Beauty & Essex
Premium open bar, hors d'oeuvres, party favors, and music by not one, but two DJs – DJ Neil & DJ Cheapshot — all in exchange for $175. Party from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m and maybe snag something from that awesome jewel box of a front store to remember the night.
Beauty & Essex, 146 Essex Street (between Stanton and Rivington streets); 212-614-0146.
Hudson Terrace
Open bar. All. Night. Long. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Hudson Terrace, 621 West 46th Street (between 11th and 12 avenues); no phone.
R Lounge
Experience one of the best views — almost 360 degree panoramic — in NYC while celebrating at an upscale lounge at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., you'll enjoy unlimited champagne bottle service, cuisine by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, and more.
R Lounge, 2 Times Square (714 7th Avenue at 48th Street); 212-765-7676.
Stanton Social
Drink, eat, and be merry starting at 10 p.m. with a family-style meal, full menu, luxury specials, a champagne toast and music by DJ Omari for all to enjoy. $125 per person. Be sure to pick up your party favor before you leave.
Stanton Social, 99 Stanton Street (between Orchard and Ludlow streets); 212-995-0099.
SideBAR
Open bar and dancing from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Need some nourishment first? Purchase a special package deal that includes a three-course dinner right next door at Little Town NY Union Square, as well as entry to the SideBAR party.
SideBAR, 118 East 15th Street (at Irving Place); no phone.
Village Pourhouse
With all the excitement that surrounds New Year's Eve, attentive bartenders can sometimes be hard to come by. But top notch service – in addition to quality, food, beers, and cocktails – is what Village Pourhouse is known for. Enjoy their five-hour open bar and party favors as you count down the minutes to midnight.
Village Pourhouse, 64 3rd Avenue (at 11th Street); no phone.
Little Town NY Restaurant Row
Hoping for a relatively early night? Enjoy Little Town's signature food and an open bar with music and party favors from 7 p.m. to midnight.
366 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th avenues); no phone.
Prospect
Brooklyn-ites, we haven't forgotten you! Head to Prospect for a special dinner that includes a $110/person Chef's Tasting Menu and $65/person wine pairings. Seatings are at 6 p.m., 8:15 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight.
Prospect, 773 Fulton Street (between S Portland Ave and S Oxford Street); 718-596-6826.
Photo: Courtesy of Beauty & Essex, Freeman's, Hudson Terrace, R Lounge
LAVO
LAVO's restaurant will be offering all kinds of deliciousness, including Kobe Meatballs with Whipped Fresh Ricotta, Rack Veal Chops, and Spinach and Artichoke Brick Oven Pizzas. Dine and dance the night away — midnight champagne toast included. Already have dinner plans, you say? Be sure to wear your dancing shoes anyway because the nightclub will be open bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
LAVO, 39 East 58th Street (at Madison Avenue); 212-584-2700.
Dream Downtown Hotel
Are you someone who likes to bounce from party to party? New American restaurant Marble Lane, private event space The Gallery, penthouse lounge PH-D, and the Britannia-inspired Electric Room are all hosting separate parties within The Dream Hotel. Four hours of open bar, champagne toasts, catered food and platters, and live feeds of the ball drop, mean you'll have all the NYE essentials no matter which setting you choose.
Dream Downtown, 334 West 16th Street (at 9th Avenue); 212-229-2559.
EN Japanese Brasserie
Travel to Japan (kind of) by experiencing EN's traditional Mochitsuki – a year-end tradition in which mochi rice is pounded by the chef in a large stone with a massive mallet. The rice is then used for a dessert prepared by the chef. Eat Soba noodles to ensure a long, strong life and break open a barrel of sake to welcome the New Year.
EN Japanese Brasserie, 435 Hudson Street (at Leroy Street); 212-647-9196.
The Darby
A special five-course, prix fixe menu by Executive Chef Alex Guarnaschelli paired with Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Dinner is at 6 p.m., just in time for the first show of the night at 7:30 p.m.
The Darby, 244 West 14th Street (between 7th and 8th avenues); 212-242-4411.
Miss Lily's
Take your pick between a prix fixe menu and numerous à la carte options for dinner at Miss Lily's. $95 for dinner and $115 for dinner and unlimited wine, beer, champagne, and house cocktails. Guess which option we'd go for. Just guess!
Miss Lily's, 132 West Houston Street (at Sullivan Street); 646-588-5375.
The Tippler
No cover. 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sparkling wine at midnight. Soul and funk music to ring in the new year. We're digging out our platform shoes!
The Tippler, 425 West 15th Street (between 9th and 10th avenues); 212-206-0000.
The Grand Hotels
The annual masquerade ball returns to the Soho Grand. From 9 p.m. on, be sure you're sporting your black-tie attire and masks as you enjoy the open bar, musical performances, and more. The night also includes a bohemian ball drop in Tribeca (filled with confetti!) – with burlesque dancers, go- go dancers, showgirls, aerialists, a live jazz band and more. You better dress to the nines!
Soho Grand Hotel, 310 West Broadway (between Canal and Grand streets); 212-965-3000.
Tribeca Grand Hotel, 2 6th Avenue (between Walker and White streets); 212-519-660.
Left Bank
American tavern is hosting two dinner seatings to make your last meal of 2012 the best. $65 for 6 p.m. and $85 for 8 p.m. Reservations are certainly recommended.
Left Bank, 117 Perry Street (between Greenwich and Hudson streets); 212-727-1170.
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel
From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., enjoy music by DJ Testone, live entertainment, party favors, open bar, and unparalleled views of the Chrysler building and New York City skyline. The indoor/outdoor rooftop space will be the perfect setting to ring in the new year.
Upstairs, 145 East 50th Street (between Lexington and Third avenues); 212-702-1600.