The best things to do in New York this winter
From ice skating and cork popping to Chinese feasting and sound healing, here are the top things to do in New York City this season
One of the most magical times of the year in New York is the cosy winter season, which kicks off in early December when the Rockefeller Center’s giant tree is illuminated in glowing lights, and when George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker – a beloved local holiday tradition – becomes one of the most popular shows in town. Winter is a time for parties and celebration – and anticipation of the new year.
During the holiday season, most locals swerve the crowds of Midtown West and instead entertain at home or visit the city’s neighbourhood restaurants and bars for distinct dining experiences (and firework viewing) to ring in 2025. Then, once the holiday merrymaking dies down, New York’s affinity for wellness and self care kick in. Below are the top experiences the Big Apple has to offer over the upcoming months.
Plus, if you’re arriving in town this season, be sure to check out our guide to New York’s best hotels.
The best things to do in New York this winter
Christmas in New York
When: Various
Location: Various
The unmissable event that officially kicks off the holiday season in New York is the Rockefeller Center’s 4 December Christmas tree light switch on. But the tourist throng can get intimidating, so here are some alternative spots to experience the excitement. French bistro Le Rock is throwing a 1950s-themed Tree Lighting Golden Age Soirée, with tickets costing 420 USD for an open bar and small bites. Just a stone’s throw away, chef Ignacio Mattos’ Italian hit Lodi is throwing a festa with cocktails, canapés and sweets for 338 USD a head, plus a direct view of the tree. Over in the East Village, the tenth rendition of the Miracle Christmas cocktail pop-up features a bar so decked out with tinsel and boozy holiday cheer that even Santa would ask to tone it down. (Make sure to reserve seats in advance.)
As for markets, Union Square’s annual outdoor holiday market runs now until 23 December with various artisan vendors. Grand Central’s indoor holiday fair, which proffers everything from clothing to jewellery to skincare, is open until Christmas Eve in Vanderbilt Hall. Fancy ice skating? There’s Midtown’s The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Wollman Rink in Central Park and Roebling Rink at Dumbo’s Brooklyn Bridge Park.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
When: Through 4 January 2025
Location: 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Price: From 60 USD
The best seasonal show to see around the holidays is New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, set to Tchaikovsky’s original score. Since 1964, the show has been performed at the grand David H Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, and is famed for its elaborate costumes and sets, including a giant Christmas tree and glittering snow. The story follows young Marie as she embarks on a journey with her Nutcracker Prince through a fantastical world of battling mice, a shimmering Snowflake Forest and the alluring Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy.
The Brooklyn Museum: Solid Gold
When: Until 6 July 2025
Location: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Price: Tickets cost 10-25 USD
Gold has been the ultimate flex throughout time – from ancient rulers’ crowns to disco sequins and Cartier bracelets. Coinciding with The Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, the institution presents Solid Gold: an exhibition that explores the precious metal, both as a material and a colour, and its significance as a symbol of power and prestige for over 6,000 years. Expect to see a sarcophagus lid dating to around 945-740 BCE decorated with imitation gold pigment, as well as dazzling jewels and clothing, and an immersive digital experience by Tokyo art collective teamLab, depicting animated gold waves.
Aire Ancient Baths
When: Ongoing
Location: 88 Franklin St, New York, NY 10013
Price: From 180 USD
Ditch your devices and head to this Tribeca spa stalwart for a restorative act of self-care. Inspired by the bath traditions of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Aire Ancient – which is soon to open a second space in Manhattan – is a luxurious, transportive oasis clad with exposed brick, soaring ceilings and flickering candles. The main bath house offers thermal pools of varying temperatures, from the soothing warmth of the Tepidarium to the 10 degree Celsius ice bath (don’t worry, there’s a hot tub to counter the chill). Winter is the best time to visit, especially during the holidays, when the team decorates the space with seasonal florals and a tree, adorned with a red velvet bow. Spa treatments such as an argan oil massage or a red wine scrub are also available.
New Year’s Eve
When: New Year’s Eve
Location: Various
To catch the many fireworks that light up New York’s skies at midnight, it’s always a good idea to seek out a waterfront or rooftop, such as Dumbo’s fine dining American restaurant The River Cafe, the Financial District’s globally acclaimed Overstory bar (for a clarified chai and Bourbon tipple 64 stories up), or Williamsburg’s The William Vale hotel and its rooftop bar Westlight. For a more communal affair, visit the South Street Seaport in Manhattan, or either Prospect Park’s Grand Army Plaza or Dumbo’s Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn.
If you’re looking for a meal out on NYE, most city restaurants offer unique dinner experiences, typically at a set (and usually elevated) price. New Yorkers in the know are currently gushing over East Village’s Penny for its simple, ultra fresh seafood and discerning wine list. On New Years Eve, Penny offers a raw bar and canapés like mini lobster rolls; Tickets go on sale on 1 December for the two sessions, priced at 150 or 195 USD. One of the hottest spots right now is Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm’s new lounge, Clemente Bar, perched above the three Michelin star restaurant. For 350 USD a head and starting at 10pm, guests get access to an open bar, canapes, sweets and a champagne toast.
Chinese New Year
Location: Various
Price: Various
The two best times of year to dive into New York’s excellent regional Chinese cuisine is December 25 (for those who don’t indulge in Christmas dinner) or in late January until early February during Chinese New Year – which this year ushers in the Year of the Snake. Fans of floral, mouth-numbing málà spice should consider no-frills Midtown staple Szechuan Gourmet 39, while diners keen on Cantonese will want to try Chinatown stalwart Congee Village. One of the city’s best bets for Peking duck is still Midtown’s high-end Hong Kong export Hutong (don’t miss the flaming duck – which the team ignites tableside) and soup dumpling devotees should visit the Queens or East Village location of elevated Eastern Chinese addition Che Li (pretty much everything on the menu is excellent). For another culture that marks Lunar New Year, it’s worth noting that Midtown recently landed a branch of beloved Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung, also lauded for its various XLBs (xiaolongbao – a soup dumpling).
Café Zaffri
When: Early February
Location: 16 E. 16th Street, New York, NY 10003
With their origins in the 19th century, members clubs in New York are nothing novel, but in recent years Manhattan has experienced a swell of new venues – a movement started by Casa Cipriani and Zero Bond. Next up in early February comes London export The Twenty Two, a nine-storey hotel that includes a members-only club and Levantine restaurant open to all comers. Helmed by the female team behind Soho’s Italian-French hit Raf’s, Café Zaffri is set within a 2,100 sq ft space with wood-panelled walls and amber and burgundy accents. Its all-day menu is inspired by executive chef Mary Attea’s Lebanese heritage; expect dishes like chicken liver mousse with cardamom and pistachios, and lamb wellington.
Guggenheim: Collection in Focus: Piet Mondrian, Ever Further
When: Until 20 April 2025
Location: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128
Price: 30 USD
Running until April, a new exhibition at the Guggenheim shines a light on the work of influential Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. Through paintings and drawings, the show charts the development of Mondrian’s groundbreaking abstraction following his journey from figurative works in the Netherlands to his influential period in Paris and his later years in New York. Expect pieces that offer insight into Mondrian’s transition from naturalistic depictions to his signature geometric abstraction, which aimed to express universal harmony through primary colours and rectilinear forms.
Sound Healing at Oases
When: Early January
Location: 101B W 14th St, New York, NY 10011
Price: 60 USD
Come January, for those who are ready to start the year with a clean, mindful approach, check out Oases, the newly opened ayurvedic wellness centre in Chelsea. The multi-faceted venue features a cafe and restaurant that prioritises seasonal, healthy ingredients, as well as ethical skincare, supplements and homeware. To kick off the new year, Oases is launching a ticketed bi-weekly 60-minute sound healing programme, with therapeutic sessions that rely on vibrations and sound frequencies from gongs, singing bowls and tuning forks to promote wellbeing.
The Museum of Sex: Looking at Andy Looking
When: Ongoing
Location: 233 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
Price: Tickets cost 36-50 USD
Iconic pop artist Andy Warhol is best known for transforming everyday goods, celebrity culture and mass media into vibrant silk screens. However, at the Museum of Sex in Flatiron, a new show celebrates a more intimate side of the creator. The exhibition features three silent films shot by Warhol in 1964 titled Sleep, Blow Job and Couch, which highlight the artist’s fascination with sex, desire and their intersections with art and culture. The show gives a raw glimpse into how Warhol’s exploration of desire influenced his innovative pop-art vision.
