Kid-free for New Year’s Eve?

It’s pretty rare that we get to go out and celebrate the New Year all night without the kids. Last year was the first time, but we were so nervous that one of them would flip out and we’d have to go pick them up that we didn’t really tear it up.

Not this year.

The guilt-baggage is staying behind as the kids party at Abuela’s house. The question is, what to do? Here are some options to consider that aren’t just dinner and a toast…

Hilton San Antonio Airport

Ring in the New Year among family and friends…great food and live music with Orquesta Tropicante and a midnight surprise!  $60/adult, $650 for a reserved table of 10 at dinner from 8:00–9:00 P.M., props to bring in the New Year, champagne toast, cash bar, and door prizes.

Hotel rooms at the executive level available at discounted rates ($79+ tax). Complimentary parking. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-celebration-tickets-28847274976

Maggiano’s Little Italy Ballroom

Passed hors d’oeuvres, chef-selected family-style dinner, dessert buffet, premium open bar, party favors, midnight toast, and a DJ!

Space is very limited. $95.00 per person all-inclusive. Tables and individual reservations available.

Ruth’s Chris

Ring in the New Year with a menu that is sure to sizzle! Two special menu options:

Four-course menu available from 4:30–11:00 P.M.

Three-course menu available from 4:30–6:00 P.M. and 9:00–11:00 P.M.

MAX’s Wine Dive

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner! Join MAX’s for a special menu, live music by the Midtown Jazz Trio, a photo booth, a midnight champagne toast, and balloon drop. No cover charge, just be ready to party! Reservations strongly encouraged to secure your spot!

Tony G’s Soul Food

Doors open at 8:00 P.M., starting with a full dinner buffet including all the fixings and a DJ with all your favorite jams. Full bar inside and patio-side for your enjoyment. Live music by the Experience starting at 10:00 P.M. Champagne toast at midnight. Fireworks outside patio-side. Breakfast buffet served after midnight. Giveaways all night long! Come have some fun with the best soul food and hospitality in town for $50/person.

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa

Charlie’s Long Bar New Year’s Eve Celebration

Check out the Hyatt’s authentic Texas-style saloon, Charlie’s Long Bar, for drinks, music and dancing. Dance with the DJ from 9:00 P.M.–1:00 A.M., and enjoy a complimentary champagne toast at midnight to ring in the new year! *Children are welcome in Charlie’s Long Bar until 10:00 P.M.

Antlers Lodge New Year’s Eve Dinner, 5:00–9:00 P.M.

Enjoy a delectable, four-course dinner in the elegant Antlers Lodge restaurant, including live musical entertainment. After dinner, ring in the new year with a complimentary champagne toast in Charlie’s Long Bar. Price: $125 per person for adults, $105 per person for seniors, $65 per person for kids 6–12 (5 and under free). *Wine pairing available at an additional cost.

Reservations: Call (210) 520-4001.

The Pride Center of San Antonio

Join the Pride Center for an ALL THAT GLITTERS New Years Kiki with the Puerto Rican Queen Yara Sofia!

Tickets: $100 (all proceeds will go to fund the opening of a walk-in center in early 2017). Get yours today: http://bit.ly/kiki2017.

Biga on the Banks

Biga on the Banks will feature a four-course dinner from 5:30–7:30 P.M. for $65, and a five-course dinner from 8:00–10:30 P.M. for $100. The later seating will include party favors, live music, and a champagne toast at midnight. A kids meal, $28, includes entree, dessert, and a drink. Menu highlights include seared scallops, pan-roasted red snapper, slow-braised veal osso buco, Broken Arrow Ranch axis venison and quail, and herb-crusted Australian lamb rack. Reservations: Call (210) 225-0722 or visit biga.com.

Bocado and Sire Bar at La Cantera Hill Country Resort

210-558-6500, destinationhotels.com/la-cantera-resort-and-spa/dining/bocado, will offer Champagne menu specialty cocktails and limited edition Bocado charcuterie offerings, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. with upright piano bar rock and soul with Lucas Jack. 10:57 p.m.-toast to the East Coast and 11:57 p.m.-official countdown.

Phil Yamin and Bellagio Entertainment Present a New Year’s Eve Gala at the Eilan Hotel

For $99 per person, indulge in a dinner buffet served from 7:30–9:00 P.M., followed by dancing and entertainment featuring Phil Yamin’s Bellagio Band from 9:00 P.M.–1:00 A.M. Buffet includes chilled shrimp, salads, charcuterie and vegetable boards, prime rib carving station, golden tilefish, chicken breast, and desserts. Entertainment includes a champagne toast, party favors, and a balloon drop. Reservations: Call (210) 884-4400, or visit bellagioband.net.

Restaurant Gwendolyn

In celebration of the New Year, Restaurant Gwendolyn has created an exquisite four-course dinner. This long-researched menu will be available by reservation only on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31st for $125/person. Never skimping on inspiration, Chef Mike Sohocki has created each course to represent a famous explorer from the 1400s to the 1600s. From tobacco-infused mincemeats to represent Sir Walker Raleigh, who is credited with popularizing tobacco, to ingredients like couscous and curry to symbolize Cristoforo Colombo, this menu is as fascinating as it is delicious. Guests will also be able to indulge in Gwendolyn’s amazing caviar collection along with a complimentary champagne toast. Reservations are required; call (210) 222-1849.

Nectar Wine Bar & Ale House

Join us on December 31 as we ring in the New Year. Avoid the overwhelming crowds and celebrate in style. DJ Coaltrain will be spinning a custom mix of yesterday and today. Free champagne toast at midnight, party favors, drink specials, and live broadcast of the Downtown San Antonio fireworks. Avoid the overwhelming crowds and celebrate in elegance with Nectar. No reservations after 8:00 P.M. $10 cover starts at 9:00 P.M.

Liberty Bar

Ring in the New Year at Liberty Bar with the Mother of all Suppers and the Daddy of all Parties (featuring Michael Martin and The Infidels). Supper is a four-course meal for $75 downstairs, open seating upstairs. Dancing begins at 10:00 P.M., with a $15 cover. Call (210) 227-1187 for dinner reservations.

Jazz, TX

Two shows for the night: one at 6:00 P.M. and another at 10:00 P.M. Ticket price includes dinner and dancing, featuring a show by Dox Watkins and his Orchestra. Full dinner spread to include prime rib, crab cakes, shrimp, Parmesan risotto, and braised kale. Black tie evening ranges from $150–$200.

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I’m not sure which of all these options are the most appealing. Every now and then, I do want to dress up and be fancy, but sometimes dancing is also best in jeans and chucks. Either way, DATE NIGHT ON A HOLIDAY!!! YESSSS! Here’s to a Happy New Year!

P.S. Don’t forget about Time Out Sitters as an option for the kiddos, and Uber for the safe rides to and from.

Amanda R.
Amanda is a native Texan who spent a few years in the Boston area. Newish to the stay-at-home mom gig, she’s mother to an eight-year-old wilding and a five-year-old diva. When not trying to herd those cats, she runs a doula agency, Journey to Motherhood (@motherhoodsatx), and works as a San Antonio birth doula and childbirth educator. She has been married to her husband for almost nine years, which also means learning the ways of being a military spouse. Upon his return from his first deployment in their relationship, she surprised him by proposing to him when she finished her first half marathon (more like she held up a ring and he said yes). Their honeymoon was a babymoon (ehh) to Italy, followed by another deployment, building a new home, and having another child. Much time at home is spent cultivating a medicinal and vegetable garden (she’s a modern hippie), reading all kinds of books (everyone is a book nerd), crafting cocktails (because yum), documenting shenanigans and social activism on Instagram (@optimisticheathen), and holding spontaneous dance parties in the living room.