Many residents, expatriates and visitors in Baku choose to welcome the New Year not at home, but in restaurants offering festive menus, live music and entertainment programs.
As December 31 approaches, restaurant pricing for New Year’s Eve has become a topic of wide discussion.
An informal review of popular venues in the capital shows that some restaurants charge up to 400 manats per person for New Year’s Eve celebrations. In such cases, availability is often limited, and reservations may be difficult to secure close to the date.
How pricing works
In most restaurants, New Year’s Eve packages start at around 150-250 manats per guest, typically including a fixed menu. Prices vary depending on several factors, most notably seating location.
In a number of venues:
tables closer to the stage are priced at around 200 manats per person,
mid-range seating can reach 250 manats per person,
while some restaurants charge a separate entrance fee of about 50 manats, with food ordered additionally.
This tiered pricing allows guests to choose between a full entertainment-focused experience and a more modest celebration.
What drives the high cost
Restaurant representatives and industry observers note that pricing is influenced less by food alone and more by non-culinary factors, including:
the venue’s reputation,
invited performers and musicians,
live shows and holiday programs.
Some diners argue that for the same amount, it is possible to prepare a more substantial and higher-quality meal at home. Others acknowledge that dining out on New Year’s Eve is often about atmosphere, visibility and social experience, rather than the menu itself.
Expert view: opportunity pricing
Economists say that many dining establishments view major holidays as commercial opportunities, adjusting prices accordingly. Special shows, extended service hours and entertainment costs are often cited as justification for higher prices.
At the same time, experts note that it is unrealistic for one person to consume food worth 350-400 manats in a single evening. In many cases, a significant portion of prepared dishes goes uneaten, raising questions about efficiency and waste.
Despite this, price increases during special occasions are a long-standing trend in the hospitality sector, and New Year’s Eve remains one of the most lucrative nights of the year for restaurants.
As many locals put it:
“If you go, your wallet suffers. If you stay home, your mood does. And no one really wants to spend the holiday indoors.”
