New Year’s Eve: The Eater’s Guide

Are you more about pigging out than partying it up on New Year's Eve? If so, we’ve rounded up a list of festive dinners and brunches for welcoming in 2013.

For your convenience, we’ve first listed the ones we know have a midnight countdown component. All other New Year’s Eve dinners may or may not last until midnight (times listed are for the restaurant’s normal operating hours). We recommend calling ahead to see if they have any countdown activities planned, or if they’ll stay open until midnight. Or, you could dine and then dash off to your party of choice (for that, you can consult our other guide). And of course, we’ve also listed brunches and activities on New Year’s Day.

And now, without further ado, your final meal of 2012 awaits:

MIDNIGHT COUNTDOWNS

Bubbly Celebrations
Fortify yourself with five courses (lobster ravioli, beef tenderloin) before a festive midnight countdown. Add RMB 250 for free-flow bubbles. RMB 638. 6pm-late. SALT (6437 8457)

New Year’s Eve at Alameda
Two, three, or four courses with a complementary glass of prosecco. RMB 288-408. 6pm-midnight. Alameda (6417 8084)

New Year’s Eve at Capital M
A black tie affair with champagne cocktails and nibbles, followed by a seven-course meal and a midnight countdown overlooking Tiananmen Square with champagne toast provided – and a bagpiper. RMB 988, 6pm-late. Capital M (6702 2727)

Sparkling Countdown at Aria
Enjoy five courses including caviar blini, salmon consommé, chicken confit and your choice of tenderloin or black cod. Then count down at the Aria Bar. RMB 880, RMB 1,280 (with wine pairings). 5.30pm-2am. Aria, China World Hotel (6505 2266 ext 6644)

DINNERS

Aroma’s New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet
Enjoy your end to 2012 with Aroma’s dinner buffet which includes free flow beer, wine and champagne. RMB 558+15%. 6-10.30pm. Aroma, Ritz-Carlton Beijing (5908 8161)

Barolo New Year’s Eve Set Dinner
Feast on a 5-course set dinner specially prepared by Chef Gianluca. All diners will enjoy one glass of welcome champagne upon arrival. RMB 688+15%. 6-10.30pm. Barolo, Ritz-Carlton Beijing (5908 8151)

Countdown Buffet at Scene a Café
Fun and games, a magician and lucky draw with a seafood buffet and free-flowing
wine. RMB 628+15%. 5.30-10pm. Scene a Cafe, China World Hotel (6505 2266 ext 35)

Italian New Year’s Eve
Fill up one last time in 2012 with a fivecourse menu. RMB 488+15%. 6-10pm. Fratelli Fresh, Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel (5863 8203)

New Year’s Eve
Finish up 2012 with a full belly and plenty of house wines on offer. RMB 288+15%. Time TBD. Grand Millennium (8587 6888)

New Year’s Eve 2012
Ring in the new year at Feast with a glass of champagne on arrival before digging into braised lobster and foie gras. RMB 398+15%. 5-10.30pm. Feast, EAST Beijing (8414 9820)

New Year’s Eve 2012 at Hagaki
The dinner set menu for two includes fresh sushi, sashimi and a warming Japanese hot pot. RMB 598+15% (for two, RMB 299+15% for each additional). 5-10.30pm. Hagaki, EAST Beijing (8414 9815)

New Year’s Eve at LPG
Count down with a five course meal. RMB 299. Le Petit Gourmand (6417 6095)

New Year’s Eve at Scarlett
Five-course dinner featuring pan-seared foie gras with caramelized apples, beef tenderloin and truffle mashed potatoes. Price TBD. Scarlett, Hotel G (6552 2880)

New Year’s Eve Dinner
Ring in the New Year in gluttonous style with truffle and roasted shrimp, rabbit in pancetta, gnocchi with lobster and a bitter-chocolate sorbet. RMB 1,288+15%. 6-10.30pm. Cepe, Ritz-Carlton Beijing (6601 6666)

New Year’s Eve Dinner
Summon wealth in the New Year by enjoying fish maw soup, shrimp-stuffed beancurd rolls and steamed grouper as part of a six-course meal. RMB 888+15%. 5.30-10pm. Qi, Ritz-Carlton Financial Street (6601 6666)

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet
Feast on a buffet of Asian cuisines before you head off to party the last of 2011 away. Price TBD. 6-10pm. Asia Bistro, JW Marriott Hotel (5908 8511)

New Year’s Eve Set Dinner
What better way to ring in the New Year than with a nice cut of steak and a glass of champagne? Price TBD. 6-10.30pm. CRU Steakhouse, JW Marriott (5908 8530)

Sparkling New Year’s Eve
Celebrate 2012 and look forward to 2013 with a meal and bubbly toast. RMB 588. Senses, Westin Beijing Financial Street (6606 8866)

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Latin Brunch: New Year’s Edition
Start things off with a seafood platter and six dishes from their popular brunch. RMB 228-288. 11.30-4pm. Alameda (6417 8084)

New Year Brunch
A festive seafood buffet with a flute of sparkling wine on arrival. RMB 388+15%. 10.30am-2.30pm. Scene A Café, China World Hotel (6505 2266 ext 33)

New Year Buffet Lunch
Fresh seafood, traditional Chinese fare and international classics. Add RMB 100 for free-flow champagne. RMB 488+15%. 11.30am-3pm. Garden Court, St. Regis Beijing (6460 6688 ext 2340)

New Year’s Day Brunch
Kick off 2013 with international and Asian fare, plus plenty of seafood. RMB 468+15%. 11.30am-3pm. Jing, The Peninsula Beijing (6559 2888 ext 6714)

New Year’s Day Brunch
Wake up to poached lobster, seared scallops, almond-encrusted salmon, or Angus rib-eye. RMB 268/488 (2 courses/with free-flow bubbly), RMB 308/548 (3 courses/with free-flow bubbly). Noon-5pm. SALT (6437 8457)

New Year’s Day Supper at the Great Wall
An all-day affair with live jazz and fireside drinks plus a casual buffet supper of prawn bisque, pumpkin cream soup, and holiday ham carved to order. Additional transport service for RMB 80/person. RMB 280. 11am-8pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (6162 6506)

Recovery Bubbalicious
Sober up with fresh foods and healthy soups served by nurses with trolleys. RMB 458-528+15%. 11.30am-3pm. Seasonal Tastes, Westin Chaoyang (5922 8880)

Photo: Fishingfury.com