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On New Year’s Eve, 1 million people will gather in New York City’s Times Square to watch an 11,875-pound geodesic hunk of Waterford Crystal be slowly lowered onto the top of One Times Square. Iconic? Yes. Worth experiencing in person? Not necessarily.
It’s a well-known fact that nabbing a spot in one of the nearby pedestrian corrals requires standing outside in the elements for eight hours (or longer)—and don’t even get us started on the crowds. But if you’re really, truly keen on being in the center of everything this New Year’s Eve, the good news is that there are a variety of parties that surround Times Square where you can watch the ball drop in comfort and style.
The best part: none of these options require being left out in the cold. From black-tie galas to elevated movie nights, here are nine of the best spots to watch the ball drop in NYC this year.
As close as you can get
When: December 31, 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: The Knickerbocker, 6 Times Square
Price: $1,995 for Silver Party Ticket; $3,995 for Platinum Party Ticket
How to book: Tickets available online
With a rooftop bar just 150 feet under the ball itself, The Knickerbocker Hotel claims to be “the closest live view of the event in the world.” Silver Party Tickets grant access to an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, dancing in front of a live DJ, and a midnight champagne toast of Dom Pérignon. Upgrade to a Platinum Party Ticket to add on a buffet dinner complete with sushi, caviar, lobster, pasta, and a decadent dessert display.
A night at the movies
When: December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Where: AMC Empire 25, 234 W 42nd St.
Price: Starting at $699
How to book: Tickets available online
For one night only, the AMC Empire 25 movie theater on 42nd Street turns into a veritable bacchanal. While movies and popcorn will be on the menu, the party turns things way up with dinner, an open bar, live entertainment, and a Champagne toast. Every ticket even includes access to the sixth-floor “Platinum View Terrace,” with guaranteed views of the live ball drop.
Get bowled over
When: December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Frames Bowling Lounge, 550 9th Ave.
Price: Starting at $99
How to book: Tickets available online
For those looking for a more family-friendly event, Frames Bowling Lounge—about a 10-minute walk from Times Square—is throwing a massive New Year’s Eve party this year starting at 7:00 p.m. Aside from airing the ball drop on its wall-to-wall TVs and welcoming in the new year with a Champagne toast, the venue will offer an open bar, live DJ, buffet stations with kid-approved food (i.e. chicken tenders), and, of course, bowling galore. Upgrade your ticket for table service, private lanes, and other perks.
A magical rooftop bar
When: December 31, 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Where: Moxy NYC Times Square, 485 7th Ave.
Price: Starting at $225
How to book: Tickets available online
Ditch the tuxedo and head to one of Midtown’s hippest hotels, Moxy NYC Times Square. The hotel’s rooftop bar, Magic Hour, is throwing an all-night New Year’s Eve party this year—and though details are sparse, guests can expect an “urban amusement park concept” and “State Fair-inspired light bites,” plus an open bar and a Champagne toast at midnight. Bonus: The hotel is just a few blocks away from Times Square.
Renaissance fare
When: December 31, check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, 7th Ave. and W 48th St.
Price: Terrace rooms start at $4,500/night
How to book: Reservations available via email (info here)
The hotel with perhaps the most unobstructed view of the entirety of Times Square is the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel. They have a limited number of terrace rooms available, meaning you can enjoy the brouhaha and falling confetti from the privacy of your own private terrace. But brace yourself, because getting a front-row seat to the action doesn’t come cheap—rooms with the best views start at about $4,500 a night.
A penthouse of one’s own
When: December 31, dinner begins at 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Chatwal, 7th Ave. and W 48th St.
Price: Dinner, $175 per person; Producer Suite, $6,000/night
How to book: Reservations available online
If crowds aren’t your thing, you can throw a party of your own at The Chatwal, New York City, which features ball-drop views from the private terrace of their Producer Suite. For $6,000 a night, you can stay in these sleek Thierry Despont-designed digs, and wake up on January 1 on a handmade Shifman mattress outfitted with Frette linens.
If you’re not looking to shell out the big bucks for accommodations, you can still book a table at The Chatwal’s famous Lambs Club restaurant. Guests can enjoy a special New Year’s Eve three-course dinner, and then watch the ball drop from 44th Street.
Applebee’s—seriously
When: December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Where: Applebee’s, 234 W 42nd St.
Price: Starting at $629
How to book: Reservations available online
It may sound like Molly Shannon’s dream plotline from HBO’s The Other Two, but the Applebee’s in Times Square truly is one of the places to watch the ball drop in NYC. Regardless of how you feel about riblets and Fiesta lime chicken every other night of the year, you must admit that the restaurant has one of the best offers in town on December 31. For a little over $600 (a fraction of other ball-adjacent parties), you can enjoy an open bar, live entertainment, an unlimited dinner buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight—at which point you can enjoy a live view of the ball drop from the west side.
The tallest rooftop lounge in NYC
When: December 31, 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Bar 54, 135 W 45th St.
Price: Starting at $1,249
How to book: Reservations available online
The views from Bar 54 atop the Hyatt Centric Times Square Hotel are unforgettable, and the black-tie-optional, premium open-bar fête promises to be a glamorous affair. And with a five-hour open bar featuring premium spirits, you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
How to watch on TV and online
Most of us probably won’t make it to Times Square (and Times Square adjacent locations) to see the celebrations in person, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Tune into one of the following broadcasts to watch the party from the comfort of your home:
- ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest: 8:00 p.m. EST
- CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash: 8:00 p.m. EST
- CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen: 8:00 p.m. EST
The Ball Drop and preceding performances (all six and a half hours of ‘em) will also be available on a live webcast over at www.TimesSquareNYC.org starting December 31 at 6:00 p.m. EST. You can also download Livestream for mobile, available through Apple’s App Store and via Google Play for mobile phones and tablets, and connect to the New Year’s Eve live webcast there.