Drinking rather than eating may be the traditional approach to New Year’s Eve, if only because a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne is not something any sensible person should attempt sober. And yet what could be more civilised than spending the biggest night of the year at a restaurant table with drinks on tap, food from one of the capital’s top chefs and a guaranteed seat once auld acquaintances have been forgotten for another year?
Most restaurants are open on New Year's Eve; it is, along with Valentine's Day, the only night of the year guaranteed to get bums on seats. Sometimes, then, this means the hellish prospect of a set menu for double the price of normal. And while, true, dining out on NYE is never going to be a cheap eat, we've selected the restaurants below based on the quality of experience — whether that's a full-on party atmosphere or simply the promise of some exceptional food.
