If you’re making resolutions this year, be sure to put celebrating the passage of one year to the next at the top of the list. Put on your party clothes and get out and paint the town red. This milestone only happens once a year. Here comes the new year in New Mexico! Here are the 10 best bars to celebrate.
This is the time to have champagne and caviar and celebrate a new year filled with new opportunity, and this is the place! You’ll toast the year ahead with one of the most famous champagnes in the world, Cristal, originally made for a Russian czar. You’ll get a caviar for two and a glass of bubbly. Limited seating—reservations required. This is an early evening event that begins at 5:30 p.m.
Put on your finest duds for this extravagant party marking the end of one year and beginning of another. There will be live music featuring Vanilla Pop, plus festive party favors including noise makers, velour top hats, glittered tiaras, leis and ostrich feathers. Champagne toast at midnight with local New Mexico bubbly from Gruet. Tickets in advance or at the door. Call to reserve a table for large parties. The fun begins at 8 p.m.
Two places to celebrate provide a double amount of fun. This year, there’s a party at Casa Escencia featuring the rockin’ sounds of two popular DJs. Party favors and a champagne toast at midnight round out the fun. Doors open at 9 p.m. The night’s fun is also happening at the QBar Lounge with more music, more party favors and more champagne. Purchase tickets in advance for both venues.
The Albuquerque-based band, The Noms, are featured at this year’s celebration. This not-your-typical rock band plays alternative, Americana, folk, pop and rock music. Lots of dancing from 9 p.m. ’til midnight. After midnight, a DJ kicks in with everyone’s favorites. It’s music, mountains and happiness and a perfect way to ring in 2018.
It’s black and white…ringing in the new year is the point at this party. Dress up, grab your dancing shoes and be prepared to have a ball well into 2018. The Tracey Whitney Quartet is followed by DJ Dolla Bill who’s followed by a Howling Coyote dance party. Don’t miss the midnight champagne toast or the door prizes being given away throughout the evening. Call for reservations.
This historic tavern and cantina is one of the last remaining buildings in the company town that was Madrid. It’s now a place of good food, lively music and a road stop along the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail. This New Year’s Eve all of that will be in place, as well as an appearance by the psychedelic country band, Joe West and the Santa Fe Revue. The party starts at 8 p.m. and it costs $10 to get in. Reservations required.
Take a walk on the wild side and adopt your most unconventional attitude at this year’s Bohemian Night bash. The night’s revelry begins at 9 p.m. and isn’t over until the wee hours of 2018. Hors d’oeuvres, music, cocktails, photo booth, psychic readings and a midnight toast all leads to the breakfast buffet the next morning. All included in the ticket price. Purchase in advance.
A Red Wine New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance is not a wine tasting. It’s a party that, at the center, has the awesome musical group, Red Wine. They’re known for their ability to perform a multitude of styles, from R&B, to Tejano to funk to country to oldies. This event includes dinner, dancing, door prizes and sparkling wine at midnight. The party is from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations required.