10 Last Minute New Year’s Eve Ideas in Austin

Guest article by Kristella Montiegel

Hark! The coming New Year rings! As the holiday season continues and we relish in plentiful eating, drinking and merry-making, it’s past time to start thinking about your New Year’s Eve plans. The big day is here, and you owe it to yourself to end 2014 off with a bang!, hurrah!, or whichever onomatopoeic word you see fit.

Are you still undecided about your New Year’s Eve festivities? We’ve compiled a list of 10 last minute New Year’s Eve ideas (in no particular order) to celebrate the big night in true Austin style.

#1 Buenos Aires Café

Buenos Aires Cafe’s NYE prix fixe Argentine menu will feature unique dishes like faina, a baked garbanzo bread (Credit: Buenos Aires Café)

Immerse yourself in Latin American culture this New Year’s Eve! Indulge in Buenos Aires Café’s tantalizing authentic Argentine food. Their East Side location is hosting a dinner and after party you’re sure to be reminiscing over well into the New Year.

Their specially arranged prix fixe Argentine menu will have three seating times at 6 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM. Then at 10:30, join the after party and show off your best dance moves with music from Austin’s Latin jazz band, The Brew! Cheers with a champagne toast at midnight!

Call Buenos Aires Café at 512-344-9198 for pricing and to secure your reservation, or visit their website or Facebook page for more event information.

1201 E 6th St

#2 Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden New Year’s Eve Smokeout

New Year’s Eve at Banger’s (Credit: Banger’s Sausage House)

The Rainey Street staple will be hosting another of their crowd-favorite smokeouts for New Year’s Eve! Bring the whole crew to Banger’s and feast on their mouthwatering NYE menu of smoked prime rib, bacon potato gratin, charred grilled Swiss chard and butter poached lobster sausage.

And what goes perfectly with smoky, salty, meaty deliciousness? How about a pecan stout, golden cider or your choice of any of their 100+ beers on tap?

NYE dinner is served at 8 PM, so don’t be late! For only $23 a person, this is a last-meal-of-the-year you do not want to miss!

79 Rainey Street

#3 New Years Eve Party at Old School with Ball Drop

Dusting off the NYE ball before the drop at Old School Bar & Grill (Credit: Old School)

If you love to watch New York City’s illuminated ball drop on TV every year, go to Sixth Street tonight for a taste of the real thing.

Old School Bar & Grill is hosting a New Year’s Eve party to be remembered, with open bar for attendees and even a $2,500 cash giveaway.

If this sounds as festive to you as it does to us, read more on Old School’s website and get your tickets.

401 E 6th St

#4 NYE 1968!!! at Hotel Vegas, The Volstead Lounge and Gypsy Lounge

Does a 60’s throwback dance party sound good to you? We thought so. Your favorite East Side bar trio is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration filled with some of the best music from 1968.

Live performances from a slew of bands will be covering the songs of Pink Floyd, Elvis, The Beach Boys and many, many more. So grab your vintage jackets and faux furs and get your groove on!

The party starts at 7 PM and will go on until 2 AM! Visit the Hotel Vegas website for ticket information.

1502 East 6th St

#5 Uchi

Uchi’s ceiling will be blanketed with balloons for New Year’s Eve (Credit: Denise Prince Photography)

Enhance your New Year’s Eve night out with some Japanese fusion. Uchi and Uchiko are offering a New Year’s Eve Omakase menu for $150 per couple.

The special menu includes delicacies like oysters with char roe and myoga ginger, and king crab with brown butter and verjus. Their full menu items will also be available to choose from.

Savor fresh sushi and Japanese fare while relaxing under a balloon-covered ceiling. A complimentary champagne toast will be shared at midnight.

Call 512-916-4808 and make your reservation before they fill up!

801 S Lamar Blvd

#6 4th Annual Black & White New Year’s Eve Ball at The White Horse

The White Horse is doing it again. The rockin’, two-steppin’, honky tonk East Side venue is throwing their annual NYE party. Pair your favorite boots with some stylish black and white getups and get on the dance floor with music from East Cameron Folklore, Clyde and Clem’s Whiskey Business and more!

$10 admission at the door, includes free champagne at midnight!

500 Comal St

#7 The Rattle Inn’s New Year’s Eve Bash

For a spectacular view of downtown Austin, hang out on Rattle Inn’s rooftop deck (Credit: Rattle Inn)

Known for their premier live music events and rooftop deck with a sweeping view of downtown Austin, Rattle Inn is making sure their NYE party is one for the books.

Starting at 4 PM, revel in Rattle Inn’s wide selection of cocktails and beers in any of their three different bar areas! Enjoy live music entertainment from Lou Shields, Dixie Underground, Junkyard Mongrels and more. No cover fee for general admission! (Unfortunately, booths and tables are now sold out.)

610 Nueces St

#8 The Marchesa’s New Year’s Eve Aerial Spectacular

At The Marchesa’s NYE event, you really will have friends in high places. Watch a show like no other by some of the city’s most talented aerial performers.

In addition to over a dozen stellar acts, The Marchesa will regale guests with champagne toasts and hors d’oeuvres, two intermissions for plenty of mingling and a DJ and dance-filled after party. Doors open at 8:30.

Seating is limited, so act fast! Get your tickets here.

6226 Middle Fiskville Rd

#9 laV

laV is the perfect place for wining and dining this New Year’s Eve (Credit: laV)

For a night of pure elegance, put on your best attire and delight in the posh atmosphere and exquisite dining of laV. The French restaurant is hosting not one, but two special NYE menus and seatings. Their three-course prix fixe menu, for only $135 a person, will seat between 5-6 PM, and their five-course menu for $185 a person will seat between 8-9 PM.

Complement your dinner with one of laV’s handpicked wines and end 2014 with a fine dining experience you’ll never forget.

Visit laV’s website for a full description of both NYE menus.

1501 East 7th St

#10 New Year Party at Hotel San Jose

The swanky, albeit laid back courtyard lounge of Hotel San Jose will host a special NYE jubilation starting at 8 PM. Get down with music from DJ Chino Casino, enjoy the lounge’s beer, wine and – of course – champagne, and be sure to visit the photo booth to capture your final memories of 2014. No admission fee!

1316 South Congress Ave

Austin’s New Year at Butler Park – POSTPONED

Fireworks during Austin’s New Year (Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

Those of you who have been around Austin for any amount of time are familiar with the annual Austin’s New Year event. This family friendly tradition always features live entertainment, tasty treats and activities. Explosive fireworks always end the night with a bang.

However, the City announced yesterday that the event is postponed due to weather. As of this writing, a new date hasn’t been announced. If you want to celebrate New Year’s a second time, keep your eyes open for the announcement!

Whether your ideal New Year’s Eve entails a romantic dinner, fancy soiree, dance party, or NYC-style ball drop, your last day of 2014 should be filled with memories you’ll cherish for the next twelve months. So gather your buddies and loved ones, put on those party pants (or dresses), and celebrate a new beginning and another year in our beloved city of Austin.

@theAustinot wants to know:

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve 2015?

Kristella Montiegel, originally from Myrtle Beach, SC, sought to trade laid back beach life for vibrant city culture when she moved to Austin. She is currently a marketing assistant and copywriter at a mobile applications marketing company located on the East Side.