From walk-in bars to set price food and drink packages, these hotspots are putting on a fittingly fine show for the last night of 2024.
Is your New Year’s resolution to try new venues, or to be more spontaneous? Start now with these 14 events across Sydney where you can walk in, or still make a booking (if you’re quick). There’s water views, champagne deals, and killer-value set menus to get the party started.
Genzo
Our pick to celebrate the year’s final moments is this bold Japanese diner. In the new Walker Street precinct, Genzo is the perfect pit stop for those on their way to see the fireworks on the lower north shore. The neon, colourfully lit space and group-friendly modern Japanese menu is a guaranteed hit. Kids eat free between 5pm and 6pm, and if you pre-order a bottle of Moët & Chandon, you’ll get upgraded to a Magnum.
Price: A la carte menu
Walk-ins available or book here. 168 Walker Street, North Sydney
Odd Culture
Our favourite fermentation-forward bar is doing New Year’s Eve in their signature cool and carefree style. Follow the sound of DJs spinning vinyl down to Odd Culture from noon into the night (no booking required!) for a bite from their small but perfectly formed snack menu, where oysters, and their well-loved cucumber with whipped tofu are highlights. For something more substantial, get around their cheeseburger on pillowy potato rolls.
Price: A la carte menu
Walk-ins only. 266 King Street, Newtown
Felons Brewing Co.
Watch the final 2024 sunset over North Harbour, then have front-row seats to Manly’s 9pm fireworks at Felons. Book now to lock in a set menu feast to send off the year for $149 per person. It includes an arrival drink, and summery dishes like scallop and tuna crudo, and passionfruit pavlova. Or just rock up at any time and dance the night away to the disco tunes of Groove City.
Price: A la carte menu, or $149 set menu including a welcome drink
Walk-ins available or book here. E Esplanade, Manly
Loam
Hidden in plain sight in the foyer of the Ace Hotel, Loam is a gem for cool, casual catch-ups with a bit of class. Come here for your New Year’s Eve celebrations if you want the vibes of a chilled-out, fashionable house party without the hosting responsibilities. An a la carte menu is available, and we’re keen to try their summery specials such as stracciatella with grilled peaches and pistachio pesto, and grilled Yamba prawns with Calabrian chilli butter. Cheers to that with a chilled red or an olive leaf martini.
Price: A la carte menu
Walk-ins available or book here. 47/53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney
Taphouse
If you’re after a celebratory feast that’s more budget than blow-out, head to the roof of Darlinghurst boozer the Taphouse and choose between their Chinese a la carte and banquet menu. The banquet menu hits all the nostalgic classics, including the Irish fave the spice bag that blew up this year. Their a la carte menu offers more NYE-worthy centrepieces such as wok-fried mud crab. For a bit of extra fun, trivia will be running in the Public Bar, so grab your team and get ready to test your knowledge as you sip and snack the night away.
Price: A la carte menu or $65 per person banquet menu
Walk-ins available or book here. 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst
Nick & Nora’s
If you want a bit of Gatsby glamour, this rooftop bar is just the place to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Head up to level 26 from 4pm onwards to enjoy city views, and their extensive drinks list where champagne, whiskey, and cocktails reign supreme. In a Cinderella-meets-Australia moment, try their “champagne shoey”. Order any bottle of champagne, and drink it from specially made glass shoes. For food, their globe-spanning a la carte and set menu will be available for $70 per person.
Price: A la carte menu or $70 per person set menu
Walk-ins available or book here. Level 26/45 Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Otto
Beyond the million-dollar water views, Otto is the perfect spot to catch the last sun rays of 2024. Those with packed NYE agendas can take advantage of the Italian stalwart’s full a la carte menu at their first seating at 5pm. From 7.30pm, diners will be offered a four-course menu, plus a glass of champagne on arrival. Standouts include zucchini flowers filled with scallops and prawn and wagyu chuck tail flap MBS 9+ steak.
Price: A la carte menu until 6.15pm, $370 per person menu plus a glass of champagne after 7.30pm, $120 per person kids’ menu
Book here. Area 8, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo
Ho Jiak Town Hall
Junda Khoo’s supercharged Malaysian “playground” has a luxurious a la carte menu that seems like it was made for celebrating New Year’s Eve. Go all out with jasmine rice smoked oysters and bone marrow roti, or choose your own adventure with a selection of finessed Malaysian sauces to accompany NT mud crab and WA marron. That is, if you can look past the expertly executed classics such as Hainanese chicken and swimmer crab char kwai teow. Banquet menus are also on offer if it all sounds too good to make a decision.
Price: A la carte menu, or $98/$128 per person for the banquet menu.
Walk-ins available, or book here.125 York St, Sydney
Shell House
All four levels at Shell House will be open as usual for NYE, a stone’s throw away from the action at Circular Quay. Enjoy the Italo-inspired menu at the cool and casual Menzies Bar & Bistro (don’t miss the lobster rolls), listen to DJs with epic views of the city at the Sky Bar, or go all out at the Dining Room with two Euro-inspired New Year’s Eve set menus. Highlights include Rocky Point cobia with kohlrabi, and coral trout with rainbow chard, broad bean and preserved lemon. Their second option is bookended with luxurious seafood starters like oysters and their “scallops on scallops” dish, and a cheese platter.
Price: A la carte menus, or $180/$250 per person for set menus in the Dining Room
Walk-ins available or book here. 37 Margaret Street, Sydney
El Primo Sanchez
Say adios to 2024 at this mezcal-fuelled night fiesta on Oxford Street. Tickets are $89 and include two cocktails, a snack (in the form of chips and guac, tacos, and burritos), and a midnight tequila shot. With Latin DJs spinning all night, there’ll be serious dancing, in between the midnight pinata countdown. The theme is sparkles, and there is a $500 voucher to be won for best dressed, so be sure to come bedazzled. Book now or get a ticket at the door.
Price: $89 for a ticket
Tickets will be sold at the door, or book here. 27-33 Oxford Street, Paddington
Pizza Madre
If battling the city crowds isn’t your thing, head to Pizza Madre in Marrickville for vegetarian wood-fired pizzas in relaxed surrounds. Try their December selections from their a la carte menu, or add some mezze, a seasonal salad, and a dessert (pistachio tiramisu, we’re looking at you) to make it a set menu for $68 per person.
Price: A la carte menu, or $68 per person set menu
Walk-ins available or book here. 2/205 Victoria Road, Marrickville
Belles Hot Chicken
If you’re looking for a good way to cleanse yourself of 2024, sweat it out with some spicy fried chook at Belles Hot Chicken. Their Barangaroo and Bondi locations will be open all night and taking walk-ins. For one of the best bottomless deals in the city, their “feed me Belles” menu includes bottomless wings and tenders, fries, southern caesar, house slaw, and sauce for $39 per person. Add bottomless drinks for an extra $35 per person.
Price: A la carte menu, or $39 bottomless chicken menu
Walk-ins available or book here. Locations in Barangaroo and Bondi
The Dolphin Hotel
The Surry Hills pub will be throwing open its doors to all comers, whether they’re here for a couple of drinks, or eyeing off their Italian-leaning menu. Celebrate what was 2024 and the magic of the Dolphin’s wood-fire pizza oven, helmed by Bella Brutta alum Sasha Smiljanic.
Walk-ins available, or book here. 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Cho Cho San
This chic izakaya will have their a la carte and set menus available on New Year’s Eve. Keep things simple with their $65 per person izakaya set menu, or bump it up by $15 to get a soft shell crab hand roll and beef tataki with crispy leek. On their $95 per person feast menu, the star of the show is the crisp pork katsu bao. Cheers to the year that’s been with a Japanese-inspired cocktail, or a sake from their beginner-friendly list.
Price: A la carte menu, or $65-$95 set menus
Book here. 73 Macleay Street, Potts Point
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Isabel Cant – Isabel is a social media editor for Good Food. Prior to joining Good Food, Isabel worked as a freelance journalist. She was also previously a social media producer for Endemol Shine Australia, working on MasterChef Australia and Dessert Masters.
