixe fixe dinner from 8pm-1am at one of Long Island’s most elegant, romantic restaurants. $100 per person. Go there.
The Havanas Cigar Club, East Meadow
Listen to the smooth sounds of Johnny Avino as you eat an ongoing cocktail dinner at The Carltun’s sophisticated but laid-back Havanas Cigar Club. $125 per person. Go there.
The East Wind, Wading River
Head to the gorgeous Wading River hotel for a New Year’s Eve Gala complete with five hours of premium bar service, a buffet dinner and a champagne toast at midnight. Party hats, noisemakers and horns are yours for the taking, and DJ Tommy’s Tunes will provide entertainment for the evening. $115 per person all inclusive, must be 21 or over with ID to attend. Stay the night and enjoy a late check out and breakfast the next day for $595 (promotion includes two tickets to gala). If you want to watch the ball drop from your couch, The East Wind is offering a three-course prixe fixe dinner from 5-10pm at $49.95 per person. Go there.
Gurney’s, Montauk
There’s something so right about spending the final day of the year in Montauk, the place nicknamed The End. A James Bond-themed party with a six-hour open bar, DJ Nicole Leone and a surprise special performance aren’t bad either. Go there.
Southampton Inn, Southampton
Welcome the evening with cocktail hour and a catered dinner, order from the open bar all night, satisfy your sweet tooth at a dessert bar and raise a glass at midnight. Go there.
Children’s Museum of the East End, Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor
Before you leave the kids with a sitter, celebrate with them at the annual Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) Ball Drop. The event has gotten so big, CMEE is hosting two celebrations, one from 10am-12pm and one from 1pm-3pm. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members and includes a ticket to the museum. Go there.
Page at 63 Main, Sag Harbor
Swing in the New Year with drinks, dinner and dancing. Joe Lauro and the Moondogs will be playing all night. Go there.
Long Island Aquarium, Riverhead
Get to Riverhead for Long Island Aquarium’s annual Fishes & Wishes New Year’s Eve Celebration. Guests will be treated to cocktail hour, buffet dinner with beer and wine, dancing, crafts for kids, a dessert and ice cream bar and a mock-midnight champagne and sparkling cider toast. Go there.
Suffolk Theater, Riverhead
Forget starting 2016 with a bang, start it with a laugh. Top comedians like Eric Haft, Richard Walker and Carie Karavas will have you ROTFL. A live DJ and a complimentary champagne toast are included. Tickets are $45, and a prixe fixe dinner is available for additional purchase. Doors, bar and restaurant open at 6:30pm with the show kicking off at 8pm. Go there.
Port of Missing Men, Southampton
Join the Southampton Historical Museum in closing out its yearlong 375th anniversary celebration. There will be cocktails, a dinner buffet, a champagne toast and tours of the Port of the Missing Men, a historic mansion with sweeping views of the Peconic Bay. Tickets are $225 in advance, $250 at the door and $1000 for the party and private tour. Go there.
The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn, East Hampton
Chef Michael Rozzi has a lavish four-course tasting menu made for celebrating. Start with signature ceviche and salads, follow with a warmer fish and soup, an entrée and dessert. Still hungry? Take Rozzi up on his offer for a fifth course, cheese. The meal is $110 and may be enjoyed with a $40-60 four-course wine pairing by Wine Director Michael Cohen, who will also recommend wines a la carte from The 1770 House’s 200-bottle Wine Spectator award winning list. Go there.
Main Street, Patchogue
Save Times Square for next year. The Patchogue Chamber of Commerce is hosting Midnight on Main Street. The event, which started last year, includes a countdown and ball drop around 9pm and a Grucci Fireworks display. Go there.