Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Melbourne

Left New Year’s Eve plans until the last minute? It’s not too late to plan your entry into 2018 with a rooftop dance-a-thon or an hours-long feast. But it almost is.

We’ve rounded up feasts and parties happening around Melbourne this New Year’s Eve, and – if you’ve still got some fight in you – the best places to kick-on come New Year’s Day.

EAT

Longrain
A leisurely banquet and expertly crafted cocktails is what you’ll get at Longrain this New Year’s Eve. The modern Thai restaurant will keep its heavy wooden doors open until 2am on the night, and diners can choose between the regular à la carte menu or a banquet. Share fragrant favourites such as Khao Soi lamb neck curry and poached prawn-filled betel leaf while special guests provide your end-of-2017 playlist.

Open for dinner from 5.30pm until 2am on New Year’s Eve. Bookings can be made for tables of any size with the choice between à la carte or banquet menus. More information and bookings here.

Stomping Ground
The Collingwood brewpub is offering a three-course meal styled on the Aussie barbeque. There’ll be wood-roasted tiger prawns with garlic butter, Wessex Saddleback chipolatas, and lamington with coconut sorbet to finish. There are two sittings available, including an earlier option that will work for families with young children, or for those who want to eat then get to the next party. Choose between 5.30pm or 8pm.

Tickets $39 per adult and $15 per child, all food and the first glass of champagne (or soft drink) included. More information and bookings here.

Santoni
Make the most of Santoni’s rooftop views this New Year’s Eve with a three-course Italian meal overlooking the city skyline. A special menu includes two-fish carpaccio, pork belly with cabbage remoulade and whipped ricotta cannoli with candied fruit and Iranian fairy floss. There are two sittings are on offer – a family-friendly early sitting and a later option – and the rooftop bar will be made open to the public from 11pm for rooftop views of the fireworks.

Tickets from $75 per adult and $35 per child and include a three-course meal. More information and contact details here.

Le Bon Ton
Le Bon Ton’s New Year’s Eve Carnival Extravaganza is a happy middle-ground between an indulgent feast and unbridled festivity. Begin your night with an all-you-can-eat American-style BBQ featuring all of your favourite Le Bon Ton dishes, then dance 2017 out to two live bands playing New Orleans-style brass band tunes. The cost includes five hours of unlimited drinks (including cocktails) but the dancing will continue well on until the early hours of the morning.

7pm to 5am. Tickets $199 and include a five-hour all-you-can-eat food and drink package. More information and bookings here.

PARTY

QT Rooftop
End the year on a literal high at the QT rooftop party. Champagne will be flowing at this soirée on the 11th floor of the Russell Street hotel. On the night, the split indoor-outdoor space will be transformed into a series of food and beverage stations, including separate oyster and caviar-tasting areas; a BBQ station with prawns, scallops, pancetta and Wagyu beef tataki; and a dessert station with chocolate lollipops, lemon tarts and macaroons. There will also be a selection of canapés – such as beef tartare, soft shell crab sliders and spiced Wagyu brisket bao – roaming around. YesYou will be on hand to soundtrack the night.

8pm to 1am. Tickets $210 for in-house hotel guests and $265 for visitors. More information and bookings here.

The Local Taphouse
If you’re terrified by the thought of yet another year passing, then spend your New Year’s Eve pretending you’re in a different (earlier) decade. This beloved St Kilda East watering hole is throwing a ’90s house party to say farewell to 2017. The rooftop bar will be open from midday, a DJ will be spinning classic tunes, and video games will be hooked up to the big screen. Dig out your best ’90s threads for the occasion because a prize (beer) will be on offer for best-dressed.

Midday until 1am. Entry is free. More information here.

Jackalope
The designer hotel is throwing its first-ever New Year’s Eve party, with a sophisticated wining and dining extravaganza set against the backdrop of the picturesque vineyard, Don your black tie best and enjoy house-made cocktails, seafood stations, roving canapés and a live band as the sun dips and Jackalope’s famous room-length 10,000-globe chandelier begins to sparkle.

7pm to 2am. Tickets $495 and include all food and drinks. More information and bookings here.

Beyond the Valley
Now in its fourth year, the bill at this four-day festival in Lardner Park is packed with local and international acts including ScHoolBoy Q, the Preatures, Matt Corby, Little Dragon, Amy Shark, Meg Mac, Cut Copy and San Cisco. If you’re only looking for a one-night party, the festival sells a single NYE pass alongside three-day, two-day and the full four-day pass.

Lardner Park, Warragul. Thursday December 28, 2017 to Monday January 1, 2018. Tickets from $169 for a NYE pass to $420 for a four-day ticket. More information and tickets here.

Pontoon
As if the beachside location isn’t enough to convince you to start 2018 at this boardwalk spot, Pontoon has managed to secure the Avalanches for its NYE party. The Avalanches will be joined by a top-notch line-up of supporting DJs, including Andy Garvey, Andras, and Andy Juggernaut. Tickets include food and drink for the first hour.

5pm to 1am, 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda. Tickets $146.82. More information and bookings here.

Soul-A-Go-Go
Bring your dancing shoes for a night with PBS all-stars Cookin’ on 3 Burners, Vince Peach, Miss Goldie, Richie 1250 and more.

9pm to 3am, The Night Cat, 137-141 Johnston St, Fitzroy. Tickets $45. More information and bookings here.

Arbory Bar & Eatery and Arbory Afloat
Party by – or on – the Yarra on December 31 with views of the fireworks at Arbory Bar and Eatery or its floating summer pop-up. At Arbory Afloat, there'll be pizza and roving canapes and a Pidapipó Gelato cart on deck. On land, the theme is pink, and there's more roving canapes and bubbly. DJs will be on the tunes at both parties.

Doors open at Arbory Bar and Eatery and Arbory Afloat at 7pm, with both events beginning at 8pm and running until 1am. Tickets are $210 to Arbory proper, and $250 for Arbory Afloat. More information and bookings here

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Freedom Time
If you’re going to lift off on New Year’s Day, best do it at the Coburg Velodrome. This is the frisbee ring of festivals: it’s light and colourful, doesn’t injure you when you mess up, and keeps on spinning so long as you’re willing to throw down. The party has become well-loved for its clever programming, which typically features a significant disco and house component. 2018’s impressive line-up features: Chicago-house legend Heard (aka Mr. Fingers) who is one of the true greats of electronic music; a joint performance by post-disco and boogie hero Leroy Burgess with Harvey Sutherland and Bermuda; and Jamaican dancehall king Johnny Osborne..

Monday January 1, Coburg Velodrome. Final release tickets $129. Tickets here.

Animals Dancing
New year, new use for Welcome to Thornbury. The outdoor food truck park will be transformed on New Year’s Day with this annual dance party. Beautiful Swimmers and Norwegian-based DJ and producer Telephones are just two of 11 acts that will be holding fort on the makeshift stage.

Monday January 1, 2pm to 11pm at Welcome to Thornbury, 520 High Street, Northcote. Tickets from $73.26. More information and tickets here.

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