New Years Eve in Times Square NYC – Hotels and Restaurants
Details of the hotels and restaurants in New York City’s Times Square that have views of the ball drop and New Years Eve celebration
Millions of eyes watch annually as the famous Waterford Crystal ball drops in Times Square to celebrate New Years Eve in New York City, followed by confetti and fireworks exploding in the sky. More than 750,000 people gather on December 31st to be part of the festivities. And while Times Square is undeniably THE place to ring in the New Year, there are more comfortable options of viewing the ball drop live rather than cramming into a pen with hundreds of thousands of other revelers for hours in the freezing cold. The people that attend Times Square’s New Years Eve countdown outside are known to be tourists and a good number will probably be drunk, so consider the option of watching the madness from the privacy of a hotel guestroom window or joining friends at a restaurant party.
Watch The Ball Drop From Hotel Room
Hotels in Times Square offer a limited amount of guestrooms and suites facing the action so it’s important to book early or get on a waiting list if possible.
W Hotel Times Square
1567 Broadway
47th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave
The W Hotel in Times Square offers a New Years Eve package complete with champagne for their guests. There are two presidential suites with New Years Eve ball drop views, which are $9,500 a night. About 30 percent of the 509 guestrooms in this hotel have ball drop views while others just show Times Square. The Living Room Bar on the 7th floor hosts an open bar and live coverage of Times Square on a big TV screen, which is rather sad, if not a little pathetic.
Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square
1568 Broadway
The Doubletree Guest Suites in Times Square has 40 corner suites facing the New Years Eve ball drop in New York City that go for $2,000 to $4,000, of the total 460 suites. Staying for New Years Eve is a two-night minimum, no arrivals are allowed on December 31st. Guests receive a bottle of champagne and other welcome amenities. There are no special events taking place in the hotel during New Years Eve.
Renaissance Hotel Times Square
714 Seventh Avenue
Guestrooms at the Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square don’t have New Years Eve ball drop views, but Two Times Square Restaurant & Lounge hosts a New Years Eve bash that features a panoramic view, so it’s worth booking a guestroom to attend the party. Two Times Square Restaurant & Lounge is on the third floor, which seats 85 people and a live band performs for the party. Room rates range from $400 to $600.null
Marriott Marquis Hotel Times Square
1535 Broadway
The New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City’s Times Square features 100 “ball drop rooms” that require a two to three night minimum stay. Rates range from $499 to $519. The hotel hosts a New Years Eve party from its two-story bar and lounge area located on the 8th floor. It’s possible a company could buy out the event space, but if not, a dinner, champagne reception, open bar, and live entertainment will take place.
Sheraton Manhattan Hotelnull
790 7th Avenue
(51st Street and 7th Avenue)
Very few guest rooms with “Ball Drop” views and little New Year spirit make this hotel the poor cousin of other big Times Square hotels for New Years Eve. There’s an overly expensive dinner held at the onsite restaurant and guests are welcome to go outside on the sidewalk for the ball drop, but not much else. It may work as a long shot, but clearly it shouldn’t be a first choice.
Restaurant and Bar Parties in Times Square
Some restaurants may not have a view of the ball drop, but the people celebrating outside are penned in, leaving the sidewalks open for people partying at the restaurants to go outside and have space on the sidewalk to watch.null
Olive Garden
2 Times Square
The national Italian restaurant chain Olive Garden hosts a New Years Eve party throughout its three floors in Times Square from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets go on sale November 1st. Each ticket is $250 and only 350 tickets are sold. The party includes a buffet, two open bars, and a DJ with light show. The restaurant has a limited view of Times Square but an area is roped off in front of the restaurant for those who want to go outside to celebrate.
T.G.I. Friday’s
1552 Broadway
This American cuisine chain hosts an annual party in Times Square costing $399 a ticket with 300 tickets available. There are four floors, a dinner buffet, hors d’oeuvres, an open bar on every floor, champagne toast at midnight, and a DJ. Reservations are taken in September. The restaurant features limited Times Square views but guests have the option to step outside onto the sidewalk where there’s space to watch the ball drop.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
1501 Broadway
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in New York City is a second floor restaurant with views of Times Square and the ball drop from large windows. The restaurant hosts a five-hour New Years Eve event starting at 8 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, a champagne fountain, open bar, full buffet dinner, full dessert buffet, entertainers, caricature drawers, and a DJ. Tickets are $500 per person and only 250 are sold.