It’s understandable to overlook New Year’s Eve. It punctuates the holiday season that starts when Starbucks and Trader Joe’s start rolling out pumpkin things in mid-August (why?). Plus, Equinox basically told us last year the changing of a New Year was arbitrary. But the final moments of one year and the first of the next have an almost magical feel. They offer a chance to reflect on lessons learned and fresh hope for the next 365 days (or, in the case of 2024, 366 days).
The best reflections and looks ahead often come with a belly full of savory dishes or from the vantage point of the dance floor. The clock is ticking to make plans! Allow this guide to Hamptons New Year’s Eve parties help you decide.
1770 House Restaurant & Inn, 143 Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-1770
A three-course prix-fixe menu curated by chef Michael Rozzi is on the table from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Local seafood like Montauk Pearl oysters and Peconic Bay scallop sashimi are among the standouts. Ditto for a winter-centric confit leg of Long Island duckling served with sides of butternut squash and roasted Brussels sprouts. Christmas decorations, including the tree in the parlor, will still be up, allowing guests one last chance for festive snaps.
Cove Hollow Tavern, 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton, 631-527-7131
Loved for its lively happy hours throughout the year, Cove Hollow Tavern certainly isn’t sitting out New Year’s Eve. The final night of the Eve-to-Eve menu includes a pair of savory specials. The grilled lamb burger tzatziki is a juicy, Mediterranean riff on the typical beef patty, while a lobster pot pie sticks to the ribs in all the right ways.
Nick & Toni’s, 136 N. Main St., East Hampton, 631 324-3550
Nick & Toni’s has been a revered and refined spot for Mediterranean fare since opening in 1988. More than a summer magnet for famous faces, the restaurant’s doors will be open on New Year’s Eve. Dig into a four-course chef’s tasting menu ($135 per person) with wood-burning oven roasted octopus, foie gras torchon, wild mushroom lasagna and prime rib strip steak. Hats, noisemakers and a surprise from the restaurant’s pastry team will also be involved. Prefer PJs and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve? A generous at-home menu with similar fare brings elegance to your couch and coffee table combo.
Lulu Kitchen & Bar, 126 Main St., Sag Harbor, 631-725-0900
Lulu Kitchen & Bar is giving you options on New Year’s Eve. Celebrate in-house, where the wood-burning grill and oven serve as a centerpiece to the spirited open kitchen. The regular à la carte menu is getting an upgrade courtesy of add-ons like the royal Ostera caviar ($175), truffled foie gras torchon ($46) and duck Wellington for two to three people ($165). A takeout menu has two options for feasts. Both include baguettes, oysters on the half shell and Black Forest bûche de noël for dessert.
Canoe Place Inn, 239 E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-736-6300
This cozy Hamptons Bays Inn will offer two seatings for New Year’s Eve dinner (5:30 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:45 p.m., respectively). The tavern’s comfy, airy digs with white-washed walls and plush booth seating feel unfussy yet refined. The menu follows suit, featuring approachable delicious fare like clams casino and stone-baked pizza.
Gurney’s Resort, 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, 631-668-2345
For a sparkling affair that requires putting on your most festive attire, celebrate New Year’s Eve at The End. Gurney’s Resort is offering numerous ways to ring in 2024. A four-to-five-course dinner at Scarpetta Beach features oceanfront vistas. Or, consider reserving a private heated igloo, where special cocktails will be served to parties of up to six. The party in the Regent Lounge includes blackjack, roulette, a DJ and a 1 a.m. end time — ensuring you can countdown in style.
Stephen Talkhouse, 161 Main St., Amagansett, 631-267-3117
It’s a separate-admission doubleheader at this iconic Hamptons live music venue. Local hero Nancy Atlas Project will bring her raw brand of live performances to a stage she’s performed on countless times. Her set begins at 7 p.m. Then, Hello. Brooklyn! will take the stage at 10 p.m. for Stephen Talkhouse’s New Year’s Eve party.
Almond Restaurant, 1 Ocean Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-5665
This lauded French bistro in Bridgehampton is offering a late-night, prix-fixe menu beginning at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve ($150 per person). The Peconic bay scallops with leeks and caviar exude New Year’s Eve elegance with an East End twist, and the butter-poached lobster is a worthy choice for the final main course of 2023. Save room for dessert — it’s bananas (literally). Chocolate-banana brioche bread pudding, banana fritter, banana sorbet and dulce de leche ice cream will be hard to choose from (pro tip: bring a date and steal theirs).
Southampton Social Club, 256 Elm St., Southampton, 631-287-1400
For a quintessential glitzy New Year’s Eve experience, consider a night at Southampton Social Club. Dinner and dancing are involved in each of the three packages available for Southampton Social Club’s New Year’s Eve party. Upgraded packages include a table for the evening and complimentary bottles of tequila or vodka and champagne.
Vine Street Café, South Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-3210
A stone’s throw (or three-minute ferry ride, more accurately) away, a trip to Shelter Island provides the perfect way to escape 2023 once and for all. Once there, a stop at Vine Street Café, where the bucolic cottage setting, amiable service and white tablecloths make for a warm atmosphere, regardless of the temperature outside. The Eve-to-Eve menu includes a pair of specials: A chateaubriand with truffle mushroom sauce for two, ideal for a date night, and a lobster bouillabaisse with rouille and bruschetta that’ll quickly leave diners forgetting the aforementioned mercury reading.
Long Island Aquarium, 431 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-209-9200
Many New Year’s Eve events scream “adults-night out,” and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But Long Island Aquarium’s annual Fishes & Wishes party is for all ages. The party runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and includes dancing, a cocktail hour, a buffet dinner, crafts, an ice cream bar and an animal meet and greet that’s arguably a bigger treat than said ice cream bar. Tickets are $145 for adults, $90 for children 3 to 12 and $10 for littles 2 and under. Members receive discounts.
The Suffolk, 118 E Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-4343
Billed as the East End’s largest New Year’s bash, The Suffolk is turning the clock back and looking forward at the same time. “The Suffolk 54 New Year’s Eve” will be heavy on the disco days of Studio 54, with That 70’s Band set to provide the soundtrack for an evening of dancing. Naturally, the dance floor will be open for you to dance to Bee Gees, Earth, Wind and Fire and other classics from the era. Specialty cocktails will be available for purchase, and the midnight toast is on the house.
Baron’s Cove, 31 W. Water St., Sag Harbor, 844-211-4700
The lovely waterside hotel and eatery has a great night in store for New Year’s, with a prix fixe dinner, complete with a live band, New Year’s party favors and the best view of the annual fireworks in town. There are two seatings: a 6 p.m. for $125 a pop, and 9 p.m. for $175. A little menu preview: seared Hudson Valley foie gras, bacon-dotted creamy clam chowder and proper Caesar salad, and mains like lobster ravioli and herb-crusted double cut lamb chops, among the options (with lava cake, creme brûlée and cheesecake to top it all off). Make your reservations by calling 631-725-2100.
The Chequit, 23 Grand Ave, Shelter Island Heights, 631-749-0018
Mum’s the word on The Chequit’s New Year’s Eve prix-fixe dinner menu. Expect to overlook stunning Dering Harbor vistas while enjoying a three-course dinner. The idyllic coastal-country-chic setting makes this inn feel like a throwback to simpler times.
Club House, 174 Daniels Hole Road, Wainscott, 631-537-2695
Ring in the new year with a disco dance party at the Club House in Wainscott. Doors open at 8:30 with sounds by DJ Nice and CK Beats playing until around 1:30 a.m.. Dress to impress for this celebration, which will include hors d’oeuvres, festive party favors, and toast at midnight. Admission is $30 in advance, $40 at the door. This is a 21 and over event. Leading up to New Year’s Eve, Club House will feature live holiday music starting Wednesday, Dec. 27. Be sure to check their website for specific times and acts.
Calissa Hamptons, 1020 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, 631-500-9292
This Water Mill staple is ringing in the New Year with a special menu on both Dec. 30 and 31, as well as a $95 beverage package with your basic cache of spirits, somm-selected wines, beer, and their Garden Spritz cocktail from 9:00pm to midnight, along with a DJ and dancing (but of course). New this year: reserve a special, cozy seat in their Calissa Chalet, with special bottle service starting at 9 p.m.. Reservations can be made here.
