The Absolute Best Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Dallas
Start the year off with a bang.
Compared to the last two New Year’s Eves, this December 31 should be the most “back to normal” in recent memory. Sure, we still have some pesky diseases lurking in the shadows. But with vaccinations and using a little caution and common sense (don’t share party horns, for instance), we all have the power to party in a vast number of ways this year. Among the options to close out 2022, there are the requisite dining-out options, countless countdowns in nightclubs and bars, or ringing in the New Year in another country’s time zone so you can still get home before midnight and watch the big Dallas fireworks show from the comfort of your sofa. We’re excited for a fantastic 2023 and can’t wait to share with you more fun things to do across Dallas-Fort Worth in the coming months. Now go forth and Auld Lang Syne your heart out.
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Molson Coors and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) are bringing back free bus and light rail rides for the 34th year—its largest endeavor yet. From 6 pm December 31, into the early hours of January 1 (check the full schedule here), let someone else do the driving to get you back to your neighborhood safe and sound.
Cost: This service is free on New Year’s Eve from 6 pm to 1 am (ish) on January 1.
Grand Prairie
Reserve an indoor or outdoor court at Chicken N Pickle for one last pickleball matchup (or several) for 2022. Book throughout the day, or coordinate with their official NYE party starting at 9 pm and ending with a midnight champagne toast.
Cost: Court rentals are $20 - $40 per hour; equipment rentals start at $3.
Book a staycation over NYE so you only have to take an elevator home
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Stay out as late as you wish when you book an overnight stay at a local hotel with an on-site party. It’s the best way to avoid traffic, long waits for rideshares, and potentially bad weather to ruin your best New Year’s Eve fashions. We’ve stayed in a lot of DFW hotels for staycations and many of our favorites have special packages (some including spa credits and New Year’s Day brunch!) to take all the headache out of planning. Best bets include Thompson Dallas, The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Virgin Hotels Dallas, The Joule, Hotel ZaZa, Warwick Melrose - Dallas, and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.
Uptown; Deep Ellum
The New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl gives revelers the option of two different routes with multiple bars on each. One goes through Uptown with stops including Quarter Bar and Nodding Donkey, and one through Deep Ellum with stops including Off The Cuff and Three Links Deep Ellum. Your ticket gets you a welcome party, free entry at designated times, party beads, and drink specials exclusive to bar crawlers.
Cost: Tickets are $21.99 - $36.99 (VIP, which includes an upgraded champagne flute and a free drink).
Ring in 2023 with live music
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If a playlist’s good, even a Pandora station or DJ spinning tunes can make for one helluva fun party. But few things improve a night out on the town more than live music, especially on a night as festive as New Year’s Eve. Head to The Rustic, Harwood Arms, Urban Seafood Co., Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar, Legacy Hall, Third Rail, or Elm & Good for talented musicians galore. Then dance the night away, or coordinate your toe tapping to your cocktail sipping if you prefer to stay seated.
How to book: Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Downtown, virtual
Reunion Tower’s Over the Top NYE 2023 fireworks and 259-drone light show can be enjoyed in several ways this year, including live on NBC 5 and over the internet on YouTube or Facebook Live, or wherever you have a view of downtown while listening to the firework music soundtrack on 98.7 KLUV. You can also book a room at the adjoining Hyatt Regency and catch the light show in person right from your window. And if that’s not enough, you can reserve a spot for on-site dinner with live music and cocktails, as well as a jazz brunch the next day.
Cost: Free to view from surrounding areas. Room, food, and beverage prices vary.
Indulge in NYE dinner at one of several restaurants
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Whether you’re looking to end the year with a nice dinner out or order takeout or delivery, several local favorites have you covered: Escondido, Al Biernat’s, Social Oak Wine & Whiskey Lounge, Urban Crust, Urban Rio, Rye, Apothecary, The Ivy Tavern, Bar Louie, Truluck’s, Tulum, Jalisco Norte, Harvest Hall, Harper’s, Te Deseo, Harwood Arms, TJ’s Seafood Market, Sadelle’s Highland Park, Dive Coastal Cuisine, Sloane’s Corner, Dakota’s Steakhouse, Georgie by Curtis Stone, Le Bilboquet, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille.
How to book: Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Toast to your final brunch of 2022
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While everyone is thinking about New Year’s Day brunch, you can be enjoying a final toast with friends and a side of biscuits and gravy at several restaurants offering a special New Year’s Eve brunch. Among the top-notch options: The Ranch at Las Colinas, Haywire, Toulouse Cafe & Bar, Bistro 31, Meddlesome Moth, Thirsty Lion Gastropub, Hugo’s Invitados, and The Henry.
How to book: Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Then have a little hair of the dog at New Year’s Day Brunch
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Whether you stayed out late and partied all night long or called it an early one while watching the Dick Clark show, you deserve to kick off 2023 with a fun brunch. Can’t-miss spots serving up mimosas, Bloody Marys, egg dishes, and maybe a few black-eyed peas include Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, Postino WineCafe, Elm & Good, Chelsea Corner, RH Rooftop, Malai Kitchen, Mercat Bistro, and BarNone.
How to book: Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Party like a rockstar as you close at 2022 (including a $40,000 option)
Downtown Dallas
Make plans to go to The National (home to Thompson Dallas and a variety of kick-ass restaurants) for New Year’s Eve. On the 49th and 50th floors, Monarch and Kessaku completely transform for a “Cirque at the Palace” theme, complete with aerialists and other circus acts, a five-hour open bar, hot and cold food stations, a champagne toast, and killer views of the fireworks at Reunion Tower. Meanwhile, a few floors down at Catbird, a black-tie Cirque party will also take place, including an open bar, caviar, and plenty of hors d’oeuvres.
Cost: Tickets for Cirque at the Palace are $500 per person. Make reservations on SevenRooms. Tickets for Catbird range from $400 to $40,000 for a group of 40 (includes 12 bottles of champagne, an afterparty in the penthouse, plus a two-night stay in the penthouse and a spa treatment). Book your spot on Resy.
Oak Lawn
Nearly every bar in the Oak Lawn entertainment district will be hosting multiple New Year’s Eve events this year and it promises to be a great time. The Round-Up Saloon and Dance Hall, Station 4, JR’s, Alexandre’s, TMC, Sue Ellen’s, Dallas Woody’s, The Rose Room, Cedar Springs Tap House, and Mr. Misster will be among the venues welcoming revelers of all genders and orientations for an inclusive night of self-expression and celebration.
Cost: Cover and menu prices vary.
NorthPark Center
When it comes to lavish Italian feasts, Eataly has the credentials to wow beyond measure. Spend NYE with an open bar, unlimited food, and free-flowing prosecco, plus dancing to a DJ until 8 pm, pausing at 5 pm to celebrate the arrival of 2023 in Italy. Best of all, you can still hit another party afterward—or head home for one last chance at being lazy on the sofa in 2022.
Cost: Tickets start at $25 in advance and include three tickets for tastings. Additional tasting tickets are $7.50 - $10 apiece when purchased in quantity.
Fort Worth
El Chingon trades champagne for tequila in its countdown to the new year (but don’t worry, there’ll be bubbly, too.) Dancing, DJs, drinks, and food will be available for the restaurant’s full menu until midnight with the full party going until 2 am. Enjoy BOGO bottles of wine before 9 pm and half off food from 7 - 9 pm.
Cost: Tickets start at $20. A la carte food and beverage prices vary.
Highland Meadows
Ring in the New Year at 6 pm (Ireland time) for another option to celebrate (at least) twice in one night. You can head out to another event around town, or stick around for when the clock strikes midnight Dallas time at Lochland's Food and Spirits. Grab a spoonful of black-eyed peas for luck, then toast with a pint of Guinness or grab a glass of complimentary champagne at either celebration if you wish to be more (American) traditional.
Cost: Both Irish New Year and Dallas New Year celebrations are free to attend. Food and drink prices vary.
Ring in 2023 with a premium open bar
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Head to either Te Deseo, Happiest Hour on New Year’s Eve for some of the best bargains for drinkers. Your ticket to either venue includes a premium open bar from 9 pm - 12 am and a champagne toast at midnight with party favors. With cocktails around the city averaging $15 a piece, the $75 price of admission will help you save money one last time in 2022. Meanwhile, Electric Shuffle in Deep Ellum hosts a Saturday Night Fever-themed party with an open bar, costume contest with prizes, champagne toast and, ready for this? A pizza drop at midnight. In the Design District, Virgin Hotels Dallas has a Glitz & Glam party with a four-hour premium open bar, food stations, and live entertainment. At Lexy’s in Trinity Groves, your ticket gets you access to a variety of food stations, an open bar, and the chance to win a bottle of Dom Perignon. And in Fort Worth, check out the new venue Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall with a tequila and champagne tasting, huge dinner spread, premium open bar, plus an afterparty going late.
How to book: Reservations are strongly recommended for all events. Tickets for Te Deseo are $75. Tickets for Happiest Hour with an open bar start at $100. Tickets for Electric Shuffle are $125 - $150. Tickets to the Virgin Hotels Dallas party are sold by the table and range $1,500 (six people) to $3,000 (10 people). Tickets to Lexy’s are $150 per person or $275 per couple. Tannahill’s Tavern tickets are $195 per person or you can book tables of two, six, or 10.
Downtown Dallas; Grapevine
We’ve been talking about a lot of “last chances” in this list and now we’re adding dressing in costume to the tally. At The Statler downtown, disguise yourself for the Royal Masquerade Ball with an open bar, casino games, and hors d'oeuvres. At Hotel Vin in Grapevine, the Bordeaux Ballroom becomes the site of another masquerade party that includes a four-course dinner, casino games, and dancing. Plus, you know, a champagne toast at 12 am.
Cost: The Statler Royal Masquerade Ball tickets start at $150 ($250 with dinner). Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com. The Hotel Vin Masquerade Party tickets are $100 for casino night and dancing only or $275 per person with dinner. Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com.