Sydney New Year’s Eve party guide – 2009

UPDATE: the 2011 New Year’s Eve Guide is now up. Click here to read it.

Looking for a place to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Here’s our top 10 guide to Sydney NYE 2009 events, based largely on views but also on entertainment:

1) Blu Bar – When it comes to bars with a panoramic view of the fireworks and Sydney Harbour, it’s hard to beat the Blu Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel. It’s not only 36 floors up but also slap bang in Millers Point, so you’ll be right on top of the action. It won’t be cheap, however, at $600 per person for canapés and what they call premium beverages and champagne on arrival and at midnight. Phone 9250 6000 or email dine.slsn@shangri-la.com

2) Sydney Tower – For Sydney’s highest New Year’s Eve Party, try the Sydney Tower Observation Deck. $375 gets you DJ entertainment, canapés and unlimited drinks from 7.30pm to 12.30am. See the Sydney Tower website for more information.

3) Bel Mondo – It’s nowhere near as high as Blu Bar or Sydney Tower but, thanks to the low-rise nature of The Rocks, the view from Bel Mondo will still let you see the fireworks up close. $295 per person gets you a four-course meal and live entertainment. See the Bel Mondo website or phone 9241 3700

4) Cruise – Those who want to both boogie and have the view can go to Cruise, which will hold a Hed Kandi dance party. Prices range from $89 – see the Cruise bar website

5) Opera Bar – For those who want to disco dance like it’s the 70s – and be right on Sydney Harbour – the Opera Bar has its NYE Disco Wonderland night. For $295 you get canapes and live entertainment (drinks not included). It runs from 6pm until 2.30am – see the Opera Bar website for more information.

6) Luna Park – If you like mixing roller coasters with champagne then Luna Park’s NYE party might be for you. Artists include Grafton Primary, Ajax and Ian Carey and there’s unlimited rides all night long and an up-close vantage point for the fireworks. Final release tickets are available from $165.40, as well as a range of VIP tickets that, aside from anything else, give you access to private loos and bars. Phone 9033 7600 or see the Harbour Party NYE website

7) Argyle – You might not have a great view of the fireworks from within the Argyle’s courtyard but guests will receive pass outs to go and watch the fireworks and then re-enter The Argyle. Inside, the entertainment includes DJs Anthony Cassa, Phil Hudson and John Devecchis. Prices start from $75 per person through Moshtix or The Argyle – phone 9247 5500.

8) Piano Room – The view may not be harbourside but on New Year’s Eve the Piano Room’s entertainment features DJ Joey Negro (UK) and singers Tara McDonald (UK) and KimBlee (NYC), who will be performing her club hit Fade. Prices range from $89 plus booking fee for the Trademark-only party next door to $150 plus booking fee for a VIP ticket that includes complimentary drinks, canapés, access to the Piano Room and private performances. Tickets are available from www.moshtix.com and Experience Entertainment

9) The Victoria Room – Ok, this doesn’t have a view of the fireworks but the idea of a Casablanca-themed dinner made us want to mention The Victoria Room’s New Year’s party. $125 per person will get you canapés, four-courses and a live seven-piece jazz band (drinks not included). A pop-up parlour will also be there for ladies to indulge in a 40s style makeover and both the 9pm and midnight fireworks will be projected onto a big screen. Email info@thevictoriaroom.com or phone 9357 4488 to book.

10) Ivy – If you’re looking for an Ibiza-style NYE party then Ivy will be flying in dancers and performers from Pacha, the clubbing franchise headquartered in Ibiza, with DJs including Sebastian Ingrosso (Sweden), Clause Vonstroke (USA), Sidney Samson (Netherlands), Goldfish (South Africa), Streetlife DJs (UK) and Grum (UK). The party takes place over all of the Ivy complex and runs from 6pm until 4am. Prices range from $156 – see the Merivale/Ivy website

11) Drift – Ok, we lied – this is really a top 11 list. Since we didn’t want to leave Bondi off the map, we’re also including Drift (upstairs at Ravesis) which is having a High Tide NYE party. For $90 there’ll be food such as pizzas and canapés on arrival, access to all areas of level one (ie the new wine bar that Drift just opened, the restaurant and the cocktail bar) and the DJ will be Sam La More. Phone 9365 4422 or  email functions@ravesis.com.au.

If the above sounds too daunting – or you simply want a tipple before heading out – then here’s a New Year’s cocktail recipe for you:

Champagne Cocktail recipe
For a seemingly simple drink, there are many variations when it comes to making this New Year’s Eve classic. According to cocktail expert Dale DeGroff, the recipe should go like this:

• Champagne
• Sugar cube
• Angostura Bitters

Place the sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne glass, add two dashes of Angostura Bitters and then pour champagne on top.

Some people, however, choose to dispense with the sugar cube and just add the bitters in the bottom of the glass, along with a strawberry, before filling with champagne. Either way, from here you can garnish with a lemon or orange peel, top up with cognac or Grand Marnier and voila!

(oh yes: for those who think we left a bar out, feel free to add a comment below)