How Much It Costs To Spend New Years at Applebee’s Times Square

Revelers from all over the world flock to Times Square in New York City on New Year's Eve to watch the ball drop. But those who don't want to stand out in the cold for hours have options, as many of the chain restaurants lining the commercial intersection offer dining and bar packages. But it will set you back quite a few bucks, as is the case with Applebee's on West 42nd Street.

According to the event-planning website BallDrop.com, packages start at a whopping $729 per person for a private table for eight, but they only get more expensive from there. A private table for four will set you back $799, while a meal for two at a shared table soars to $849. However, couples who prefer a more intimate experience will have to shell out $2299 plus fees for a private couple's package.

Those who score a ticket to this "bucket list-worthy evening of a lifetime" can enjoy chef’s selection buffet and passed hors d'oeuvres, five hours of premium top shelf open bar, assorted desserts, a house DJ and live entertainment, and a champagne toast at midnight as well as street access for a live view of the ball drop.

While most seasoned New Yorkers will reasonably pay a fraction of that cost for a better meal at a smaller restaurant elsewhere in Manhattan, these type of packages are clearly marketed to tourists. 

"You are really paying for the real estate, to be in the area and ultimately to get a view of the ball drop at midnight,” BallDrop.com founder Joshua Perla told the New York Post last year, when Applebee's tickets started at a comparatively modest $650.

But Applebee's is not the only chain charging an arm and a leg on New Year's Eve. The Times Square AMC, which boasts the best live ball drop view from its terrace, has packages starting at $1099. Meanwhile, Bar 54 at the Hyatt Centric in Times Square is hosting a "black tie optional soiree" starting at $1,399 per person; while Marriott Marquis is selling general admission tickets for $1,250 with a couple’s package with a terrace view of the ball drop for an eye-popping $8,500.

Or, you could always save yourself a few thousand dollars and watch the ball drop from your couch at home, but where's the fun (or credit card debt) in that.