Happy New Year! Get ready for glitz, glamour, and gourmet dishes – This turn of the decade, the below restaurants and bars are going all out to ring in the new year in style, featuring delicate dinners, burlesque-filled nightlife, bountiful brunches, and everything in between.
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Square 1682, the modern American restaurant and bar located in Rittenhouse Square, will offer guests a New Year’s Eve Surf & Turf special, complete with a side of cornbread and glass of Prosecco for $39. Surf & Turf continues to be one of Center City’s hottest deals of the year, so what better way to cap off 2019 than with a sizzling seared 10 oz. Angus Ribeye with a half-grilled Maine lobster, crushed fingerling potatoes, charred lime, roasted garlic, drawn herb butter and chimichurri sauce.
121 South 17th Street | 215.563.5008 | https://square1682.com/
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Royal Boucherie, Old City’s French brasserie of Top Chef winner Chef Nicholas Elmi, is the perfect spot to welcome 2020 in style. Philadelphians are invited for an open seating and to enjoy a bevy of celebratory additions to Chef Elmi’s menu, including a Champagne toast at midnight. Next day, Royal Boucherie will offer a New Year’s Day All-Day Brunch where brunchers can toast 2020 with a complimentary mimosa. Near Year’s Day Brunch (à la carte) will be served from 11 am-9 pm.
52 South 2nd Street | 267.606.6313 | https://www.royalboucherie.com/
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Townsend, the eponymous French restaurant from Chef Townsend Wentz, is celebrating NYE with a stellar five-course prix-fixe dinner for the first seating ($95/person) and seven-course prix-fixe dinner for the second seating ($125/person). Five-course menu diners can look forward to Broiled Oyster aux Poireaux, Seared Halibut Vallee d’Auge with local apple cider, rutabaga, chervil, Burgundy Truffle Risotto with pork trotter, Trompette de la Mort, smoked Raclette, Petite Filet Mignon with oxtail ravioli, and Les Treize, a dessert including 13 ingredients in the form of apple-fig-almond cake, candied hazelnuts, roasted pears, olive oil-orange ice cream.
The seven-course menu will include an additional first course in the form of Crab Gougère with caviar, herb dust and a second dessert, Petits Fors Plate with chocolate macaroons, lemon-strawberry cakes, spiced Sablé cookies. If interested, dinner can be accompanied by a $65 wine pairing for the five-course menu and a $85 wine pairing for the seven-course menu.
2121 Walnut Street | 267.639.3203 | https://www.townsendphl.com/
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Red Owl Tavern, the bustling contemporary tavern in historic Old City, will be offering guests an elevated New Year’s Eve feast to ring in 2020 in style. For $75, guests will enjoy a three-course dinner featuring entrées such as Lobster Tagliatelle with spinach, bottarga, lobster bisque and Fairytale Pumpkin Ravioli with rainbow chard, brown butter emulsion, parmesan sage frico. New Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden brings high-end flair to this menu and incorporates seasonal favorites with decadent flavors.
433 Chestnut Street | 215.923.2267 | https://redowltavern.com/
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Ocean Prime, one of Center City’s most gorgeous seafood restaurants and steakhouses, will feature a Broiled Sea Bass over Lobster Risotto ($58) with Roasted Red Pepper Cream and Fennel Herb Salad on New Year’s Eve. For one-night-only, guests can pair the specialty dish with a glass of Dom Perignon for $50. Other recommended wine pairings from the menu include William Fevre Chablis (still) and Domain Chandon (sparkling).
124 South 15th Street | 215.563.0163 | https://www.ocean-prime.com/locations-menus/philadelphia/menus
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Franky Bradley’s, the eclectic bar, restaurant and nightclub right off the bustling 13th street corridor, will ring in 2020 with a dance party and tunes courtesy of local Philadelphia producer and DJ drootrax. Tickets to this fun event (starting at 9pm) are $20 and include admission and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight.
1320 Chancellor Street | 215.735.0735 | https://frankybradleys.com/
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Art in the Age, Old City’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply, and bottle shop, offers NYE imbibers two specialty cocktails. Made with Art in the Age Black Trumpet Blueberry Cordial, lemon juice, chilled ginger lemon syrup, and garnished with blueberries and thyme, the Midnight Reverie ($14) is a sparkling pop of color perfect to sip on before the clock strikes midnight. Those looking to punch it up can enjoy the fruity flavors of Flirting with the Zodiac ($10), made with The Reverend’s Universal Spirit, dry champagne, pineapple juice, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and ginger beer. Those looking to make Flirting with the Zodiac punch for at-home NYE parties can purchase both The Reverend’s Universal Spirit and The Good Reverend’s Guide to Infused Spirits at Art in the Age and create their own spirited holiday libations.
116 North 3rd Street | 215.922.2600 | http://artintheage.com/
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Forsythia, Old City’s newest French restaurant from renowned Chef Christopher Kearse, invites guests to enjoy a five-course New Year’s Eve prix-fixe dinner ($100/person). Guests can look forward to Ora King Salmon Crudo with Rose crème, winter radish, grapefruit, Broiled Monkfish with cauliflower, lemon, Kaluga caviar, smoked beurre blanc, Dry Aged Prime New York Strip Au Poivre with black truffle, cheddar, spinach soubise, au poivre, and more. If interested, dinner can be accompanied by a $50 wine pairing with excellent French wines, selected by General Manager and Beverage Director Jennifer Camela.
233 Chestnut Street | 215.644.9395 | https://www.forsythiaphilly.com/
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The Twisted Tail, the popular Southern-inspired restaurant, bar, and live music venue on Headhouse Square, is hosting a Burlesque & Blues NYE Party with live music from Mikey Junior Band starting at 9 pm and burlesque performances continuing throughout the evening until 1 am. Guests have the option of choosing a show-only $25 ticket or a $125 VIP ticket, including admission to the party, a Champagne toast at midnight, table service, food and beverages, and reserved seating for the entire party. For those looking for a sit-down dinner and a show, guests can choose the $75 dinner menu, including admittance to the show and deluxe NYE menu by making a reservation on OpenTable or at 215.558.2471.
509 S. 2nd Street | 215.558.2471 | http://thetwistedtail.com/
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MilkBoy, the Philadelphia-born brand encompassing live-music venues, bars, restaurants, and a recording studio, will be honoring the new year with a free party at their Chestnut Street location. Partygoers are invited to dance on two floors, with DJ tunes upstairs all night. Starting at 9pm, this cover-free NYE bash will include a free whiskey toast a midnight, giveaways, beer specials, and $4 well drinks.
1100 Chestnut Street | 215.925.6455 | https://www.milkboy.tv/
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CO-OP, the lively restaurant and lounge in University City, is serving its full dinner menu on New Year’s Eve from 7 am-2 pm and 5-9 pm. Highlights include Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip ($11), Crab Fiorelli ($24) with mushrooms and basil pesto, and the CO-OP Beef Burger ($16) with smoked cheddar, caramelized onion, roasted garlic aioli and fries. On New Year’s Day from 8 am-3 pm, guests are welcome to join CO-OP for brunch and enjoy classic egg dishes like The Benedicts ranging from $15 to $16, Whole Egg Frittata for $13, or a Fresh Fruit & Berry Bowl for $11.
20 S. 33rd Street | 215.398.1874 | https://www.coopphilly.com/
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New Years’ at Urban Farmer, Philadelphia’s modern American steakhouse located on the Ben Franklin Parkway, is a two-day affair, with brunch starting at 6:30 am and going through 3 pm on New Year’s Eve, followed by a decadent dinner from 5-10 from Executive Chef Sonny Ingui. Dinner guests can enjoy à la carte features, including Langoustine Termidor ($46), Pepper Crusted Venison Loin ($52) and a 46 oz 1855 Cowboy Ribeye ($148) carved table side. Imbibers can toast to the new year with Clear Resolution ($16), a specialty cocktail boasting gin, citric acid, sparkling rosé and edible gold! Urban Farmer will also be open for brunch on New Year’s Day, serving up favorites such as Brioche French Toast ($14), Short Rib Hash ($18), Biscuits & Sausage Gravy ($15), among the mix. Insider tip: don’t skip the Bloody Mary Cart ($16), featuring build-your-own Bloody Marys with all of the fixings.
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | https://urbanfarmerphiladelphia.com/
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Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia’s “global vineyard” located on South Street, is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve party from 10 pm – 1 am, featuring specialty wines, beer, cocktails, as well as artisan cheese, charcuterie, appetizers, and a midnight Champagne toast. Tickets are $65 (including tip) and can be purchased here.
1525 South Street | 215.735.1116 | http://jetwinebar.com/
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Fond, the acclaimed French-inspired restaurant on East Passyunk, is saying goodbye to 2019 with a stellar five course pre-fixe menu ($95/person), with optional wine pairings (+ $35). New Year’s Eve diners can look forward to Butternut Squash Soup, Hamachi Crudo with fresno chili, avocado, cilantro, Rigatoni Duck Ragout with saffron, parmesan, truffle, Pork Belly with spaetzle, braised red cabbage, Dijon jus, Caramel Chocolate Tart, and more. Reservations are highly recommended.
1537 South 11th Street | 215.551.5000 | http://fondphilly.com/
Les Treize from Townsend.