How to Have a Relaxed New Year’s Eve at Home
Food & Drink
A Cosy New Year’s Eve Starts Here
New Year’s Eve often comes with a bit of pressure, big plans, crowded venues, and the expectation to stay up far later than you actually want to. But some of the most memorable New Year’s Eve celebrations are the simple ones: great food, good company, and a calm, cosy atmosphere.
A relaxed evening doesn’t mean doing nothing. It just means choosing things that feel easy, whether that’s popping a Bake at Home pizza in the oven, ordering Click & Collect before guests arrive, or spending the night in a warm, welcoming pizzeria rather than squeezing into a packed bar.
In Italy, New Year’s Eve (Capodanno) is all about slowing down, eating well and gathering with the people who matter most. It’s long, leisurely and full of flavour, the perfect inspiration for anyone looking for a calmer, more enjoyable night this year.
Why a relaxed New Year’s Eve is the best kind
After the whirlwind of December, slowing down for one evening can feel like a luxury. Christmas brings endless plans, late nights and a full diary, so New Year’s Eve is often the moment people crave something a little gentler.
In Italy, this idea is tradition. Capodanno centres around cenone di Capodanno, the “big dinner”, an evening of shared plates, conversation and plenty of food that stretches well past midnight. There’s no countdown chaos, no rushing, just an unhurried celebration built around connection.
It’s the kind of evening where you imagine fairy lights twinkling, music playing softly in the background, and something delicious baking in the oven while everyone settles in for the night. A relaxed New Year’s Eve isn’t boring, it’s intentional, warm, and full of meaning.
New Year’s Eve food ideas for a cosy night in
If you’re staying home this year, your New Year’s Eve meal ideas don’t need to involve hours in the kitchen. The most memorable meals are often the simplest ones, especially when they’re built around good ingredients and easy dishes.
Here are a few ways to make the evening feel special:
Start with sharing boards
A generous antipasto board is one of the easiest New Year’s Eve food ideas for creating a welcoming table. Choose things made for grazing:
Prosciutto, salami or other cured meats
Fold or roll slices so they’re easy to grab, and mix a few textures. Something soft like prosciutto with something firmer like Milano salami. Add a small pot of honey or fig jam on the side to lift the flavours.
Marinated olives, roasted peppers or artichokes
Choose a few varieties so you’ve got a mix of colours and flavours. Citrus-marinated olives, smoky peppers and tender artichoke hearts bring brightness and balance to the richer meats and cheeses.
Mozzarella or burrata with olive oil
Drizzle with good olive oil and scatter over a pinch of sea salt or basil leaves. Burrata works especially well because it feels indulgent without any effort, simply tear and share.
Warm focaccia
Bread is what brings everything together. Warm it briefly in the oven so it’s soft and fragrant. Place the focaccia in the centre of the table so guests can help themselves and mop up all the olive oil and juices, or sprinkle the focaccia with rosemary for extra aroma.
Boards like these invite guests to pick, chat and nibble at their own pace, the perfect start to a relaxed celebration.
Make pizza the centrepiece
Pizza is a classic for a reason: it’s simple, satisfying and ideal for sharing. Bake at Home pizzas make things even easier, straight from fridge to oven to plate with very little fuss, perfect when you want New Year’s Eve meal ideas that don’t involve too much prep.
Serve a few for the table or set up a DIY pizza station so everyone can add toppings before baking. It keeps things interactive, fun and informal, exactly the atmosphere a relaxed evening needs.
A few winter-friendly combinations to try:
Porchetta – Fior di latte, scamorza, Emilia-Romagna porchetta, caramelised onion + sage-roasted potatoes. Finished with cranberry sauce.
Pesto Rosso – Homemade sun-dried tomato red pesto base, topped with fior di latte, Sicilian capers, red caramelised onion + yellow Vesuvian Piennolo tomatoes.
Pizza Sorbillo – Fior di latte, Vesuvian Piennolo tomatoes, spicy Calabrian salami + Spilinga ‘nudja finished with grated Puglian caccioricotta.
Pizza fits naturally with the Italian tradition of lingering over the table, chatting, laughing and letting the evening unfold slowly. It’s informal, flavourful and always a crowd-pleaser.
Something sweet to finish
You don’t need elaborate desserts. A few small treats are enough to round off the night. Try:
Mini tiramisu cups
Perfect for making ahead, and ideal when everyone only wants “a little something sweet.” The creamy layers feel luxurious without being heavy, a favourite for good reason.
Lightly toasted panettone served with gelato
Toasting the slices brings out the buttery flavour and gives them a slightly crisp edge. Pair with vanilla or pistachio gelato for a simple but elegant Italian-style dessert.
Chocolate-dipped biscotti with coffee
These last-minute treats look impressive but require almost no effort. Serve with espresso or a small café corretto (coffee with a splash of something stronger) for a relaxed finish that will cleanse the palette.
Add a splash of amaretto or a little limoncello to the table for anyone who wants an extra sip, the perfect, unfussy finale to a cosy New Year’s Eve celebration.
Toast to a new year with a selection of fun themed drinks!
Relaxed New Year’s Eve celebrations pair brilliantly with easy, joyful drinks. Italians love the early-evening aperitivo, which is all about atmosphere, not heavy cocktails or long mixes.
Start with something light…
Aperol Spritz
Bright, sparkling and instantly celebratory. It’s the kind of drink you can hand to guests as they walk through the door, quick to make and effortlessly festive.
Prosecco
Crisp, bubbly and perfect for the countdown. A chilled bottle in an ice bucket looks the part, but it also lets people top themselves up whenever they fancy. If you want to make it feel extra special, offer a few garnishes like berries or a dash of peach purée for a subtle Bellini-style twist.
Negroni
Bold, aromatic and great alongside spicier or richer dishes. If you’ve got guests who prefer something with more depth, a batch-made Negroni in a carafe means you can pour over ice without playing bartender all evening.
Pair your drinks with your food
Matching drinks to what you’re serving keeps everything feeling balanced and intentional without any effort at all.
Margherita + Prosecco
Light, bright and a classic pairing, the bubbles cut through the cheese and keep things refreshing.
Spicy pizzas + Negroni
The bitter-sweet edge of a Negroni stands up brilliantly to heat. If you’re serving pizzas with ‘nudja, chilli oil or pepperoni, this pairing works beautifully.
White pizzas + crisp white wines
A Bianca-style pizza with mozzarella, mushrooms or herbs works perfectly with something dry and mineral like a Pinot Grigio.
Dessert or panettone + Limoncello
A chilled limoncello after dessert is as Italian as it gets, small, punchy and perfect for drifting into those late-night chats.
Non-alcoholic options
A relaxed night needs easy choices everyone can enjoy.
Italian soft drinks like San Pellegrino, sparkling elderflower or simple citrus mocktails feel fresh and elevated without being overly sweet or complex. Keep a big jug of iced water on the table with lemon, mint or orange slices so guests can reset between drinks.
And honestly, a slice of good pizza in one hand and something fizzy, alcoholic or not, in the other is a pretty great way to welcome January.
Make hosting effortless with click and collect or delivery
If you’re hosting friends but don’t want to spend the evening cooking, look for places that offer Click & Collect so you can pick up fresh pizza, sides and drinks just before your guests arrive.
It’s one of the easiest ways to enjoy a relaxed New Year’s Eve meal without any prep or washing up. Set the table, light a candle or two, and you’ve got a celebration ready to go in minutes.
Want a night like this? Rudy’s has you covered!
If this kind of New Year’s Eve celebration sounds like your style, Rudy’s offers everything you need to keep things simple, warm and delicious.
Bake at Home pizzas: the same soft, Neapolitan dough you’ll find in our pizzerias, ready in a few minutes.
Click & Collect: order ahead and pick up freshly made pizzas, sides and drinks with zero cooking involved.
Decided last minute to take the celebrations elsewhere?
Our pizzerias are relaxed, welcoming and perfect for New Year’s Eve, and we always try to accommodate walk-ins, so you can decide on the night without a booking. Expect the smell of dough baking, a friendly buzz, and a celebration that feels easy and enjoyable.
Whether you’re staying in, heading out, or keeping plans flexible, Rudy’s is here to help you welcome the new year with great food, good company and a relaxed atmosphere.
Find your nearest pizzeria and ring in the new year the way that’s perfect for you.
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