Whether you’re glad to see 2015 go or you’re reflecting on the year with fondness, Berkeley has a party for you to celebrate its departure and the arrival of 2016. Here’s a quick, Downtown-heavy sampling of New Year’s Eve parties but you better get your tickets and reservations before they sell out!
Links to NYE dinners and bars are also listed below.
Quirkeley can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store. May the year ahead bring you wonderful new adventures and opportunities. Party on.
All event descriptions are from the event’s website. Updated Dec. 28th, 11:15pm
Victory Point Cafe – Reservations highly recommended
The Bay Area’s first board game cafe will be open from 9am till midnight.
Founders Derek DeSantis and Areg Maghakian share a passion for board gaming, community-building, coffee and beer. So we combined all of those things to bring you Victory Point, the Bay Area’s first board game cafe. The concept is simple: pay $5 to access our collection of ~800 board games, stay as long as you’d like, and enjoy our selection of locally roasted coffee, craft beers, sandwiches and snacks. We love board games because they bring people together, and we’re so excited to share the love with you, Berkeley.
Nick’s Lounge No Cover! Reserve a table
Karaoke and Bubbles. Reader’s Choice Winner, Best Karaoke, East Bay Express
Jupiter – $10
Ring in the New Year at Jupiter with party favors, champagne toast at midnight and local funk soul legend, dance music with soul featuring band leader, bassist, and vocalist Jerry Kennedy! J-Soul is comprised of some of the most entertaining and talented musicians from the Bay Area.
Tupper & Reed $20 / $100 Purchase Tickets
Doors 7pm /9pm party
Live Music. Bites from Handlebar Berkeley. $20 General admission includes, 1 complementory punch cup upon arrival and small bites.
$100 Booth reservation for up to 6 people which will include, formal table side service (starting at 9pm) a complimentory muse cocktail, and a bottle of sparkling wine for the midnight toast.
The Starry Plough $30 Purchase Tickets
Doors 8pm / 9pm show
NYE Bash! W/ Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express + Harold Ray
The Starry Plough is an Irish pub, legendary live music venue and kitchen that offers delicious, locally sourced comfort food. It’s been a staple of the East Bay scene since 1973. With deep roots as an Irish Revolutionary watering hole, the history of protest runs as deep today as it did when we opened four decades ago.
We have entertainment 7 days a week and feature truly talented, interesting and inspiring artists from the Bay Area and beyond.
La Peña $30 advance / $35 door Purchase Tickets
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style at La Peña with Orquesta La Moderna Tradición!
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición bursts with the sweet yet powerful sound of the Afro-Cuban charanga orchestra, which features violins and woodwinds interlocking with driving afro-Cuban rhythms.
Since 1996, the 11-piece group has thrilled audiences across the country with a mix of contemporary timba-infused arrangements guaranteed to get you on your feet and traditional danzónes that transport you back to the Havana social clubs of the 1950s.
La Moderna Tradición has performed at Lincoln Center in New York, the Smithsonian Institution, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Telluride Jazz Festival, and many others — their tours have taken them from Alaska to El Paso and abroad.
Comal $45 Purchase Tickets – will sell out!
Doors 9pm
This New Year’s Eve, Comal will once again usher in the new year by clearing out the tables, turning up the volume on our state-of-the-art Meyer sound system and transforming into a funky dancehall.
Legendary Bay Area DJ Jose Ruiz (KPFA, KPOO), who has an ongoing residency at Comal on Thursday nights, will spin his infectious mix of Latin and funk into the wee hours.
All food offerings are included in ticket purchase. All previous parties have sold out, so advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.
Please make special note: BART runs until 3am on NYE and Comal is less than a block from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Also, Comal’s large beer garden is uncovered, so use of this space is weather dependent. Additional tickets may be released December 30th if weather permits the use of the beer garden for the occasion.
Bistro Liaison $62 – $72 reservations*
New Year’s Eve Dinner. Live Music from 8:00 to midnight, party favors & champagne toast at midnight!
*All reservations from 5:30 to 6:30, $62 per person and does not include the Aperitif. All reservations after 6:30, $72 per person.
New Year’s Eve dinners
- Longbranch
- Paisan
- Café Rouge
- Lalime’s
- Corso
- Five Restaurant & Bar
- Eureka!
- Gather
- Revival Bar + Kitchen
- Belli Osteria
- Pathos – closed
Bars, Wine & Brews
- Spats
- La Botella Republic
- East Bay Spice Company
- Missouri Lounge
- The Albatross
- Bobby G’s – closes at 8pm
- Field Work Brewing – regular hours/closes at 9pm
- Beta Lounge – closed
quirkeley.com 