Saturday, October 18, 2025

10 Greatest Vacation Eating places in NYC


I like roaming round New York Metropolis in the course of the vacation season. Throughout that point, the town feels so heat and comfortable. The twinkling lights, festive decorations, and joyful environment make it an ideal time to create lasting reminiscences with family members. 

The most effective methods to expertise the vacation spirit is by eating at one of many metropolis’s many festively adorned eating places.

Listed below are the 10 greatest vacation eating places in NYC for households. 

1. Rolf’s German Restaurant

Rolf’s Bar and Restaurant

In the event you’re in search of a restaurant that goes all out for Christmas, go to Rolf’s German Restaurant. This Gramercy Park institution is legendary for its over-the-top Christmas decorations that keep up all 12 months spherical. The restaurant has over 200,000 lights inside. Additionally, many of the decor is classic. 

In accordance with Enterprise Insider, Rolf’s spends an estimated $60,000 yearly on its vacation decor, which incorporates 1000’s of glowing lights, ornaments, icicles, and even creepy Victorian-era dolls.

Whereas the decorations are undoubtedly the primary attraction, Rolf’s additionally presents a standard German menu with kid-friendly choices like schnitzel and bratwurst, making certain that there’s one thing for everybody within the household to take pleasure in.

2. Tavern on the Inexperienced

Tavern on the Green

Situated close to Central Park’s Strawberry Fields, Tavern on the Inexperienced is a superb location for a household vacation meal. This iconic restaurant hosts an annual Christmas Tree Lighting occasion with complimentary treats and drinks, dwell music, and a efficiency by the Manhattan Vacation Carolers.

It was initially a sheepfold within the Eighteen Eighties. Later, in 1934, Robert Moses turned it right into a restaurant. After a hiatus in 2009, the town chosen new homeowners, Jim Caiola and David Salama, who reopened the restaurant in 2014. They revamped the restaurant with inviting décor paying homage to its origins.

Along with its festive ambiance, Tavern on the Inexperienced presents a variety of menus, together with a devoted kids’s menu, making certain that even the pickiest eaters in your loved ones will discover one thing to their liking.

3. Pete’s Tavern

Pete's Tavern

Pete’s Tavern is NYC’s oldest repeatedly working bar and restaurant, established in 1864. In-built 1851, Pete’s Tavern started because the Portman Lodge’s “grocery and grog retailer” in 1864. It was renamed “Healy’s Café” in 1899, and it acquired its present identify when it was bought by Peter D’Belles in 1922.

Pete’s Tavern maintains its unique fixtures, together with a forty-foot rosewood bar, tin ceiling, and tile ground, providing a glimpse into New York Metropolis’s historical past. Simply excellent for the vacation impact. 

However that’s not all – this historic institution has a literary connection as effectively. It’s alleged that author O. Henry wrote his well-known brief story “The Reward of the Magi” (one of many best Christmas tales of all time) at Pete’s Tavern. When you’re there, make sure you attempt their home made eggnog and discover the kid-friendly menu choices.

4. Papillon Bistro and Bar

Papillon Bistro & Bar

Papillon Bistro and Bar is situated only a brief stroll from the well-known Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Papillon Bistro & Bar is located within the vibrant neighborhood of Midtown Manhattan, on 54th Road, near Central Park, the Museum of Fashionable Artwork, and famend retailers on fifth Avenue. It’s a excellent cease in the course of the vacation season. The restaurant is roofed from ground to ceiling in decorations, together with big animatronic teddy bears, larger-than-life ornaments, garlands, and extra.

Papillon Bistro and Bar presents a festive eating expertise that each adults and kids can take pleasure in. They’ve a diversified menu appropriate for all household appetites, together with kid-friendly choices.

5. Frosty’s Christmas Bar

Frosty’s Christmas Bar is a seasonal pop-up that’s again for each vacation season. They provide a novel and immersive expertise for households. Along with seasonal cocktails, Frosty’s options interactive vacation picture experiences, festive lights, and music, creating a really magical environment.

Whereas the bar space is strictly for visitors 21 and over, the eating portion of the expertise, Bacall’s, permits all ages, making it an amazing choice for households trying to absorb the vacation spirit collectively.

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6. Smith & Wollensky

smith and wollensky nyc

In the event you’re within the temper for a really distinctive vacation eating expertise, look no additional than Smith & Wollensky. As a part of its annual custom, this well-known steakhouse transforms itself into the “metropolis’s largest Christmas present” by wrapping the outside in an enormous crimson bow from Thanksgiving via the start of the brand new 12 months.

Whereas Smith & Wollensky doesn’t supply a devoted youngsters’ menu, its parts are beneficiant, making it simple for households to share dishes. And what could possibly be extra festive than eating inside a large current? Regardless, they’ve just a few must-try unique meals on their menu. 

7. Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde NYC

The restaurant and bar Oscar Wilde is victorian-inspired. They take its vacation decorations to the subsequent stage. Impressed by the Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde showcases vintage treasures, together with items from Hope Citadel, stained glass from Milan, and Victorian chairs from Mexico.

In the course of the holidays, the restaurant is roofed from head to toe in festive decor, creating a really immersive expertise. Whereas Oscar Wilde doesn’t have a devoted youngsters’ menu, the brunch menu presents a pleasant number of choices, and the high-top tables make it an appropriate selection for households.

8. 230 Fifth Rooftop Igloos

10 Greatest Vacation Eating places in NYC

The Igloos are situated on the 230 Fifth Rooftop, the biggest rooftop in NYC. It’s a excellent place for households to eat. Manufactured from plastic and PVC pipe, every igloo has colourful occasion lights, tables, and chairs. The entire vibe gives a heat and festive escape from the chilly winter climate.

Whereas the igloos can’t be reserved upfront, they’re first-come, first-served. And don’t fear – visitors underneath 21 are welcome to go to with their dad and mom, besides throughout particular night hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

9. The Lodge Bar + Meals Corridor

The Lodge Bar + Food Hall

The Lodge Bar + Meals Corridor is an off-the-cuff eatery situated in Bryant Park’s Winter Village. They provide gorgeous views of the well-known ice rink and tree, offering a festive backdrop for your loved ones meal.

Separate meals counters supply the whole lot from sandwiches and candy treats to a s’mores station. There’s one thing to fulfill each craving. And what could possibly be extra magical than a heat, gooey s’extra whereas taking within the vacation sights and sounds of Bryant Park?

10. Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery

Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery

Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery is billed as “an on a regular basis grand café and bakery in ceremony of French cooking”.  The entire place is full of an inviting vacation vibe with massive Christmas wreaths and garlands strewn all through the house. However it’s not simply the decorations that make this NoHo eatery a standout – its scrumptious vacation desserts, like lemon meringue tart, are positive to thrill the entire household.

Along with its festive ambiance and candy treats, Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery’s proximity to close by vacation markets in NYC makes it a handy cease for households trying to absorb the vacation spirit within the metropolis.

Conclusion

With so many festive and family-friendly eating choices in New York Metropolis, the vacation season is the right time to create lasting reminiscences together with your family members. These 10 greatest vacation eating places supply one thing for each household’s style and finances.

Earlier than you determine on a restaurant, analysis timings, reservations, and menus that match your entire members of the family. Completely satisfied eating! 

Learn Subsequent:

20 Issues to Do in NYC with Toddlers

20 Issues to do in NYC with Youngsters

10-best-holiday-restaurants in NYC

Get Journey Insurance

Sadly, there are a number of issues that may go improper on any journey. Be ready for the worst with journey insurance coverage. We use Travelex or Security Wing (typically cheaper).

E book Flights

I exploit Skyscanner to seek out flights. I exploit it a lot, I wrote a complete information to discovering low-cost flights with Skyscanner!

E book a Place to Keep

I like to recommend utilizing Expedia.com or Lodges.com for many resort bookings. I desire to e-book straight with Marriott after I keep there due to their wonderful army low cost.

In the event you desire staying in a trip rental as an alternative, I like to recommend VRBO. If you’re in search of a hostel, I exploit HostelWorld.

Hire Garments

Hire garments to your journey with Journey Model Knowledgeable for less than $50 a month! The primary 30 days are free!

Select Actions and Excursions

To seek out nice actions in any space I exploit Viator. If we’re visiting a metropolis with plenty of fashionable sights I at all times test CityPass and GoCard to see if they’ve low cost playing cards accessible. Groupon additionally tends to have a number of native journey offers.

After I need to e-book a full-on multi-day tour I exploit TourRadar. They’ve acquired unbelievable weekly offers. If I’m going someplace in Mexico or the Caribbean I exploit Apple Holidays.

Hire a Automotive or Take a Lyft

Most of the time Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft hyperlink for an $18 credit score! For a automobile rental in any nation, I like to recommend Hertz or Uncover Vehicles.

Save Cash on Fuel

Upside a free app will get you money again on gasoline! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an additional 15¢/gal bonus in your first buy.

Get a Visa

I exploit iVisa to get all of my Visas.

bmc qr

In the event you discovered this info useful think about shopping for me a cup of espresso aka serving to me pay to place youngsters via faculty! Simply scan the QR code or click on the hyperlink. As at all times, thanks to your help!

Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks, which suggests we could obtain a fee if you happen to click on a hyperlink and buy one thing that we now have really helpful however doesn’t price you any further. Please take a look at our disclosure coverage for extra particulars. Thanks to your help!



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