I was excited for my first visit to New York, even more excited that we would be spending Christmas in New York!
Our epic USA holiday began on the West Coast, having spent some time exploring San Francisco, driving the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, and then a fun couple of days in Las Vegas. We landed in New York, and it was freezing! I am from Queensland in Australia, our Christmases are stinking hot, so I am not used to it being so cold! Surely, if it was that cold, we would be rewarded with a little snow?
Whilst we waited for the snow, we checked into our hotel and started ticking off our extensive list of experiences that would make our Christmas in New York a magical one. Here are my top things to do in New York at Christmas, to make it a holiday you will remember forever.
1. Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Centre
In all the cheesy Christmas movies set in New York, there is always an ice-skating scene! I was happy just to watch others enjoying the ice, and there are several locations across the city that you can strap on the skates. The most famous location is at the Rockefeller Centre under the enormous Christmas tree.
Other ice-skating locations we visited included Bryant Park, where you can also do a spot of Christmas shopping at the markets and enjoy a warming hot chocolate. We saved our hot chocolate experience for our visit to Domonique Ansel’s Bakery where we enjoyed a blooming hot chocolate!
2. Enjoy a Blooming Hot Chocolate
Located in the Soho neighbourhood, is the popular Domonique Ansel Bakery. Be prepared to wait in a line to get in! The staff work efficiently to get the line moving and our wait wasn’t too long. Luckily, because the desire for something hot to warm me up was building rapidly! You can dine in or take away – we did a bit of both! There is a pretty courtyard out the back to sit and sip. The blooming part of the drink comes from a chocolate encased marshmallow flower. As the chocolate melts in the hot liquid the marshmallow is released.
I was lucky that the staff allowed me to add the marshmallow flower myself so that I could video it blooming. Usually, the staff add it to the hot chocolate themselves at the counter. The cronuts were amazing, but so much sugar! I think I was suffering from a sugar high for the rest of the day!
3. View the Macy’s Christmas Windows
Nothing says New York Christmas more than the Macy’s Christmas windows. I loved all the Christmas decorations displayed on the retail shops in the city, but Macy’s takes the cake. A joy to see for big kids and young, each window is decorated with its own festive theme. In store was beautifully decorated as well – almost makes Christmas shopping enjoyable!
4. Experience the Harlem Gospel Choir and Explore Harlem
I loved this experience! You have to book well in advance, but it is so worth it! The pure joy of listening to soulful harmonies that fill the church with warmth and a sense of community, is guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit. Their renditions of traditional Christmas carols infused with rich gospel rhythms, had the audience clapping and singing along and even dancing in the end! Highly recommend seeing The Harlem Gospel Choir!
While in Harlem, be sure to have a look around. I loved the brownstone buildings that the Harlem neighbourhood is renowned for. The legendary Apollo Theater, where ‘stars are born and legends are made’ is also located in Harlem. You can book a tour of the famous theatre or see a show. They have an extensive holiday program to get you in the festive spirit. Walk the Apollo’s very own Walk of Fame, to see the plaques of legendary inductees.
We also stopped at the iconic Jacob Soul Food restaurant for lunch. Located a few blocks away from the church this buffet style restaurant offers traditional Southern, Caribbean and Soul food options. Self-serve and pay by weight, it was great value for money and so tasty!
5. Experience Christmas in New York with some Live Jazz
New Orleans is considered the birthplace of Jazz, but New York has become the Jazz Capital of America. Jazz players were drawn to the Big Apple in the 1920’s after Jimmy Walker was elected mayor and allowed speakeasies – the perfect place for jazz! By the 1930’s, with the end of prohibition, jazz clubs in NYC became the places to see, and be seen.
There is so much live Jazz to choose from in New York at Christmas, but you have to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
During the festive season, you can see shows with a definite Christmas theme, which we did. The show I loved, however, was seeing the jazz legend Monty Alexander in one of NYC’s iconic jazz clubs, Birdland. Not so much a Christmas playlist, just very cool jazz.
6. Catch a Broadway Show
Book ahead or try your luck at getting last minute tickets like we did and get to see a Broadway show at a discount. We saw Back to the Future, which we loved, being the 80’s tragics that we are! 😁 Just like seeing a West End show when in London, seeing a Broadway show in New York, is something I needed to tick off my must-do list.
While down that end of town and in the mood for a little musical theatre, I recommend a feed at Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
7. Dine at Ellen’s Stardust Diner
This experience was so much fun! Ellen’s Stardust Diner is located on Broadway Street, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What sets this diner apart from the rest is that the waitstaff are also the entertainment! All up and coming Broadway stars, the staff sing classic Broadway numbers all while taking orders, mixing cocktails and serving food! Be prepared to wait in a line as they do not take bookings. We found the line moves fairly quickly, but I would assume that wait times would vary according to time of day and time of year.
8. Visit Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty
As a first-time visitor to New York, seeing Lady Liberty up close was also on my must-do list. For something a little extra, book ahead to climb the stairs into her crown to see New York from a unique perspective.
Make sure to spend a little time in the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, learning about America’s immigration history from the 1950’s through to today. Also on Ellis Island is the Statue of Liberty Museum, which is full of exhibits, documenting the Statue’s construction journey, including the Lady’s original torch and a scale bronze replica of Liberty’s face.
9. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge
For a fantastic view of the Manhattan Skyline, walk the expanse of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. The Bridge links Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights and is known for its stone arches. Busy with pedestrians, street vendors and tourists, walking the Brooklyn Bridge will give you a feel for how busy and bustling and energetic this city is…. even in the freezing cold!
The Bridge has featured in many Hollywood movies including Enchanted, John Wick and my favourite, Kate and Leopold – (I seem to have a thing for time travelling story lines!)
10. Hudson River Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise
Christmas in New York is freezing cold, so choosing to cruise on the freezing Hudson River seemed an odd choice, but it was wonderful! The Bateaux dinner cruises are all wonderful, but the Christmas Eve one was extra special.
The dining room is all enclosed, keeping the chill out, but with enormous windows to take in the magnificent view. You can venture outside for some New York skyline selfies, which we did, but we didn’t last long before heading back inside! The food was wonderful, the service and atmosphere exceptional, and the on-board entertainment added to the festive experience.
11. Explore Central Park
Central Park is huge, over 843 acres, and while it is usually lush and green, in winter it is transformed. We weren’t lucky enough to see it blanketed in snow, but we did see the bare branches of the trees creating striking silhouettes against the blue sky. The park was alive with joggers, dog walkers and people enjoying the crisp winter air. Of course, the carriage rides happen all year round and in winter you can get cozy wrapped up in blankets as you tour the park.
We only saw a small part of the park, an aerial view from our Christmas dinner restaurant of choice and whilst walking through the park on our way to The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art).
12. Go to The MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art or The MET is one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world. It houses an extensive collection of artworks spanning over 5000 years! To my utter delight, they had a special Manet and Degas exhibit on while we were there. If you have read my Paris post, you will know I am a big fan of the Impressionist Era, and to say I was in Impressionist heaven at The MET would be an understatement. Seeing fabulous works by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas and many more was an absolute thrill!
Did you know The Met also houses an ancient Egyptian temple? The Dendur Temple was gifted to the United States by Egypt as a big thank you for helping to fund the rescue of priceless Egyptian temples at risk of inundation and destruction with the damming of the Nile. The Egyptian exhibit at the MET also features an array of statues, sarcophagi and artifacts. Seeing it all got me very excited for the last leg of the very trip we were on, which was a bucket-list, unforgettable tour of Egypt.
13. Book in for a special Christmas in New York Dinner
Christmas dinner in New York City can be expensive! Mostly set menus, and booking out quickly, you have to plan ahead. We managed to secure a table at Robert NYC, which is a restaurant that sits atop The Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle. Time your sitting to get stunning sunset views over Central Park and see Columbus Circle light up. I thought we might witness a proposal, such was the atmosphere, but alas, not while we were there.
The food was outstanding, service impeccable, the cocktails were delicious, and they even included a complimentary little birthday treat for me (a few days after the event, but they didn’t know that!) Loved our Christmas dinner at Robert NYC!
14. Experience Times Square and View Iconic New York Buildings
There are so many iconic buildings in New York, seen in movies that I love. I could go on and on about them all, but I think I will let the pictures do the talking. From Times Square itself to the Empire State Building lit up in Christmas colours, The Chrysler Building, Madison Square Garden, The Jenga Tower, The Oculus, the Wall Street Stock Exchange, Grand Central Station, The New York Public Library, famous filming locations and my nostalgic favourite, The Ghostbusters Fire Station; I loved seeing them all!
15. Visit New York’s Famous Landmarks
As with the iconic New York buildings, there are numerous famous New York Landmarks that you should try and see while you are in the city. Often these landmarks are located near iconic buildings, so you can tick them off your list at the same time. From the Fearless Girl statue, as she stands defiantly facing the New York Stock Exchange, to the Bull of Wall Street down the road, the somber 911 memorial, and the Trinity Church where Alexander Hamilton is buried, visiting these New York landmarks should be included in your itinerary.
16. Explore China Town and Little Italy
Every major city has a China Town and New York is no different. Throw in a Little Italy as well and you have two vibrant, culturally rich neighbourhoods sitting beside each other in Lower Manhattan. We spent a few hours walking through the main streets, tasting some food as you do, and soaking up the charm of these historic regions.
16. Walk the High Line
The High Line is a unique, elevated public park built on an historic, disused freight rail line. It stretches along Manhattans West side and is known for its gardens and art installations and stunning views of the city. Follow the High Line to explore nearby Chelsea Markets.
17. Experience Christmas in New York at the Chelsea Markets
Chelsea Markets is New York’s bustling indoor food hall and shopping mall. Located in the historic building that once housed the Nabisco biscuit factory, the market has an industrial-chic atmosphere with quirky decor, steel beams and exposed brick walls. We spent an hour or so at the markets exploring the trendy shops and taking in the New York vibe.
19. Walk the Streets Soaking up the New York Vibe
There is so much more we saw in New York, but I just don’t have space to write about it all, I’ve already gone on too long! The New York vibe can be summed up in a just a few more photos.
To me, nothing screams New York more than seeing steam rising from a manhole or a Steam Stacker. When in New York, you have to eat New York pizza right? Bleecker Street Pizza is a New York institution, so we just had to! There is a club in New York’s Greenwich Village called Cafe Wha? the place where many music legends got their start. Bob Dylan played his first gig in NYC there and it’s where Jimi Hendrix was discovered. So much history!
20. Enjoy the New York Skyline from a Rooftop Bar
Our last night in New York, still no snow but we did find a rooftop bar that had igloos! Unfortunately, the igloos were all booked out, but we found a table under a heater and enjoyed taking in the New York skyline at night, sipping on a beverage and reflecting on what an amazing city New York is to spend Christmas in.
We were in New York for 5 nights and only just scratched the surface of this bustling city. Even though we didn’t get our white Christmas, our Christmas in New York was so magical and so unlike any Christmas I have ever had before, that I will remember it always.
