Looking for a New Year's celebration? Whether you're craving caviar and bubbly, or just want to knock back a shot of Jameson at a local dive bar, we've got you covered. Our list also includes a New Year's Day hair-of-the-dog event and brunch with a live brass band.
New Year's Eve
Glitter and Caviar at the new Lizzie's Starlight (450 Powell St.)
If you're looking to indulge on New Year's Eve, the recently-renovated penthouse lounge at the Sir Francis Drake, Lizzie's Starlight, is setting the stage.
Elizabethan characters will parade around the space in costume throughout the night, and DJs will offer dance music. Extravagant snacks from lobster fritters and Dungeness crab to caviar bumps will be on rotation alongside holographic macaroons, gold leaf cheesecake, and seasonal cocktail offerings. Tickets for the event range from $75 for entry at 11:45 p.m. to $18,000 (!) for a private room for up to 50 people.
Dancing, wine and "Naughty or Nice" at 25 Lusk (25 Lusk St.)
25 Lusk is offering a six-course chef’s tasting menu at $125 per person; add truffles to any dish for $38.
Enjoy premium and vintage wines along with music and dancing, and visit the restaurant's holiday pop-up "Naughty or Nice," on Rooftop 25 and in the Social Bar.
Killer Whale and Slow Motion Cowboys at Amnesia (853 Valencia St.)
Amnesia hosts performances by four local bands in a relatively low-cost New Year’s Eve offering starting at 9 p.m. The evening at the beer bar on Valencia Street is headlined by Killer Whale, a self-proclaimed ‘psych R&B’ group led by Baton Rouge native Thomas Johnson.
The $15 event will also showcase garage rock from Bong Kitty, and honky-tonk style music from Indianna Hale and Slow Motion Cowboys.
Dry-aged ribeye and "snackles" at Al’s Place (1499 Valencia St.)
Al's Place in the Mission is offering a family-style menu featuring caviar, 35-day dry-aged ribeye and Périgord truffles. It will also offer a selection of “Snackles”, savory items, cold and hot dishes, and dessert.
Tickets are $180 a person with wine pairings available. Reservations are available here.
Wagyu and whiskey at Gozu (201 Spear St.)
The long-anticipated Ittoryu Gozu opened last month. The Wagyu-focused restaurant by Chef/Owner Marc Zimmerman and Co-founder Ben Jorgensen offers a kappo-style tasting menu, where diners can experience Wagyu beef through a Japanese style of open-fire cooking.
On New Year’s Eve, it will offer two seatings, with experiences of 13 to 15 items spread over 10 courses. The menus will include Japanese and local seafood, wild foods and Wagyu with pairing options, as well as an “around the world” whisky assortment, and reserve wine pairings for those that prefer wine. The first seating is $185, and the second is $210. Reservations can be booked on Tock.
Sushi and Wagyu at Omakase (665 Townsend St.)
If it’s sushi that you’re craving, Omakase’s got you covered. New Year’s Eve offerings include a chef’s choice menu, which include an appetizer, sashimi course, chawanmushi, a series of nigiri, nimono, an A5 Wagyu dish, live lobster tamago, owan, and kanmi for $195 per person
Seatings are between 5:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Reservations can be made on Tock.
Surf and Turf at The Brixton on 2nd (701 2nd St.)
The Brixton on 2nd, operated by Hat Trick Hospitality (known for its comfort food and craft cocktails) is having a A "Surf and Turf" special this New Year’s Eve. Served with a salad and a complimentary glass of bubbles or house wine, the dinner will run you $50. Customers will also receive a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Reservations can be made on its website.
Throwing back to the 90s at PRAIRIE (3431 19th St.)
The Mission’s PRAIRIE will be ringing in 2020 like it’s 1999 with a 90s throwback theme.
Some sample dishes include a torch-your-own monkfish liver Créme Bruleè, Maine lobster “cappuccino" with cauliflower custard and lemongrass form, and for dessert, molten Dandelion chocolate lava cake. Cocktails include cosmopolitans and lychee martinis. Pricing: $110 for seven courses. Seatings at 6:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. Reservations available on Tock.
Fresh radish and pickled turnips amuse-bouche at Violet's (2301 Clement St.)
Violet’s will have New Year’s Eve à la carte offerings (a regular dinner menu will also be available). Visit this Outer Richmond tavern for fresh radish and pickled turnips amuse-bouche, chilled seafood salad, ribeye with green peppercorn mushroom sauce (vegetarian entree also available), as well as New York cheesecake. Seatings are from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for food, but the restaurant will be open later hours for a toast at midnight. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.
Drink specials, champagne and a DJ at Zeitgeist (199 Valencia St.)
If dive bars are more your speed, Zeitgeist is throwing a party until 2 a.m. It all begins at 8:00 p.m. on December 31st and goes until closing time. There will be drink specials, champagne and guest DJ Kato with some bangers from 8 p.m. “until the wheels fall off, " all with no cover charge.
Whiskey and tequila at Thieves Tavern (496 14th St.)
Just a few blocks from Zeitgeist, Thieves Tavern is also offering some drink specials on December 31. Any bottled or canned beer will be $2 with the purchase of any shot, and any draft beer, such as City IPA or Oaktown, will be $3 with the purchase of any shot.
The bar is known for its following of Jameson fans, so rest assured, plenty of whiskey will be poured throughout the evening. Thieves Tavern will also offer a tequila special: Cazadores Blanco for $5.
New Year's Day
It's A New Day + Breakfast Of Champions block party at The Great Northern (119 Utah St.)
If you’re looking to start 2020 with a dance party, The Great Northern is collaborating with Space Cowboys to host the It's A New Day + Breakfast of Champions Block Party with 7 stages, more than 70 DJs from around the world, and interactive art offerings. Tickets for the block party at Utah and 15th streets are currently available for $70 each, or you can head to the afterparty starting 8 p.m. on January 1 for only $20.
Free 'hair of the dog' at the Dorian
The Dorian encourages revelers to stay in what they partied in to attend its ‘Walk of Fame’ brunch on New Year’s Day. Anyone who shows up clearly wearing what they wore the night before can receive a free mimosa between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Victory Hall & Parlor's Brass and Brunch (360 Rich St.)
For a jazzy brunch event, look no further than Victory Hall & Parlor. On New Year’s day, it will host a Brass and Brunch event accompanied by 9-piece brass band, MJ's Brass Boppers. $20.20 brunch plates by Little Skillet will be served along with Victory Hall’s specialty cocktails. There’s no charge to get in the door, and the first 50 people to RSVP via its Eventbrite page will receive a complimentary treat.
