To absolutely no one’s surprise, there is A LOT to see and do this New Year’s Eve in Chicago. And while we’ve been toiling away at our desks, we’ve also been daydreaming about all the events, parties and down-right blowouts we could be going to on the 31st.
The good news? Since we’ve spent so much time thinking about it, we’ve actually been able to compile a pretty solid list of the best celebrations around the city.
So without further ado, here is our Ultimate Guide to New Year’s Eve in Chicago.
Hotel Extravaganzas
The Drake Hotel
New Year’s Eve Soiree @ Hilton Chicago – 9pm – 2am | Inclusive drinks and hors d’oeuvres | Live entertainment | Pre and Post Party | Discounted rooms | Starting at $135 (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
Big Night Chicago NYE Gala @ Congress Plaza Hotel – 9pm – 1:30am | Inclusive drinks and buffet | Live entertainment | Discounted rooms | Starting at $119.99 (520 S. Michigan Ave.)
New Year’s Eve Soiree @ JW Marriott – 9pm – 2am | Inclusive drinks and buffet | Live entertainment | Pre and Post Parties | Discounted rooms | Starting at $125 (151 W. Adams St.)
Chicago Scene New Year’s Eve Party @ The Drake – 9pm – 1am | Inclusive drinks and hors d’oeuvres | Live entertainment | Pre Party | Discounted rooms | Starting at $165 (140 E. Walton Pl.)
Dinners & Brunches
The Albert – Tasting -Menu | Elegant Six-Course Tasting Menu. Supplements available | $125 per person | $75 optional beverage pairing (228 E. Ontario St.)
Geja’s Cafe – Prix-fixe menu | Four-course fondue; Shrimp and Beef Entree; Chocolate Dessert Fondue; Champagne | Live flamenco music | $95 – $115 per person (340 W. Armitage Ave.)
20 East – Dinner & Brunch All-You-Can-Eat | Fried Chicken; Sriracha Butter Waffles; Cavatappi Chili Mac; Hot Chocolate Bar | $45 per person (20 E. Delaware Pl.)
Cindy’s – Canape Selection & Brunch | Buttermilk Pancakes; Shellfish Platter; Champagne | Live entertainment (12 S. Michigan Ave.)
Fish Bar – Prix-fixe menu | All-You-Can-Eat Crab; Oyster Shooter; Curry Scented Lobster Bisque; Wedge Salad | $85 per person (2956 N. Sheffield Ave.)
GreenRiver – Five-course tasting menu | Trout Tartare Parfait; Wild Mushroom Agnolotti | $125 – $155 per person | $55 – $75 optional wine pairing (259 E. Erie St.)
Honey Butter Fried Chicken – Pick-up or delivery takeaway packs | Fried Chicken; Duck Fat Mashed Potato; Snickerdoodle Sandwich Cookies | $95 per pack (3361 N. Elston Ave.)
Maple & Ash – Dinner & Brunch (a la carte) | Fire Roasted Seafood Tower; Ricotta Agnolotti; Champagne | $55 per person for brunch | $25 for unlimited bubbles (8 W. Maple St.)
Ronero – Four-course prix-fixe menu | Arroz de Lisa; Pescado Frito; Picanha | $80 – $100 per person | $20 – $25 optional wine and cocktail pairing (738 W. Randolph St.)
The Gwen – Four-course prix-fixe menu | Beef Tenderloin; Seared Scallops; Champagne | Live entertainment | $85 per person | $40 optional wine pairing | Overnight package and live entertainment (512 N. Rush St.)
The Signature Room – Three and five-course prix-fixe menus | $125 (three-course) – $225 (five-course) per person | $30 late-night entertainment package (875 N. Michigan Ave.)
Travelle Kitchen + Bar – Four-course prix-fixe menu | Roasted Corn Bisque; Seared Branzino; Charred Lobster Tail | $95 – $175 per person | $40 – $60 optional wine pairing (330 N. Wabash Ave.)
The Promontory – Three-course prix-fixe tasting menu | Veal Marrowbone; Stuffed Quail; Filet Mignon | Champagne & Caviar Service | $45 per person | $20 optional wine pairing (5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West)
Dusek’s Board & Beer – Five and seven-course prix-fixe menu | Roasted Pumpkin Salad; Chestnut Gnocchi; Beef Short Rib | $65 (five-course) – $95 (seven-course) per person | $25 – $35 optional beer or wine pairing (1227 W. 18th St.)
Carnivale – Four-course prix-fixe or a la carte menu | Seafood Tower; Kobe Arrechera; Beef Tenderloin Churrasco; Mascarpone Cheesecake | Live entertainment | $75 per person (702 W. Fulton Market)
The Loyalist – All-You-Can Eat Lobster | Drink specials | Limited a la carte menu | $75 per person (177 N. Ada St.)
bellyQ – Family-style feast | Baby Back Pork Ribs; Tea-Smoked Duck Breast; Vietnamese Cinnamon Donuts | $45 per person (1400 W. Randolph St.)
The Dearborn – Three-course prix-fixe menu | Seafood Tower; Loup de Mer; While Alba Truffle Housemade Gnocchi | $72 per person | $35 optional wine pairing (145 N. Dearborn St.)
Margeaux Brasserie – Five or seven-course tasting menu | Loup de Mer; Tarte Flambee; Duck L’Orange $95 (five-course) – $135 (seven-course) per person (11 E. Walton St.)
Parties (Bottles, Buffets, and Champagne Toasts)
ROOF on theWit
ROOF on theWit – Premium open bar | Buffet stations | Gambling tables | Starting at $150 | Bottle service starting at $850 (201 N. State St.)
Raised – Premium drink package | Starting at $150 (1 W. Wacker Dr.)
Ada Street – Open bar and hors d’oeuvres | Salmon Tartare; Oyster Po’ Boy Crostini; Lamb Ribs | $100 per person (1664 N. Ada St.)
Arabella – Premium open bar and hors d’oeuvres | $100 per person | $700 group VIP booth for four (112 W. Grand Ave.)
Esco Bar – Premium open bar and hors d’oeuvres | Live entertainment | $80 per person (738 W. Randolph St.)
Headquarters Beercade – Blanket Fort & Pillow Fight Party (pajamas encouraged) | Cereal-infused cocktails; Pizza party | $25 per person (213 W. Institute Pl.)
The Rec Room – Midnight buffet and bottomless drinks | $50 – $100 per person (18 W. Hubbard St.)
LondonHouse – Open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and midnight breakfast buffet | Live entertainment | Starting at $100 (85 E. Upper Wacker Dr.)
Marshall’s Landing – Premium drink packages and passed hors d’oeuvres | $95 per person | $1,000 VIP lounge (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza)
Old Town Pour House – Hors d’oeuvres, midnight brunch, New Year’s Day brunch | Mini Stuffed French Toast; Mini Breakfast Sandwiches | $20.18 Champagne bottles | $40 per person (1419 N. Wells St.)
The Boundary – Premium bar, hors d’oeuvres, midnight brunch, New Year’s Day brunch | Mini Stuffed French Toast; Mini Breakfast Sandwiches | $20.18 Champagne bottles | $70 per person (1932 W. Division St.)
Deuce’s & The Diamond Club – Tables and champagne toast | Starting at $20 limited time only (3505 N. Clark St.)
Moe’s Cantina – Premium drink package and buffet | Champagne toast | Starting at $100 | Private table reservations available for additional fee (155 W. Kinzie St.)
Old Crow Smokehouse – Premium open bar and buffet | Live entertainment | Starting at $75 (149 W. Kinzie St.)
8fifty8 – Premium drink package, hors d’oeuvres and buffet | Photo shoot | Starting at $80 limited time only | VIP table reservations available for additional fee (858 W. Lake St.)
Hubbard Inn – Premium drink package, hors d’oeuvres and dessert, and champagne bar | Starting at $100 | Bottle service available for additional fee (110 W. Hubbard St.)
Spybar – Open bar and champagne toast | Live entertainment | Starting at $30 (646 N. Franklin St.)
Sound-Bar – $1 top-shelf drinks, appetizer buffet, and champagne toast | Live entertainment | Pre Party | Starting at $135 (226 W. Ontario St.)
The Violet Hour – Cocktails, beer, wine, and late-night apps | $53 – $145 per person | $20 optional absinthe service (1520 N. Damen Ave.)
Drumbar – Premium drink package and passed hors d’oeuvres | Starting at $100 | Private table reservations available for additional fee (201 E. Delaware Pl.)
SHAY – Cash bar and passed hors d’oeuvres | Starting at $35 limited time only | Private table reservation available for additional fee (222 W. Ontario St.)
Howl at the Moon – Two packages | Champagne Supernova: $120 (Reserved seating, six premium drinks, buffet, champagne bottle) | Just Dance: $65 (Entry, three premium drinks, appetizers, champagne toast) | Live entertainment (26 W. Hubbard St.)
Joy District – Premium drink package, passed hors d’oeuvres and dessert, and champagne bar | Starting at $175 | Private table reservation available for additional fee (112 W. Hubbard St.)
McGee’s Tavern & Grille – Open bar, buffet, and champagne toast | Live entertainment | Pre Parties | Starting at $60 (950 W. Webster Ave.)
The MID – Dessert table and champagne toast | Live entertainment | Starting at $20 limited time only | Private table reservations available for additional fee (306 N. Halsted St.)
Studio Paris – Premium drink package and passed hors d’oeuvres | Live entertainment | $110 per person | Private table reservations available for additional fee (59 W. Hubbard St.)
Prysm Nightclub – Premium drink package and passed hors d’oeuvres | Live entertainment | Starting at $85 | Private table reservations available for additional fee (1543 N. Kingsbury St.)
Concerts
Photo Credit: Reaction NYE via Instagram
Reaction NYE – Adventure Club; Bear Grillz; Ookay | Aragon Ballroom | Starting at $45 (1106 W. Lawrence Ave.)
Blue Man Group – Briar Street Theater | Starting at $59 (3133 N. Halsted St.)
Windy City Soul Club – Logan Square Auditorium | Starting at $20 (2539 N. Kedzie Blvd.)
Joanna Connor Blues Band – Larry McKray; Vance Kelly | Kingston Mines | $35 per person (2548 N. Halsted St.)
Voyager NYE – Nick Monaco; Mike Q; Clap! Clap!; Shigeto | Secret Location TBA | $90 per person limited time only
Chicago NYE Ball – Vic Mensa; DJ Rock City; Diox | Concord Music Hall | Starting at $79 (2047 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Other Activities
Navy Pier Fireworks & Resolution Gala – Noon Year’s Eve at Chicago Children’s Museum | Chicago Resolution Gala at Aon Grand Ballroom | Crystal Gardens New Year’s Eve | Fireworks Show | Prices Vary (600 E. Grand Ave.)
NYE Weekend Cocktail Cruises – Seven cruise options (five on Friday – Sunday, one family-friendly, and one all-inclusive fireworks cruise) | Complimentary glass of champagne | Live entertainment | Starting at $25 *** Special UrbanMatter Discount: $1 Tickets to 1 of 6 Cruises for a limited time only – buy now (does not apply to all-inclusive cruise)! Promo code: URBANMATTER ***
Limo Bus Bar Crawl – Limo bus transportation | $3, $4, $5 drink specials | Champagne Toast | Lincoln Park or Wicker Park | Starting at $30
NYE Yacht Party – Open bar, buffet, and champagne toast | Live entertainment | Starting at $160 | DuSable Harbor (200 N. Breakwater Access)
