Depending on what food and music you like, and how much you’re willing to spend, you can easily find something suitable for you and your noisy company of friends.
Also, beware that the price of Hr 300-500 is frequently just an admission fee and will include only modest food portions and perhaps some alcohol. The more expensive tickets are likely to offer you a proper holiday menu, but it’s best to call them beforehand and confirm the details. Quite often, you will be asked to pre-pay half the price of a ticket or even cover an admission fee in full.
All parties listed are scheduled for Dec. 31 and start around 10 p.m.
Let’s rock
If you prefer pub atmospheres and partying to the sound of rock ‘n’ roll, live music clubs are your best option. For example, 44 club (44B Khreshchatyk, 279-4137) is hosting a New Year’s party featuring cover bands and one famous musical artist (whose name is still kept secret) as well as a disco until dawn. Entry is Hr 400 and includes a free bottle of champagne. At Bochka on Khmelnytskoho (3 B-1 Khmelnytskoho, 390-6106) Alyona Lvova & Halion, Grazhdanin Topinambur and DJ Antonio will play. Route 66 (87/30 Zhylyanska, 239-3865) is holding a cowboy-style party with rockabilly music from Mr. Och & His Root Boys for Hr 800, inclusive of tasty treats. Docker’s ABC (15/4 Khreshchatyk, Passazh, 278-1717) is celebrating the New Year with Russian band Lampasy and traditional hits from Red Rocks, while its partner Docker Pub in Obolon (25 Bohatyrska, 537-1340) is also featuring Lampasy, as well as young Ukrainian rockers Antytila and Tres Deseos playing Latino tunes.
From disco to carnival
Heaven club (7 Hrinchenka, 353-4040) is holding a “Mandarin Party” with mandarin dishes and mandarin-flavored cocktails. DJ’s Bro and Team will provide the music while Free Love Party will provide ballet dancing to wow the crowd. The party also has a charitable element – all guests are encouraged to bring toys, sweets and mandarins, which will be donated to local orphanages. In fact, five kilograms of mandarins will grant you free admission to the club. Tickets are Hr 200 for girls, Hr 400 for boys. If you’re willing to spend Hr 1,750 – 2,500 on New Year’s Eve in a glamorous atmosphere, book a table at Buddha-Bar (14 Khreshchatyk, 270-7676). Its festive program features jazz singer Elena Popova, stylish lounge music from Gorchitza Life Project and disco from the bar’s resident deejay, Kiril Dumsky. Another luxurious party is taking place at the Acco International exhibition center (40B Prospect Peremohy, 278-3251). Here you’re promised entertainment, a la Moulin Rouge. The program “Triumph of Passions” includes a jazz concert, magicians, jugglers and acrobats, also a Venetian carnival, French cancan, a fire show and more. For a Hr 3,000 ticket expect a banquet in addition to the show.
For all tastes
When it comes to New Year's parties in restaurants, your budget and the type of cuisine will define your choice. For instance, Georgian restaurant Hinkali (4 Shota Rustaveli, 234-0692) is celebrating with music, contests and of course, Did Moroz. The show will combine festive traditions from three nations – Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. Each guest is required to deposit Hr 500. If you prefer Armenian cuisine, head to Ani (72 Chervonoarmiyska, 590-2565), offering an entertainment program in the likes of “The Arabian Nights” fairytales with belly dancing, oriental music and hookah smoking. The festive menu includes shashlik, fish assortment, roasted lamb and oriental sweets. For fans of Irish pubs, Golden Gate (15 Zolotovoritska, 235-5188) is throwing a party called “Around the World in the Time Machine,” offering guests a chance to experience the atmosphere of multi-national celebrations. The Hr 1,200 ticket includes a festive dinner and champagne.
The party at the Ukrainian restaurant O’Panas (10 Tereshchenkivska, Tarasa Shevchenko Park, 585-0523) is called “New Year’s Boogie Woogie,” after the recent Russian musical “Stilyagi” (Dandies). Comedians from Comedy Club UA, girl bands Arktika and Hollywood, a deejay playing ‘80s – ‘90s hits and contests with a chance to win a trip for two to Zakarpattya, are on the program. A ticket for Hr 1,300 includes food with drinks. Murakami on Naberezhna (Naberezhne Shose, Dnipro metro, 428-7219) will celebrate in Japanese style, with cartoon characters, a deejay, contests and fireworks. Also, the karaoke hall will be open all night.
Kyiv Post editor Alexandra Matoshko
