There are two types of New Year’s Eve in Toronto. The one with long lines and a heroic search for a cab after midnight. And the one that slips into place at home and ends up being the most fun you’ve had all year. This is a guide to the second kind.
Start earlier than you think. The afternoon is your friend. Do a quick sweep, stack small plates and napkins, and chill what needs chilling. Set a playlist to start mellow and get brighter in the last hour of the year. Put the kettle on a timer for the late-night warm-up. If a few friends are heading to Nathan Phillips Square for skating and music, wish them well and tell them where you will be. The city show is a classic. The home version has a better view of your favourite faces.
Choose one bottle that does not need instructions and give it three jobs. Gin can be a tall G and T when people walk in, a bright Collins for the middle hours, and a quick hot punch once the clock hits the late shift. Bombay Sapphire is ideal for that trifecta. Tequila works as a kitchen-dance margarita, an easy Paloma, and a neat pour for the friend who tells excellent stories and hates glassware. 1800 Reposado brings a little vanilla and spice that suits New Year’s. If you want to keep it classic, rye and ginger always lands. Crown Royal plus ginger ale and a lime wedge is the dependable order that never needs a diagram.
Have a welcome toast ready so your night has a first chapter. Chilled Taittinger Champagne is forever festive, and Bottega Prosecco is a bright, friendly alternative when you want bubbles that pair with snacks. Keep a lighter option ready for steady sipping, like White Claw in the fridge door, and a few cold beers for the no-fuss crowd, such as Heineken.
Build a table that encourages grazing. A board with cheeses, cured meats, olives, nuts, and grapes is a win. Bowls of chips and pretzels disappear faster than you expect. Bake-from-frozen bites belong on New Year’s Eve, and no one gets to argue otherwise. If someone offers to bring dumplings, say yes. If another person brings butter chicken and naan, say yes twice. The table does not have to match; it just needs to be friendly.
There are a few small moves that turn a gathering into a low-key event. Make a toast an hour before midnight to officially kick things off. It takes the pressure off the countdown and lets you catch the people who might head out early. Place a stack of notepaper and pens on the table for one-line intentions. Keep it light and personal. No speeches. No resolutions that sound like homework. The simple ones land best, like promising to have more breakfasts with a certain friend or to walk the lakefront trail in February just to spite the wind.
At some point, you will run out of something. That is part of the charm of hosting, and it is the easiest part to fix. One quick list in the group chat turns into one call to Drink Ink, and a few minutes later, the doorbell rings while the conversation keeps rolling. Delivery in the downtown core is free, and there is a small fee outside the zone based on distance. We are open after hours, including the very late hours that define December 31, with extended coverage for holidays. Tell us your payment method when you order, and we will keep it simple.
If you do head out for a bit, finish at home. The downtown countdown is a lovely thing to be part of, but the best moment might be the one where you step back into your building, thaw your hands, and find your living room waiting for you. That is the night you will talk about in March when the slush piles up and you need a reminder that winter can be beautiful.
Quick order recap: Bombay Sapphire, 1800 Reposado, Crown Royal, Taittinger Champagne, Bottega Prosecco, White Claw, Heineken