The center of Seattle’s New Year’s Eve festivities is at the Seattle Center. More specifically, the T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle. This year’s expanded 18-minute show will begin at 11:53 p.m. with a performance of 500 drones produced for the second year by Sky Elements. The fireworks show by Pyro Spectacular by Souza, recognized as “the largest structurally launched firework show in North America” according to a statement from the Space Needle, kicks off 2024 at the stroke of midnight.

The Space Needle will have extended hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., including the Loupe Lounge. It will close promptly at 8 p.m. to prepare for the drone and fireworks show. 

Staycation Sensation

This year, New Year’s Day falls on a Monday, the better to enjoy a staycation on the long weekend. For local partygoers the options are many and varied. 

The W Seattle and W Bellevue are both throwing New Year’s Eve parties. At The W Seattle, IGNITE will feature DJ Chris Charma, drinks, and a Champagne toast. Cost is $85. For $189, guests have access to the private VIP section with dedicated bartenders, a dinner buffet, and two drink tickets. Additional drinks will be available at the cash bar. 

At The W Bellevue, tickets for the Great Gatsby-theme soiree range from $125 for single tickets, to $2,500 for seating for 12 guests with a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of your choice of three spirits. 

Room reservations can be made separately on the W Seattle and W Bellevue websites. 

The Barking Frog at Willows Lodge in Woodinville is impersonating its neighbor next door, The Herbfarm, and offering a 14-course adventure for $295 (plus tax and gratuity) prepared by Chef Dylan Herrick and team. An optional wine pairing flight selected by Willows Lodge Wine Manager Torrey Lewis is offered at $60 per person. 

Willows Lodge is also hosting “Midnight In Mystery Masquerade,” its New Year’s Eve ball in the Sammamish Ballroom, $200.

The Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland’s Carillon Point is offering overnight packages that include a bottle of house sparkling wine and a $40 credit to its Carillon Kitchen or Lobby Bar on New Year’s Day. In addition, guests can enjoy mimosas and Bloody Mary’s at the Lobby Bar on New Year’s Day. 

Le Grand Bistro Americain, across the valet driveway from The Woodmark, will serve a complimentary flute of Ruinart Blanc d’Blancs non-vintage Champagne for dinner guests after 8 p.m. Last seating is at 9:30 p.m. 

Also in Carillon Point, El Encanto and Como will offer three-course menus for $125 and a complimentary glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut. Both restaurants, owned and managed by Trevor Greenwood, will stay open until midnight. 

Charlotte Restaurant at the Lotte Hotel in Seattle will end regular dinner service at 8:30 p.m. For $250, guests dine on five courses, including a surprise dessert of the night from the 16th floor perch of the hotel with stunning views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle skyline. For guests preferring an earlier dinner reservation, Charlotte is offering a three-course menu for $180 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 pm. 

The ALTITUDE Sky Lounge at the Astra Hotel in South Lake Union hosts a “Bourbon & Bubbles!” party on the hotel’s rooftop starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $250-$500 and include light appetizers, dessert, and a Moet & Chandon Champagne toast. 

‘Champagne wishes and caviar dreams’

For locals who prefer to stay in for the night, Western Washington food specialists and artisans deliver delicacies such as caviar and oysters that often evoke romance and celebration. 

Hama Hama Oyster Co., the sixth-generation oyster farm in Lilliwaup on Hood Canal, delivers its full complement of shellfish. 

Seattle Caviar Co. on Eastlake has been supplying fine caviar from all over the world to some of the best restaurants in town. It offers a variety of caviar at a range of prices.

For your Champagne needs, several local specialty wine retailers are offering deals on Champagne and other sparkling wines. 

Both locations of McCarthy & Schiering, Ravenna and Queen Anne, are selling a curated six-pack of sparkling wine from all over the world for $144.95. 

Pike & Western Wine Shop sells the Almacita Brut Sparkling Wine (100% Chardonnay) from Valle de Uco in Argentina for $16 a bottle. 

European Vine Selections on East Capitol Hill is selling the crisp and clean Purete de Silex Cremant de Loire Brut for $16 a bottle. 

Both locations of Molly’s Bottle Shop in Crown Hill and West Seattle sell the value-priced non-vintage Champagne Arnaud Lambert Brut 1948 for $41. Look for proprietor Molly Ringe’s new natural wine bar in Roosevelt opening in the first quarter of 2024. 

Champion Wine Cellars in Greenwood is selling the small grower Champagne NV Champagne José Michel Brut Tradition for $47, $10 off the regular price. Champion delivers orders of more than $90 for free anywhere in Seattle. 

City Cellars in Wallingford sells the Tribaut-Schloesser Brut Origine, partially aged in oak, for under $50. 

Ah shucks

For revelers preferring to leave the oyster shucking to professionals, there will be several oyster destinations open on New Year’s Eve. 

The team of shuckers at Elliott’s Oyster House will serve more than two dozen varieties of oysters all night on the Seattle waterfront, including the famous seafood towers that include oysters, scallops on the half-shell, snow crab cocktail claws and prawns. 

Vinnie’s in Belltown will celebrate the East Coast New Year’s with oysters on the half-shell and other specialties until 9 p.m. local time. The party moves down the street to Rob Roy for the West Coast New Year’s celebration. 

Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures’ Westward opens extended hours for guests to enjoy the fireworks from its North Lake Union shore location. The extensive oyster selection and versatile and varied wine list will be available. 

Sea Creatures’ The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard will also offer a variety of oysters, as well as a five-course prix fixe dinner for $160. 

Linger for a winter dinner

Seabird on Bainbridge Island offers a hearty sensory explosion over an eight-course dinner for $250 per person starting at 5 p.m. Reservations after 8 p.m. can indulge in a Champagne toast at midnight. An optional wine pairing flight is $125 per person. 

Chef and General Manager Christina Siegl, one of the best chefs in Seattle flying under the radar, at 84 Yesler in Pioneer Square offers a six-course tasting menu for $250 that includes a variation on surf-and-turf: dry aged black cod and braised shortrib. 

Nell’s Restaurant in Greenlake heads into its 25th year in 2024 with a six-course (plus amuse bouche) for $135 per person.  

Bombo at the new Seattle Convention Center hosts its “Black & White New Year’s Eve” at the newest Ethan Stowell Restaurants location. Guest receive a welcome New Year’s Eve punch and enjoy complimentary bruschettas, sandwiches, pizzas and other snacks, and a Champagne toast. Tickets $90. 

Most of the other Ethan Stowell Restaurants are offering prix fixe menus on New Year’s Eve.  

Brian Clevenger’s General Harvest offers three-course dinners for $80 to $90 at all of his locations: Vendemmia in Madrona, Autumn in Phinney Ridge, and Raccolto and Haymaker in West Seattle. 

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak in downtown Seattle is offering a three-course menu for $149. 

Messina is one of the newest restaurants in Uptown, having opened in early December. The evening climaxes with a midnight Prosecco toast. 

Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi hosts its Winter Masquerade from the 31st floor dining room at Lincoln Square, overlooking the downtown Bellevue Park fireworks. The party starts at 8 p.m., or 7 p.m. for VIPs. Tickets start at $300. 

The Lakehouse, also in Bellevue’s Lincoln Square, is offering a seven-course prix fixe dinner for $110. The optional wine pairing flight curated by Wine Director Simon Pringle is $65. 

El Gaucho, just north of Pike Place Market, is offering specialty cocktails paired with an ounce of Osetra caviar for $100, exclusively on New Year’s Eve. 

Canlis is throwing a pirate-themed dinner and dance party starting at 8:30 p.m. for $365. Guests are encouraged to dress in pirate attire. 

Salty’s on Alki serves its complete menu plus some holiday specials from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 31 with views of the Space Needle show across Elliott Bay. 

Open for business

Some restaurants, normally closed on Sundays, will be open for full dinner service. 

The husband-and-wife team of Shaun McCrain and Jill Kinney at Copine will forgo their usual to-go dinners for two on Sunday and instead serve a special five-course, plus a caviar amuse bouche, dine-in menu for $240 per person. 

The wine bar Le Caviste in downtown Seattle will open from 4 p.m. to midnight and pour wines by the glass and the bottle from the chalkboard wine list. Proprietor David Butler and company just celebrated 10 years in business. 

Eight Row on Greenlake serves its regular menu as well as a tasting menu. Eight Row will also be open for brunch service on New Year’s Day. Guests can enjoy a family style brunch for $65 per person. 

Assaggio serves its regular menu as well as some New Year’s Eve specials from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and remains open until the clock strikes midnight.  

The Show Must Go On

The Space Needle drone and fireworks are not the only shows in town. Several venues will present New Year’s shows and traditions. 

The seminal heavy metal band Heart, fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, will play Climate Pledge Arena. The adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G. is at the much more intimate Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. 

The Seattle Symphony kicks off New Year’s Eve festivities at 9 p.m. with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

The Wing Luke Museum is collaborating with the Bellevue Collection to celebrate the Japanese New Year, “Oshogatsu.” An interactive digital exhibit will be up until Jan. 1 in Bellevue Square’s Center Court. 

Barton Harufi will lead his orchestra at The Royal Room in Columbia City. Dinner service ($80 prix fixe) starts at 7 p.m. The music kicks off at 8:30 p.m.

The Century Ballroom on Capitol Hill hosts its annual New Year’s Eve Gala, a dinner and dance party. Dance lessons start at 9:30 p.m., with the dance party commencing immediately after. 

SIFF screens Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 jukebox musical Moulin Rouge! at 6 p.m. at SIFF Cinema Uptown.