The Absolute Best Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Houston
Start the year off with a bang.
Whether your 2022 was a banger or a bummer, it’s time to kiss it goodbye and ring in 2023. This year, Houston’s finest party spots and restaurants are here to help you do that however you damn please. Choose your own adventure from this lineup of awesome happenings, from DJ-fueled dance parties and bubbly popping soirées to fancy-pants dinners and morning-after, corpse-reviving brunches.
The posh and sexy downtown taverna is hosting two seatings for its NYE dinner, with the first seating from 5 to 8 pm and a second from 9 pm until the clock strikes 2023. Chef Tim Reading is making sure the booze-paired six courser is celebration worthy, with highlights including East Coast Oysters with Champagne Mignonette, Gulf Fish Ceviche Tostada, Truffle Arancinis, Lobster Ravioli in Tarragon Cream, Braised Short Rib with Duck Fat Confit Tomatoes, and desserts like Buddha's Hand Panna Cotta and Pecan Brownie a la Mode with Rum Chocolate Sauce.
Cost:Early seating is $100 per person and the late seating is $150.
Museum District (& Memorial City)
Both Hotel ZaZa Museum District and Hotel ZaZa Memorial City are throwing glamorous NYE Bashes, where the jet set will dress to impress for a countdown to midnight. The night will feature a live DJ, grand bubbly toast, sips and bites from 10 pm to 12 am, and what we can only guess will be very fancy mayhem. VIP packages including entry for four and a bottle of choice are available for purchase.
Cost: $125 with purchase of ticket at Memorial City or Museum District, VIP Packages available.
Downtown (& Midtown)
SOHO Garden HTX, Social Beer Garden, Playground HTX, and Leon’s Lounge are just some of the bars on the 2023 Crawl 'Til the Ball Falls bar crawl. Your wristband will get you into any of the participating bars with no cover, plus access to drink specials all night long.
Cost: Tickets are $20 to $60.
Montrose
Goodnight Hospitality’s highly-acclaimed tasting restaurant March is pretty special, so if you can score yourself a coveted New Years Eve seat, you should. Get one and you’ll be treated to a six-course or nine-course tasting menu complete with all the truffles, uni, caviar, lobster you could want, plus, perhaps most importantly, all the bubbles. Or make rezzies for The Lounge and treat yourself to boops of Champagne and bumps of caviar as you toast to 2023.
Cost: $225 for six-courses at 6 pm and 7 pm; $295 for nine courses at 8 pm and 9 pm; $150 lounge reservations at 10 pm, 10:30 pm, and 11 pm.
Downtown
Set in the old OKRA space, Angel Share (which just so happens to be one of the coolest bars in Houston right now) will be partying until 2 am this NYE, sporting a balloon drop, confetti cannons, a countdown clock, and a midnight toast. Even better, the bar continues OKRA’s super awesome philanthropic initiative, donating a portion of its proceeds and 100% of the money spent on a special charity menu to a chosen local nonprofit each month. That means you can party well into the night and feel good about it, too.
Cost: No cover for walk-ins; six tables are available to reserve ($500 for six people, email info@angelsharehtx.com).
Washington
Jazzed up cocktails and full-on Southern charm are all on the agenda for Julep’s New Year’s Eve fete. The classic cocktail bar is pulling out all the throwback stops for its Party in the Parlor, with ‘90s music, a ‘90s Throwback Drink Menu, upscale takes on eats like Bagel Bites and Lunchables, and a balloon drop at midnight (walk-ins are welcome, or reserve a two-top). Over in the Main Bar, the party is a bit more formal. You can reserve a booth complete with one bottle of Champagne, one Bottled in Bond (Bonded Bourbon & Rye Manhattan) served over large format ice, chocolates, brandied cherries, and Marcona almonds, signature cocktails, a Seafood Tower, and party favors for the table.
Cost: Main Bar walk-ins require a three-drink minimum and booth reservations are $750 for up to eight; Parlor Party is open for walk-ins with two-tops available for $150 including a bottle of Champagne.
Montrose
Uchi’s over-the-top NYE tasting menu hasn’t been announced yet (look for it the week of the holiday), but if it’s anything like the past, you can expect deliciousness in the form of oysters, caviar, lobster, bluefin, A5 Wagyu, and bubbles. The menu will be available all weekend from Friday, December 30 through Sunday, January 1. To reserve, call 713-522-4808 or visit OpenTable.
Cost: Pricing varies depending on menu items.
Galleria
Decked out in vivid velvets, brass castings, and ornate textiles, you definitely won’t feel like you’re ringing in the New Year in Houston at global jewel Musaafer. Offering a multicultural take on Indian cuisine with uber dramatic presentations, the restaurant is offering a seven-course seated NYE dinner at 6 pm and 9 pm (which includes a midnight Champagne toast), with decadent offerings from Duck or Mushroom Galaouti Kebab to Chaanp Saagwala (lamb chops with pounded mustard and fenugreek leaves, ginger, and house churned butter). Secure a reservation via Resy.
Cost: $140 per person for the 6 pm seating and $160 per person for the 9 pm, with both seatings including Champagne.
Downtown
Risque burlesque and Gatsby-style opulence are on the docket for the Prohibition Nights fete at Downtown’s posh C. Baldwin Hotel. Your ticket gets you access to live DJs, burlesque performances, gourmet light bites, and three hours of complimentary drinks and light bites. Opt for the VIP treatment and you’re looking at early access to a private cocktail hour.
Cost: GA tickets run $90 per person ($80 for groups of five-plus) and $115 for VIP ($99 for groups of five-plus).
Downtown (& Post Oak)
A night at live country music bar and kitchen The Rustic can be as laid back or turnt as you want it to be. The same goes for New Year’s Eve, when the drinks will be flowing, interactive and electric live band Flight Of The Keys will be facing off, and you’ll be saying “adios!” to 2022.
Cost: No cover; menu prices vary.
River Oaks
The over-the-top Madrid-inspired hotspot is hosting late seatings for its fancy-pants NYE dinner, stocked with a showstopping six-course chef's tasting menu with premium offerings from Freshly Shaved Winter Black Truffle and American Wagyu to Foie. Snag reservations via OpenTable.
Cost: Reservations start at $200 per person.
Midtown
A super cool retractable roof, tented pavilion, and ultra VIP experience complete with hookahs, aerial artists, and a red carpet are all a part of the NYE celebration at 10,000-square-foot rooftop bar RISE. Beats from Dutch DJ duo Yellow Claw and alllllll the bubbly popping will go down from 9 pm to 2 am, with balloon drops and confetti cannons at midnight.
Cost:Tickets are $55 with table reservations available.
Energy Corridor
Interactive driving range bar TopGolf will be opening its bays for reservation to ring in 2023. Secure a bay to eat, drink, and smash the hell out of some golf balls as you kiss 2022 goodbye.
Cost: Varies, bay reservations go live Monday, December 12.
Downtown
Sultry masks, fancy black and white attire, and good spirits are encouraged at the 2023 Black & White Masquerade. The evening of decadence and dancing goes down at The Downtown JW Marriott from 9 pm to 2 am, and you can expect flowing cocktails, light bites, and festive party favors for the countdown to midnight.
Cost: Tickets start at $128 per person.
Washington
Complete with its regular menu of dry-aged beef, crab-stuffed lobster, and blue cheese-smothered Carpetbaggers On-the-Half-Shell, B&B Butchers & Steakhouse is open for NYE dinner reservations, with live music from 7 to 10 pm downstairs followed by a rooftop bash from 10 pm to 1 am (don’t worry, it’ll be heated). And if you party a bit too hard, a New Year’s Day brunch is also going down the next day.
Cost: No cover; menu prices vary.
Cure your hangover a New Year’s Day brunch
Multiple locations
Badass Mexican spots Hugo’s, Caracol, and Xochi are all throwing New Year’s Day brunches to help you return to life, rocking everything from Roasted Gulf Oysters and killer Chilaquiles to live music and Sangria. For something slightly more relaxed, grab Huevos Rancheros Pizza and Roja or Verde Bloody Marys at Mexican-American kitchen and cocktailery Monkey’s Tail, or head over to OG Tex-Mex haunt The Original Ninfa’s (both locations), where you can kick 2023 off with the ultimate hangover cure—a bowl of Red Chile Pork Posole.
Cost: Buffet access runs $42 per person; additional prices vary.