Food & Drink
Seattle’s Best New Year’s Eve Events 2019
Our picks for where to start off the new year in the city
By Seattle magazine staff December 20, 2019
This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the December 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.
First Night Tacoma
Tacoma’s “Tree of Life”–themed celebration is back with family-friendly, alcohol-free activities, including live music, dance and a parade to ring in the new year. 5:30 p.m. Prices vary. Downtown Tacoma; tacomaartslive.org
Spectra NYE: Roaring ’20s
Enter the 2020s with a throwback to the Roaring ’20s, featuring an electro-swing soundtrack and a perfect view of the Space Needle fireworks show. Grab tickets early—this celebration is known to sell out. 9 p.m.–2 a.m. Prices vary. Pacific Science Center; pacificsciencecenter.org
New Year’s Eve Celebration at Seattle Center
This year’s celebration features a live mix of blues, swing and soul music from Left Turn on Blue, along with a Fountain of Light DJ dance party with front row seats for the Space Needle midnight fireworks. 8 p.m.–midnight. Free. Seattle Center; seattlecenter.com
New Year’s Eve pARTy at Chihuly Garden and Glass
Enjoy a midnight champagne toast and an overhead view of the Space Needle fireworks through the museum’s glass ceiling after an evening of dining and dancing to the Michael Benson Band. This is a 21-and-older event. $250. Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Center; chihulygardenandglass.com.
New Year’s Eve with The Motet
Spend the last night of 2019 and the first early morning of 2020 with funk/soul/pop septet The Motet and the group’s special guest, Polyrhythmics. 9 p.m. Prices vary. The Neptune Theatre; stgpresents.org
Artist Home New Year’s Eve Celebration
Artist Home once again brings some of Seattle’s favorite local musicians together to share the stage and sing their favorite cover songs. 9 p.m. $40. Tractor Tavern, Ballard; tractortavern.com
One Night in Osaka: NYE 2019
Join Adana’s chef Shota Nakajima and other local food superstars at this big New Year’s Eve bash. Celebrating all things Osaka, Japan, this party gives you a chance to taste delightful bites from the likes of Mutsuko Soma, Jose Garzon, and of course, Nakajima, who will be previewing food and drinks from his soon-to-open spot, Taku. Plus, make sure to wear your dancing shoes—there will be music and dancing, which is the best way to welcome a new decade in our book. This is a 21 and over event. 8 p.m. –1 a.m. $167, plus a $51 all access add-on is available for VIP access. South Lake Union; exploretock.com
Best of the Best New Year’s Eve
Choose your own adventure at Thompson Seattle this New Year’s Eve. Start your evening at a five-course prix fixe dinner at Conversation with oysters, scallops, salmon and more. Or skip the whole thing and head straight to the big bash at The Nest, Thomspon Seattle’s swanky rooftop bar, featuring music, dancing and a midnight champagne toast. Party at The Nest is a 21-and-over event. Times and prices vary. Downtown; eventbrite.com
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Heartwood Provisions
Sometimes, you just need to treat yourself. What better occasion to splurge than the night before all those healthy resolutions start? Heartwood Provisions’ five-course prix fixe menu comes with optional cocktail pairings and a truly indulgent venison-centered meal that finishes off with a divine-sounding chocolate mousse with coffee ice cream. 4:30 p.m.–11 p.m. $95. Downtown; heartwoodsea.com
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Lark
Lark, one of Seattle’s most well-known restaurants, is going all out for the last bash of 2019. Nosh on Arctic char and Dungeness crab risotto nero as the main course, and finish off with a Meyer lemon parfait or a Theo Chocolate torte. You can always trust James Beard Award-winning Chef John Sundstrom with your New Year’s Eve revelry. Times vary. $130. Capitol Hill; larkseattle.com
New Year’s Eve 2019 Party
Celebrate the new year with dining, dancing and champagne toasting in an elegant Capitol Hill ballroom. Don’t know how to dance? That’s the point! There will be free salsa lessons before the real dancing begins, and multiple dance rooms including an OutDancing space specifically for LGBTQ community and allies. This is a 21-and-older event. Times and prices vary. Century Ballroom, Capitol Hill; centuryballroom.com
Totally Radical New Year’s Eve!
Ring in the new year 902 feet in the air. Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center is throwing an ‘80s themed soiree and everyone’s invited. Dance to live ‘80s music performed by local band Free Rain, enjoy an open bar and an unobstructed view of the Space Needle fireworks. Dressing in ‘80s threads is encouraged. This is a 21-and-older event. 9 p.m. –1 a.m. $150-$1250. Downtown; skyviewobservatory.com
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Six Seven Restaurant & Lounge
Enjoy a beautiful waterfront view while feasting on a five-course prix-fixe menu at the Edgewater Hotel’s restaurant. Menu items include raw oysters and ahi tun crudo, lobster bisque, roquefort-crusted filet mignon and key lime pie. A complimentary glass of bubbles will be poured at midnight to cheers to the new decade. Seating starts at and 8 p.m. $85-$125. Downtown; edgewaterhotel.com
20/20 Vision | A Galactic NYE
Blast off into space with The Mountaineering Club, a new rooftop bar at the Graduate Hotel. Wear your classiest intergalactic attire as you ring in the new year with futuristic cocktails, hors d’oeuvers and a midnight champagne toast. There will, of course, be space jams to dance to as everyone welcomes the new decade. 8 p.m. –2 a.m. $75. University District; universe.com