Families can partake in all of the New Year’s Eve festivities at this buzzy new Garden Oaks destination, which is offering a child-friendly seating from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adults may enjoy a three-course menu, including a bottle of bubbly, with a complimentary two-course meal for the kiddos and a balloon drop at 7:30 pm. The cost for two adults is $160, and reservations are available inside the bar and outside on the extensive patio. Got a sitter for the night? There is an adults-only seating from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. featuring a four-course prix fixe menu too.

This destination cocktail bar quietly situated on Washington Avenue is a haven for immaculately built libations and elevated bar eats, and on New Year’s Eve, a special menu of NYE champagne cocktails will be available to guests as well. Beats from DJ Cherry Like Bounce begin at 10 p.m., followed by a complimentary champagne or bourbon toast at midnight. Partying with the entire posse? Group reservations for a table or booth including food and cocktails are available.

Forego the black ties and dressy heels, and opt for an easy-going and festive meal at B.B. Lemon. The buzzy restaurant, decked out with NYE party favors, will offer its full menu for lunch and dinner, along with live entertainment from 8 p.m. until midnight, courtesy of DJ Funk.

Countdown to the new year over a well-prepared steak dinner at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. Both Galleria and Downtown locations are offering a four-course prix fixe dinner for $129.95 per guest. Highlights from the menu include filet mignon, prime New York strip, and veal chop.

School may be out for winter break, but you can still put your thinking caps to good use at Camerata’s NYE champagne tasting and education class. The beloved Montrose wine bar is hosting multiple two-hour sessions on December 31 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., during which guests can sip their way through five different champagnes while learning about the festive wine’s rich history. Seats are $100 per guest and include savory puff pastry, a meat and cheese board, and a sweet surprise.

For a whiskey-fueled evening, consider a visit to Bosscat Kitchen on New Year’s Eve. From 6 p.m. on, the restaurant is offering reservations for a four-course dinner for $60 per person with choices like prime rib carpaccio, chicken and corn chowder, and smoked pork chop. The regular menu is available too. Despite which route you take, be sure to peruse the hefty whiskey collection for something smooth to sip on before the big countdown.

Settle into this ritzy destination within River Oaks District for an authentic Vietnamese dinner on New Year’s Eve. Guests may reserve a table from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m for a three-course meal, including an amuse bouche, appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee or tea. Reservations are $95 per guest, but the experience can be amped up with the addition of wine pairings for extra loot.

Come for dinner, stay for music and the drag show. The East End’s hip new destination for wine lovers is going into the new year with an epic party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Guests will begin with bubbly and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated five-course dinner with appropriate wine pairings. A drag show featuring local performers will commence, along with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $150 per guest.

As one of 2021’s thrilling new restaurant openings, Le Jardinier serves as an appropriate dining destination to conclude the year. Housed in the Kinder Building at the MFAH, the restaurant boasts a feast for the senses. On New Year’s Eve, guests may enjoy lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., or opt for one of the more formal dinner seatings. A four-course menu for $145 per guest will be available from 5 to 6:30 p.m., while a six-course menu with a champagne toast at midnight will be available from 7:30 to 10 p.m. for $245 per guest. 

Guests can go full-glam at Gratify’s gilded age-themed New Year’s Eve party. The whimsical Rice Village restaurant will be decked out with lavish décor and guests are invited to dress in sparkly and shimmery “gilded attire”. The bar will remain open until midnight and there will be NYE specials available, along with the regular menu.

Eat, drink, and play at Palace Social while waiting out the final hours of 2021. Bellaire’s newest entertainment destination, featuring bowling, arcade games, and more, will be open until 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with a menu of seasonal food and drink offerings. The “good luck” trio of side dishes can be added on to any entrée for $12 and boasts a combination of traditional New Year’s Eve eats: black eyed peas, cornbread and cabbage.