10 last-minute New Year’s Eve dinner options in Phoenix

Going out to dinner on New Year’s Eve can be a hassle. Places book out weeks in advance. Many will only offer a preset, often pricey menu. And, then there’s those celebratory but mood-killing horns and clackers some eateries put out as party favors.

Whether you’ve procrastinated or just want to find an unfussy spot to mark the end of another year, there are restaurants across the Valley that are welcoming walk-ins, skipping prix fixe menus and keeping things simple.

Toast a hassle-free but no less satisfying New Year’s Eve dinner at these 10 restaurants.

Huarachis Taqueria

814 N. Central Ave.
Huarachis Taqueria is the laid-back younger sibling to chef Rene Andrade’s exquisite Sonoran restaurant Bacanora. We’ve called it a cheat code to experience the chef’s signature flame-kissed fare, where diners can walk in or more easily make a reservation. The menu at Huarachis is built for sharing and celebrating. Start off with an order of ceviche or velvety, chiltepin-spiced Frijol Dip. Then, go big with a shareable ribeye platter brimming with elote, papas al disco, grilled onions, beans, housemade salsa and tender tortillas. Your table will enjoy a feast that’s comparable to the price of one prix fixe meal at other hot spots around town. Pair your meal with one of Huarachis’ inventive cocktails, which are outlined in a passport-shaped menu. Save room for dessert, like Huarachis concha ice cream sandwich.

SanTan Spirit House

8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler
SanTan Spirit House will host a vintage fete inspired by the Roaring Twenties. Luckily, you don’t have to be Jay Gatsby to afford this night out. The speakeasy-inspired bar behind the downtown Chandler brewpub will serve craft cocktails, like its espresso martini, to pair with several food specials. Choose from dishes such as fried calamari, Cajun crab cakes, a half roasted chicken and smoked prime rib. Both of those meats come with garlic-shallot scalloped potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts and a savory pan jus. The party is walk-in only and there is no cover charge.  Those who stay up to welcome 2026 will enjoy a complimentary Fernet de SanTan toast at midnight.

Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop

149 W. McDowell Road
Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop promises its regular Wednesday pizza and wine tasting night, with a little more sparkle. For its last tasting of the year, the natural and low-intervention bottle shop is pulling out sparkling wines and Champagne. Order a glass or a bottle and put in an order for a Neapolitan-style wood-fired pie from chef Cesar Velasco’s Otra Pizzeria. This is a popular weekly event, but the ordering format is about as hassle-free as it gets. Grab a table inside the fairy tale-like Helen Anderson House and savor a simple, cozy New Year’s Eve meal.

Barley & Smoke

10144 W. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria
Barley & Smoke is a sophisticated chef’s table-meets-speakeasy hidden behind Peoria Artisan Brewing. For New Year’s Eve, the stylish restaurant and bar is promising “no fixed pricing, just an amazing evening with the best hospitality.” Those who like to watch the dance of chefs and bartenders at work can get a front row seat to the action at Barley & Smoke’s opulent bar. Though there’s no set menu, diners will have to do some planning to visit the hidden spot, which is reservation-only and has a business casual dress code. If you’re willing to put in that bit of effort, your reward is a secret entry, craft cocktails and shareable plates in a sophisticated, intimate setting appropriate for such a revelatory night.

Marisco Boys

2026 N. Seventh St.
The lush seafood spot from the owners of Taco Boys is one of our favorite new restaurants of 2025. That’s because Marisco Boys goes the distance with stellar service from its sharply dressed waitstaff, who whisk plates of crisp chicarron de pulpo, yellowtail tostadas and seafood platters to diners at its cushy leather booths and sultry backlit bar. Marisco Boys is a place where you can order droves of small plates to share with the table or opt for a large molcajete to share — perfect for a festive New Year’s feast. Toast the occasion with a tropical cocktail or opt for a large-format Modelo or Tecate, comically served in a gold chrome Champagne chiller. Marisco Boys accepts walk-ins; reservations can also be made on OpenTable.

Fire At Will

4912 E. Shea Blvd., #108, Scottsdale
Fire At Will isn’t your average neighborhood restaurant. Sure, it’s got all the trappings. The restaurant is tucked inside an unassuming shopping center and serves some killer burgers. But this sleek, moody restaurant from chef Dom Ruggiero does so much more than offer a reliable spot for dinner. The kitchen team takes local, seasonal ingredients and adds European bistro flair. On New Year’s Eve, there’s no prix fixe menu, though Fire At Will is the kind of place where you can easily create your own sumptuous multicourse meal. Start with savory Iberico Ham Croquettes and Caesar, which features a crumble of cured egg yolk. Next, dig into the showstopper entrees, like a pan-roasted halibut or a grilled ribeye with a baked potato. For something more casual, you can never go wrong with the green chile burger packed with two quarter-pound smashed patties, pickles, American cheese and a chipotle mayo. This is the kind of spot where you can pop in, grab a seat at the bar, or make reservations online.

Tesota

300 W. Camelback Road
Chef and restaurateur Doug Robson’s eclectic, globally-inspired Phoenix restaurant will ensure your New Year’s Eve group can find something they like on the menu. Tesota’s menu features poke, pastas, Asian-inspired salads and noodles, steak and chicken wings. Sup on those items from Tesota’s airy, midcentury modern dining room or its patio, where its roaring fireplace will set a mood. Order items to share across the table or choose your own adventure. Reservations may be made by calling Tesota at 602-989-8456.

Espiritu

123 W. Main St., Mesa
Chef Roberto Centeno’s vibey surf-and-turf restaurant in downtown Mesa, which he runs with business partners Nadia Holguin and Armando Hernandez, is charting an epic end-of-year dinner. Espiritu will host a “Titanic”-themed dinner party featuring live music, themed cocktails, a midnight toast and menu specials. Among those featured dishes are lobster tostadas, fish chicharron, Japanese Wagyu and a 30-day dry-aged ribeye. This is a festive feast that won’t require tickets or commitment to a full preset menu. Walk-ins are available and reservations may be made on OpenTable.

Harumi Sushi & Sake

101 N. First Ave.
24681 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy. #101, Peoria
Harumi Sushi & Sake is one of our favorite sushi spots in town. Harumi serves fresh sashimi, nigiri, temaki and specialty rolls made with its signature lilac-hued rice. Harumi has a massive, stunning space in downtown Phoenix and an outpost in Peoria. Try Harumi’s titular roll made with shrimp tempura, crab salad, avocado and cucumber, topped with tuna, radish, masago, and a drizzle of both spicy aioli and spicy ponzu. Or, go luxe with Harumi’s Wagyu roll, which is made with A5 Japanese Wagyu. The bar boasts sake and craft cocktails to pair with your dinner. The restaurants don’t offer reservations, but you can add your name to the waitlist to save your spot.

North Italia

Multiple locations
Sometimes, you can’t be bothered to go out on a busy night like New Year’s Eve. North Italia, the modern Italian restaurant founded in Scottsdale in 2002 by restaurateur Sam Fox, has you covered. North will only serve a prix fixe menu at its five Valley locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert and Peoria; however, diners can order a la carte menu items to-go. That means North’s Italian meatballs, pizzas, Squid Ink Tonnarelli, family-sized lasagna or the restaurant’s signature sips, like its Sicilian Margarita, can be savored from the comfort of your own home.