• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Travel

10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square

While most of the city's been booked, there are still some great options to bring in the new year.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
By Kimberly Wilson · Updated November 4, 2020

New Year’s Eve in New York City is synonymous with one thing — going old school and watching the ball drop with a crowd of millions in Times Square. But in a city that seemingly never sleeps, there are a plethora of alternate options that don’t include standing in the freezing cold — even if you’ve waited until the last minute.

If you’re a procrastinator who still hasn’t figured out their New Year’s Eve plans and you’ll be in the Big Apple — you’re in luck. While most of the city’s been booked, there are still some great options to bring in the new year with loved ones (or strangers) that can still be booked today.

We’ve rounded up a few of the top options below to make the search much easier for you.

01
Añejo Tribeca
Celebrate the new year (and new decade!) with a fiesta at Añejo Tribeca — one of the best Mexican restaurants and tequileiras you’ll come across in the city. Indulge in the restaurant’s vast selection of tequilas, mezcals, and Mexican distillations and enjoy small plates of Mexican-inspired cuisine. Get your tickets here.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
02
Brooklyn Chop House
Ring in the new year like your favorite celebrity at New York hotspot, Brooklyn Chop House. With crave-worthy food being served, it’s the perfect spot to dine in on NYE (or any other day for that matter). A price fix menu is also available for groups of 8 or more, starting at $125 per person. Reservations can be made directly through their website.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
03
The Press Lounge
Located inside of the Kimpton Ink48 Hotel, The Press Lounge is celebrating its tenth New Year’s Eve event with an open bar from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am (excluding top shelf), midnight toast and DJ and dancing from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. It will cost you a pretty penny at $286.86 (including tax) but it’s sure to be well worth it.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
04
Queensyard
Looking for a view comparable to Times Square, but without the hassle of the crowd? Situated next to Hudson Yards, you’ll be in for a treat at Queensyard. They’ll be serving up a delicious menu of options such as veal shortbread, halibut and long island duck breast. Choose from two seating options: 5PM and 8PM.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
05
Clinton Hall
If you’re looking for a more casual vibe to ring in the new year, you’ll definitely want to head to one of Clinton Hall‘s 3 locations — FiDi, E. 51st Street or Williamsburg. Grab your friends and watch the ball drop while enjoying a 4 hour open bar, and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight in addition to pass hor d’oeuvres. Tickets begin at $50 and can be purchased here.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
06
Ten Hope
Don’t want to leave the borough? Ten Hope is a cocktail bar and lush garden in BK with Mediterranean inspired small plates that will be offering up a 3-course price fix menu with early seatings from 6pm – 7:30pm at $55 and late seatings between 9pm – 10:30pm for $75. Reservations can be made directly through their website.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
07
Nerai
Looking for the perfect place to celebrate with bae? Nerai will offer an epicurean meal with the choice between a four-course prix fixe menu at $115 per person, or Executive Chef Moshe Grundman’s 7 course tasting menu at $145 per person. Reservations can be made directly through their website.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
08
Bell Book & Candle
Bell Book & Candle is hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner for $95 per person featuring dishes such as the Hawaiian Yellowfin tuna nachos with tempura kale, guacamole, and mushroom ragu and white truffle oil. If throwing back a few drinks is also a must, an optional open bar is also available from 9pm – 12am for an additional $95 per person with party favors, a balloon drop and confetti cannons and in addition to a champagne toast at midnight.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
09
Ainslie
Where’s BK at?! Apparently at the Ainslie in Williamsburg. Celebrate the new year at the beautiful 10,000 square foot, 340-person multi-level Italian wine bar, beer garden and restaurant Ainslie with a menu that includes wood-fired pizzas, housemade pastas, steak, free-range chicken and more. To keep the party going, there will also be a DJ spinning from 9pm-2am. Reservations can be made directly through their website.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
10
Tender
Located inside The Sanctuary Hotel, start your night off with good eats at Tender. The first three course prix fixe seating is $85 per person, and the 9:30pm seating is $110 per person and also includes dancing to follow and a champagne toast as the ball drops leading right into an after party.
10 Last Minute Ideas To Spend New Year’s Eve In NYC That Are Not Times Square
TOPICS:  New Year’s Eve New York City Parties travel
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now