New Year's Eve Party Ideas for Your Restaurant

The new year is almost upon us, and now is the perfect time to turn your restaurant or bar into party central. Your guests are looking for that go-to hot spot for New Year’s Eve, so hosting a party is a great opportunity to not only appeal to your regular guests, but to also bring in new potential customers. If you are planning a New Year’s Eve party for your restaurant this year, here are some tips and ideas to consider as you get ready.

Everyone Loves a Good Theme

One of the easiest ways to plan a NYE bash is to go off of a theme. There are tons of New Year’s Eve Party themes you could implement and then incorporate into décor and menu items, so now is a great time to let your creativity go wild. Some themes you could use include:

• Black tie formal—Let your customers pull out that elegant gown or spiffy suit and celebrate in ultimate style at your restaurant. Dress up your restaurant as well with opulent decorations like glittering gold garland, streamers, table linens and fine dinnerware.


• Time warp—Set up décor in various sections of your restaurant or bar that are themed to different past decades or eras. You can have a 1920s area, a 40s section, a 70s section and others. Push your creativity even further by serving entrees and cocktails that were popular in those decades.


• Midnight brunch—Ring in the New Year with everyone’s favorite: brunch. Put the champagne to good use by serving well-crafted mimosas, breakfast-themed charcuterie boards or a full brunch buffet when the clock strikes 12.

If you just want to do something simple, opting for a NYE color scheme works as well. Consider gold, silver, burgundy, deep greens, purples and royal blues. And, depending on what your theme is, you can encourage your guests to dress up in that theme.

Find the Perfect Entertainment

Before the countdown begins, you want to make sure the party is lively. Search around to see what your options are in terms of entertainment. Here are just a few ideas to look into:

• Karaoke


• Trivia competitions


• Live music

No matter what you choose, offer prizes throughout the night to keep your guests involved in the fun. Even if there are folks that don’t want to join in, they’ll have a great time watching the night unfold.

Limit the Menu, But Not the Quality

Offering up a special, limited menu of appetizers, entrees and cocktails can make the evening feel more special for your customers, while also making the night easy for your staff. Your menu can serve up some unique dishes or fan favorites depending on the theme you’re going with, and what is reasonably cost-effective. Maybe the menu consists of specialty food items that you don’t normally serve the rest of the year, or perhaps it contains classic holiday staples. Depending on the space and capabilities you have at your establishment, you could even host a buffet-style dinner.

Whatever menu items you choose, make sure it’s something your restaurant and staff can handle. New Year’s Eve is a particularly busy day for restaurants, especially if you are throwing a party. Which is why having a limited menu can make things easy for you and your staff. You also have an easier time ordering the products and food you need for the evening. No matter what you put on the menu, though, don’t forget the champagne!

Mementos & Party Favors

Having some sort of party favor is a nice touch for your guests, acting as a memento of their night. These party favors can be a number of things, and it’s up to you what you choose, but some options include:

• A photo booth station with printed or digital pictures.


• Wearables like party hats and other accessories.


• A commemorative champagne flute for the first 50 or so guests who RSVP for your event.


• Party crackers with prizes inside.


• Mini bottles of champagne.


• A swag bag with vouchers to your restaurant, goodies from other local businesses you’ve partnered with, candy and other small treats.

While you don’t necessarily have to give out party favors, it is a nice touch, and your guests will love that little extra something as they ring in the new year.

Offer Safe Rides Home

Partner up with Uber or Lyft in the area to ensure your guests that they can dance the night away and not have to worry about getting home safely. Since those services can mean hiked pricing due to the holiday, think about hiring private drivers to lower the prices.

Cater Up Some Fun

If your business isn’t planning an in-house extravaganza, or you’re able to handle the demand, consider catering a New Year’s Eve party. Whether you choose holiday-themed fare or can accommodate alternative options, offering a catered meal is a great avenue to take during this time of year. Many homes and companies throw a big NYE bash, so offering a fine meal is a great way to get the word out about your business.

Depending on costs or labor, you can scale your catering menu any way you need to accommodate the holiday rush. Whatever type of New Year’s Eve party you decide to throw, make sure you promote and market the event on your social media channels, and be sure to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the night. Most Importantly, though, make sure you have fun!