The hotel with perhaps the most unobstructed view of the entirety of Times Square is the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel. They have a limited number of terrace rooms available, meaning you can enjoy the brouhaha and falling confetti from the privacy of your own private terrace. But brace yourself, because getting a front-row seat to the action doesn’t come cheap—prime VIP seating this year goes for $5,689.06 a ticket.
A penthouse of one’s own: The Chatwal
When: December 31, dinner begins at 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Chatwal, 7th Ave. and W 48th St.
Price: Producer Suite, $6,000/night
How to book: Reservations available online
If crowds aren’t your thing, you can throw a party of your own at The Chatwal, New York City, which features ball-drop views from the private terrace of their Producer Suite. For $6,000 a night, you can stay in these sleek Thierry Despont-designed digs, and wake up on January 1 on a handmade Shifman mattress outfitted with Frette linens.
The tallest rooftop lounge in NYC: Bar 54
When: December 31, 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Bar 54, 135 W 45th St.
Price: Starting at $1,399
How to book: Tickets available online
The views from Bar 54 atop the Hyatt Centric Times Square Hotel are unforgettable, and the black-tie-optional, premium open-bar fête promises to be a glamorous affair. And with a five-hour open bar featuring premium spirits, you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
Hear us out—Applebee’s
When: December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Where: Applebee’s, 234 W 42nd St.
Price: Starting at $729
How to book: Reservations available online
It feels like a fact on the back of a Snapple cap—The Applebee’s in Times Square truly is one of the places to watch the ball drop in NYC. Regardless of how you feel about riblets and Fiesta lime chicken every other night of the year, you must admit that the restaurant has a unique value prop on December 31. You can enjoy an open bar, live entertainment, an unlimited dinner buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight—at which point you can enjoy a live view of the ball drop from the west side.
How to watch on TV and online
Most of us probably won’t make it to Times Square (and Times Square adjacent locations) to see the celebrations in person, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Tune into one of the following broadcasts to watch the party from the comfort of your home:
- ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest: 8 p.m. EST
- CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash: 8 p.m. EST
- CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen: 8 p.m. EST
The Ball Drop and preceding performances (all six and a half hours of ‘em) will also be available on a live webcast over at www.TimesSquareNYC.org starting December 31 at 6 p.m. EST. You can also download Livestream for mobile, available through Apple’s App Store and via Google Play for mobile phones and tablets, and connect to the New Year’s Eve live webcast there.
