Checklist · 13 picks · 6 categories
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A New Year's Eve night in beats a packed bar with a cover charge, and it only takes a few things to make your place feel like the party.
You need proper glasses for the midnight toast, somewhere to keep the bubbly and ice cold once the fridge is full, music people can hear over the countdown, lights that set the mood and a game for the long stretch before twelve. The glasses come from Serious Eats' published tests, the ice buckets from BestReviews, the shakers from America's Test Kitchen, the string lights from Bob Vila's reviews, the speakers are What Hi-Fi? award winners and the games are GamesRadar+ picks. Each card shows the drawback the reviewers called out. Short on cash? Start with glasses, a speaker and one game.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you want a fully stocked bar cart or a deeper game shelf, since the Home Bar Starter Kit and Board Game Night Kit go much further.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riedel VINUM Champagne Glass | mid | $50-100 | a classic flute for the midnight toast | 1 outlet |
| BarConic Coupe Glass | budget | $25-50 | retro coupe toasts and midnight cocktails | 1 outlet |
| Riedel Performance Champagne Glass | splurge | $50-100 | actually tasting the good bottle | 1 outlet |
Best champagne glassesmid pick · Flute
Best for a classic flute for the midnight toast
Serious Eats' best flute Champagne glasses: by far the best of the flutes reviewed, balanced and sturdy, and they sat solidly on the table.
Heads up. The aroma isn't as intense as in a tulip glass, and these are petite with a short stem
1 outlet. Serious Eats the best flute Champagne glasses.
$50-100
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budget pick · Set of 4
Best for retro coupe toasts and midnight cocktails
Another great coupe glass, says Serious Eats: the thin rim and roomy bowl made drinks feel full and substantial, and the thicker stem means it won't break readily.
Heads up. Cocktails warmed up quicker than in other coupes, and the bowl is a little deep for a standard martini
1 outlet. Serious Eats another great coupe glass.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Tulip
Best for actually tasting the good bottle
Serious Eats' best tulip Champagne glass: the tapered tulip shape funneled the bubbly's aroma upward, and the wide base kept it from tipping easily.
Heads up. Pricey for a set of two glasses
1 outlet. Serious Eats the best tulip Champagne glass.
$50-100
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Best ice bucketbudget pick · 4 qt
Best for keeping ice and bottles cold until midnight
BestReviews' best of the best ice bucket: a double-wall insulated bucket that's perfect for cocktail parties and home bars.
Heads up. BestReviews flags the plastic lid as a bit flimsy
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best ice bucket.
$25-50
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mid pick · Square
Best for a drink station with garnishes ready to go
BestReviews' simple yet solid ice bucket: a square double-wall design with a garnish tray that fits inside and durable nylon tongs.
Heads up. BestReviews says it runs small, so check the dimensions on the listing
1 outlet. BestReviews simple yet solid ice bucket.
$25-50
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Best cocktail shakerbudget pick · Compact
Best for learning to shake like a bartender
America's Test Kitchen's top Boston-style shaker: inexpensive and easy to clean.
Heads up. Takes some practice, and your hands get cold while shaking
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Boston shaker.
$15-25
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mid pick · Compact
Best for first-time cocktail makers
America's Test Kitchen's easiest shaker for a beginner bartender.
Heads up. Not the best-looking, and the silicone top faded a little after 10 washes
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen easiest-to-use cocktail shaker.
$25-50
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Best string lightsbudget pick · 66 ft
Best for warm white glow on a budget
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck Christmas lights: one set of warm white lights with a host of different blinking modes.
Heads up. The controller isn't waterproof, so keep it away from moisture
1 outlet. Bob Vila best bang for the buck Christmas lights.
$15-25
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mid pick · 82 ft
Best for wrapping a tree, window or wall with one long strand
Bob Vila's best overall Christmas lights: versatile, with a supple but strong cord and a variety of lighting patterns.
Heads up. Plug-in only
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Christmas lights.
$25-50
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Best speakerbudget pick · Ultra-portable
Best for a tiny speaker on a budget
What Hi-Fi?'s best budget Bluetooth speaker: very few speakers are capable of such an impressive performance-to-size ratio.
Heads up. Limited customisation for on-unit lighting, and no supplied USB-C cable
1 outlet. What Hi-Fi? best budget Bluetooth speaker.
$25-50
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mid pick · Portable
Best for a portable speaker for everyday use
What Hi-Fi?'s best portable Bluetooth speaker: a What Hi-Fi? Awards winner 2026, refined, portable and tough to beat at this price.
Heads up. Can be critical of recording and source quality
1 outlet. What Hi-Fi? best portable Bluetooth speaker.
$100-150
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Best party gamebudget pick · 4-20 players
Best for big mixed groups, including people who don't usually play games
GamesRadar+'s best family party board game: exceedingly silly but with a satisfying bit of social strategy, and there's no 'right' answer, so there's no pressure.
Heads up. Cards lose appeal if overused, and it's not particularly deep
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best family party board game.
$15-25
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budget pick · Big groups
Best for big groups and non-gamers
GamesRadar+'s best party board game: the ultimate pick-up-and-play game, with no complicated rules and lots of table talk.
Heads up. Needs at least four players to shine, and the pressure isn't for everyone
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best party board game.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
In Serious Eats' tests, tulip glasses let far more of the wine's aroma through, while flutes kept a foamy head of bubbles a little longer. The sommelier Serious Eats spoke to says the coupe loses bubbles too quickly for Champagne, so coupes are best for cocktails and a retro look.
Glasses for the toast, an ice bucket so drinks stay cold outside the fridge, a speaker, some lights and a game or two to fill the hours before midnight. A shaker is a nice extra if you want to make cocktails.
GamesRadar+ picks Codenames as its best party board game and Herd Mentality as its best family party game. Herd Mentality supports up to 20 players and has no right answers, so people who don't usually play can join in.