New York at Christmas - Catheryn Grivna

We recently spent a long weekend in New York City right after Christmas. I personally had not been to NYC since the summer of 2006! I didn’t really care for New York when I visited several years ago, but I really enjoyed our trip this time around. Maybe it was all the holiday charm…..or maybe it was all the cocktail bars?! Honestly, it was probably some of both.

If you’ve never been to New York City around Christmastime, be sure to add it to your bucket list. There’s so much to do and see this time of year, and it all feels so magical.

Table of Contents

Itinerary

Friday

11:00 AM – Arrive at LGA
11:30 AM – Checked into Westin New York Grand Central
12:30 PM – Lunch at Bryant Park Winter Village
1:30 PM – Walked around Rockefeller Center
2:00 PM – City Winery at Rockefeller
- Great way to get a good view of the tree!
3:00 PM – Top of the Rock
- Get tickets in advance!
4:00 PM – Haven Rooftop at The Sanctuary
6:00 PM – 230 Fifth Rooftop
7:00 PM – Dinner at Eataly Rooftop – Serra by Birreria
9:30 PM – Drinks at Eleven Madison Park

Saturday

10:30 AM – 9/11 Memorial & Westfield World Trade Center
- We didn’t do the 9/11 Museum because the line was too long
12:00 PM – Lunch at Chelsea Market
1:00 PM – The High Line
2:30 PM – Drinks at Spyglass Rooftop Bar
4:30 PM – Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
7:00 PM – Dinner at Oak Tuscan Truffle Lounge
8:30 PM – Drinks at Lillie’s Victorian
10:30 PM – Late night snack at Joe’s Pizza

Sunday

10:00 AM – Coffee at Ralph’s Coffee
10:30 AM – Strolled through Central Park
12:00 PM – Lunch at Rue 57
1:00 PM – Champagne at The Plaza
2:30 PM – Times Square
3:00 PM – Shopping at Eataly
4:00 PM – Wine at Vin Sur Vingt
6:00 PM – Dinner at Momoya
8:30 PM – Drinks at The Campbell

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Westin New York Grand Central since we had Marriott points to use. I thought it was a really good location since we were within minutes of Grand Central Station. We were able to walk to several popular attractions (Rockefeller Center) from this hotel as well. I’d definitely stay here again!

Transportation

We used a combination of taxis and the underground subway system. The subway was pretty easy to figure out and the tickets are only $2.75 per ride. Depending on where you are going, it may make more sense to hop in a taxi or Uber/Lyft.

We also did a fair amount of walking! New York is an extremely walkable city and the weather was pretty nice while we were in town. It’s a great way to burn off all the treats you consume on vacation.

Christmas Bars

One of the most fun things to do in New York around Christmastime is to check out some of the festive bars! There are hundreds of cocktail bars all over the city that decorate for the holidays. Of course, we couldn’t hit them ALL in one weekend, but here are several that we had on our list:

Rolfs – This is a German restaurant that is decorated for Christmas year-round. If you are visiting NYC around the holidays, be prepared to wait 1-2 hours. You can make a reservation, but you must do so early in the year.
Haven Rooftop at The Sanctuary – This was a cute rooftop bar we visited near Times Square. I loved the atmosphere and the drinks were fantastic. We got there a few minutes before they opened, so it was easy to get a spot!
City Winery at Rockefeller – This is a great place to stop if you’re near Rockefeller Center. They serve wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks. You can make a reservation for one of the igloos in advance, or you can just walk in and grab a spot at one of the tables.
The Standard East Village – We didn’t make it here, but this hotel has a pop-up winter garden with heated alpine yurts. It looks super cute and cozy.
Oscar Wilde – We didn’t make it here either, but they have gorgeous holiday decorations. It looks very similar to Lillie’s Victorian.
230 Fifth Rooftop – This is NYC’s largest rooftop garden. They are most known for their igloos and the incredible view of the Empire State Building. You can site inside one of the igloos or grab a table anywhere outside. They serve food and drinks, so it could be good spot for dinner as well.
Mr. Purple – We didn’t make it here, but they have a special holiday pop-up with Veuve Clicquot.
Arlo Soho and Arlo Nomad – These hotels transform their rooftop bars into a winter wonderland each here. We never got the chance to stop by, but I’ve heard great things.
Refinery Rooftop – We tried stopping in here for a drink, but it was packed! I highly suggest a reservation if you want to eat or drink here. This place has amazing views of the Empire State Building.
Midwinter Night’s Dream (PHD Terrace) – Never made it here, but it looks like a great spot!
Lillie’s Victorian – We had cocktails here and we really enjoyed it. The decorations were super fun and festive and the bartenders were friendly. It wasn’t overly crowded, so it was nice to have a little breathing room!
Miracle on Ninth Street – This is a fun pop-up bar that serves cocktails in fun glasses and mugs. I mean, who doesn’t want to drink their cocktail out of a Santa mug?!

Where to Eat and Drink

Restaurants

These are restaurants that were recommended to me and/or restaurants we dined at while in New York. Obviously, we couldn’t hit all of these places in one weekend, but they are still on my list for next time.

Eleven Madison Park (d) – If you’re in the mood for fine dining and can get a reservation here, I’d go. This is a 3-Michelin Star Restaurant that offers a ten course tasting menu. Definitely a splurge, but I’m sure the food would be incredible.
Oak Tuscan Truffle Lounge (d) – We ate here for dinner and it was incredible. There are freshly shaved truffles on each dish! The Italian food was delicious and tasted super authentic. They also have a nice wine list with several Italian varietals.
Joe’s Pizza (l/d) – The BEST pizza. This is a must when in NYC.
Eataly Flatiron Rooftop Restaurant (l/d) – The Eataly Flatiron location has a rooftop restaurant that changes throughout the seasons. The menu and decorations change with each season. It’s a beautiful restaurant with a great menu, so I’d check it out if you’re in the mood for Italian food.
Katz’s Deli (l) – We didn’t make it here, but they have a legendary pastrami sandwich that everyone raves about. This would be a great option for a quick lunch in NYC!
Carbone (l/d) – Italian food. This was recommended to me, but we never made it here.
Pasquale Jones (l/d) – We didn’t make it here, but it was recommended to me. It looks like they are known for their wood-fired food and pizzas. Sounds good to me!
Momofuku (l/d) – We didn’t dine here in NYC, but we have eaten at this restaurant in Las Vegas. We loved it when we went in Vegas, so I’d highly recommend. They have amazing ramen and other asian-inspired dishes.
Tavern on the Green (b/l/d) – This is an iconic restaurant located in Central Park. I think it would be a great option for brunch, but you could do any meal here. I’m hoping we can dine here on our next NYC trip.
Ellen’s Stardust (b/l/d) – We tried going here for Sunday brunch, but the line stretched over two blocks. I’m guessing the wait would have been 2-3 hours. My mom and sister recommended this to me because the servers are also performers. They are all trying to make it big time on Broadway. Throughout your meal, you will see the servers dance, sing and act. How fun is that!
Restoration Hardware (l/d) – We’ve been to the Restoration Hardware Restaurant in Yountville, and it is one of the prettiest spaces I’ve ever seen. The one in NYC looks to be just as beautiful and the menu looks amazing.
The Polo Bar (l/d) – This is another iconic NYC restaurant. This is Ralph Lauren’s restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. We didn’t get the chance to eat here, but the menu looks great.
The Loeb Boathouse (b/l/d) – Another Central Park favorite. This would be a great place to have a weekend brunch. During the warmer months, people can take boats out on the lake.
Babu Ji (d) – We didn’t dine here in NYC, but we’ve been to the sister restaurant, Bibi Ji, numerous times in Santa Barbara. The menus look very similar, so I’m sure this restaurant is just as good as the one on the West Coast. I’d definitely give this a try if you are craving Indian cuisine and delicious wine.
Chelsea Market (l) – This is basically a big market filled with shops and places to eat. Some of the restaurants are fast-casual and others are more of a full-service, sit down type of place. It’s a great spot to visit for a quick lunch or if you’re with a bigger group of people.

Drink

In addition to the Christmas bars I listed above, here are a few other options that would be great to visit anytime of year.

The Campbell Bar in Grand Central Station – Amazing cocktails and an even better atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!
Vin Sur Vingt – An amazing French wine bar with great happy hour deals. They have several locations all over NYC and they serve food. I loved the atmosphere.
Spyglass Rooftop Bar – We went here after we tried to get into Refinery Rooftop. This place had incredible views of the Empire State Building, and they even have a little observation deck. They have a full bar and a variety of light snacks.
The Plaza Hotel – If you do ANYTHING in NYC, make sure you go to The Champagne Bar at The Plaza Hotel. The atmosphere is incredible and the hotel smells amazing. The service was outstanding and it was a great way to relax in the middle of the day.

Things to Do

Year-Round

Empire State Building
Central Park
Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Eataly
Brooklyn Bridge
The Plaza Hotel
Chelsea Market

Christmas Specific Activities

Saks Fifth Avenue Light Display
Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
Christmas Markets (Bryant Park, Union Square, Columbus Circle)
Ice Skating in Central Park or Rockefeller Center
- There are TONS of ice skating rinks all over the city at Christmastime. The rink at Bryant Park is free.
Festive Christmas Bars (See above)
The Nutcracker Ballet
Dyker Heights Neighborhood Lights

Photo Gallery

I hope this post was helpful if you plan to visit New York City around the holidays. We had so much fun, and I’d love to visit again during the Christmas season. There’s so much to see, so I don’t think you’d ever run out of things to do. Cheers!