The New Year is nearly here, and several restaurants across Indianapolis are ringing it in with one last dinner party. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate the arrival of 2026, these spots have you covered. Here are eight Indy-area restaurants with special New Year’s Eve events and several others open for dinner.
Restaurants with special New Year’s Eve events
8 Seconds Saloon’s dinner and a show
111 N. Lynhurst Drive, (317) 486-1659, 8secondssaloon.com. Dinner at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
This 21+ Western-style bar on the west side will host a buffet dinner with meats, sides and desserts starting at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., Indy-based country music band Billy and the Tall Boys will kick off 8 Seconds’ New Year’s Eve party which runs through midnight. Dinner tickets cost $30 and New Year’s Eve party tickets cost $10. Both can be purchased at 8secondssaloon.net/site/index.php/new-years-eve/.
Cholita Tacos
1001 Broad Ripple Ave., (317) 389-5555, cholitatacos.com. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This Broad Ripple taqueria and cocktail lounge will have an open bar and an all-you-can-eat supply of upscale tacos like quesabirria sliders and beef tinga tacos, as well as other bites. The 21+ party will span two floors and Cholita’s patio, with food, drinks and a DJ upstairs, drinks and a DJ in the basement-level Cantina and a frozen tequila and vodka ice luge outside. Tickets cost $115 and can be purchased on Cholita’s website landing page or at https://bit.ly/48APYOb.
Daisy Bar
1011 Massachusetts Ave., (317) 390-4002, daisybarindy.com. 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
This Windsor Park small plates spot will host a four-course dinner including a welcome drink, amuse-bouche, two appetizer courses, an entrée and dessert for $75 (vegan options available). The food offerings include dumplings, scallops, fried rice, Korean lettuce wraps called ssambap, pasta and doughnuts; caviar and additional alcoholic beverages will be available for at additional cost. Two- and four-person reservations between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. are still available with a $25 down payment at daisybarindy.com/new-years-eve.
Mel’s champagne and caviar at Commission Row
110 S. Delaware St., (317) 550-2500, commissionrow.com. 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
While Commission Row’s street-level steakhouse closes at 10 p.m., its basement speakeasy, Mel’s, will serve champagne, caviar and craft cocktails into the New Year. Each $200 reservation includes a bottle of Champagne (capitalized here because in this case the drink will indeed be from Champagne) and caviar service for two people. Guests can book individually or as a pair at commissionrow.com/event/nye-mels-champagne-and-caviar/.
Half Liter BBQ
5301 Winthrop Ave., (463) 212-8180, halfliterbbq.com. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This SoBro barbecue spot will extend its normal hours to host a New Year’s Eve party featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet of steak, ribs, crab cake and shrimp as well as late-night snacks. Guests will also have access to an open bar serving liquor, wine, beer and Delta-9 seltzers, plus champagne at midnight. Outside of the food offerings, Half Liter will turn its event space into a dance floor complete with a silent disco. Tickets cost $89; make your reservation by emailing eddie@sahms.com.
The Jazz Kitchen’s dinner and a show with Bashiri Asad
5377 N. College Ave., (317) 253-4900, thejazzkitchen.com. Shows at 7:30 p.m. (doors open 5 p.m.) and 10:30 p.m. (doors open 9:45 p.m.)
This SoBro 21+ jazz club and restaurant will host two performances by Indy R&B artist Bashiri Asad on New Year’s Eve, one with dinner at 7:30 and another starting at 10:30 that will ring in the New Year. Tickets for dinner and the show cost between $120 and $175 depending on seating and include a four-course menu featuring a choice of appetizer, soup or salad, entrée and dessert. Tickets for the 10:30 performance cost between $25 and $65, with alcoholic beverages and Jazz Kitchen menu items available for purchase. Both shows come with a complimentary champagne toast and party favors. You can purchase tickets on thejazzkitchen.com/shows/. Select your desired show on the calendar.
The Quarter
925 E. Westfield Blvd., (463) 202-2169, thequarterindy.com. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This New Orleans-inspired Broad Ripple bar and restaurant will have an open bar, Southern and Southern-inspired dishes including pimento cheese, po’ boys, etouffee and beignets. Food and drinks are included with each $98 ticket, available by navigating to Dec. 31 at thequarterindy.com/event-calendar.
The Rathskeller
401 E. Michigan St., (317) 636-0396, rathskeller.com. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Rathskeller’s annual 21+ New Year’s Eve party features a buffet of Rathskeller appetizers, party favors and a midnight champagne toast. Throughout the festivities, local folk-rock artist Frank Bradford (7-8:30 p.m.) and Indy-based party band The Doo! (9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) will supply live music. Tickets cost $70 ($75 day of) and can be purchased at rathskeller.com/live-entertainment or by calling (317) 636-0396.
Other restaurants open New Year’s Eve
Asian Harbor
203 W. Michigan St., (317) 686-8888, asianharborind.com. Open 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
This downtown fusion spot will serve a variety of Chinese and Japanese dishes including dumplings, sushi, stir fries and hibachi dinners from lunchtime until the ball drops.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle
14 W. Maryland St., (463) 271-4304, delfriscos.com. Open 4-11 p.m.
New Year’s Eve is the only day Del Frisco’s downtown location will serve a special menu for those looking to splurge. The high-end holiday meal includes a choice of 16-ounce Australian Wagyu ribeye ($110), lobster Thermidor with jumbo lump crab and charred lemon ($84) or one of each meat ($179), with the steakhouse’s sides available for additional purchase. The regular steakhouse menu will also be available. Reservations can be made over the phone or at delfriscos.com/event/new-years-eve.
The Eagle’s Nest
1 S. Capitol Ave., (317) 616-6170, hyatt.com. Open 5-10 p.m.
Located atop the Hyatt Regency, The Eagle’s Nest will serve its typical steakhouse fare as well as an $89 three-course New Year’s Eve menu in its revolving dining room overlooking downtown. Reservations can be made over the phone or on the restaurant’s OpenTable page.
Eddie Merlot’s
3645 E. 96th St., (317) 846-8303, eddiemerlots.com. Open 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Through Jan. 6, the Fort Wayne-based steakhouse will offer a special holiday menu that includes Wagyu meatballs, braised short rib, elk chops and pan-roasted salmon. You can make a reservation at eddiemerlots.com/promotions/new-years-eve.
Fogo de Chao
117 E. Washington St., (317) 638-4000, fogodechao.com. Open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Brazilian churrascaria chain will serve its standard churrascaria menu on New Year’s Eve. Meat-forward entrées range from $37 to $56, while Fogo de Chao’s comprehensive “churrasco experience” costs $65 per person and includes tableside service of various fire-roasted meats. Reservations can be made over the phone or at fogodechao.com/reservations.
McCormick and Schmick’s
110 N. Illinois St., (317) 631-9500, mccormickandschmicks.com. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In addition to its usual steakhouse surf and turf, McCormick and Schmick’s will offer a holiday menu New Year’s Eve. The $50 three-course meal includes a starter and a choice of crab- and shrimp-stuffed salmon, steak au poivre, seafood pasta, six-ounce filet mignon, pork chop or swordfish. Reservations are recommended and can be made over the phone or at mccormickandschmicks.com/event/new-years-eve.
Prime 47 Carmel
14300 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel, (317) 660-0720, prime47carmel.com. Open 4:30-10:30 p.m.
Prime 47’s Clay Terrace location will serve its typical steakhouse fare. Reservations can be made over the phone or on the restaurant’s website.
Ruth’s Chris
45 S. Illinois St., (317) 633-1313, 2727 E. 86th St., (317) 844-1155, ruthschris.com. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The New Orleans-based steakhouse will offer its traditional steakhouse fare New Year’s Eve. Reservations can be made over the phone or through the restaurant’s OpenTable page.
Tomo Japanese Steakhouse
7411 N. Keystone Ave., (317) 254-8666, tomotogo.com. Open noon to 10 p.m.
This northside Japanese steakhouse serves familiar Japanese and Japanese-American dishes like tempura, katsu, hot pot, sushi and hibachi dishes.
Watami Sushi
1912 Broad Ripple Ave., (317) 991-3355 and 10625 Pendleton Pike, (317) 855-3635. Both open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 11 p.m.
Both Watami’s traditional Broad Ripple restaurant and its all-you-can-eat buffet in Lawrence will be open New Year’s Eve, serving sushi, sashimi and a blend of Japanese and Japanese-American dishes including hibachi.
Yak and Yeti
11561 Geist Pavilion Drive, Fishers, (317) 827-6981, yakandyetihimalayan.com/fishers. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Yak and Yeti serves a variety of Indian, Nepali and Tibetan dishes including curries, noodles, various chaat (small plates and appetizers) and, of course, yak dumplings.
Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin and stay up to date with Indy dining news by signing up for the Indylicious newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis restaurants open for dinner, special events New Year’s Eve
Reporting by Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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