digitcm

Would like advice on dinner and perhaps live music for New Year's Eve. We are staying at Marquis and would like to eat somewhere within walking distance but are open to suggestions. The Marquis has a party that night but it's rather formal and very expensive. We love Italian or French, but are open to other suggestions as well. It's our first time there, so are looking for that "memorable" place, preferably under $150 per person.

Thanks in advance,
Digit

nytraveler

The entire Times square are is blocked off starting around 3 in the afternoon and the the only entrance/exit to your hotel will be out the doors at the back. Walking to anything within a few blocks will be impossible by dinner time - since the streets will be packed full of at least a million people who come to celebrate the dropping of the ball. (People are penned in by police barricades as they enter the area. Once in your can leave (with a bit of difficulty - but there is no going back in.)

Any decent place to eat in the area will be very expensive that night.

Your best bet for something more reasonable (but everyone has special prices New Year's Eve) is to head either uptown or downtown. If you go uptown you can see the fireworks over Central Park at midnight.

But, be aware that the Times Square subway station is closed starting around 5 in the afternoon until after midnight - so you will have to walk to other stations - or away from TS to get a cab - any time from then on.

nytraveler

Sorry - for New Year's Eve packages have a look at opentable.com - it will list what the package prices are - but places with music at less than $150 each will be rare.

NeoPatrick

One thought is that most New Year's Eve dining experiences ARE memorable, but often for the wrong reasons. Rarely is a decent restaurant able to do as good a job on a night like New Year's Eve as they do on a regular night -- and at the same time they are charging up to three times the price for a less that best effort.

Are you looking to be out in Times Square at midnight? Perhaps the best suggestion is having a nice earlier dinner somewhere that doesn't include the big package deal for midnight.

And while I usually deplore room service, if your Marquis Room has a spectacular view of Times Square (as many of them do), one might have the best evening of all by doing a nice room service dinner with candlelight with the view of the madness.

Gekko

www.newyearsnation.com

Fantastic New York party!

digitcm

Thanks for the tips. I like the idea of a earlier dinner and then head back to the hotel. Any specific restaurant suggestions ? Open table provides nice suggestions, such as Nocello on 55th, or Osteria al Doge.

Digit