Undecided about your New Year’s Eve options? There’s plenty to do around Downtown Phoenix. The only decision to be made is where you’ll make your appearance.
The Clarendon Hotel (401 W. Clarendon Rd. in Midtown) is throwing its yearly rooftop bash, complete with jams from DJ Epidemic, food and drinks from in-house Gallo Blanco Café and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $50 (you get one free when you book a room, and each additional ticket is $25 with stay). Bring your coat and scarf — temperatures will hover around 45º at midnight.
The Hyatt Regency (122 N. 2nd St. in Copper Square) will host its swanky Atrium party all night long. This is the classy affair, folks — a balloon drop at midnight, champagne and cocktails (drink tickets given upon admission), party favors, a 10-piece band and DJ, first-class hors d’oeuvres and a meat cutting station and pasta bar. The event is $99, $249 for admission and hotel room. Reservations required.
St. Francis will be offering a four-course prix fixe menu. Photo by Justin Lee.
Want to ring in the New Year on Grand? The Paisley Violin (1030 NW Grand Ave.) is serving up a heapin’ spoonful of smooth jazz and delicious courses: a caviar and Spanish chorizo appetizer, choice of soup or salad and entrée options that include pesto chicken breast with goat cheese over rice with veggies and mango tofu and veggies over Basmati rice. Carrot cake or cheesecake with warm pepper raspberry sauce will be offered for dessert. You also get wine with dinner, and an espresso drink with cordial to finish it all off, plus champagne at midnight. Dinner is $42 per person, $85 per couple. Reservations required.
George & Dragon, that wily British pub in Midtown (4240 N. Central Ave.), does a double whammy: celebrating the New Year once at 5 p.m. (midnight in Britain) and then again at midnight. It’s a free party, complete with double champagne toasts. Can’t beat that!
SideBar (1514 N. 7th Ave. in FQ Story) will be cranking out its selection of strong cocktails, wine and beer by sunset, and the champagne will be flowing by midnight.
St. Francis (111 E. Camelback Rd.), Uptown’s newest modern American locale, will feature a $65 prix fixe menu with celery root and apple soup; pan roasted sea scallops with tri-color heirloom cauliflower, Meyer lemon and caviar; roasted duck with butter-braised root vegetables and caramelized orange sauce; and dark chocolate cake with Grand Marnier cream. Mmmmm.
If you just want sick beats, the place to be is Bar Smith (130 E. Washington St. in Copper Square). Ten DJs will keep it loud from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. The rooftop will have electro and house, while downstairs will feature hip-hop and laid-back lounge sounds. General admission is $20, VIP passes are $75.
Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub, tucked alongside the Hotel San Carlos (18 W. Monroe St. in Copper Square), is offering a full-out Irish dinner, complete with party favors, an open bar, live music, a midnight champagne toast and a room in the hotel to end up in. This bar is already rowdy most weekends, so if you like it loud and crazy, this is the spot. The celebration is $150 per person.
