Dining out on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is the perfect way to savor the final moments of 2024 and toast to the adventures of 2025. Atlanta’s top restaurants are rolling out the red carpet with festive menus, creative cocktails and lively celebrations to suit every taste. From Ibiza-inspired tapas to Southern classics, here’s a roundup of must-visit spots to make welcoming the new year unforgettable.
Buckhead
Aria welcomes guests for a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner from 5:30-10:30 p.m. The Buckhead restaurant will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with choices for $98 per person. Aria will be closed on New Year’s Day. Visit the website for more information and reservations.
Chido & Padre’s is the ultimate spot for a lively New Year’s Eve, offering a classic menu with chef features such as lobster fajitas. The night includes a DJ, Champagne toast and party favors. Reservations are available until 9:45 p.m. and can be made online. The restaurant reopens on New Year’s Day at 4 p.m.
Gypsy Kitchen invites guests to ring in 2025 with a classic dinner menu featuring Spanish favorites like seafood paella and grilled lamb chops. The celebration kicks into high gear with a DJ, party favors and a midnight balloon drop. Reservations are available until 9:45 p.m. On New Year’s Day, the restaurant opens at 4 p.m. Make reservations online.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in elegant style at Nan Thai Buckhead. Guests can choose from a limited à la carte menu or indulge in a special chef’s tasting menu designed to elevate the evening. Known for its exceptional Thai cuisine and sophisticated ambiance, Nan Thai provides the perfect setting to ring in 2025. Make your reservations online.
Celebrate with a seaside vibe at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, where New Year’s Eve features include a six-ounce filet mignon paired with a poached lobster tail or pan-seared scallops with lobster bisque risotto. Guests can top it off with a peppermint martini or cinnamon-spiced cocktail for a festive twist. The restaurant reopens on New Year’s Day at noon for lunch and dinner. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
Ring in the new year with The Southern Gentleman’s $95 four-course prix fixe menu on Dec. 31. Highlights include filet mignon with truffle potato purée and lemon butter scallops with a red pepper beurre fondue. The meal can be paired with seasonal cocktails like the Winter Wonderland. On New Year’s Day, guests can enjoy brunch from 12-7 p.m., featuring a traditional good-luck plate with black-eyed peas, pork and collard greens. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Old Fourth Ward
Guests will be transported to Ibiza with Buena Vida Tapas Bar’s exclusive New Year’s Eve celebration. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., guests can enjoy an all-inclusive open bar, a curated Spanish tapas buffet by chef Jaime Guzman and live music all night long. As midnight approaches, revelers will raise a glass during the Champagne toast to welcome 2025 in true Spanish style. Tickets start at $95, with limited availability and can be purchased online. The event is open to those 21 and older.
West Midtown & Upper Westside
Chichería Mexican Kitchen brings Baja California to Atlanta with its Escondido New Year’s Eve event from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Guests can enjoy free entry with a secret password, a dynamic DJ and a signature cocktail menu inspired by Baja’s diverse landscapes. From tropical flavors to bold, spicy concoctions, the evening promises to be as vibrant as the Baja coast. Visit the website to RSVP and get the password for free entry.
Escape to a Polynesian Paradise at Your 3rd Spot, where revelers can indulge in a six-course Taste & Explore menu for $52 per person (reservations required). Highlights include dishes like coconut-crusted mahi mahi, grilled huli huli chicken and pineapple upside-down cake, with optional enhancements such as lobster roll sliders and wagyu beef tartare. Guests will enjoy Polynesian cocktails like mai tais and painkillers, along with games, live entertainment featuring a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, a midnight balloon drop and more. General entry starts at $70, with exclusive VIP and “Baller” experiences offering premium seating, Champagne and added perks. Members enjoy discounted pricing, making it the ultimate way to ring in the new year. View membership options HERE and make reservations online.
For those looking to ring in the new year in a welcoming atmosphere, the Woodall is serving a special New Year’s Eve four-course menu for $80 per person plus tax and gratuity. Among the choices are French onion soup; Far East Caesar salad; pappardelle with braised lamb sugo; center-cut filet with sauteed garlic, cauliflower and potato puree; salmon served with roasted broccoli, jumbo asparagus, Parmesan and Green Goddess dressing; and Baileys butter cake. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Outside the Perimeter
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails delights with a $95 three-course prix fixe menu on New Year’s Eve, complete with a complimentary glass of Champagne. Entrees range from orange duck breast with jalapeño cornbread to seared scallops with Brussels sprouts. On New Year’s Day, guests can enjoy a leisurely brunch from 12-3 p.m. or dinner starting at 5 p.m. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Ocean & Acre offers a surf-and-turf celebration on New Year’s Eve with classic lunch and dinner menus, plus chef-curated features such as grilled beef filet with lobster tail and creamy potato purée. Reservations are available until 9:30 p.m. On New Year’s Day, guests can enjoy a special brunch from 12-3 p.m. followed by dinner service starting at 4 p.m. Make reservations via OpenTable.
All locations of Marlow’s Tavern will be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day serving the regular menu. Guests also can enjoy two glasses of Domaine Ste. Michelle brut plus any appetizer for $25. Reservations can be made online.
All Ray’s Restaurants—Ray’s on the River, Ray’s at Killer Creek and Ray’s in the City—will be open on New Year’s Eve serving a prix fixe menu for $115 per person (not including tax and gratuity) from 4 p.m.-12 a.m. and a limited a la carte menu from 4-7 p.m. Prix fixe menu options include jumbo shrimp cocktail, Ray’s salad, Charleston she crab soup, Faroe Island salmon Oscar, porcini-rubbed bone-in ribeye, pan-seared seabass, surf and turf with an eight-ounce filet, seven-ounce cold water lobster tail and whipped potatoes, and warm lemon butter cake with blueberry compote and vanilla ice cream. Among the a la carte features are New Orleans BBQ shrimp, jumbo lump crab cakes, steakhouse wedge salad, horseradish-crusted black grouper, filet mignon, twin seven-ounce lobster tails, grilled jumbo asparagus and signature lobster mac and cheese. Known for exceptional service and iconic dishes, Ray’s Restaurants provides a festive setting to ring in the new year with family and friends.
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern presents a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party with live entertainment. All locations will serve their regular menus plus a surf and turf special. Revelers also can expect drink flight specials, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. Visit hobnobatlanta.com for reservations.
