Updated: Where to Go in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve 2011

Heading to Sin City for New Year’s Eve?

This year’s theme is “Party Las Vegas” and that’s what The Strip intends to do. At 6 p.m. the whole 4 mile strip closes to cars. The road then transforms into a pedestrian walk and party way until the clock strikes midnight and the city lights off a massive display of fireworks.

If you plan to countdown to midnight indoors here is a list of events at the luxury resorts and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Tip: Get to your party before 11 p.m. Most hotels shut their entrance from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to avoid intoxicated stampedes.

Holly Madison
, formerly Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend and current star of PeepShow and the reality TV show Holly’s World, will host the New Year’s Eve bash at the Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood. No other playmates have confirmed attendance; however Holly’s World co-stars have a track record of materializing at Gallery events.

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, E! couple, will host the official New Year’s Eve bash at the Chateau Nightclub & Gardens at Paris Las Vegas with thousands of party goers dancing, drinking and a champagne toast to ring in 2012.

Will.i.am, of the Black Peas, will host and perform at Surrender Nightclub at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. The Black Eyed Peas is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning group. On his own, Will.i.am produces albums and has collaborated on tracks with Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Nas, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana and Fergie. Tickets are set at $150 for men and $50 for women. Early bird tickets cost $125 for men and $50 for women and is available through Thanksgiving at Wanttickets.com.  Tickets include a two-hour open bar.

Stevie Wonder, holder of 49 “Top 40 Singles” will host the big night at The Cosmopolitan. He will begin at The Chelsea. Tickets go on sale Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. pacific standard time and will be available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. General admission ticket pricing begins at $250 (plus taxes and service charges) and include complimentary cocktails. A hotel stay coupled with New Year's Eve Night party tickets are available from $1,500 to $3,500.

The Bellagio will hold a grand opening for its new luxury lounge and nightclub the Hyde Lounge Bellagio. The Hyde Lounge Bellagio is the first nightlife venture in Las Vegas by sbe and Philippe Starck with Gulla Jonsdottir of G+ Design. Hyde Lounges are located in Hollywood and at the Staples Center in Los Angeles; Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; and South Beach, Fla. Reservations are not available just yet, but stay tuned to http://www.sbe.com/hyde.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and several MGM Resorts will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bevy of dining options and champagne toasts.

The Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill will provide an early seating followed by a New Year’s Eve bash, with an open bar, passed food and sushi and tunes from DJ Peter Shalvoy. Seatings are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $175 per person with wine, sake and champagne pairings for an additional $100. The “New Year’s Bash: All you can Eat, Drink and Goove” costs $100 per person. Call 702-736-0808 for reservations.

At Chef José Andrés’ Mexican and Chinese street food inspired restaurant, China Poblano, there will be two prix-fixe menu options from 5 p.m. until midnight, with party favors and a cava toast. One menu costs $45 and the other $65. Guests can also order a la carte at the bar at a first come, first served basis. Call 702-698-7900 for reservations.

At Comme Ca, a modern French brasserie, guests can see the Strip’s fireworks from the patio and also feast on two different prix-fixe menus and optional wine pairing. A four-course menu is available from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for $99 per person with wine pairings for an additional $100 per person. Following, a six-course prix-fixe menu is available from 8 p.m. to midnight for $199 per person with wine pairings for an additional $100 per person. Call 702-698-7910 for reservations. 

The intimate eight-seat restaurant, é by José Andrés, offers two seatings: 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Food costs $350 per person with a beverage supplement for an extra $250. Email [email protected] for reservations.

The award-winning tapas restaurant from Chef José Andrés, Jaleo, offers two prix-fixe menu options in addition to the a la carte menus. Party favors will be dispersed along with a cava toast at midnight. Both menus are served between 5 p.m. and midnight for $95 per person and $135 per person. Beverage pairings are available for both menus, which will be available in the upper dining room. The a la carte menu will be provided at the dining bars, tapas bar, terrace and tapas lounge on a first come, first served basis. Call 702-698-7950 for reservations.

The modern Italian restaurant from Scott Conant, Scarpetta, also provides prix-fixe menus from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The six course meal costs $225 per person. Call 702-698-7970 for reservations.

The ONE Group’s stylish steakhouse, STK, presents a prix-fixe menu, which will include caviar, lobster, foie gras and Australian Wagyu beef as well as select signature items from the a la carte menu. During the last seating, a special champagne pairing and party favors will be provided and the champagne lounge will be used as a dance floor where DJ Roger Gangi will spin tunes. The first seating is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $100 per person with wine pairings for an additional $50 per person. The second seating is from 9:30 p.m. to midnight for $250 per person with wine pairings for an additional $150 per person. Call 702-698-7990 for reservations.

D.O.C.G, an Italian enoteca and espresso bar, will serve wine and food from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Call 702-698-7920 for reservations.

Guests can also enjoy seafood at Estiatorio Milos from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 702-698-7930 for reservations.  

Alternatively, the quirky gastro pub Holsteins offers beer and spiked milkshakes from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 702-698-7940 for reservations.

On a non-food note Stevie Wonder will perform at 9:30 p.m. at The Chelsea, The Cosmopolitan’s intimate venue. Tickets are on sale at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. Guests must be 21 or older. General admission ticket prices begin at $250 (plus applicable taxes and service charges) and include complimentary cocktails throughout the show.

There are also several events happening on New Year’s Eve at MGM Resorts International locations on the Strip. The Grammy Award-nominated duo of LMFAO will host a New Year’s Eve bash at HAZE Nightclub at the ARIA Resort & Casino. Individual tickets are $125 per person, which allows for VIP access all night and a champagne toast at midnight. There are also table reservation packages starting at $3,000 for a minimum of six guests, which include bottles of alcohol and a personal service team. Doors open at 10 p.m.  The GOLD Boutique Nightclub & Lounge, inspired by Elvis’ Graceland Estate, will provide circus-themed entertainment. The individual tickets are $125 per person, with a hosted bar from 9 p.m. through 11 p.m., and table reservation packages start at $1,000 for a minimum of four guests. Doors open at 9 p.m. In addition, Aria’s UNION restaurant and Lounge will offer a four-course New Year’s Eve dinner for $150 per person, for reservations from 5 p.m. through 11:30 p.m.

The Bellagio Resort & Casino will feature the Grammy Award-winning artist, Bruno Mars, at the Bank Nightclub. Individual tickets are $150 per person, which covers VIP access and a champagne toast at midnight. The table reservation packages start at $2,500 and doors open at 10 p.m. The Fix Restaurant & Bar will host a four-course New Year’s Eve Gala dinner that is $150 per person, including tax and gratuity. Guests can pay an additional $45 for unlimited glasses of champagne. The Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge will also offer a seven-course New Year Eve’s Omakase menu, prepared by Chef Akira Back, for $350 per person, including tax and gratuity.

The MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will also offer certain New Year’s Eve packages. The Forever Grand Wedding Chapel New Year’s Eve Package starts at $1,400, plus tax, and includes a decorated chapel, a professional pianist, white flower arrangements, and hair styling and makeup at Cristophe Salon. There will also be a photo shoot with a New Year’s Eve themed backdrop. The Signature at MGM Grand New Year’s Eve Package starts at $349 per night, plus tax, and applies to the dates of December 30, 2011 through January 1, 2012.  For reservations, call 877-612-2121.

Other MGM Resorts International locations hosting New Year's Eve events, include: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, Luxor Hotel & Casino, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, and the Excalibur Hotel & Casino.