[NOTE-This post is about December 31st, 2015, to check out our guide for December 31, 2016 (NYE 2017), go here.]
2016 is just around the corner. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list (which will be updated regularly until 12/31/15) of New Year’s Eve celebrations at DC bars below (nearly all with a cover include a champagne toast, party favors, and a DJ), which I’ve split up by neighborhood and whether there is an open bar (at least 3.5 hours long), a cover charge (many of these include an open bar) and no cover bars (likely these won’t be announced until the week or so before the NYE). For those of you braving open bars (only 36% of those recently polled are a fan of them) , remember to tip well to start and for each drink. Barred in DC picks are highlighted below. If you know of a solid bar party, please let me know (barredindc@gmail.com).

For college football fans and their significant others, keep this in mind-the College Football Playoffs will be held New Year’s Eve-Clemson (Rebellion) v. Oklahoma (Buffalo Wild Wings in Crystal City) at 4p and Alabama (Buffalo Billiards) v. Michigan State (Capitol Lounge) at 8p.

This list will be continually updated until NYE. Prices don’t include fees.

Recommendations
Open Bar

• Kitty’s Saloon ($25 open bar from 9p-1a & free food)
• Sauf Haus (Sold Out)
• Bar Charley
• DC9
• Churchkey/Birch & Barley (Sold out)
• Stoney’s
• Slipstream
• Chinese Disco
• Mellow Mushroom
• Roofers Union
• Mason Inn
• Mad Fox Tap Room
• Hill Country
• Oyamel
• The Bottom Line
• Beuchert’s Saloon
• Barrel
• Maketto

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Flash
• The Partisan
• Church & State/Atlas Arcade

No Cover

• Sudhouse
• Jack Rose
• Red Derby
• The Pug
• Colony Club
• Duke’s Grocery

DUPONT CIRCLE

Open Bar

• The Front Page – $100 – 9p-2a – Prohibition Party (feat. Bulleit Bourbon + Ketel One) + DJ + light fare + prohibition style cocktails
• Sign of the Whale – $100 – 9p-close – appetizer buffet til 11p + $25 gift certificate + groups of 6 ore more get bottle of sparkling wine
• James Hobans – $90 – 007 James Bond party – Bond photo shoot + buffet + unlimited Heineken bottles/domestic drafts/house wine/rails – $70 option for open bar till midnight
• Mission – $100 (till 12/22); $120 (12-22 to 25); $150 (last minute) – 9p-1a – app/dessert buffet + mixed drinks/imported beers/wines/sangria/margaritas – Coat/tie required
• Sauf Haus – SOLD OUT [$100/$180 couples/$340 group of 4] – 9p-1a – DJs and live music on covered rooftop – seasonal bier + schnapps bar feat. rare German fruit brandies + passed heavy apps
• Madhatter – $100 – 9p-2a – Masquerade Ball – premium open bar + buffet + confetti drop
• Midtown Partyplex – $60 – 10p-4a (limited to 1st 100) – $20/30 general admission options –
• Irish Whiskey – $80 – 9p-close – premium open bar + passed apps
• Bar Charley – $55 – 10p-close – optional open bar – 3 and 4 course dinner options earlier with Roaring Dinner options – can do a la carte
• Cobalt – $100 – 9p-4a – Royalty option is top shelf w/ Cristal toast – $75 Nobles option call/imports w/ Louis Roederer Brut Premiere toast – $25 general admission – Princess Ball theme
• Recessions – $70 – doors open at 9p – open bar + food buffet + midnight toast
• Boqueria – $115 (+tax/tip) – 9:30p-12:30a – unlimited beer/wine/sangria + family-style tapas

 

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• The Manor – $55 / 100 (couples) – doors open at 9p -Burlesque Ball – open bar from 9-10p
• Ozio – $50 (early bird) – 8p-2a – open bar/buffet from 8-11p
• Public Bar – $70 – open bar from 10p-1a + buffet w/ heavy apps from 10-12p – Masquerade style
• Rosebar Lounge – $35 ($60 couples) – doors open at 9p – house brand liquors open bar from 9-10p + $1300 table for up to 8 gets you 4 bottles
• Kabin Lounge – $50 – 9p-3a – photo booth – $25 extra gets open bar from 9-11p – semi-formal attire required
• Heist – $35 / $60 couples – doors open at 10p – glass of sparkling wine upon arrival + midnight toast – $85/150 VIP admission gets Perrier-Jouet & Grey Goose open bar until midnight
• Cafe Citron – $35 ($40 at door) – 9p-4a – 2 drinks + chips/salsa + roulette/black jack/prize wheel
• Eighteenth Street Lounge – $20 – doors open at 9p – DJs and all that jazz
• The Gryphon – $39 – doors open at 9p – premium open bar from 9p-midnight
• The Riggsby – $65 – lounge party starting at 7p includes 2 cocktails & all snacks w/ a la carte menu
• Panache – $60 last minute – doors open at 9p – Back in the Day 90s themed celebration – 9-10p open bar & apps

No Cover

• Lucky Bar -doors open at 3p –  “Champagne Gala” – $3 glasses of sparkling wine from 3-8p – toast + favors
• Bar Dupont – starts at 9p – Mad Men-themed – back bar with DJ & scotches/bourbons/rye + main bar with cigar roller from 9p – $25 cigar & cocktail special (Old Fashioned’s/Manhattan/Vesper Martinis) + outside ice bar features Belvedere & 2 smoking tables
• Rebellion – no dress code/cover/etc. – complimentary sparkling wine midnight toast – Clemson watch party from 4-8p
• Bistro Bistro – midnight toast + house music +food/drink specials
• Parlay – College Football Playoff watch – bottle/food/table specials + midnight toast + DJ top 40 & old school hip hop
• McClellan’s Retreat – Miller High Life midnight toast
• Darlington House – photobooth
• Duke’s Grocery – specials on (UK favorites) Pimm’s Cup, Bombay Sapphire, and all single malt scotch + midnight toast – kitchen open til 1a
• Buffalo Billiards – doors open at 2p – free games – Alabama watch party

14TH STREET / U STREET / SHAW / BLOOMINGDALE

Open Bar

• DC9 – $55 (til 12/12); $65 (12/13-27); $75 (12/28-31) – 10p-2a – NYE Chocolate Factory party + $2 for Chocolate Factory Chocolate bars raffle (1 person wins ticket to every show in 2016, 99 people win tickets to one show each) + 2 floors of DJs
• New Vegas Lounge – $85 ($100 last minute) -9:30p-2a – live jazz & blues begin at 10:15 – celebrity soul food truck
• Churchkey / Birch & Barley – SOLD OUT $104 – 9p-2a – 50 drafts/5 casks/select booze & wine + passed bites/snacks + DJ + photobooth
• Hawthorne (old Tabaq/New Town) – $135 ($150 last minute) – 9p-1a – app/dessert buffet + mixed drinks/imported beers/wines/call bourbons – Coat/tie required
• Duffy’s – $60 (regular) – 9p-2a – all beer/wine/rails (no shots) + apps from 9-11p + midnight Jameson toast
• The Gibson – $130 – 9p-3a – Dada/Surrealist themed party – drag queen performance + live music + small bites
• Vinoteca – $99  – 9:30p-2p – midnight snack buffet
• Shaw’s Tavern – $100 – 9p-1a – optional open bar – Casino Royale Celebration – casino games + appetizer buffet – can do a la carte too
• Stoney’s (upstairs)- $75 ($100 on NYE) – 4p-2a — COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL party – 4p-8p (open beer/wine + wing buffet + OU/Clemson); 8p-2a (open bar + full buffet + MSU/Bama) – get half off brunch next day
• Slipstream – $85 – 9p-2a – all-inclusive include holiday & custom cocktails + selected beer/wine + toast + all the coffee you can drink + small bites/snacks/cupcakes

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Lost Society – Masquerade Party – $45 – 9p-3a includes 2 drink tickets
• Flash – $50 – 8p-noon NYD – 16 hour dance party + roof opens at 9p + basement club at 10p
• Howard Theater – $45 gen admission/$60 skip-the-line/$80 couples – 10p-4a – Masquerade Ball – DJ and dancers + photo booth + semi-formal attire req’d
• Town Danceboutique – $20 ($25 after 12/25) – doors open at 9- drag shows + videos – 21+ over only
• The Brixton – $25 – doors open at 9p – A Space Oddity NYE – open bar from 9-10p w/ smorgasbord of bar snacks – black-lit debauchery + EDM + body paint + glitter + photo booth
• Policy – $20 – doors open at 9p in upstairs Liberty Lounge
• Provision No. 14 – $30/40 – doors open at 9p – inc. 1 drink & toast
• Cloak & Dagger – $60 presale / $70 door – 9p-3a – open bar from 9-11p – 21st Amendment Celebration – $25/30 option for general admission from 11p-3a
• Mockingbird Hill – $20 – Miracle on 7th Street Christmas pop-up bar + midnight toast
• Marvin – $20 ($30 at door) – doors open at 9p – open bar of select spirits from 9-10p – 25% of ticket sales goto Words, Beats & Life (hip-hop non-profit in DC)
• Black Cat – $30 -doors open at 7:30p -live bands and DJs

No Cover

• Sudhouse – all day HH at the main bar + bubbly toast + live DJ
• Compass Rose – DJ/music starts at 11p in back dining area
• 2 Birds, 1 Stone – classic sparkling wine concoctions/cocktails  ($16) & $12 punch
• Bar Pilar – DJ + dancing + midnight toast +house-made fortune cookies
• Crisp – midnight toast
• Eat the Rich – $1 oysters + $6 Dickel oyster back shots + $6 glasses of sparkling wine + $40 optional sparkling wine open bar from 9p-midnight
• Southern Efficiency – $6 glasses of sparkling wine after midnight + $40 optional sparkling wine open bar from 9p-midnight
• Nellie’s – $3 house beers/vodka drinks til 10p – $15 beer buckets till midnight – free toast
• Chaplin’s – midnight toast + DJ
• El Rey – drink specials from 10:30p-12:30a – $3 Natty Boh/$4 Corona/$5 cava & margaritas
• Number Nine – midnight toast – VJ – countdown
• El Camino – DJ
• The Fainting Goat – midnight toast
• Solly’s – open at 3p – Kostume Karaoke at 8p – Miller High Life toast at midnight

ADAMS MORGAN / WOODLEY PARK / CLEVELAND PARK

Open Bar

• Town Tavern – $125- 9p-2a – premium open bar ($50 & $80 options for shorter open bars)
• Johnny Pistolas – $85 (early bird) $100 (12/9-22) $120 (after 12/22)- 9p-1a – open bar & food buffet
• Mellow Mushroom – $85 – 9p-close – open bar includes 24 craft draft beers/house wine/liquors + live funk/soul/reggae + Casino games w/ prizes (craps & roulette) + pizza/apps till 10p + sparklers on rooftop at midnight
• Nanny O’Briens – $80 – 8p-2:30a – some random dude’s open bar annual party + top shelf + beer buckets + light apps + semi-formal
• Roofers Union – $95 – 10p-2a – open bar includes 10 crafts + wine + select solid spirits + late night buffet w/ fried chicken/house-made sausages/dips/more – live music

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Southern Hospitality – $40 ($45-60 last minute) – premium open bar & apps from 9:30-10:30p + masquerade masks
• Bourbon – $20 ($30 door) – passed apps from 9-11p – reserve whiskey flights & NYE punches
• Club Heaven & Hell – $20 advance / $25 till 11p / $30 after 11p – buffet + tons of dancing options
• Bossa Bistro + Lounge – $10 – doors open at 9p – live samba/soul music + dress in white Brazilian style
• Songbyrd Music House – $40 – 9p-4a – 3 floors of entertainment : poetry cafe + jazz/down tempo live music + DJ – nomads & tribes counter-culture experience – artful projections – late night movies

No Cover

• The High Dive – 1989 themed party – tons of sparkling wine & Miller High Life + 1980s music
• Jack Rose – 5p-1a party – Vintage Cocktail flight + Chef’s champagne pre-fixe – 20 best of the best whisk(e)ys – Saloon HH from 5-8p – $45 AYCE and drink beer, bourbon & BBQ from 5-8p on rooftop/pre-bash

GEORGETOWN / GLOVER PARK / FOGGY BOTTOM / WEST END

Open Bar

• Chinese Disco – $80 – 9p-1a – light fare + “plenty of breath mints in case you vom” + “Multiple confetti showers on the dance floor (primarily for your instagram and snaps)” + digital photo booth + ball drop
• Town Hall – $105 ($120 last minute) – 9p-3a – premium open bar (Tito’s, Maker’s, Tanqueray, Woodford, etc.) + gourmet holiday buffet + complimentary coat check + overnight parking + heated/tented smoking area
• Mason Inn – $60 – 9p-1a – premium open bar – live music
• Mad Fox Tap Room – $70 (before 12/10); $90 – 9p-1a – premium open bar + craft beer + tapas style passed dinner + dessert plates – complimentary coat check
• Tony & Joe’s / Nick’s Riverside Grill – $110 – 9p-2a – top-shelf + 8 bars + 2 heavy app buffets + heated party tents + band/DJs – RiversBash2016
• Orange Anchor – $75 – 9p-2a – premium open + jell-o shots

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Shadow Room – $40 entry or tables starting at $500
• Capella  – $150 – Veuve Clicquot open champagne bar + one signature cocktail – percussionist – NYE Rooftop Party
• Bayou – $15/25 – live band + Hurricane/Abita specials
• ENO – $65 ($70 at door) – includes flight of wine with bruschetta pairing – special pairings a la carte all night (20% off sparkling wine bottles + 1/2 off selection of food) + live music
• Mate Lounge – $80 – passed apps +open bar 8-10p

No Cover

• 51st State – free apps + toast + party favors + $4.50 Yuengling all night
• Mr. Smith’s of Georgetown – food/drink specials – midnight toast – free party favors

CHINATOWN / PENN QUARTER / MOUNT VERNON SQUARE/ DOWNTOWN

Open Bar

• Hill Country – $75 – doors open at 8p – Rock ‘n Twang NYE – live band karaoke + photo booth – open bar includes bottomless beer/wine/margarita & apps – $35 option gets you apps + 2 drink tickets – $10 cover includes free toast
• Poste – $120 – 9:30p-1a – Winter Wonderland in outdoor courtyard + open bar (feat. Stella Artois & Perrier Jouet) + seafood buffet + ice sculptures + double ice luge + fire pits + heaters
• Oyamel – $95 – 10:30p-2a – unlimited food & beverage stations + live band – midnight & 1a (Mexico City) watch ball drops
• Sixth Engine – $100 – 9p-2a – premium open bar (cocktails, curated beer list, premium wine) + full gourmet food spread + coat check
• Capitale – $49 (before 12/21); $75 (12/22-27); $100 (last minute) – 9p-1a
• The Bottom Line – $60  – top shelf open bar from 9p-close – light apps

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Redline – $35 – doors open at 9p – open bar & apps from 9-10p
• Hard Rock Cafe – $65 ($40 admission) – 9:30p-4a – Velvet Rope party – open bar till midnight + app/dessert stations
• The Hamilton – SOLD OUT – $25 – 8:30p doors – 19th Street Band in the Loft – live music starts at 10p
• MXDC – $60 almost sold out – 9p-4a – Masquerade Ball – premium open bar/apps 9-10p
• Eden DC – $35 – 7p-3a – selective open bar from 8-10p + 6 DJs + 4 bars
• Old Ebbitt Grill (Atrium) – $30 – 8p doors – 10p show – The John Kadlecik Band
• Bar7 – $40/$70 couples – 7p-3a – open bar & passed apps from 7-9p + professional dancers
• Ultrabar – $30 (first 300 tickets online) – doors open at 8p – open bar from 8-9p – sparkling wine bottle specials – tables as low as $400
• The Partisan – $50 – 10p-1a – Beverage trio (one NYE punch, 1 draft beer, and Lambrusco toast at midnight) + snacks & charcuterie
• Opera – $25 – doors open at 9p – DJs + light shows
• Zengo – $40 – 9p-4a – open bar & apps 9-10p – masquerade masks – Destination Rio party
• Penn Social – $20 (til 12/29) – 10p-3:30a – “DC Time Square NYE” – $60 VIP gets coat check, VIP Section, light buffet, & top shelf champagne toast –  LGBT event
• Sax – $50/$80 (couple) – includes 2 drink tickets each  + Cabaret in Rouge theme + dance sets + burlesque show + balloon drop + stilt-walker + aerialists
• Cuba Libre – $30- – welcome champagne toast + party favors + midnight madness Cuba Libre dancers + balloon dance + extra $70 for open bar from 10:30p-1a
• City Tap Room – $40 – DJ from 10p-2a – premium open bar from 10p-midnight
• barmini – $150 – party starts at 10p – bubbles-themed cocktails + whimsical snacks
• Fado – $10 – doors open at 9p – DJ + bubbly toast
• Prequel – $20 – 8p-1a – toast + DJ – $40 add-on for unlimited cava/sparkling wine or $70 for Champagne

No Cover

• Denson Liquor Bar – 1920s theme + table minimums
• RFD – NYE 1980s Throwback Thursday + 80s drinks + Miller High Life champagne toast + classic 80s cuisine
• Flight Wine Bar – new wine menu – cava/champagnes poured from magnum bottles
• Bar Deco – rooftop open – midnight toast
• Jackpot – live music + midnight toast

CAPITOL HILL / EASTERN MARKET / NAVY YARD

Open Bar

• Bluejacket – WAITLIST ONLY $115 – 9p-2a – 25 drafts/casks/select wines & sprits + passed bites/snacks + live music + DJ + photobooth
• Beuchert’s Saloon – $140 – Tiki New Year – whole roast pig + craft cocktails + tiki glasses
• Barrel – $100 – 9p-close – AYCE porchetta dinner/buffet + open bar (16 drafts/wine, select bourbons, premium vodka/gin/tequila/rum, 4 bourbon tasting stations)
• Stanton & Greene – $59 – 9:30p-1a – Bourbon & Bluegrass party in Upstairs Loft – open bar (beer & wine, signature Bourbon cocktail) + complimentary bar food + live bluegrass
• Kelly’s Irish Times – $69 – 9p-1a open bar – United Social Sports -Prohibition-style NYE Speakeasy party + beautiful event lighting + live music + starters + food/specialty HH

Cover Charge/Limited Open Bar

• Scarlet Oak – $45/$50 – 9p-1a – premium open bar from 9:30-10:30p

No Cover

• The Dubliner – live band on stage + champagne toast + party favors
• The 201 Bar – Studio 201 party – disco ball – photo booth – servers on roller skates – champagne toast & liquid cocaine shots – 70s cocktails (tequila sunrise; Harvey Wallbangers; French 75s; Golden Caddilacs)
• Boxcar Tavern – $2 off drafts/rails/house wine/apps from 10p-close – party favors – champagne toast at midnight
• Trusty’s – midnight toast
• The Big Stick – regular night
• Capitol Lounge – food/drink specials – Michigan State watch party

H STREET

Open Bar

• H Street Country Club – $69 – 9p-2a  – open bar (margaritas, beer, wine, rails) + magician + mini golf
• Maketto – $90 – 7p-3a – open bar + food + midnight champagne/pizza toast + DJs + sponsored by James River Distillery + Tiger Beer + Two James Spirits
• Kitty’s Saloon – $25 – 9p-1a – open bar inc. house wines, rails & select beer + free food
• Rock & Roll Hotel – $80 – doors open at 8p – apps til 10:30 + midnight balloon drop + photo booth
• Jimmy Valentine’s – $75 – 9p-4a – top shelf – $15 general admission option available

Cover Charge/Limited Open Bar

• Driftwood Kitchen – $45 – 10p-1a open bar
• Church & State & Atlas Arcade – $35 (before 12/16) – 5 year celebration for Church & State – includes 2 Church & State cocktails
• Avery’s – $30 – doors open at 10p – buffet/selective top shelf & rail from 10-11p

No Cover

• The Pug – Miller High Life pony bottle “champagne of beers” midnight toast
• RedRocks – Roaring 20s theme party – $5 draft beer/rails
• Sol – drink specials + midnight toast + DJ
• Copycat – New Year’s menu
• Halftime Sports Bar – bottle service available

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS/PETWORTH

Open Bar

• Slash Run – $45 -9p-close – optional package inc. entree, selected whiskeys & unlimited drafts/rails – can also do a la carte
• El Chucho – $47.16 – 9p-close – optional open bar inc. AYCE tacos – can also do a la carte

Cover Charge/Limited Open Bar

• Petworth Citizen & Reading Room DC – $65 -11p-1a – Oscar Wilde-inspired drinks from Chantal Tseng & Dan Searing includes 2 drinks, small plate, vintage Champagne toast, tax, & tip – earlier $50 seatings at 7/9p
• Acre 121 – $10 – doors open at 10 p – rock/reggae band + all night drink specials inc. $6 sparkling wine cocktails + $5 holiday draft beers

No Cover

• Red Derby – Masquerade Ball – $4 bubbly + special punch + party favors + midnite toast
• Colony Club – 6p-2a – Anxo ciders sponsored party with Rappahanock Co. oysters + goat roast + karaoke upstairs + live music upstairs + Union beer & cider specials
• Lou’s City Bar – watch CFB playoffs + $5 22 oz. pints + $6 sparkling wine cocktails + $10 brats/tots special
• Meridian Pint – specials and midnight toast – 4-7p Kiddo NYE HH kids eat free
• Purple Patch – Masquerade Party – midnight toast – DJ + best mask contest – $16 gets you mask and drink
• The Looking Glass Lounge – 8p-3a – midnight whiskey toast – $20 bottles of sparkling wine – DJ starts at 10p
• The Pinch – NYE for ppl who hate NYE but there’s a midnight toast
• Lyman’s Tavern – midnight toast

NOMA/BROOKLAND/OTHER NE

Cover Charge and/or Limited Open Bar

• Layla Lounge – $50 – “cut line champagne open bar” from 10p-midnight – $20 general admission
• Steel Plate – $15 – 9p-3a – midnight toast + high-five/hug + sliders & grilled cheese after midnight

No Cover

• Smith Pubic Trust – starts at 7p – Spacecamp – DJs