Come New Year’s Eve, there are people who hate crowds, hide at home, and watch fireworks on television. There are also people who love crowds, hit the club, and swap spit with a stranger when the clock strikes midnight. (Hey, we aren’t judging!) This list however, is for the people who fall somewhere in between these two extremes; those who enjoy an intimate dinner more than an open bar, but want the option of getting more adventurous should they choose to. So without further ado, here are the top five places to spend New Year’s Eve in Seattle.5. MaximilienThis is the closest you can get to spending an evening in Paris without spending all your cash. For $89, the charming French restaurant offers a special menu featuring foi gras, roasted venison, and chocolate mousse, as well as live European-style cabaret music. Following a romantic dinner, you and your date can stroll the cobblestone streets and tuck into one of the many nearby bars for drinks. Bonne annee!4. CanlisThe renowned restaurant ushers in the New Year in style; live jazz, dancing in the lounge, and a countdown and champagne toast at midnight. On the menu: sashimi, pheasant, tenderloin with bone marrow, and butternut squash cheesecake. The cost: $185. But you can expect the most impeccable presentation and service in the city. Space is filling up quickly, but openings for parties of four and six are still available.3. Teatro ZinZanniCirque, comedy, cabaret, and a five-course feast designed by Tom Douglas. There’s arguably nowhere else in the city that entertains as well as TZZ. Plates like smoked mussels, scallops, and white chocolate pumpkin creme brulee are accompanied by music by disco diva Thelma Houston and a talented international cast. And although the price is steep ($175-$275 per person) this NYE party is already sold out. 2. SkyCityYes, the restaurant atop the Space Needle is a tourist trap. But to ring in 2011, even locals clamor to reserve a table weeks in advance. Why? SkyCity guarantees you the best seat in the house to watch the Space Needle fireworks show. The $250 cost includes a six-course dinner loaded with oysters and lobsters and, following a champagne toast at midnight, dancing on the Observation Deck until 2 a.m.

1. Waterway CruisesOn this three-hour cruise across Lake Union, guests have access to a full bar and an impressive appetizer and dessert buffet consisting of Kobe beef sliders, chicken lettuce wraps, crab fritters, and more. Entertainment includes a live DJ, photo booth, and of course, fireworks erupting overhead as your boat glides across the water. The damage: $109 and possibly, a hangover or heartburn in the morning.