Christmas in New York – Your Guide to Magic, Mischief, Memories & the Most Festive City on Earth
It wasn’t exactly beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Tulsa when this trip was scheduled. It was still 70 degrees, my trees were hanging on to their leaves for dear life, and friends were already posting photos of their Christmas trees glowing in their living rooms. Meanwhile, I held onto my personal tradition: no Christmas tree until after Thanksgiving. It feels like cheating otherwise. Thanksgiving deserves its moment, its pies, its pumpkins, its own warm glow.
But Christmas? Oh, Christmas is my favorite holiday season.
The lights.
The nostalgia.
The movies.
The music.
The outfits (give me faux fur cuffs, red lipstick, and dramatic coats).
And that year, after a particularly exhausting family situation, my boyfriend at the time and I decided we needed something different. Peace instead of pressure. Joy instead of drama. A year where we chose the holiday vibe instead of letting others shape it.
So we booked something bold for two Midwestern kids:
Christmas in New York City.
I’d traveled the world… but somehow had never made it to NYC. And what better introduction than the most magical time of year?
🏨 Where We Stayed: The Historic Algonquin Hotel
This was only a quick 3-night trip, so we opted to select a hotel based on its location & availability. And the spot we chose was located in Midtown with a doorman, which instantly gave Home Alone 2 vibes. The Algonquin was the perfect landing place for a Christmas escape. The lobby felt warm, classic, and welcoming, with a lovely bar, cozy tables for morning coffee, and a beautifully lit Christmas tree greeting guests.
The rooms were smaller, but it’s Manhattan. You don’t go to New York to sit in your room staring at a wall (though ours did look directly at one). The hotel felt warm, elegant, and so wonderfully festive.
🧳 What I Packed for a New York Christmas
Fashion required. Warmth appreciated.
Here’s what I lived in:
- Knee-high boots
- Long, elegant coats
- Sweater dresses with faux-fur trim
- Chunky scarves
- A brimmed winter hat
- A crossbody bag (tucked inside my personal item for the flight)
- And the MVP: fleece-lined tights that look sheer, life-changing
- Buy them here: https://a.co/d/cfh7Rld
Travel tip:
Christmas Eve flights are significantly cheaper. If it makes sense for your schedule, snag one.
🌟 Christmas Eve Magic: Rockefeller Center
Our first mission was checking off the essentials, the “movie moments.”
⭐ The Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Let’s get straight to it: the moment I saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, my inner eight-year-old came alive. The Home Alone 2 tree!!! We arrived around 7 pm, joined the thick holiday crowds, and I swear that tree glowed from the inside out. Cameras flashed, strangers smiled, couples held hands, kids squealed, and the whole moment felt lifted straight from a movie reel.
⭐ Top of the Rock
I booked these tickets weeks in advance (required during the holidays). We chose the 8 pm slot and upgraded to the “beam” experience, a seated steel beam (like the classic NYC construction photos) lifted high into the air with full 360° views of Manhattan twinkling below. New York shimmered under us like a snow globe.
⭐ Ice Skating Under the Tree
Our 9 pm reservation meant prime Christmas Eve skating.
The rink is small, intimate, and buzzes with proposals. It felt like someone got engaged every two minutes, and the entire crowd cheered each time. I wore my fleece tights, a cute skirt, and felt like Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity.
We sipped hot chocolate afterward and wandered the streets hand-in-hand. Christmas Eve perfection.
⛪ Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
Our plan was St. Patrick’s Cathedral, but it was full (you have to enter a lottery for tickets). So we pivoted to:
The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York.
It ended up being perfect.
Plenty of seating, soaring gothic arches, peaceful carols, and the most beautiful organ music to end Christmas Eve. I remember thinking, “This is exactly the Christmas we needed.”
First Presbyterian Church Midnight Mass
🎁 Times Square, Coffee, Central Park & Dinner at Tavern on the Green
We kicked off the next morning at…
🍔 McDonald’s in Times Square
I know, very classy.
But Times Square McDonald’s is an experience: massive screens, massive windows, futuristic ordering kiosks, and the people-watching alone is worth the stop.
The city was electric.
Screens flashing.
Crowds flowing like a river around us.
I wore an all-camel outfit with Christmas earrings and felt like the main character of a holiday rom-com.
We stopped for a Bailey’s coffee at Gatsby’s Landing, then explored, then rested up for…
🍽 Dinner at Tavern on the Green (Book Early!)
Book far in advance.
This iconic Central Park restaurant looks like something out of a holiday postcard; lights, greenery, glittering chandeliers, polished wood, and that warm glow you only get in old East Coast dining rooms.
But here’s your warning:
New York Ubers are not Oklahoma Ubers.
Our driver kept getting stuck, delayed, and rerouted.
The estimated arrival time changed eight times.
We finally bailed, jumped out of the car, and SPRINTED; yes, full-speed running, through Central Park in our dress clothes.
He was annoyed.
I was laughing.
And that’s the beauty of NYC at Christmas… you just roll with it. Dinner?
Completely worth the chaos.
Seabass, duck, gingerbread crème brûlée, and lights shining everywhere you look. If you’ve ever seen a Christmas postcard featuring Central Park, you’ve probably seen Tavern on the Green. It’s timeless, twinkling, and looks like a fairy tale from every table.
🚇 Becoming Subway People
After our Uber disaster, we converted fully to the subway system; fast, reliable, and surprisingly fun once you get the hang of it.
We used it to visit:
- Wall Street & Bowling Green
Rode down to the financial district, hoping to spot sharply dressed traders and experience the “Wolf of Wall Street” energy. (sadly no Leonardo DiCaprio energy spotted). Huge buildings, busy streets, and a totally different pace from Midtown. - The West Village
One of my favorite stops. Quiet residential streets, decorated brownstones, charming cafés, and some of the best people-watching around. - The Friends apartment building
We visited the iconic building from the show Friends on Bedford & Grove Street. No Central Perk (sadly), but the nostalgic thrill is real. - Tiffany & Co. (my namesake!)
- Central Park
The subway took us right to the edges of the park, where we walked the winding paths, watched dogs and horses trot by, and watched New Yorkers enjoy the park like it’s their own. - The 9/11 Memorial (a profound, emotional must-visit)
- Mr. Frosty’s Christmas Bar – visually fabulous, photo ops… everywhere. *Note: do not arrive close to closing time, we did, and they had the majority of the areas closed & had us leave early. Management said we would receive a refund, but I’m still waiting…
🌉 Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO
Another chilly but dreamy day.
We bundled up and took the train to Brooklyn for:
- Grimaldi’s pizza (epic)
- Luke’s Lobster
- Walking around DUMBO (If you didn’t know, this means Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass)
- Discovering hidden little corners near Time Out Market
The River Café was closed that day, but it’s now on my list for next time.
🏙 Strolling Fifth Avenue & Central Park
Walking Fifth Avenue during Christmas is its own event and its own form of therapy.
- Cartier wrapped in a massive red bow
- Saks Fifth Avenue light show
- Dior’s stunning holiday installation
- Storefronts that look like miniature Broadway sets
We strolled Central Park afterward, watching New Yorkers treat it like their backyard, dogs running, kids playing, couples taking photos, holiday carriages trotting by. *I am a horse girl, so I’m always excited to see horses, but the carriage ones tugged on my heart a bit. I hear this activity will be ending soon. A huge win for the horses! But the rest of the park was spectacular. We even visited the Plaza (the Home Alone 2 hotel!) and soaked in all the nostalgia.
🏙️ A Moment for the Empire State Building
And since this deserves its own section, let’s talk about the Empire State Building, because this was the surprise highlight of the trip. I’ll admit, I originally agreed to it just to “check the box,” but it ended up being unforgettable. Inside, you walk through these beautifully curated displays showing construction scenes, original photographs, and life-size reenactments of the men who built it in the 1930s. It feels like stepping back in time.
By the time you reach the observation deck, the views hit you, the entire city stretching out in every direction, shimmering with lights. Christmas in New York from that height is its own kind of magic. Ticket reservations are required, so get those booked! Cost is about $50 for adults for the 86th-floor observation tickets, but you can go even higher to the 102nd floor with an extra cost.
🍔 Food Highlights (And a Few Misses)
- Tavern on the Green – Do Not Miss
- Thai Villa – AMAZING
- Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn – a must
- Luke’s Lobster – always yes
- Treats near Time Out Market Brooklyn
Skip:
The Halal burger carts – overpriced and underwhelming ($20 for a burger that tasted like regret).
🎬 My Favorite NYC Christmas Moments
The things I still think about to this day:
✨ Rockefeller at night
✨ Tavern on the Green
✨ Brooklyn pizza
✨ Midnight Mass
✨ Fifth Avenue windows
✨ Ice skating under the tree
Each added a layer of holiday charm I’ll never forget.
💫 Final Thoughts: Christmas in NYC Is Pure Magic
If you grew up watching:
…New York at Christmas hits differently.
It feels familiar and extraordinary at the same time; crowded, loud, bright, and yet somehow deeply comforting.
It wasn’t perfect, the relationship, the family stuff, the travel mishaps.
But that Christmas we created our own little world, one glowing window and one late-night subway ride at a time.
And that’s what travel is, isn’t it?
Choosing joy.
Choosing your people.
Choosing new memories.
Choosing wonder — even when life is messy.
New York at Christmas gave me that.
And if you ever need a holiday reset… it may just do the same for you.
With love and peace,
Tiffany
