The holiday season may look and feel a little bit different this year. 2020 didn’t exactly leave us feeling merry and bright, all the more reason to end the year with a bang. Before the weather gets too frightful, be sure to check out these decked-out winter wonderlands. Over the top decor and spiked hot cider anyone?
*Note: A few locations are now closed because of the ban of indoor dining starting 12/14/20. Please double-check with an establishment beforehand. We will update the listing with this as well.
1. Hütte
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Hütte is the winter concept taking the place of Blume, for the holiday season. It features a cozy winter retreat inside of a tented and heated outdoor space. Paired with Alpine comfort foods like game meat, fondue, and Austrian wine, you’ll feel like you’re in the Alps instead of in NYC. I don’t know about you, but right now, that sounds more appealing than ever.
2. Winterly (at Summerly)– Closed because of indoor dining ban
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Usually a summer-centric rooftop bar, Summerly’s winter popup, Winterly boasts cold-weather eats and drinks for brunch and dinner. Options like Warm Brie and Challah French Toast, including hot cocktails, like the classic Hot Toddy, will warm you right up.
3. Pier 17 The Greens
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This winter edition of The Greens which launched in the summer is already a hit. A reservation gets you and your friends (up to 10 of them) a personal dining cabin, so you can enjoy an array of winter favorites, like cheese fondue, and festive cocktails like hot buttered rum, courtesy of Dante. Your cabin includes a heated floor plan, a Molekule air purifier, a virtual fireplace, classic winter cabin décor, and floor-to-ceiling views of NYC.
New dates open every Monday at 10 am for the following week. I know I’ve already got my spot lined up.
4. Arlo Soho
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Arlo Soho’s pop-ups are the stuff of NYC notoriety. I look forward to their theme every time—last year they had an epic party to launch the season. This year is different, but the set-up itself is no less impressive. Their courtyard cabins can be booked by guests and non-guests alike, offering an experience similar to Pier17. This is paired with food offerings from the hotel restaurant Harold’s, and fun cocktails like the Cold Weather Cobbler, made with Amontillado sherry, Hennessy V.S Cognac, apple, and raspberry. Yum!
5. Oscar Wilde– Closed because of indoor dining ban
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If FAO Schwartz were to set up shop in a restaurant, this would be it. Stuffed polar bears, life-size nutcrackers, holiday lights, and garlands span the length of the bar and restaurant. While they don’t have a seasonal menu, their food is still pretty great and varied, and their cocktails are themed to a writer’s liking.
6. Lillie’s Victorian– Closed because of indoor dining ban
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Greeted with a giant “Believe” sign in their window, Lillie’s is a staple located in Union Square ( the have a Times Square location too), offering British fare, snacks, seafood (do try the salmon), and other fun dishes along with some fancy-sounding cocktails. Want to feel like you’re a part of some elevated dining experience while being surrounded by holiday decor? This is the place!
7. Mr. Purple– Closed because of indoor dining ban
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For those looking for a cozy, rooftop vibe, look no further than Mr. Purple. They’ve got après-ski style chalets complete with blankets, Veuve Clicquot, and hot spiked cocktails. While you’re there, grab a hot beef or seaweed broth that will warm you right up. Who says rooftop season has to end with cold weather?
8. Oregano Brooklyn
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For those of you looking for some Italian comforts from the frosty elements, Oregano has it in spades. Their menu features vegan and gluten-free options of favorites like Neopolitan pizzas and classic pasta dishes. The best part? Their outdoor dining space is designed to look just like a gingerbread house! Now is the time to eat in a life-size version, and if you’re up to it, go home and make an edible one for yourself.
9. Miracle Pop-ups
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Now in its 6th year, the Miracle pop-up serves holiday-themed cocktails amongst kitschy decor. It’s so popular that it can be found all around the world. This year, NYC locations include Miracle on 9th Street (The Cabinet), and Miracle on 8th Street (Mace). Reservations can be made via Resy or by emailing miracleon9th@miraclepopup.com or miracleon8th@miraclepopup.com respectively.
Do something different and drink out of a T-rex, you deserve it.
10. Sippin’ Santa Popup
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Sippin’ Santa sounds like one of those fun toys that starts singing (or drinking) when you squeeze its hand, but in actuality, it’s one of those fun bars that makes its comeback when holiday music starts to play on the radio. From the same team who brought you the Miracle’s pop-ups, Sippin’ Santa instead aims to bring tiki and Christmas together, making for a fun and intriguing combo. Popping up at Boilermaker, they serve up cocktails like the Kris Kringle Colada (Dark Jamaican Rum, Cynar, Allspice, Lime & Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Coconut) perfect for those who miss cocktails on the beach.
11. Magic Hour at Moxy Times Square
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Magic Hour, the rooftop bar located atop Moxy Times Square has granted your wishes this season, with a Pink Christmas. Their Pink Snow Lodge features an outdoor dining experience complete with heat lamps, bringing the après-ski vibes to you! What awaits is an Instagram-able ski lift carousel and a Moxy Après Pink Hot Chocolate to name a few! They also have a new dinner menu with Warm Pecorino Cheese Fondue & Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwiches and Pink S’mores for dessert!
12. The Springs
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The Springs has always been one to run with fun themes, and the holidays are no different. The venue boasts top-notch decorations and cozy fireplaces. An outdoor backyard dining area is also perfect for those not so keen on indoor dining just yet. Their Christmas Special menu includes cocktails like Nog Yourself Out (Cruzan Dark Rum, Orgeat (Almond Syrup) & Egg Nog) and Blueberry Maple Hot Toddy (Bourbon, Blueberry-infused Maple Syrup). They’ve even got a Gingerbread House Slushie!
13. The Garret Cocteleria
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For some fun Latin flair, check out The Garret Cocteleria’s ‘Feliz Cocteleria’! Taking inspiration from the various regions and cultures near the equator, they’re offering festive looks, seating in their Hacienda Sunroom and mezcal cabins, and seasonally-inspired drinks with fun names like “A Lump of Coal”—whose ingredients sound much more delicious than its title implies—and “Netzai the Snowman”, with the bulk of the latter option including an appropriate base of fresh carrot juice.
14. Eataly Flatiron
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“Winter has come to Serra!” Eataly has announced its newest deco-venture, adding some flair to its seasonal set-up by creating what seems to be a modern take on the Italian woods and winter. It is all set under a “blanket of stars” in their open-air concept, available all season long. They’re serving up hot, spiked bevs, along with some tasty-sounding cocktails and mocktails so you can opt-out of imbibing if you so choose. Also of note, is their food menu, which sounds pretty mouthwatering as well!
15. The Standard High Line
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This place brings it every year with their holiday decor, and this one is no different! The Standard High Line has decked their “halls” in what they call The Forest with red rocking chairs covered in white fur throws—think Santa as a chair, plenty of twinkling lights, and an outdoor heated movie theater screening festive favorites (free popcorn included). Their food offerings include fondue and gingerbread men, and they’ve got a ton of hot drinks as well!
Hopefully, this list brings you some holiday cheer, while making your nights brighter. The season still has some sparkle left for everyone, and some of these are only around till year’s end, so make haste.
