So Long Aughts, and Thanks for All the Fish!

To help you ring in a new decade (or bury the old one, depending on your POV), some of the city’s top cocktail destinations are throwing New Year’s Eve parties with a dizzying variety of offerings. To make your search for the perfect NYE bash a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of events below. I’ve also included other NYE guides at the end of the post so you can really get confused. Wherever you go, make sure to call ahead for reservations and availability. And of course, please be safe and celebrate responsibly.

Cheers to a fantastic 2010!

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2009
Thursday, December 31, 2009

8 oz. Burger Bar
Govind Armstrong’s Melrose eatery closes its doors to throw a private New Year’s Eve Party, and you’re invited.

• Passed appetizers, dessert buffet, Champagne toast at midnight, and a DJ
• $35 pre-sale, $45 at the door

8 oz. Burger Bar
9pm-2am
7661 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.8ozburgerbar.com
Reservations: (323) 852-0008

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Comme Ça
“Les Années Folles”
Take the Wayback Machine to 1920’s Paris with Comme Ça’s prix fixe menu, featuring Amuse, Relevés, Supplement, Entrées, Pièces de Resistance, and Le Dessert courses.

• Five-course tasting menu: $95
• Wine pairings: $35 (standard) or $60 (premium)
• Champagne toast
• Period attire encouraged but not required

Comme Ça
Seatings begin at 5pm
8479 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.commecarestaurant.com
Reservations: (323) 782-1104 or [email protected]

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Copa d’Oro
Just in time to ring in the new year, Copa d’Oro recently debuted four punches, including the appropriately-named 2010 (Sazerac Rye, Sweet Sherry, Elderflower Liqueur, fresh lemon juice, organic pear juice, Prosecco). No cover, two price points for table reservations.

Premium Tables

• $50/person (minimum four guests)
• Includes 1 bottle of Louis Roederer

Standard Tables

• $25/person (minimum four guests)
• Includes 1 bottle of Prosecco

Copa d’Oro
Featuring: DJ Kid Japer
8pm-2am
217 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.copadoro.com
Reservations: (310) 576-3030
NOTE: Copa d’Oro mailing list members who reserve a NYE table receive an additional complimentary bottle of Prosecco. RSVP: [email protected]

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The Doheny
“Divine Lang Syne”
Cedd Moses’ private cocktail den opens its doors to non-members on NYE, with reserved table dinner packages and luxe amenities.

Reserved Table Seating:

Divine Deluxe – $525

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• Dinner for two at Rivera
• One night stay at the O Hotel

Platinum Reserve – $450

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• Dinner for two at Rivera

Gold Reserve – $350

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• One night stay at the O Hotel

Silver Reserve – $200

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne

Amenities:

• Tableside punch service
• Flights of luxury scotches and cognacs
• Complimentary artisinal cheese plate
• Handmade French chocolates

The Doheny
Featuring: DJ busbus
8pm-2am
714 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
thedoheny.com
Reservations: [email protected]

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The Edison
“The Nautilist’s Ball”
The Edison’s second annual NYE bash features live music, performers, dining, and of course the Green Fairy.

• Individual tickets: $75
• Limited table reservations start at $300/table
• Entry includes Champagne Toast and Desserts at Midnight.
• All table reservations include a bottle of Champagne, midnight toast, desserts and entrance.

The Edison
Featuring: DJ Imagika, Gifted Performers, and Abney Park
Doors at 8pm
108 W. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.edisondowntown.com
Table reservations: (213) 613-0000

NOTE: Pre-sale tickets for NYE are sold out! Tickets will be available at the door and space will become available as guests exit the venue. Tickets purchased at the door are $75.

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The Foundry on Melrose
“Hello 2010”
The Foundry is offering two seatings for Eric Greenspan’s special tasting menus, as well as a cocktail party in the lounge with passed apps and live jazz.

• First seating, 6-7:15pm – $95 ($135 with wine pairing)
• Second seating, 9-10:15pm – $150 ($200 with wine pairing)

Lounge Cocktail Party – $35

• 10pm-2am
• All you can eat passed hors d’oeuvres
• Complimentary champagne toast at midnight
• Live jazz all night

The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.thefoundryonmelrose.com
Reservations: (323) 651-0915

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The Hungry Cat
“la nochevieja”
Hollywood’s Gato Hambriento is saying adios to the Aughts with an Iberian-influenced menu and an open bar.

• Spanish-influenced, multi-course feast
• Open bar featuring Hungry Cat Cocktails, Spanish wines, draft/bottled beers
• $135/person

The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
www.thehungrycat.com
Reservations: (323) 462-2155

Rivera
If you’ve ever thought about tasting Julian Cox’s entire top notch cocktail menu, NYE is your chance to do so…in ninety minutes. Oh, and there’s John Sedlar’s wonderful food, too.

Bottomless Cocktail Party

• 11pm-12:30am
• Unlimited cocktails from the Rivera Specialty Cocktails menu, plus “special punches”
• $50 pre-sale for a seat at the bar or lounge

Dinner options

• 6:30-7:30pm: 6-course menu ($75/guest)
• 9-10pm: 7-course menu ($110/guest)
• Wine pairings: $50 & $75
• Luis Roederer Brut Premier: $18/glass & $75/bottle

Rivera
1050 S. Flower St, #102
Los Angeles, CA 90015
www.riverarestaurant.com
Reservations: (213) 749-1460

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Seven Grand
Get warmed up at downtown’s Whiskey Wonderland with $8 Manhattans til 9pm, then choose from three party options.

Seven Grand Private Reserve Seating

• Jackalope Drawing Room
• Choice of bottle: Perrier-Jouët La Fleur or Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
• $180 for two guests

Seven Grand Top Shelf Seating

• Choice of bottle: Perrier-Jouët Champagne or Sazerac Rye
• $140 for two guests

General Admittance

• $20 after 9:30pm
• Complimentary East Coast Toast at 9pm, L.A. Toast at Midnight

Seven Grand
7pm-2am
Featuring: Deacon Jones Blues Review, DJ Slick Rick
515 W. 7th St., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.sevengrand.la
Reservations: (213) 614-0737

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The Tar Pit
The new venture from Mark Peel and Audrey Saunders is hosting what promises to be a classy evening of food, cocktails, and music. There’s no cover, instead Tar Pit is requiring food and beverage minimums per person.

• First seating, 6:30pm – $75 (dining room) / $60 (bar) food & beverage minimum per person
• Second seating, 9:30pm – $95 (dining room) / $75 (bar) minimum per person
• Live entertainment starting at 9:30pm
• Champagne midnight toast, party hats, and “festive sundries”

The Tar Pit
609 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.tarpitbar.com
Reservations: (323) 965-1300

The Varnish
Downtown’s preeminent cocktail bar is offering a two-part New Year’s Eve.

Part One, 7-9:30pm – $9 Champagne Cocktails designed by the Varnish
-or-
Part Two, 10pm-close

• Open Bar with Varnish Cocktail List drinks
• Bottomless punch bowl with Grand Marnier Centenaire
• Champagne toast
• Limbo!
• Tables for parties of two, four, & six, or standing room at the bar
• $125/person

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Southern California USBG.

The Varnish
118 E. Sixth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.thevarnishbar.com
Reservations: Eric at (213) 622-9999, or [email protected]

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New Year’s Eve Guides

• Citysearch
• e*star LA
• LAist Parts I, II, III
• LA Times
• Los Angeles Magazine