New Year's Eve in New York City is one of the craziest nights to be out and about in the Big Apple. Everywhere you go, there's people, parties and pizzazz.
It's one of the not-to-be missed nights you can have in the city.
Venues pull out all the stops on December 31st, and with the way 2016 has been going, we're ready to welcome in a brand new year even more happily than normal.
Good riddance, 2016!
Here are some of the spots that can help start off your 2017 with a bang.
1. Loreley Beer Garden (7 Rivington Street)
The city streets can get cramped and some of these NYE bashes can be even worse, so take a breath of fresh air at this heated outdoor beer garden on the Lower East Side, which is hosting festive activities all throughout the day.
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Pre-game Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. and the night just rolls on from there, with specials on craft beers, cocktails and hot drinks like mulled wine. You can raise your glass at midnight when the ball drops in front of their massive HD projector.
2. The Keep (205 Cypress Avenue - Queens)
Not everyone has to be in Manhattan on New Year's Eve. In fact, some say the party rages harder when you're not in the calamity of being near Time Square. This is very true at The Keep in Ridgewood, a "come as you are" night with all the flair and none of the frantic.
At midnight, the bar will serve champagne along with something sure to help welcome in 2017 properly... pizza! The bi-level bar will feature more than ten different DJs throughout the night, spinning everything from today's hits to major throwbacks. Get your "in" here.
3. Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street)
There are few bars more legendary that The Stonewall, which is now an official NYC landmark. Downstairs, pony up by the pool table to take on your friends as DJ Susan Levine spins, or head on upstairs to hang out with DJ Kristen B on the dance floor under the multi-colored lights.
It's only $5 to get in, plus you'll score hats, noisemakers and a glass of champagne to toast with come midnight, not to mention all the handfuls of bar-side popcorn you think nobody is watching you take. How many people can you say they brought in a new year at an iconic New York landmark?
4. Starr Bar (214 Starr Street - Brooklyn)
This neighborhood watering hole in Bushwick is letting you dance your way into 2017 with the all-female band Cumbia, DJ Bembona and Austin Lebrón. Appropriately titled "Phoenix Rising," this bar night encourages you to rise from the ashes of 2016 and spread your wings to a new beginning.
Get to the bar before 10 p.m. to earn yourself an additional free drink before the champagne toast at midnight. Proceeds from this NYE party benefit Mayday Space, which raises funds for social justice initiatives. Grab your ticket here.
5. Place To Beach (1301 Boardwalk West)
Who says you can't hit the beach in the winter? This year-round bar and lounge at Coney Island is turning up the heat this New Year's Eve with a live DJ, drink specials, Mexican-themed faire and an open-air dance floor, all right on the boardwalk.
After midnight, you'll also get a front row seat to The Coney Island Polar Bear Club's annual New Year's Day swim, where daring (or drunk) adrenaline seekers plunge into the icy waters of the Atlantic, all to raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat for kids with life-threatening illnesses, and their families.
6. Anchor Wine Bar (3508 Broadway)
If you're looking for a more relaxed vibe than a wild dive bar, head on up to Harlem (yes, we said Harlem) to Anchor, an Italian-inspired wine den with a ton of chill and a touch of class. The dimly lit rustic decor and exposed brick pair with an extensive wine list for your sipping pleasure.
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If you're feeling a bit peckish, they got that covered too! Their flavorful Italian dishes have become all the rage in the neighborhood and bring out that aromatic Cabernet you're on glass number two of. It's the perfect spot for a subtle New Year's Eve if you want to just celebrate it your own way.
7. Black Forest Brooklyn (733 Fulton Street - Brooklyn)
Part classic borough bar, part German eatery, this hidden gem of Fort Greene finds the balance between a manic, raging party and a hideaway to hunker down in until the storm of confetti blows over.
Their giant projector screen will keep you feeling like you're in the middle of Times Square and a free champagne toast at midnight keeps the good times going when the ball drops. The bar also serves food until 2 a.m., so don't worry if you get some unexpected New Year's munchies.
[Feature Image Courtesy via bklyner]