Mexico loves a party. And the biggest party of the year is held New Year’s Eve. What to do and where to go is the subject of speculation among friends and relatives throughout the land.
Those with deep pocketbooks might hit up one of the top flight hotels in Guadalajara that feature big bands, dancing all night long, champagne, a seconds-before-midnight 12-grape gobble and maybe menudo (tripe soup) as a before-the-hammer-drops hangover cure in the wee hours before you head home. This year make sure you’ve got a designated driver lined up. The traffic police will most likely have breathalizer road blocks set up on the main thoroughfares.
But if you’d like to stay closer to home, those who live at Lakeside have a variety of options to enjoy the year end festivities.
Combine Lady Luck with your New Year celebration at Casino Foliatti with a party and live music by DJ Valkstar.Hacienda Don Pedro is celebrating all day December 31 with a choice of four sumptuous entrees: filet of salmon, filet mignon, mesquite grilled sirloin or coconut shrimp and a glass of champagne, two glasses of house wine, salad, a seasonal dessert and coffee for 350 pesos. Reservations: 766-4906.
Number Four is offering Galen on the piano at 6:30 and the Dirty Black Beans with rockabilly and jazz for dancing beginning at 8 p.m., hats, noise makers, confetti bombs, an organic tomato bruchetta, a glass of Brut and 12 grapes at midnight and their four roaring fireplaces for 350 pesos. A snack menu of carpaccio, spring rolls, coconut shrimp, crostini and gourmet pizzas runs from 100 to 200 pesos. Dinner from 200 to 600 pesos includes offerings of oysters, salads, lobster, rack of lamb, veggie risotto, USD prime rib, duckling Fois Gras and more. Call 766-1360 for reservations.
El Ancla Restaurant, Grill and Bar on the highway in La Canacinta is expanding their menu of fine grilled T-bones, arrachera (both beef and lamb) and seafood to offer lobster, leg of lamb and BBQ ribs from noon to 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Call 106-2011 for more information.
Manix pulls all the stops out with a five-course meal, Santa Alicia wine flowing all night, open bar, grapes and champagne and fireworks and a castillo (fireworks display) at midnight. Grupo Luna will keep you up on the dance floor until after the last kiss. The fun runs from 8:30 p.m. until after midnight and the cost is 1,200 pesos per person. Call 766-0061 for reservations.
La Bodega is serving a three-course dinner with Los Pios keeping the dance floor full and dinners’ toes tapping. The party touting Mexican traditions begins around 8 p.m.. Call 766-1002 for details.
Roberto’s in West Ajijic on the hill is serving dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. and dancing and fun with band Sol and Luna on into the night. All the entrees include crab bisque, holday wine and grape aspic salad. Some of the menu highlights include duck a l’orange, red wine apricot loin of lamb, stuffed lobster thermador, prawns bourgignon, crab stuffed flounder, veal Marsala, and roast turkey. Prices start at 185 pesos. Reservations: 766-1616.
Thor’s (formerly Bubba’s) on the highway in Riberas del Pilar is open all day New Year’s Eve until 10 p.m. They have grilled Angus beef, baby back ribs, a great wine selection, soups, salads and many more delicious dishes and desserts. Call cel. (331)318-6185 for more information.
Many other lakeside eateries will be open this day with their normal great food offerings. Expect many restaurants to close on January 1.