If you haven’t planned your New Year’s eve yet, here is an enticing list to tempt you for home and away.
THE ONES WITH LIVE MUSIC
Stork
Stork is a pan-African fine dining restaurant in Mayfair, inspired by the 2000-mile journey of the stork. The restaurant menu pays homage to the migration of African culinary inspiration to nearly every continent in the world through fabulous food and contemporary art. Performing live will be Christina Matovu (known for her vocals to Burna Boy’s stage performances) and her band, The Dynasty.
As for food, the Ubuntu menu (meaning ‘collectiveness’) is designed for a minimum of 4 guests and is split between 4 courses of sharing plates. Priced at £150 per person, dishes include Ackee Tartelette; Lamb Dibbi; Jerk Chicken Wings and Signature Spatchcock Poussin with grilled sweetcorn and jerk marinade plus desserts of Pumpkin Pie or Jamaican rum cake. Great for a New years celebration.
Coal Office
The King’s Cross restaurant Coal Office serves a delicious mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours, in its stunning location overlooking the bustling Granary Square.
Head chef Dan Pelles has created unique specials for the evening that will sit alongside the a la carte menu, including Ba’a Lalobby (roasted lobster tail in fenugreek butter, Mesopotamian lobster bisque, lemongrass infusion, fresh tagliatelle & puntarelle); Judaean Tartar (Chateaubriand tartar, black trumpet & pickled chanterelle, burnt aubergine, pine nuts, yogurt, parsley); or Koka Mashloka (artichoke heart, parsley root purée, fresh parsley & pistachio Tatbileh). Live music will be provided by an acoustic set of talented female musicians, High on Heels, to entertain diners on the first floor.
THE ONE WITH A DJ
Dirty Bones is serving up its NYC inspired comfort food and cocktails across 3 sites in central London and in Oxford. For New Year’s Eve, DJs will be pumping out a playlist of straight-up old-school, filled with classic hip-hop, funk and soul, alongside its creative dishes and innovative cocktails. Chow down on their famous burgers including The Mac Daddy (double dry aged steak burger topped with pulled beef short rib, mac & cheese and espresso-spiked BBQ sauce), koji-brined fried chicken and waffles, and small plates, such as mac & cheese and cheeseburger dumplings!
DJs are popping up in Carnaby, Oxford and Shoreditch, and closing at 1am. Soho will close at 11pm (no DJ).
THE ONE TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS
Korean Dinner Party
New Year’s Eve (12pm-12:30am) Inspired by LA’s Koreatown, Korean Dinner Party offers a playful fusion of Korean cuisine in the heart of Soho. The restaurant is serving up a feasting menu for New Year’s Eve at £35 per person including a welcome glass of prosecco.
Choose from Small Eats including bacon mochi and fried chicken, followed by Street Eats of kimchi pancake or stuffed peppers. Indulge in Korean Tacos (al pastor or KFC Korean Fried Cauliflower) and the Kimchi stone pot with an option to add 48hr beef short rib, before the dessert of a soft serve cone topped with matcha green tea and caramelised cornflakes.
THE ONE TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS
Montcalm East
Out of the 288 guest rooms at the Montcalm East hotel, the ‘Sky-High’ rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unique views over the city and one of the best views in London. Take in the capital’s firework displays in the comfort of a King-size ensuite bedroom and 24hr room service! On 31st December from 6-9pm, the hotel will be hosting live entertainment with acoustic sets from Amy’s Duo.
THE ONE TO ENJOY AT HOME
Ding Dong Dim Sum
Ding Dong Dim Sum delivers a prepared, ready-to-cook dim sum meal to your door. Available nationwide with next day dispatch, the meal kits each come with a unique biodegradable steamer, taking all the hard work out but leaving all the fun in. Especially for the festive period, the team has launched a celebration box with brand new dishes to try, including a colourful and exciting mix of new dishes, including spicy chicken siu mai, prawn and chive crystal dumplings, spicy beef and sweet potato buns and vegan kohlrabi crystal dumplings.
Ding Dong wants to make it easy for Dim Sum lovers to enjoy their favourite food every week. Not everyone has a lovely bamboo steamer in their kitchen, and so the team has developed their very own biodegradable steamer to send out with each order.