Where will you spend your last night of 2023? Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Sending the current year off with a bang and welcoming the next in good spirits is an annual tradition most Canberrans could admit to indulging in.
Mass movement seems to occur once the bustle of Christmas is over and summer is in full swing as many locals duck away to other postcodes, but there are plenty of attractions lined up for those staying closer to home on 31 December.
From fine dining in the most luxurious venues to energizing DJ sets, themed parties and games with friends, there’s something to suit everyone.
Here are just some of the fantastic events and attractions Canberra has on offer this New Year’s Eve.
Louis’ effortless style combines with 1920s flair this New Year’s Eve for a Great Gatsby party to remember. Photo: Louis.
Louis’ Great Gatsby Party
When: 7 pm until late
Where: Louis, Hotel Realm (ground floor), 18 National Circuit, Barton
Cost: From $180 per person, book online.
Step back in time and celebrate 1920s style at Louis’ Great Gatsby party this New Year’s Eve. Kick off with a welcome glass of sparkling wine before diving into a five-course menu curated by Doma culinary director Ben Willis.
Smooth jazz by local musician Leisa Keen promises an elegant atmosphere, and if beverage pairings are your thing, there are standard ($95 per person) and premium ($144 per person) packages on offer.
Leyla Bar is known for its range of delicious cocktails – perfect for a New Year’s treat. Photo: Zen Photography.
Leyla Bar’s Moët & Chandon Masquerade Party
When: 7:30 pm to 12:30 am
Where: Leyla Bar, Burbury Hotel (rooftop), 1 Burbury Close, Barton
Cost: $200 per person, book online.
Leyla Bar has organised a collision of mystery and glamour this December with its New Year’s Eve Moët & Chandon Masquerade Party.
Spend five hours enjoying the finest drinks, canapes and tapas on a luxurious backdrop while the DJ plays specialist tunes. There’s also a best-dressed prize up for grabs!
To roof-top it all off, Leyla Bar offers exclusive access to ‘Canberra’s best view of the fireworks’ for masked visitors to watch displays at 9 pm and midnight.
Ostani’s convenient location and luxe atmosphere create the perfect setting for a night out on the town. Photo: DOMA Group.
Ostani Bar
When: 7 pm until late
Where: Ostani Bar, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton
Cost: Free entry, book online.
Lush scenery in the heart of the city, serious specials on seasonal cocktails and other beverages, an expert DJ performing late into the evening… Is there any other way to give 2023 the send-off it deserves?
Ostani’s restaurant, pavilion, garden and garden bar are sure to impress partygoers, and for bookings of 10 or more, everyone receives a complimentary cocktail carafe on arrival!
The Alby combines food, drink and fun downstairs in their indoor games area, complete with Australia’s first duckpin bowling. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
The Alby
When: 11 am until late
Where: The Alby, Albemarle Building (ground floor) 5/45 Furzer Street, Phillip
Cost: Free entry, book online.
Nestled in the heart of Woden, The Alby has almost 1000 sqm of modern pub style to bring to the table this New Year’s Eve.
Bar dining? Check. Outdoor dining? Check. Live music? Flowing from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The Alby’s basement will allow downstairs patrons to welcome 2024 with some friendly competition, whether it’s a game of pool, pinball or duckpin bowling.
Last year’s New Year’s Eve event at QT Canberra brought 2022 to a close with smiles all around. Photo: QT Canberra.
Sky High NYE in the QT Lounge
When: 8:30 pm to 12:30 am
Where: QT Lounge, QT Hotel (15th floor), 1 London Circuit, Canberra City
Cost: $220 per person, book online.
Celebrate from the heart of Canberra this New Year’s Eve at the Sky High party in the luxurious QT Lounge.
Leveraging the talents of executive chef Michael Box and QT Canberra’s very best beverage artists, this venue has created a four-hour ‘champagne dreams and soirée scenes’ package for visitors to enjoy.
It’s an opportunity not to be missed – get dressed up and dance to a live DJ all night, alongside a floor-to-ceiling view of fireworks in the city.
Southern Cross Yacht Club has a stunning New Year’s Eve party planned for 31 December. Photo: Yacht Club, MV Southern Cross.
NYE at the Yacht Club
When: 8:30 pm to 12:30 am
Where: Southern Cross Yacht Club, Lotus Bay, Mariner Place, Yarralumla
Cost: $195 per person, book online.
New Year’s Eve at the Yacht Club is perfect for Canberrans wanting a lakeside view of city fireworks. Begin with a welcome glass of the finest sparkling wine, followed by a five-course dinner thoughtfully curated by executive chef Brad Howden.
Delicate focaccia, Tasmanian salmon rillettes with finger lime, smokey pork belly and triple cream brie are just some of the standouts on the menu.
Get a front-row seat to this year’s fireworks with a lake cruise on the MV Southern Cross. Photo: Canberra Southern Cross Club.
NYE Cruise on the MV Southern Cross
When: 8:30 pm to 12:30 am
Where: Departing from the Yacht Club jetty in Lotus Bay, Mariner Place, Yarralumla
Cost: $250 per person, book online.
‘Exclusive’ just doesn’t cut it for this premier New Year’s Eve cruise.
Set apart from the rest aboard the MV Southern Cross, patrons will enjoy a five-course dinner and first-class beverages, topped off by one of the best views out there for all the firework action.
Pork Belly with smoked labna, premium spring Junee lamb and a sweet mango bavaroise are sure to tickle the tastebuds of visitors.
Waters Edge is the brainchild of executive chef Avtar Singh, who expertly turns the best local produce into fine modern Australian dishes. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
NYE Menu at Waters Edge
When: 6 pm until late
Where: Waters Edge, 40 Parkes Place, Parkes
Cost: $120 per person, book online (bookings essential).
Awarded an Australian Good Food Guide hat two years in a row and TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award three times, Waters Edge is probably best known for its unique ‘dining domes’.
Executive chef Avtar Singh adds a little bit of wonder to fine dining along Lake Burley Griffin this 31 December with a three-course menu featuring the finest seafood, locally sourced seasonal vegetables and desserts to die for.
The Jetty was revamped earlier in 2023 with a brand new marquee and menu additions. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
The Jetty
When: Lunch until late
Where: The Jetty, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free entry, book online.
The Jetty will soon welcome New Year’s Eve partygoers from around Canberra once again, with an open invite to ring in 2024 on the lake’s edge.
Visitors can enjoy live music from 1 pm to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm, then get their groove on to DJ sets from 8:30 pm until late.
Hunger won’t be a problem, thanks to Fricken Chicken and Joo & Nee. Happy Hour is on from 5 pm to 6 pm, featuring $10 cocktails and pints of Bentspoke and Travla for just $8.
Walk-ins are always welcome at The Jetty, but the team encourages bookings for New Year’s Eve.
Easily accessible on the ground floor of Braddon’s Midnight Hotel, the Midnight Bar is not a venue to be missed this 31 December. Photo: Midnight Hotel.
Midnight Bar
When: 3 pm until late
Where: Midnight Bar, Midnight Hotel (ground floor) 1 Elouera Street, Braddon
Cost: Beverage package $120 per person. Luxe package $450 per group, book online.
Canberrans can count down to this bar’s namesake with one of two ‘Countdown to Midnight’ food and beverage packages.
Simple yet indulgent, the Beverage package gives celebrators two hours to enjoy a range of beers on tap and wines by the glass, free-flowing spirits and non-alcoholic soft drinks.
The Luxe package is on offer for groups of four to six. Gorgeous pairings on shared plates and six Midnight Bar signature cocktails are topped off perfectly with a sumptuous magnum of Moët.
Walt & Burley has long been a Kingston favourite, thanks to tasty pub-style food and awesome foreshore views. Photo: Walt & Burley.
New Year’s Eve at Walts
When: 5 pm to 1 am
Where: Walt & Burley, 70/17 Eastlake Parade, Kingston
Cost: $95 per person, plus optional extras, book online.
Walt & Burley is ready to welcome patrons from around Canberra this New Year’s Eve for live DJs and bands, plenty of food and drinks and cracking fireworks shows at 9 pm and 12 am.
Two packages are on offer for 31 December. Family Fiesta is on from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm for the early birds, followed by Lakeside Party from 8:30 pm to 1 am.
Highball is putting on ‘A Night in All White’ this year, following the success of their ‘High Lights’ garden party in 2022. Photo: Pew Pew Studio.
A Night in All White at Highball
When: 4 pm until late
Where: Highball, 77 London Circuit, Canberra City
Cost: $20 per person.
Highball invites Canberra to come together dressed in white for a terrace toast this New Year’s Eve.
From their vantage point high above Northbourne Avenue, the Highball team welcomes visitors with a sunset mimosa and sprawling city views as the night comes to life.
The DJ will be vibing RnB-style all night long and into the morning… all you need to do is wear all white.
The 1882 Hall Bar & Grill was named in honour of its town’s establishment. Photo: 1882 Hall.
NYE Wine Dinner at 1882 Hall
When: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: 1882 Hall Bar & Grill, 13 Gladstone Street, Hall
Cost: $130 per person, book online (tickets essential).
If the city isn’t your thing but you don’t want to travel out of town either, 1882 Hall might just be the perfect middle ground this New Year’s Eve.
A picturesque bar and grill that loves to live local, 1882 Hall will place seasonal produce centre stage over a four-course dinner, alongside expertly crafted wines from Clonakilla, Shaw Wines, Pankhurst and Long Rail Gully Wines.
The Amici team is keen to ‘pour the vino and serve up delicious treats’ for Canberrans as they say goodbye 2023, hello 2024 . Photo: Amici.
Amici
When: 11 am until late
Where: Amici Wine Bar & Deli, 59 Northbourne Ave, Canberra City
Cost: Free entry, book online.
A wine and cocktail bar uniquely combined with a classic deli, Amici has earned a special place in Canberrans’ hearts.
This venue is the only of its kind in the ACT, and the team are excited to invite anyone and everyone to enjoy New Year’s Eve with a twist in 2023.
There’ll be food, drinks and soulful live music to boot, with performances by talented local artists Gia Ransome (12 pm to 2 pm) and Sophie Edwards (7:30 pm to 10:30 pm).
Ssh… Molly is hidden away somewhere on Odgers Lane – hard to find unless you know where it is, or know someone who does. Photo: Molly.
Molly
When: 4 pm until late
Where: Molly, Odgers Lane (Melbourne Building), Canberra City
Cost: $20 per person, book online.
“There will be whisky dripping from the saxophone as you raise your glass and get your toes tapping with the incredible Rhythm Capital this New Year’s Eve.”
Sound good? It’s a message from hidden gem Molly, a favourite among Canberra’s more discerning patrons. The bar is well known for keeping secrets, but there’s no doubt that local jazz band Rhythm Capital will be in attendance from 9:30 pm to 1 am.
Finding them might be an adventure, but without a booking, Molly can’t guarantee a spot on New Year’s Eve…
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