New York City Travel Forum

Hi,

My fiance and I are due to be in New York this New Year, from 30th Dec - 6th Jan as part of our honeymoon.

We've already worked out quite a few of the things we'd like to do and have made reservations at Gordon Ramsay and bought tickets for The Lion King for during our stay.

However, what we're struggling with is where to go on New Years Eve....

We'd like to be close to Times Square (typical tourists I know!) so that we can see the ball drop etc but don't fancy standing around outside for hours waiting for it. Because of this we have been hoping to get tickets for one of the restaurants/bars that do party nights on the night, including food, open bar, music and a reserved spot on the pavement (sidewalk) from where to watch the ball drop. With this in mind I'd be grateful if you guys could help with a few questions:

- Any particular restaurants or bars you'd recommend?

- Can we expect everywhere (even ticketed nights) to get busy very early, meaning we have to be there for 6pm or earlier if we plan on eating? Is it worse in close by places like TGI Fridays or does it depend on the restaurant?

- Does anyone have any experience of Olive Garden or TGI Friday at Times Square who would care to let us know how it was?

- Does anyone have any experience of Rosie O'Gradys at 7th Ave & 52nd Street? I know this is further away from Times Square but I've heard it's good...not sure if you can see the ball drop etc tho?

- As these events are ticketed is it easy to purchase them online and be guaranteed that they're genuine? We don't arrive in NY until late on the 30th and likely won't be able to visit the restaurant/bar before the party starts...will they be ok with us just turning up and expecting to have a reservation etc?

I'm sorry about the long email but because it's our honeymoon and our first time to New York / USA I'm trying to get everything as perfect as possible.

Many thanks,

Gordon

Hi Gordon, sorry cant answer your question, have the same problem myself...Was hoping you can pass on any info you receive..My family will be in NY for New Year and we are after exactly the same type of restaurant (being able to stand outside at midnight to watch it all happening).I havent been to the USA and am having a really hard time trying to locate restaurants / info via the internet. If someone does reply with good info are you able to pass on the info? Not being that good on the computer, I never seem to able to return to any sites that I found useful! Hoping you can help...and hope you have a great honeymoon..
Regards Gail.......gail1470@hotmail.com

Gordon and Gail, I don't want to be a party pooper but I really do think you should rethink the Times Square thing. As many native New Yorkers will tell you, it tends to be a hideous scrum if you're standing outside and an overpriced letdown if you pay well over $100 per person to eat at places that most people tell you to normally avoid (TGI Fridays, Olive Garden etc).
There's a thread a little further down from here on Christmas and New Year's Eve dining suggestions. Regular 10028 has some excellent suggestions about dining places and then going to Central Park to watch the fireworks.
If it were my first time to New York, standing in Central Park would win hands down over Times Square anytime!

Thanks for your reply and advice Nic, however we've thought long and hard about what to do at New Year given the variety of options, and Times Square is what we've decided on. $100 to $200 for the location, food and 5 hour free bar sounds good to us!

The restauraunts we're looking at are based on their location rather than the food provided - Gordon Ramsay @ The London and Peter Lugers are for other nights :)

I'll pass on any info I can Gail....

We used to live just north of New York & my husband worked in the city. We're not even sure that you would be able to see the ball drop from inside Fridays or Olive Garden. The only one we reemebered having a restaurant view was the rotating restaurant on the Marriott Marquis. I don't know if you've been there, but you really have to get there early to get close enough to actually see the ball drop.

Hi Peavey,

Thanks for your post :) My understanding is that a number of these restaurants allow you access to a specific roped off area of sidewalk just prior to the ball dropping...would be nice to see it drop whilst also being being warm, having a drink and with toilet facilities.

I'll post any advise I can up here once I have all the info....I have already had one positive reply from TGIs but I'm awaiting answers to a few questions yet and others are still to reply.

Thanks again to everyone!

Gordon

Gordon, if your heart is set on Times Square, I can tell you that last year TGI Friday's were charging $275 pp which included all the drink you could consume (I don't know whether this included champagne - I wouldn't have thought so). The report I read was from an Australian girl who thought it was great and would book again. They got there at 8:30pm were let straight into TGI's and were then allowed out to a specially roped off area to watch the ball drop just before midnight. As soon as that happened they went back inside and continued drinking. Apparently Bubba Gumps also do the same but the price last year was closer to $450 pp for more or less the same deal.

Good to know Nic, thanks for your help!

Hi Gordon,

My wife & i are in NY from the 22nd December until the 1st & have been having similiar problems. Have you checked out this website:

http://www.newyearsevecentral.com/

We have narrowed down our choices to 3. The China Club, Dave & Busters & Bryant Park Bar & Grill.

We are looking for the same as you somewhere warm to enjoy the night then hopefully being able to watch the ball drop live.

Hope this helps

Steve

Steve, of the 3 venues you mention, China Club offers a video of the ball drop and Bryant Park is too far away to see anything live. Dave and Busters I'm not sure about (it is actually on 42nd Street sandwiched between Applebees and Madame Tussauds and I don't think you could see the ball drop from there). I know Gordon wants to see the ball drop live rather than on screen - I'm not sure if you do too?

Hi Gordon,
I know of lots of places who do party nights on new years eve in times square - i'm sure you wouldnt have any problem getting tickets for these, depending on your budget of course.
if your worried about legitimate tickets, why dont you check out one of the new years websites - ive been on a couple and noo.com sounds like it could help you out. they have an faq about times square which might answer your questions as well:
http://newyears.noo.com/about/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-drop-FAQ

hope this helps!

My Fiance and I spent last New Years Eve in Times Square (where he proposed!!). Like you we did not want to spend the night crammed amongst the thousands of people in Times Square itself (they start settling for places VERY early!!!). We chose to go to a bar in Times Square, we got tickets for The Heartland Brewery (127 W. 43rd St. – btwn - 6th Ave & Broadway – Times Square), cost us about £110.00 each...but was well worth it....food was buffet (ok), any drink you wanted including champagne and cocktails were included and no limit. Disco was fun...only down side is that we didn't get to see the ball dop live (they do show it on a screen), you can get outside and are so close to the drop...but everything is cordoned off. I would really recommend the bar (whichever you choose) experience as you can get to the toilet easily and it is warm!! We purchased out tickets from JOON BUG and had no problems at all. They confirmed the reservation online and collected payment and we were on the list when we arrived at the venue, so as soon as the doors opened we were walked in and seated.

I am sure you will have an amazing time....we did!! Take comfy shoes (the most comfy you can find!!) as there is so much walking involved in a NY trip! Make sure you make a plan of everything you want to do and see before you go as time goes by so quickly!!

Happy Honeymoon!!! :)

Happy New Year....hope you enjoyed your trip..........My husband and I are planning to do the same type of trip this year and to see the ball drop for 2010..Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much...Kim from Canada