The Absolute Best Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Austin
Goodbye, 2023. Hello, 2024!
Bust out those party hats and year-specific, glittery plastic party glasses because we’re on the edge of a brand new year. And, while all the problems of 2023 may not end at the stroke of midnight, you for sure deserve to toast away the past twelve months with a glass—or full bottle, we don’t judge—of champagne. And our list of the best ways to kick off 2024 will give you all the 4-1-1 on New Year’s Eve. Whether you’re looking to party till lunchtime on January 1, or be well-fed and in bed by 11:59 pm, there’s a stellar option waiting for you below.
New Year’s Eve Music in Austin
Sixth Street, $46.82
While your dreams may be the only place you can catch a concert headlined by The Cure, Bruce Springsteen, and Black Flag, you can experience the next best thing on December 31 at The Decline of Hotel Vegas New Year’s Eve party. At the East Austin venue, a bill stacked with both Lone Star locals and special guests, such as Moving Panoramas, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, and Fastball, will be hitting the stage. They will be coming hard with reference-heavy sets paying tribute to Madonna, Hall and Oates, The Pixies, and many more. Wear your most comfortable shoes—you won’t want to leave the dance floor at any point of the night.
South Austin, $30–$45
For a grooving New Year’s Eve night, it makes sense to go somewhere “far out.” And that’s where South Austin venue, The Far Out Lounge & Stage comes in. Their NYE show is co-hosted by KUTX, the Austin radio station which is, unarguably, one of the cornerstones that makes the city continue to be worthy of the title of the Live Music Capital of the World. And, considering the tremendous taste of their DJs, you know that the lineup of Money Chica, Superfónicos, El Combo Oscuro, and The Tiarras is guaranteed to bring the vibes.
Downtown, $33
The 13th Floor is one of the best new venues that opened in Austin in 2023. So, it makes sense that you would end the year there with their New Year’s Eve live music spectacular. Taking the stage till the wee hours of the night is a line-up featuring The UFO Club, Dalistar, Lovelorn, and DJ Hollywood Jones. And if the tunes and cocktails don’t send you into a state of bliss, the visual light-show by TV EYE will take you to 2024 nirvana.
New Year’s Eve Parties in Austin
Downtown, $49.52 and up
Calling all Daisy Buchanans and Nick Caraways: dress up in your best era attire and hit this 1920s New Year’s Eve Party. Not only can you show off your best flapper threads at this event, you can swing those pearls on the dance floor to Jazz-era themed tunes. The whole thing is going down at Estelle’s, a Downtown venue already known for their killer cocktails and gilded era vibe. And, with a free glass of champagne at both the start and end of the night, you can not only look like Gatsby, you can drink like him too.
East Austin, prices vary
If there’s ever an excuse to buy that sequin blazer that’s been sitting in your Amazon shopping cart for weeks, it’s New Year’s. And, you can get your shine on with like-minded dressers at Cape Bottle Room’s New Year’s Eve Sequin Party. The intimate wine bar, which specializes in vino from South Africa, will be transformed into a sparkly discotheque for the 31st. After digging into caviar, oysters, and the best offerings of bubbly wines around, you can dance the night away like you're Margot Robbie in a gold sequin jumpsuit.
West Sixth, $75
Of all the nights of the year, New Year’s Eve is probably the worst to be stuck listening to a bad DJ. In order to ensure your optimal dance floor conditions, the Capital Countdown Party at West Sixth haunt, The Belmont, is bringing in three different turntable masters for your raving pleasure. Strap on a pair of colored LED wireless headsets and toggle between EDM and Top 40 Dance hits, throwback tracks, and hip hop and R&B while not having to yell above the music when it’s time for another drink. A complimentary champagne toast at midnight rounds out the offerings.
North Austin, Free
You can ring in theNew Year with Man’s Best Friend at the Noon Year’s Eve Tennis Ball Drop at dog park-slash-bar, Yard Bar. Not only do you get to live it up with Fido, this 12pm start-time is the perfect option for those who consider midnight way past their bedtime. Besides the staring tennis ball of the evening, there will be plenty of others around for your furry friend to paw at — not to mention, plenty of space for them to play in Yard Bar’s backyard. And, while they chase toys, you can chase down some food from their new on-site restaurant, Camp Out, with exclusive New Year’s Eve drink specials.
New Year’s Eve Dinners in Austin
East Austin, $159
Pamper your palate for the New Year with a decadent tasting menu at stunning Austin restaurant, Sushi | Bar. The intimate space, which only hosts five seatings on New Year’s Eve, puts you right there in front of the chefs while they prepare a lineup of expertly constructed, and incredibly delicious bites, omakase-style. Dishes such as a Japanese Yellowtail with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs, and a buttery, citrus-spiked bluefin tuna will be a celebration for your mouth. And, if you really want to go big, their last seating at 9:30 pm will take you into midnight with 23-courses, a premium sake or wine pairing, and a champagne toast when the clock strikes 12.
Various locations, Uchi and Uchiko at $375, Uchibā at $120
Want to toast the New Year right, but a packed dance floor filled of strangers counting down the seconds till the ball drops feels like your own personal form of hell? Then head to legendary Austin dining institution, Uchi, and its sister off-shoots, Uchiko and Uchibā, for the perfect way to bring in 2024. The award-winning Japanese restaurants are each offering their own unique multi-course set menu which will make any sushi fan’s jaw drop. Selections include dishes featuring bluefin crudo, lobster, wagyu, caviar, and more. And, while New Year’s Eve traditionally calls for champagne, skipping on their fantastic sake selection would be as foolish as going to bed before midnight.
Sixth Street, $125
Everyone from your boss to the James Beard Foundation, already loves East Austin restaurant sensation, Canje. This New Year’s Eve, it’s ending a year of culinary accolades on a high note with an immersive, six-course dinner. Every dish at their “Celebrating the New Year’s Traditions of the Caribbean” will, accordingly, be inspired by flavors from such locales such as Guyana. The fact that Canje normally only serves its food a la carte, makes this one-night-only, tasting menu from Executive Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph even more special. With an encouraged dress code of black and gold, the ‘fits should shine just as bright as the food.