It’s definitely one of the biggest nights of the year, no matter where you live, but New Year’s Eve in San Diego means special menus and events at local restaurants and hotel parties. It also brings New Year’s Day brunches and things to do while you recover. Here’s some of what has crossed my inbox lately and we’ll do our best to keep it updated as new events get released.
New Year’s Eve Parties at San Diego Hotels
Leave it to hotels in San Diego to provide guests and residents with multiple ways to ring in the new year.
Pendry San Diego
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Ring in the New Year at Pendry San Diego with two glistening celebrations at the hotel’s venues:
- New Year’s Eve at Provisional Kitchen (6-10 p.m.) – Delight in a special four-course menu, Champagne, and live music. For reservations, visit OpenTable.
- New Year’s Eve at Fifth & Rose – Delight in a dazzling night featuring craft cocktails, small bites, and a confetti countdown celebration with live music (plus a complimentary token to the famous Moët Champagne Vending Machine). Table reservations require a $100 food & beverage minimum per person.
- New Year’s Eve at Lionfish — They are offering a special grand-tasting four-course menu and champagne toast this New Year’s Eve. Located in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, it is the perfect opportunity for a dinner out before going out. With up to two choices per course, indulge in sustainably sourced seafood and Prime meats made with innovative twists by Executive Chef and James Beard Smart Catch leader JoJo Ruiz. Priced at $170 per person, the dinner is served from 5 – 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31.
- New Year’s Eve at Oxford Social Club — Clique Hospitality’s novelty nightlife destination, will ring in 2024 on Sunday, Dec. 31, with a swanky New Year’s Eve celebration featuring acclaimed DJ Five, special surprise atmosphere performances, premium NYE table packages starting at $2,000, a festive countdown and midnight Champagne toast.
Rancho Bernardo Inn
Location: Rancho Bernardo
Ring in the New Year tucked away in quintessential North County San Diego at Rancho Bernardo Inn. The Inn’s signature dining destination, AVANT, will be serving a special five-course seasonal menu curated by Chef de Cuisine Sergio Jimenez on Dec. 31 from 5-10 p.m. for $179 per adult and $85 per child.
Let the countdown begin with a New Year’s Eve soirée from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Aragon Ballroom, featuring delicious appetizers, an array of tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, an all-inclusive full bar, live music from The Ryan Hiller Band, a welcome toast with Moët & Chandon, and festive decorations with a midnight balloon drop for $199 per person. Elevate the holiday experience by booking The Inn’s NYE Stay & Soirée package, complete with overnight accommodations for two and two tickets to the soirée. Rates start from $699 per couple.
Hotel del Coronado
Location: Coronado
Rock in the New Year with an unforgettable night of music, merriment, and memories at the iconic Hotel del Coronado’s recently opened Smokehouse & Bar at the Historic Laundry! Enjoy a live band playing rock ‘n’ roll and blues, a full open bar, a tantalizing array of tray-passed bites from Smokehouse chefs, and a decadent dessert bar. Celebrate inside the historic Laundry building or outside in the beer garden. Doors open at 10:00 pm. It’s for ages 21+, $150 per person and you can find the details online.
Found in the historic Hotel Del Coronado, Serẽa Coastal Cuisine will offer a five-course dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31. It is priced at $195 per person, and with beautiful beachside views, it is a perfect place to watch the sun go down on 2023. James Beard Foundation Fresh Catch Leader and Executive Chef JoJo Ruiz has crafted seafood dishes with a Mediterranean flare and other specialties complemented by seasonal ingredients from the best of the region’s oceans, farms, and fields. In addition, discover an eclectic beverage program featuring specialty cocktails with fresh ingredients that are great to toast to the New Year with.
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas
Location: Encinitas
The NYE Soireé: Join Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas and Solento Tequila at VAGA Bar this New Year’s Eve for the NYE Soireé as they celebrate the moments that matter most with friends, old and new. Savor signature Solento Tequila cocktails and passed bites while you groove to the rhythm of a DJ, and countdown to midnight with us. Additional bites and libations are available to purchase from the VAGA bar. Raise a glass of Solento & toast to all that was, and all that is yet to come! Free entry, event from 8 p.m.–1 a.m., ages 21+. RSVP online.
Manchester Grand Hyatt
Location: Downtown San Diego
Raise your glass and celebrate New Year’s Eve at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Guests are invited to “land” at this classic, upscale Lobby Bar to experience a true bayfront atmosphere and New Year’s celebration. Experience a festive balloon drop at midnight to ring in the New Year and from 9 p.m.–1 a.m., dance it out with a live DJ set and a champagne toast.
TOWER23 Hotel
Location: Pacific Beach
JRDN, a Wine Spectator’s 2022 Awards of Excellence winner, will offer a four-course menu prepared by its new Executive Chef, Jerry Ranson, from 5-9 pm on Sunday, December 31 at $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Optional wine pairing is also available. Reservations can be made via Tock.
And, of course, there’s a party with a DJ, a photo booth, and midnight champagne toast from 9 p.m. to midnight. $30 presale, $40 day of. Guests staying at TOWER23 hotel on 12/31/23 will receive two tickets for the party, a bottle of sparkling wine, and a morning-after recovery kit. Dinner guests also get free admission to the party.
Europa Village
Location: Temecula
Step into the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties this New Year’s Eve at Europa Village’s Gatsby-themed New Year’s Eve Gala. Join Europa Village in Southern California’s Temecula Wine Country on December 31 from 9 p.m.–12 a.m. at the exquisite Ballroom at Vienza and experience the opulence of the Jazz Age while dancing the night away to live music, savoring mouthwatering cuisine with a 5-course menu featuring dishes like Butter Poached Maine Lobster Ravioli and Grilled Piedmontese Beef Tenderloin, and sipping on exquisite cocktails.
Each guest will be welcomed with a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year. General admission tickets are priced at $210 per person or elevate the evening with a VIP table priced at $2,500, which includes preferred parking, individual mini champagne, two bottles of wine at your table, festive decor, late-night bites, and preferred seating. It’s time to party like it’s the 1920s all over again! Secure your spot and enjoy one of our favorite Temecula hotels.
Nye Dinners at San Diego Restaurants
Make reservations for set menus and tons of festive fun around the county.
Bleu Bohème
Location: Kensington
Bleu Bohème will ring in the new year in French fashion with a festive three-course prix fixe New Year’s Eve dinner and celebratory cocktail, available from 4–8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31. Crafted by owner and executive chef Ken Irvine, Bleu Bohème’ specialty menu will be priced at $85 per person. First course selections will include crab croquettes, mussel bisque and more; followed petit filet medallions, horseradish-crusted Faroe Island salmon and Hudson Valley Muscovy duck leg confit, among other entree selections. To end on a sweet note, dessert choices include rich dark Callebaut chocolate mousse, warm brioche bread pudding, creme brulee and more. A cocktail fit for the new year, the Clean Slate Martini, will be crafted with Kahlua, Armagnac, Frangelico, cream and Aztec chocolate bitters, priced at $16.
Mezé Greek Fusion
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Guests will indulge in a featured Greek-inspired three-course prix fixe menu at Mezé Greek Fusion. The holiday menu, priced at $69 per person, will begin with a trio of meze (appetizers) to share, including hummus, baba ghanoush, and tzatziki served with pita bread. Entree choices include grilled chicken souvlaki, New York steak, lamb shank, swordfish, or marinated lamb and beef gyro, each accompanied by vegetables and more. Baklava cheesecake will be served for dessert. The complete dinner menu will also be available. Mezé Greek Fusion will be open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
Havana 1920
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Havana 1920 will ring in the New Year with Cuban cocktails and dishes, available from 11 a.m. to close. Signature selections include Cuban Swizzle, a combination of coconut rum, green chartreuse, fresh lime, pineapple, demerara sugar, and soda; Havana 1920 Mojito, an elevated mojito crafted with freshly-pressed sugarcane juice, Havana Club aged añejo blanco rum, fresh lime juice, yerba buena, sugarcane syrup, and club soda; Cubano is made with slices of slow roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard sandwiched in between slices of authentic Cuban bread that is flown in from Tampa, Florida; and ropa vieja, the national dish of Cuba consisting of shredded beef with peppers, olives and onions cooked in tomato sauce; among others. Guests who want to keep the party going may take advantage of complimentary secret access to Prohibition before 10 p.m. that evening.
Prohibition
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Celebrate the eve of 2024 in the spirit of 1920 at Prohibition, the Gaslamp Quarter’s underground speakeasy located at 528 Fifth Ave. The New Year’s Eve party will begin at 8 p.m., and tickets will include a gift bag including the newest Prohibition Single Barrel Whiskey selection from WhistlePig and an exclusive VIP Entrance Coin that gives lifetime VIP access to Prohibition on weekends – meaning guests will never wait in line or pay cover! San Diego band, Johnny Deadly Trio, will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. with a live rockabilly performance. Tickets are priced at $150 per couple and may be purchased in advance online here.
El Chingon
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Raise a glass of tequila and toast to the New Year at El Chingon, the Gaslamp Quarter’s “Bad Ass Mexican” venue located at 560 Fifth Ave. The party will include beats by a live DJ, El Chingon’s expansive beverage menu featuring agave-based cocktails, margaritas, and cervezas, and the option to reserve VIP bottle service. At midnight, guests will be invited to raise their glasses and toast the New Year with a complimentary glass of champagne.
Temaki Bar
Location: Encinitas
Start your New Year’s Eve celebrations at Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake! Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Encinitas, at 575 South Coast Highway 101, stop by before or after you go out from 8–11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, for a $29 all-you-can-drink New Year’s Eve special. Food must be purchased first. Temaki Bar strives to celebrate traditional and sustainable sushi-making with leader Chef JoJo Ruiz, local veteran chef and San Diego native, and will continue well into the New Year.
Little Frenchie
Location: Coronado
One of our favorite Coronado restaurants, Little Frenchie is offering an exquisite dining experience to ring in the New Year with its inviting ambiance and a delectable à la carte menu inspired by the rich flavors of France. As an added delight, guests are invited to indulge in a special Kaluga Caviar feature, complete with potato souffle blinis, creme fraiche, and chives. Last Seating: 9:45 p.m. Kaluga Caviar special: $95
Stake Chophouse & Bar
Location: Coronado
Elevate your New Year’s Eve celebration at Stake Chophouse & Bar, located in the heart of Coronado Island. Indulge in a lavish Moët & Chandon Champagne Dinner featuring a prix fixe menu showcasing prime cuts served with wood-fired broccolini and pommes paillasson, with additional menu highlights including:
- Matsutake Mushroom Brodo | tortellini, winter truffle
- Wood Fired Prawns | harissa, fennel, herb salad, citrus vinaigrette
- House Dry Aged Bresaola Carpaccio | mimolette, pickled shallot, rye crouton, horseradish aioli, watercress
- Diver Scallops | honeynut squash, cauliflower mushroom, hazelnut, caviar nage
- Sautéed Turbot | leek barigoule, potato, fennel, blistered tomato
- Wood Fired Cauliflower Steak | lentil rasam, yogurt, pomegranate, crispy carrot
- Raspberry & White Chocolate Cake | champagne soaked jaconde sponge, raspberry compote, salted almond praline, white chocolate mousse
- Orange Buttermilk Panna Cotta | cranberry compote, meringue, nutmeg tuile
*Priced at $250 per person with an optional $115 wine pairing. Normal happy hour services are also available.
Lumi by Akira Back
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Lumi’s energetic, upscale open-air rooftop is the place to be this holiday season. With firepits and warm heaters to stay cozy while overlooking Gaslamp Quarter, guests can cheers to the holidays with the themed cocktail, Hatsuyuki (meaning “First Snow” – including Codigo blanco, Codigo Mezcal, peach schnapps, spirulina rice milk agave and lime juice topped with a snowflake garnish), all season long, or during the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve celebrations!
- New Year’s Eve Dinner (12/31)
- Lumi will offer its full menu along with the below chef specials:
- Kanpachi ceviche: baja kanpachi, rocoto leche de tigre, sweet potato mousse, sweet potato chips and chanca, topped with caviar
- Akira Back pizza: Tuna, serrano, red onion, beets, tomato, micro shiso, ponzu mayo and truffle oil. Enhance with caviar or fresh shaved black truffles!
- A5 wagyu: Bone marrow, shimeji mushroom, maitake mushroom and truffle galbi sauce, served on brioche with fresh shaved black truffles
- Caviar roll: Kaluga caviar, chives, cucumber and avocado topped with gold flakes ***offered all winter long
- Lumi will offer its full menu along with the below chef specials:
- New Year’s Eve Celebration (12/31)
- Guests can ring in 2024 with live DJ entertainment on the heated rooftop in one of Lumi’s premier sections or VIP firepit tables! Packages now on sale.
Huntress
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
The upscale, modern steakhouse offers entirely new taste combinations, unexpected pairings, and theatrical presentations, from gorgeous glass lockers displaying the venue’s dry-aged steak to the famed “Magic Mushroom” and more. It is an ideal location for celebrating the holidays in a sophisticated yet approachable dining environment, with high-quality cuisine and cocktails.
On New Year’s Eve (12/31), Huntress will offer is full menu with chef specials, including caviar soufflé featuring crème fresh, chives, cured egg yolk; roasted duck including the dry-aged breast, confit legs, duck neck sausage, and grilled chicory; and gnocchi with brown butter, sage and parmesan.
New Year’s Day
Havana 1920, in the Gaslamp Quarter, will provide revelers a New Year’s Day caffeine boost with complimentary Café Moto Havana Blend drip coffee to the first 24 visitors at its ground-level cafe, beginning at 11 a.m. exclusively on Monday, Jan. 1.
And don’t forget that there’s still time to celebrate Christmas in San Diego.
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