How to Spend Christmas in New York City

Christmas in New York City is iconic. There are a million ways to spend the time—from the extremely touristic and seasonal, to the off-the-beaten path and unaffiliated—that are all imbued with a bit more golden luster given the time of year and atmosphere. If you're here or around for the holidays, there are tons of festive lights to see and foods to eat. There are places, like Rockefeller Center and Central Park's Wollman ice rink, that will be more crowded than usual, but are nevertheless worth seeing, if you can face the throngs. Other spots will be less-busy—and less turn-key, which matters not if you come with your own holiday cheer in tow: On Christmas Day, usually-bustling streets in the West Village and other such desirable neighborhoods may even be deserted, a sight with its own silent magic. Below, our New York-based editors list a few of their favorite ways to spend Christmas in New York City.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Alex Erdekian.
- Bloomberg/Getty
Window shop along Fifth Avenue
I usually head home to Florida for Christmas, which is about as polar opposite of an environment as you can get from Christmas in New York. Before I leave, though, I always squeeze in a Fifth Avenue walk. I’ll usually start at the bottom of Central Park and head down Fifth Avenue toward Rockefeller Center to see the massive Christmas tree. In between, you pass by tons of over-the-top, sparkly displays outside Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and more. Then I’ll cut over to Sixth Ave to walk past Radio City Music Hall and the giant Christmas ornaments display. Yes, the streets are packed with tourists (going on a weekday morning helps alleviate this a bit), but the energy really is lovely, so practice your patience and lean into the slow pace of those around you—or just put a playlist of Christmas tunes in your ears and fully zone out. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
- Artur Dancs/Getty Images
Experience Gramercy Park glee
The holiday season is the best time of the year for a night-time stroll down historic Irving Place. While Washington Irving, the street’s namesake, is typically associated with Halloween thanks to “Sleepy Hollow,” the 19th century author is also credited with first introducing Christmas to the American public (move over Charles Dickens). Fittingly, the historic street full of shops, restaurants, and bars is the perfect place to bask in that old-time Christmas charm.
Start by Gramercy Park and admire the Christmas tree (for the keyless, from afar) and pop in the merrily-decorated Pete’s Tavern for a pint under tinsel. If, like me, your favorite part of wintertime celebrations are the abundance of cheese boards, Bedford Cheese Shop is a must-visit for all your holiday charcuterie needs. End the night with dinner or drinks at Friend of a Farmer, the coziest restaurant whose fireplaces and woodsy cottage-core vibes will transport you to the Vermont countryside. —Hannah Towey, associate news editor
- Veni/Getty
See Central Park by day or night
If you've packed the winter wardrobe to wrap yourself in, put it to good use with a nice, long stroll through New York's most famous parks on a chilly morning, afternoon, or evening ahead of Christmas—it's a good way to get a look at the faces and fashions of Manhattanites without getting swept up in the floods of shoppers along Fifth Avenue. Ice skating at Wollman is, of course, an excellent option, but it's just as nice to stand by the barriers and take in the scene as families, lovers, and the occasional figure skater flits by. And while I wouldn't recommend riding in a carriage, the horses and their occupants (often gleaming caricatures of tourists working bundled to the nines through their NYC bucket lists) make for excellent watching. Now that Loeb Boathouse is open again for dining, that's another good stop to make for a pristine view of The Lake—especially if it's snowed by Christmas. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor
- Courtesy Moot Bar
Throw a cocktail party at your neighborhood dive
For the second year running, I'll be renting out a dive in my neighborhood called Moot Bar and throwing a formal party with my friend Lily. The difference this year? A bunch of other friends who came last year are now chipping in on the cover fee because they had such good time last year. We were inspired to do this after watching Mike Nichols and Nora Ephron's Streep-Nicholson-starrer Heartburn, which left us yearning for a time when young people in New York actually went out of their way to throw cocktail parties. This is how you meet friends of friends, also known as new friends of your own and perhaps even potential romantic interests. Realizing that we were very capable of taking matters into our own hands, we just went ahead and did it. Lots of bars have the option to book the whole place, or a large portion of it, for a few hours (in this case, 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.) in exchange for (maybe) some sort of fee, as well as an hourly minimum spent on drinks at the bar. (Drinks at a dive bar should not be terribly expensive, and it's more than worth it to tip the bartender if it means you don't have to mix drinks for guests at home, not to mention clean it all up.) I highly recommend instituting a formal dress code; so you can see how nice everyone cleans up, but also because it makes for a nice high-low contrast with the decor. —CH
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Courtesy of STARR Restaurants
Have Christmas dinner at Pastis
For Thanksgiving last year, a friend and I decided to have brunch at Pastis, a beloved New York starlet of a restaurant that burned bright in the aughts, closed in 2014 when the building was demolished, and came back better-than-ever in the same neighborhood in 2019. All that to say, the very good Parisian fare (e.g. cauliflower gratin, veal escalope, a killer onion soup) rank at a close second to the vibe: convivial and celeb-scented chic, Manhattany in the warmest way, especially under the interior’s tinsel and twinkle lights hung for the season. My friend and I had a fantastic time before we joined others at someone’s West Village apartment to cook the usual Thanksgiving dinner, but I almost wish we stayed at Pastis all day, slamming St. Germain spritzes and sharing what we were thankful for. The place was open from ten to ten and offered a holiday prix fixe, and they’ll do the same again for Christmas Day this year. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation, and please say hello if and when you spot me there, tucking into my mussels and frites.— Matt Ortile, associate editor
- Jinnifer Douglass
Christmas shop in Little Italy
The first time I stumbled into Little Italy’s iconic Christmas in New York shop it was the middle of July. Despite the city heat, and glaring lack of snow outside, I was quickly transported to a candy cane-filled winter wonderland. Ever since then, I’ve made sure to stop by around Christmas time—when Mulberry Street’s very own workshop becomes even more magical. You’ll find glass ornaments from around the world, life-size Santa decorations, and sparkling Christmas trees at every turn. I simply can’t resist picking up a new holiday knick knack every time I visit. And while you’re there, be sure to grab a fresh cannoli from Ferrara’s (Tony Soprano’s favorite bakery.) —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Enrique Shore/Alamy
Buy a ticket to the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Seeing the Radio City Rockettes during the holiday season feels so nostalgic and so New York to me. The first time I went to see the Christmas Spectacular as a kid felt so special—the dancing, the lights, the energy in the room all felt straight out of a holiday movie. Now as an adult, it’s a holiday event that I still enjoy. The Rockettes perform with such synchronism and spirit that you can’t help but be in awe watching the performance. It’s especially exciting to go with someone who has never seen it before, or even has never been to the iconic venue. —M.K.
- Getty
Stroll by the lights in Dyker Heights
For the past four years, I've taken the long subway ride out to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to be awestruck by the dedicated neighborhood of houses that go all out with holiday cheer. It's like Christmas exploded in everyone's yard, but in the best way. Giant inflatable lawn animals, motorized Santas, a mob of nutcrackers, and so many Christmas lights that you can barely tell what time of day it is. Insider tip: The specific blocks you’ll find the most light displays are 11th to 13th Avenues from 83rd to 86th Streets. For a pick-me-up in the neighborhood, grab a hot chocolate and a pastry at Panino Rustico. —Lara Kramer, global associate director of audience development
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Adrian Gaut
Spa out
Last Christmas, I asked my parents for a gift card to the Russian & Turkish Baths, and they delivered (admission is $60 for one entry). I have two left and will be using them this Christmas, braving what will likely be the bitter cold in order to go some place extremely hot. The deal here is: ascend a steep East Village staircase, check in at the desk, change into your swimsuit, and then descend to take your pick from the saunas and steam rooms. There's the Russian Room, where the temperature nears 200 degrees, as well as more amenable Turkish and Finnish saunas—these are best visited with dunks in the 40-degree cold plunge interspersed between. Amidst all of the holiday excess, embrace these extremes and do something for your health. I always emerge feeling like a newborn baby, blinking at the world. There are also fancier options, like Bathhouse in Williamsburg and, now, Flatiron, and Aire Ancient Baths, depending on your budget. —CH
- Breads Bakery/Facebook
Feast on Breads Bakery's Linzer tarts
Breads Bakery makes incredible baked goods all year round—their chocolate babka is my go-to housewarming or party gift. But their holiday offerings are especially spectacular, from festive challah (made with things like sesame, nigella, sunflower) and cranberry gouda rolls over Thanksgiving to Linzer tarts and potato latkes for Christmas and Hanukkah. I was especially impressed by the Harvest Babka this year—a savory version of their popular pastry. It has roasted sweet potatoes, red onion, and gruyere cheese: ideal for those lazy mornings when you want something easy, but with all the flavors of the holidays. —Stephanie Wu, former digital director
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
Enjoy the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights
The Bronx Zoo is a premiere destination at any time of year for its zoological and conservation efforts—of my many visits there, I have particularly fond memories of going there in college on a field trip for a biological anthropology class I randomly took called “Primate Behavior” which ultimately horrified me for what I learned about chimpanzees and what they're capable of—but wandering the premises around Christmastime is especially, well, special. From November 22 all the way through January 5 of next year, the whole place will be lit up in the annual Holiday Lights celebration with luminary lantern sculptures of zoo animals alongside the real deal. It's art meets life in the best way, and it's actually really wonderful rather than kitsch. —CH
- Andrew F Kazmierski/Getty
Ice skate in Bryant Park
My favorite holiday activity is waking up at the crack of dawn on a weekday and hoofing it from my Brooklyn apartment to Bryant Park to be there when the winter ice rink opens at 8 a.m. Midtown is filled with in-office workers, and you'll find fully dressed corporate folks in their hockey and ice skates, headphones in, getting in a few morning turns before heading to work. In the shadow of the New York Public Library, it's an urban winter wonderland. On weekday mornings, the rink—which is free if you have your own skates, or $21-$36 for rentals—is quiet, without the crowds (or kids) that usually show up on the weekends. —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Neue Galerie
Art and some schnitzel
Nothing gets me quite in the holiday mood like a visit to the Neue Galerie, which sits about a block south of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue—a perfectly intimate addition to a day of large-scale museum strolling. The property, a beautiful old Beaux-Arts building known as the William Starr Miller House, displays a magnificent collection of early 20th-century German and Austrian art, plus the occasional rotating exhibit—on the art of the Weimar Republic, for example, or the artist’s self-portrait. But the real draw is its spectacular array of works by Gustav Klimt, including the gilded Adele Block-Bauer I, perhaps one of the finest examples of his so-called “golden style.” I love taking an hour or two to amble around the galleries before heading down to Café Sabarsky, its jewel box Viennese cafe, where New Yorkers in the know catch up over late-afternoon plates of schnitzel and sachertorte. —Betsy Blumenthal, former editor, features and franchises
- Brooklyn Flea/Facebook
Holiday shop at Brooklyn Flea
If you've got some shopping to do while you're in town, a visit to the Brooklyn Flea is a great place to do so with local vendors (and, now, a full bar!). Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this open-air market sits beneath the archway at the start of the Dumbo side of the Manhattan Bridge. This is a great place to go if you have someone that's tricky to shop for, where you can wander and peruse and allow inspiration to strike—hey, my dad would actually really love that vintage tweed blazer, for example. It's also just a good way to see the city and its creatives and perhaps pick up a souvenir or two for yourself. —CH
- ShoppingA New Season of The White Lotus Just Dropped, Along With a Ton of CollaborationsParis Wilson
- Alamy
Walk through a deserted West Village
There's a mad rush of visitors leading up to the holidays, but if you're actually in town on Christmas or New Year's Day, there's a dreamlike quiet that falls on the city. That's when I love walking around one of the usually buzzy neighborhoods, like the West Village, and taking my time looking into windows of stores (even if they're closed), admiring brownstones, and walking in the middle of streets that are never going to be that empty again. Plus, because it's New York City, undoubtedly some little bar will be open, so when your hands and feet start to numb you can duck in and defrost. Days like that remind me of why I love this city so much. —Megan Spurrell, associate director, articles
- Getty
Wander the Union Square holiday market
I’m a sucker for a good holiday market, and I’ve been going to the one in Union Square for years now. There’s just something so festive about winding your way around the booths—it would take a real Grinch not to get into the spirit. And while it’s great for cute last-minute holiday purchases, what I really go for is the food. My husband loves the German Bratwurst stand, but for me nothing beats the Taste of Persia booth, and the ash reshteh in particular. Chef Saeed Pourkay has been dishing out this traditional Persian soup—packed with lentils, noodles, and onions and topped with fried garlic, mint, and whey—to hungry shoppers for a decade now. Fingers crossed he’s back this year! —Arati Menon, global digital director
Recommended