The best London restaurants to book for New Year’s Eve
All night parties not your thing? Book a table at one of London’s top restaurants to ring in the new year with brilliant menus
New Year’s Eve – with its decadent debauchery, frivolous fun and age-old hedonism – also comes with certain expectations. But if 4am finishes and indulging in too many glasses of champagne isn’t quite your style, and not even London’s brilliant New Year’s Eve parties can’t tempt you to dance the night away, allow us to point you in the direction of the capital’s top tasting menus. From Italian festive fare to moreish Michelin-starred menus, here are the best London restaurants to book for New Year’s Eve.
The Waldorf Hilton, Covent Garden
Alongside The Waldorf Hilton’s spectacular Be Our Guest afternoon tea – inspired by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – New Year’s Eve celebrators can also enjoy a similarly-themed decadent dinner in the Homage restaurant on 31 December. Start with live shucking of fresh oysters from the UK with classic accompaniments leche de tigre, shallot red wine vinegar and fresh lemon, alongside grilled courgette with whipped ricotta and pesto. Then pick from an array of mains, including whole-baked Loch Duart Salmon with champagne and caviar veloute, and red wine braised oxtail ragu with truffle and gnocchi. The final course is formed of perfect patisserie, featuring vanilla and chocolate profiteroles, spiced panna cotta with gold-dipped raspberries and black forest gateau – so you can start 2024 on a deliciously sweet note.
From £119 per person, visit sevenrooms.com
Brooklands at The Peninsula, Belgravia
For the ultimate New Year’s Eve dining experience, Brooklands by Claude Bosi at the newly-opened Peninsula London has created the ideal menu for celebrating, combining sustainably-sourced British ingredients and traditional French techniques. Indulge in a five-course tasting menu at 5.30pm or splurge on the impressive seven-course tasting menu at 9pm, which also guarantees you a table at Brooklands Bar for the big event. Here, director of mixology, Florian Thireau, will showcase his modern and playful cocktail menu while you can enjoy unparalleled views of London, from St Paul’s Cathedral to Buckingham Palace.
From £295 per person, visit peninsula.com
The Cinnamon Collection, across London
Ring in the New Year with a touch of spice at the Cinnamon Collection, whether it be five-courses accompanied with a side of live jazz at The Cinnamon Club in the Old Westminster Library, a vibrant banqueting feast at Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea overlooking the River Thames and the capital’s firework displays, or a selection of tantalising street food-style dishes at Covent Garden’s Cinnamon Bazaar. Hero dishes include chilled watermelon with hoisin and masala cashew nut, pan-seared cod in Colombo curry sauce and Tandoori spiced venison with pickling sauce and roasted root vegetables.
From £75 per person, visit thecinnamoncollection.com
Pivot, Covent Garden
If you’d prefer to see the new year in overlooking Covent Garden’s Christmassy piazza, book a table at Pivot, housed in a restored townhouse on Henrietta Street. Serving a seven-course tasting menu crafted by award-winning chef Mark Greenaway, expect scallops with miso butter and black tuile, beef fillet served alongside truffle mash and red wine sauce, refreshing elderflower sorbet and a chocolate dome with berry mousse – offering foodie fanatics the perfect way to celebrate.
From £80 per person, visit pivotbarandbistro.com
Ochre, Trafalgar Square
Bid farewell to 2023 in the refined surroundings of Ochre, The National Gallery's all-day dining bar and restaurant. Nestled within the historic William Wilkins building in the heart of Trafalgar Square, Ochre promises an afternoon of celebration, hosting a midday, three-course lunch accompanied by the sounds of four-piece band The Wild Roamers. Start with a welcome champagne cocktail, before plates of 48-hour sourdough with sea salt butter, goats cheese croquettes, braised beef shin and oxtail ragu, and hearty fisherman's stew. Conclude with apple tarte tatin or sticky toffee pudding with caramelised pears, and Cornish clotted cream – we guarantee you’ll be satiated well past midnight…
From £65 per person, visit ochre.london
Ekstedt at The Yard, Westminster
Ekstedt at the Yard is the London outpost from Swedish Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt, housed in the five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel and focusing on open-fire cooking and traditional Nordic techniques. The special New Year’s Eve menu has been created by head chef Theres Andersson, and features six courses commencing with a glass of champagne on arrival and snacks by the fire. Dinner will begin with the famed flambadou oysters, followed by beef tartare with truffle and smoked egg yolk, and fire-cooked trout with charcoal cream and bleak roe. Larger plates include juniper smoked wagyu beef and fennel ice cream with English caviar and smoked oil, while ceps souffle with blueberries and woodruff ice cream will be served to finish. Plus, guests dining on 31 December will also receive 20 per cent off drinks in the hotel’s two bars, 40 Elephants and Irish-inspired Síbín, until 2am.
From £145 per person, visit opentable.co.uk
The Ivy, across London
London stalwart The Ivy will be ringing in the new year across London with a sumptuous soiree featuring a three-course set menu. Enjoy a glass of Mumm Cordon Rouge champagne on arrival, before tucking into stilton and walnut cheese soufflé, blackened cod fillet and the classic Ivy chocolate bombe to finish. The evening will be hosted by glamourous showmen and showgirls alongside an array of live entertainment. Roll the dice to be in with a chance of winning a complimentary glass of champagne or enter the prize draw to win vouchers ranging from £50 to £250.
From £75 per person, visit ivycollection.com
Llama Inn at The Hoxton, Shoreditch
From the bright lights of New York City, Llama Inn has set up its latest restaurant on the prime firework-watching position of the rooftop at The Hoxton, Shoreditch. Boasting views towards The City and the Thames, toast the new year with complimentary fizz and pisco sours on arrival, before enjoying a menu designed by Llama Inn founder Erik Ramirez. Including the modern Peruvian dishes that have made the restaurant so popular stateside, enjoy aged rib-eye with charred vegetables and yuca, grilled lobster with aji romesco sauce and tres leches served with Nutella and vanilla whipped cream.
From £90 per person, visit sevenrooms.com
Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair
Images: JustinDeSouza
Add a touch of glamour to your New Year’s Eve at the new Claridge’s Restaurant, which is paying homage to the five-star hotel’s art deco design heritage and timeless elegance with a six-course menu. Kick off the celebrations with a caviar cheesecake, before choosing between foie gras terrine with cassis gelée or a ricotta gnudi with black truffle. For mains, expect dishes of grilled wild turbot, Highland venison Wellington or the signature grilled lobster served in sauce Américaine. For the ultimate end to 2023, desserts include saffron-baked apple and smoked crème fraiche, or pineapple and coriander vacherin.
From £180 per person, visit claridges.co.uk
Belvedere, Holland Park
Belvedere, located in the gardens of Holland Park, is a lavish but sophisticated setting to see out 2023. Housed in a converted 17th-century ballroom, celebrate with seven courses of Southern Italian cuisine served in two sittings. Created by chef Lello Favuzzi, the menu is a masterclass in Italy’s finest festive fare, featuring duck liver terrine served with clementine preserve, homemade taglioni with fresh white truffle and parmesan, and roasted loin of venison with pumpkin and sage puree and blueberries. Finish with a refreshing palate cleanser of Amalfi lemon sorbet and vodka before a finale of white chocolate mousse with crispy pumpkin seeds.
From £210 per person, visit belvedererestaurant.co.uk
Mallow, Canary Wharf
Mallow, the little sister to plant-based restaurant group Mildreds, is kicking off 2024 with a vegan seven-course tasting menu inspired by New Year’s Eve fireworks. Every dish has been created to evoke the same sense of wonder and delight by using a fusion of ingredients, colours and textures. Highlights include the Citrus Sparkler cocktail – prosecco, yuzu and mandarin, served on arrival – and dishes of pineapple ceviche with yuzu cream, mango passion golgappa with chaat masala and black sesame shiitake toast with charcoal brioche.
From £70 per person, visit mallowlondon.com
Dovetale at 1 Hotel Mayfair, Mayfair
The flagship restaurant of the newly-opened 1 Hotel Mayfair comes courtesy of two Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, whose restaurant Dovetale is offering a four-course menu to celebrate the end of 2023. Served at 6pm and 8.30pm, guests will be greeted with a glass of Billecart Salmon Brut and an amuse bouche of white onion velouté and hazelnut served with a black truffle croissant. Starters include Cornish white crab with raw winter salad and celeriac agnolotti with pear and white truffle, before guests are invited to choose from poached turbot with champagne and N25 caviar, aged beef fillet with duck liver pate en croute, or potato and gruyere pithivier with pickled black trompettes for mains. To finish, enjoy a Valrhona chocolate and calamansi mousse while basking in the warmth of the large fireplaces dotted around the restaurant and the sounds of a roaming music performance led by Josh Barry.
From £225 per person, visit 1hotels.com
