Ring In the New Year in Miami with These Wild Parties and Fireworks Shows

Cardi B, fireworks on the bay, and clubs going all out make for a very Miami NYE.

LIV NYE party Miami
Photo courtesy of LIV
Photo courtesy of LIV

If this is finally the year where you save yourself hundreds of dollars, stay home on New Year’s Eve, and start 2024 feeling fresh and new in your own bed (definitely not still wearing your clothes from the night before), you better leave Miami. Because you know darned well as soon as December 31 rolls around, the FOMO kicks in and you’re going to start desperately searching for somewhere to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

The good news is you’re in one of the best places on the planet for NYE, and while the city’s awash in overpriced dinners and tourist traps, there are equally as many legitimately cool parties going on too. From a boat in the bay with food from an award-winning chef to a tropical garden party that’ll still have you in bed before midnight, New Year’s 2024 offers plenty of options. We weeded through them all, and here’s the best New Year’s Eve parties Miami has to offer.

Miami New Year’s Eve Fireworks

If you’re not feeling a full-fledged NYE party but still want some excitement, Miami isn’t lacking for fireworks shows. The biggest one will be at Bayfront Park, where you can enjoy live music and watch pyrotechnics over the bay. There’ll be a VIP viewing area too, complete with open bar and a champagne toast at midnight. The Biltmore in Coral Gables also has its own private fireworks display, as does Nikki Beach—which you can watch for free from the sand. The City of Miami Beach will also have its own show, where the midnight display near the Bass Museum will be accompanied by Orchestra Miami.

LIV Miami New Year's Eve party
Photo courtesy of LIV

New Year’s Eve Parties in Miami

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
Westchester; $70
If you live out west and aren’t feeling the triple-digit rideshare prices on New Year’s Eve, look no further than the massive new entertainment district at Dolphin Mall. Vivo! Plaza’s inaugural NYE party gets underway at 9 pm, where your ticket gives you access to many of the bars and clubs inside. They’ll be offering open bars, carving stations, and a champagne toast at midnight. It’s a way to explore all the new spots that Vivo! has brought to the ‘burbs in one night, without having to pay multiple covers.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
Hallandale Beach; Free to attend, food prices vary
Though the horses won’t be running, you can still give yourself a good luck charm for 2024 by celebrating the new year inside the Gulfstream Park walking ring. The place where ponies usually parade will be transformed into the 24k Gold Nightclub, where you’ll be treated to a laser show, dancers, and pop-up food stands from Yard House, Texas de Brazil, Christine Lee’s, and other Village staples.

Sunday, December 31; 7 pm
South Beach; $150
For years, you’ve been taking the beachfront New Year’s Eve party at Nikki Beach for granted, thinking about it for a minute then saying, “Ah, maybe next year.” Well, it’s next year, because Nikki Beach’s days are numbered and this is one of your last chances to celebrate at the beach club that started it all. There’ll be the usual acrobatic dance performances, a live DJ, sax player, and a seated dinner option. Or you can just show up and party, looking straight up at the midnight fireworks.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
Miami Beach; Tickets start at $125
Who better to break in the Fontainebleau’s new floating dance floor than the woman who taught us what “WAP” stands for? Cardi B will hit the poolside stage with producer and DJ Gryffin for a special NYE concert, where you’ll get unlimited music and premium spirits with your ticket. If you feel like bringing the kids to Cardi B (what could go wrong?), book the special Family Package, which includes a buffet dinner at the Fontainebleau and open bar for everyone 21+.

Sunday, December 31; 8 pm
Brickell; Tickets start at $50
Ring in 2024 in the most Brickell way possible. No, not missing midnight because you were busy taking a balcony selfie. Instead, enjoy an open bar by an elevated pool at the swanky SLS, where guests will enjoy a four-hour open bar, a live DJ, and a countdown in front of the glittering Miami skyline.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
South Beach; $60
One of Miami’s best pool parties takes its excitement after dark as Strawberry Moon hosts an outdoor New Year’s party from 9 pm to 2 am. Though they won’t be getting in the water, guests can still enjoy the celebration topside with a premium open bar, a live DJ, and an outdoor countdown where you can spy the fireworks in the distance.

Sunday, December 31; 9:30 pm
Coral Gables; $44
If you’re looking for a low-key celebration, look into hitting the Nightgarden. Fairchild’s trippy, tropical winter wonderland with augmented reality fairies and a talking tree will offer its own take on New Year’s Eve, where you’ll find food trucks, cocktails, and fireworks at 9:30 pm. That means you can get all your Instagram content before 10 pm, and be peacefully in bed by 11.

R House Miami drag queens
Photo courtesy of R House

Sunday, December 31; 8 pm
Wynwood; Tickets start at $100
No venue rings in 2024 quite like the drag spectacular at R House, where the all-star cast of queens will put on a tropical-themed soiree called Midnight in Rio. The Copacabana-inspired spectacle begins around 8 pm, with numbers running until well after midnight. You won’t be toasting on an empty stomach, either, as each ticket comes with a full chef’s menu and premium options include bottle service credit. Tips for the drag queens, however, are not included.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
Little Havana; Tickets start at $125
Much like its original 1930s heyday, Ball & Chain is welcoming big names in music for its New Year’s Eve party. The pineapple bandshell will host Marlow Rosado, who you may recognize from his hits “Depende de Ti” and “Me Gusta.” When Marlow’s not performing, guests can still dance to the sounds of DJ Danis LaClave, and enjoy endless mojitos and cigars on the back patio.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
Miami Beach; $125
In years past, New Year’s Eve at LIV was at least a four-figure proposition. This year, the club that’s defined Miami Beach nightlife for over a decade is almost approachable, offering a $125 ticket to see hip-hop superstar Offset. If you’re dead set on dropping a mortgage payment for the evening, tables are available for a cool five grand.

Sunday, December 31; 9 pm
South Beach; $125
Fans of electronic music, or pool parties, or pool parties with electronic music will be well advised to spend their New Year’s behind the SLS. That’s where Dutch electronic legends Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano will perform from 9 pm right up through the midnight fireworks show over the ocean. Both GA and VIP Fast Pass holders will rate an open bar from the time they arrive until the end of 2023.

Boia De
Photo courtesy of Boia De

New Year’s Eve Dinners in Miami

Sunday, December 31; 6:30 or 9 pm
Downtown; $275-$500
The stunning seabound event space The Vessel will host its first NYE this year with one of Miami’s most celebrated chefs. Brad Kilgore, the mind behind MaryGold’s, will be plating up a 10-course feast at sea with 6:30 and 9 pm seatings. The ship will be anchored in the bay with access via private water shuttle, so those sticking around after the second seating will find themselves literally in the middle of the fireworks. If you just want to watch the show on the water, book the $150 Champagne Package, which gets you on board at 11 pm with a glass of bubbly at midnight.

Sunday, December 31; 6 pm
Wynwood; $125
Nobody’s confusing New Year's Eve in Miami with a “value proposition.” But Miss Crispy Rice comes close, offering a 15-course omakase dinner for a reasonable $125. In addition to blue crab chawanmushi, caviar hand rolls, and A5 Wagyu Uni pairings, you’ll also be treated to a midnight class of champagne and DJ Gordo’s live performance at Oasis. Miss Crispy Rice’s four seatings start at 6 pm.

Sunday, December 31
Brickell; $65
Perhaps the best NYE deal in all of Miami continues to be Batch, which is offering unlimited intoxication for a scant $65. The neighborhood bar stays true to its core customers, offering a full-scale celebration that reconciles high rents and the need for a good time—all while also giving you the chance to start 2024 with some of Miami’s best mac and cheese.

Sunday, December 31
Buena Vista; $145
Been stressing all year to snag a reservation at Michelin-starred Boia De? New Year’s Eve is a perfect time to finally make it happen, as the popular Buena Vista hotspot will host a five-course dinner. Look for canapes with bluefin tuna and polenta followed by rabbit terrine, wild mushroom risotto, a selection of house made pastas, and tiramisu to cap it all off.

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Matt Meltzer is a Miami-based contributor for Thrillist.