Going Out | Events and Things To Do
London's best New Year's Eve parties, from Acme Fire Cult to El Pastor
And then there are the New Year’s Eves when what is really needed is a proper party — a simple enough ambition, but sometimes a surprisingly tall order.
Below we’ve rounded up 15 of the best shindigs to welcome in 2024, in ascending order of price, with all the classic party ingredients of DJs and dancing, finger food and photobooths, and enough alcohol to ensure that “stopping drinking” tops the list of New Year’s resolutions… at least until January 2.
Also check out the two restaurant round-ups above: many places are hosting after-dinner parties once tables have been cleared and the clock strikes down to midnight. Happy 2024!
The Hoxton Shoreditch
What and where: The ground floor of the original Hoxton hotel in Shoreditch — the lobby, bar and Hoxton Grill — will be given over to a party presided over by an all-female line-up of DJs.
Eating and drinking: Free fizz and fries at midnight; Hoxton Grill is offering a set-menu of American classics for £55 per head.
Music and more: DJ sets from Babylon Fox, A.G. and Alia Loren.
When: 8pm-3am
How much: Entry tickets are free; a “Blowout Bundle” for 10 people (£2,500) includes a reserved table and enough fried chicken and booze (magnums of spirits, Champagne towers, buckets of beer) to ensure New Year’s Day is spent Netflixing on the sofa.
81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU, thehoxton.com
Alto by San Carlo
What and where: An after-dinner party on top of Selfridges, complete with twinkly lights and gold baubles.
Eating and drinking: No food, but until 1am the bar will be servings aperol spritzes, prosecco, wine, beer and cocktails.
Music and more: DJ sets and a live saxophonist.
When: 10pm-2am
How much: Free after 10pm.
Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB, sancarlo.co.uk
Acme Fire Cult
What and where: A joint yard party in Dalston between Acme Fire Cult and 40FT Brewery, with food cooked on the outdoor grill, beer from the brewery and DJs.
Eating and drinking: Lamb asador and celeriac buns, late-night snacks like Aslam’s butter wings, 40FT beers and hot Jameson whisky cocktails.
Music and more: Live DJ sets from Arveene, Pam Hogg and Primal Scream’s Simone Butler.
When: 6pm-2am
How much: From £10, including a welcome glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne.
Abbot Street, E8 3DP, acmefirecult.com
El Pastor
What and where: A fiesta party in the basement mezcaleria Colmillo bar of the Soho El Pastor, with music from Manchester-born producer, DJ, NTS radio host, record store and label owner Ruf Dug, and Tequila cocktails.
Eating and drinking: Guacamole, tostadas and tacos, Tequila shots and cocktails from Herradura.
Music and more: From 11pm, Ruf Dug will play Balearica, street soul, jungle and everything in between.
When: 9pm-late
How much: £20, includes a welcome shot of Tequila
66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP, ra.co
Bóha
What and where: A New Year's Eve Prohibition-inspired party in Chelsea, with guests concealing their identity with masks.
Eating and drinking: Canapés by way of food, plus Prohibition-themed cocktails along the lines of whisky sours, kir royales and collinses.
Music and more: Secret passwords and live entertainment from DJ Will Watt.
When: 9.30pm-4am
How much: £30, includes a welcome cocktail and glass of Champagne at midnight. VIP booths, table service, and private hire of The Whiskey Room can be arranged for more.
562 King’s Road, SW6 2DZ, bohalondon.com
Lost in Brixton
What and where: A rooftop party in Brixton with live music, food from local vendors and a lot of rum.
Eating and drinking: Food will be available to order from any of Brixton Village’s traders, delivered straight to the table and washed down with Ron Santiago de Cuba rum cocktails.
Music and more: Lost in Brixton’s DJ Minesh and a guest trombonist will play upbeat party tracks, with a midnight moment of a balloon drop and free shots.
When: 8pm-2am
How much: From £30
Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS, lostinbrixton.com
Frank’s at Maison François
What and where: the basement bar of one of London’s best French restaurants, promising a “a rebel punk fantasy” in old-school St James’s.
Eating and drinking: Oysters, sausages and loaded fries washed down with Champagne cocktails and cuvées by the glass. A croque-en-bouche tower will be served at midnight.
Music and more: DJs spinning old-school house, vogue ballroom, disco bangers, camp classics, new wave and punk.
When: 8.30pm-2am
How much: Tickets cost £35 and include a glass of Champagne or Champagne cocktail, and gougères to nibble on.
34 Duke Street, SW1Y 6DF, maisonfrancois.london
Tobacco Dock
Eating and drinking: Street food (baos, burgers, fried chicken) and the usual Skylight drinks menu of cocktails and mulled wine, big-name beers and new-world wines.
Music and more: DJ sets until 2am, ice skating, local fireworks and a screening of the Mayor of London’s fireworks.
When: 8pm-2am
How much: Party tickets, £45, includes a glass of Champagne; ice-skating vouchers, £15 for 45 minutes. Groups of up to 10 can hire an igloo from £799 (includes mulled wine, food vouchers, skating vouchers and a magnum of Moët & Chandon Champagne).
Tobacco Dock, E1W 2SF, skylightbars.com
The Blue Bar at The Berkeley
What and where: One of London’s prettiest bars is hosting a party in collaboration with Laurent-Perrier Champagne (well, this is a Knightsbridge hotel).
Eating and drinking: The usual Blue Bar snack menu (beef tartare crumpets, tuna tartare cones) and Champagne cocktails.
Music and more: DJs John and Karis will be spinning vinyl disco and house tunes from 7pm.
When: 6pm-2am
How much: £70, including a welcome drink and a glass of Champagne at midnight.
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL, the-berkeley.co.uk; book via jbiel@the-berkeley.co.uk
Decimo
What and where: the rooftop restaurant at the Standard hotel opposite King’s Cross and St Pancras – handy for the 24-hour tube home.
Eating and drinking: Eat beforehand as there’s no food here and the cocktail menu of margaritas and martinis, palomas and punches should not be approached on an empty stomach.
Music and more: Live music from double Grammy Award-winning and five-time Brit Award-nominated Soul II Soul, plus guest DJs Alex Turnbull, Femi Fem and Leanne Wright.
When: 9pm-3am
How much: Tickets from £75; arrive before 11pm and there’s a free Belvedere vodka welcome cocktail.
The Standard, 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG, standardhotels.com
12th Knot
What and where: A rooftop party on top of Sea Containers hotel, by Blackfriars Bridge and opposite St Paul’s.
Eating and drinking: A limited food menu of crabcakes, sliders and caviar, plus cocktails and Champagne.
Music and more: R&B from Nic Hanson ahead of 12th Knot’s live band and afro-house and hip-hop from the resident DJ.
When: 7pm-2am
How much: Tickets from £80 (includes a welcome cocktail); £215 with an open bar and bottomless drinks; tables from £275 per person.
Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PD, seacontainerslondon.com
The Maine Mayfair
What and where: a party spread across three floors of The Maine’s eating and entertainment spaces: The Drawing Room, The Tavern and The Brasserie.
Eating and drinking: Bar bites and drinks from the bar.
Music and more: Resident DJs, live music from Soul Ponies and jazz singer Emma Smith, and performances from two burlesque acts.
When: 10pm-3am
How much: £100, includes arrival drink and bar bites.
6 Medici Courtyard, W1S 1JY, themainemayfair.com
Silverleaf
What and where: a Ballroom Vogue party in the City with DJs and drag performances, hosted by the Pan Pacific London hotel’s Silverleaf bar and drag theatre cabaret Häus of Dons.
Eating and drinking: Luxey canapés (lobster spring rolls, caviar and blinis) and Japanese whisky cocktails from the House of Suntory.
Music and more: DJ sets and live performances from drag queens and kings.
When: 9pm-2am
How much: £100, includes a glass of Champagne at midnight, two whisky cocktails, and canapés.
3 Bishopsgate Plaza, 3rd Floor Devonshire House, EC2M 4JX, panpacific.com
Artesian
What and where: Party over cocktails and DJ sets at the beautiful bar of The Langham hotel, a regular in the World’s Best Bars list.
Eating and drinking: Guests will be welcomed with a glass of Taittinger Champagne ahead of the 16 drinks on the current "Ingredients of the Future" cocktail list. Izakaya-inspired canapés come courtesy of chef Angelo Sato: tuna tartare with sesame; mushroom parfait with rice crisp; Hainanese chicken rillette.
Music and more: Live sets from DJ Suki.
When: 9pm-3am
How much: £125, includes a welcome glass of Champagne and canapés.
1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA, artesian-bar.co.uk
One Hundred Shoreditch
What and where: an Instagrammable dream rooftop terrace of pink furnishings, marble and abundant greenery, with panoramic views of east London and music from female DJs.
Eating and drinking: A limited food offering but a lot of drinks: the open bar includes beers, wines, prosecco and house spirits.
Music and more: Chicago and Detroit house from DJ Ceri; disco, UKG and hiphop from Storm Mollison; and high-octane techno from Hilit Kolet.
When: 7pm-2am
How much: £129, includes a welcome cocktail plus open bar for the evening.
100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ, onehundredshoreditch.com