New Years Eve in London can be an amazing, fantastical spectacle with the city coming together all at once to share in their hopes and goals for the next year. It can also be a bit stressful if you don#’t have your plans finalised. Life, especially on New Years Eve, is for living – not for running all over town looking for a reservation. Don’t fear, we’re here with our top picks for your NYE in the local area with a budget and taste for everyone!
Bernardi’s for relaxed revelry before the resolutions
This smart, yet relaxed Italian restaurant knows how to throw a party. As a fun and adventurous Italian eatery, all of their dreamy NYE menus have options for vegetarians, free from fans and carnivores alike, so everyone in your group is happy! There’s the 4-course (£65pp) or 6-course (£85pp) feasting options that include cicchetti, the Italian version of tapas, choices like vegetarian truffle arancini or steak tartare & soft quail egg crostini.
Calabrian peppers & goats cheese crostini (v). The food is just getting started as the antipasti are certainly not anti-party with picks like calamari, king prawns & sea bream fritto misto or burrata straight from Puglia with oranges and walnuts. The mains are some heavy hitters like Chargrilled chateaubriand, Stone bass, Pappardelle with slow cooked venison shoulder ragù or Porcini mushroom, Parmesan & truffle risotto. Dessert is …well, it’s Italian so it’s going to be amazing. Enough said. If you opt for the 6-course menu, you are also treated to a pasta course prior to the mains with luxuries like Lobster & Crab ravioli in tomato consommé, as well as a cheese course following dessert! Book here or call 020 3826 7940.
Lanes of London for a luxurious Auld Lang Syne
Want to finish your year in the lap of luxury? Look no further than Lanes of London’s New Years Menu. Start the evening with glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial (how else?) and amuse-bouche to prepare for the evening of glamour. The entire elegant menu has fish, meat and vegetarian options to suit everyone. Just to tease your tastebuds, some of the shimmering starters include scallops with almond, celeriac and blueberries or duck with strawberries and fennel with hazelnut. Your magnificent mains will not disappoint with winners like Turbot with turnip, parsley and girolles. The dessert options are what dreams are made of, but we’re dreaming of the whiskey and chocolate cremeux with caramel and coffee. Top it all off with mince pies as it’s your last chance until Christmas 2019. Book here or call 020 7647 5664.
The Portman for pub grub with a plush spin
The Portman on Seymour Place might look like a classic cosy pub downstairs, but head upstairs for a plush and piquant surroundings with food to match! Executive Chef Eddie, a local hero, prepares the food using only the best free range, organic and RSPCA approved ingredients, so you can start your new year feeling full and virtuous! The 4-course NYE menu features nibbles like Smoked Salmon Roulade followed by seasonal starters like venison carpaccio with raspberry dressing and parsnip crisps. The mains include something for everyone with Chateaubriand (for two),fillet of wild halibut or vegetarian and gluten free pumpkin risotto. Ring in the new year with the sweetest way possible – pudding or cheese board. Personally, we’re going for the warm chocolate pudding with honeycomb ice cream. Book here or call 020 7723 8996.
The Harcourt for a Nordic new year
Gott nytt år! You’ll be hearing that a lot on the night as it means Happy New Year in Swedish. The Harcourt, set in a gorgeous, and carefully preserved Georgian pub with oak panelling and leaded windows has very distinct hygge cosiness thanks to its Nordic connection and ownership with this area of Marylebone refered to as Little Sweden for over a century. The interior, aesthetics, and menu all embrace elements of this Scandinavian influence embedded in the history of its walls, and the Gott nytt år / New Years Eve menu showcases this beautifully. The menu caters to carnivores, pescatarians and vegetarians alike. To start there are divine options like hand dived scallop carpaccio, glazed ox cheeks or creme of celeriac with black truffles. The mains are something spectucularly Swedish with choices like Nordic Reindeer with lingonberry, Roast Organic Salmon with crayfish veolute. Right before you cheer “Gott slut” (meaning Happy end of the year!), dive into one of their indulgent dessert options like Valrhona chocolate fondant with praline and quince. Be sure to ring in the new year with one of their Scandi cocktails using aquavit, Swedish gin. Book here or call 020 3771 8660.
The Gate Marylebone for free-from festiveness
Consistently renowned as London’s leading vegetarian and vegan eatery, The Gate will make sure you have a guilt-free, but glittering New Years Eve! Their bespoke NYE menu is a curated tasting selection of their top five courses during 2018! Entirely vegan and completely delicious, the menu begins with an amuse bouche of fragrant shiitake mushrooms & water chestnuts in a crispy basket with shiso leaf & coriander sauce, followed by the famous creamy Jerusalem artichoke soup topped with truffle oil. The homemade warming raviolini and celeraic puree is decadent, but it doesn’t stop yet as you tuck into the fan-favourite chargrilled aubergine layered with coriander pesto, roasted red peppers, shitake mushrooms & horseradish, then coated with crispy breadcrumbs and pickled ginger & mango salsa. Finish off the year and your meal with a trio of desserts – HALLELUJAH – featuring chocolate & raspberry, mango pavlova, plum & star anise crumble.
Book here or call 020 7833 0401.
Hankies Marble Arch to feel like you’re on holiday
Hankies is pulling out all the stops for a memorable night of fine food and drink, live music from their Jazz Band and a few surprises, which they’ll reveal on the night. Set in the luxurious setting of The Montcalm Marble arch, Hankies’ delicious and authentic North Indian Street food is the perfect and unpretentious way to welcome the new year with prosperity! You can bid farewell to 2018 and usher in the next stage of life, whilst enjoying some sumptuous cuisine and company for only £35.50 per person for early seating and £42.50 for late seating. An amazingly good value for a New Year’s Soirée in central London! Book now by calling 0208 958 3222 or emailing restaurant@hankies.london.
