As the holiday season unfolds, New York City once again transforms into a landscape of lights, traditions, and winter rituals both familiar and unexpected. Beyond the major attractions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the iconic Fifth Avenue storefronts, Radio City and The Nutcracker, the city is home to a constellation of lesser-known celebrations; neighborhood traditions, singular pop-ups, intimate performances, and uniquely decorated spaces that offer a different perspective on the season. Places where New Yorkers and tourists alike can step off the main holiday circuit and discover the full breadth of December in the city.
From elaborately adorned restaurants and limited-run cocktail bars to illuminated gardens, winter markets, and small-stage performances, these hidden gems add definition and depth to the city’s festive landscape. This guide to NYC holiday highlights is presented by The Phillips Club.
In the heart of New York’s cultural epicenter and away from it all, The Phillips Club offers luxury, flexibility, and style. Adjacent to Lincoln Center and steps from Central Park, our newly renovated residences deliver comfort, convenience, and personalized services for short visits or extended stays.
Festive Foods & Delicious Drinks
.png?format=auto&width=1400 "A 2025 Guide To New York City’s Under-the-Radar Holiday Highlights")
Rolf’s German Restaurant
Fondly known as “The Most Festive Restaurant in the City,” Rolf’s has become renowned for its all-year-long Christmas display! From the moment guests enter, they are immersed in an over the top festive atmosphere including hundreds of thousands of lights, ornaments, and icicles lining every square foot of the restaurant along with hundreds of porcelain dolls and wreaths, decorated trees, garlands, ribbons, and other festive bits and pieces. In addition to authentic South German and Bavarian cuisine and beers, Rolf’s also offers a full menu of holiday-themed cocktails.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
If a cozy, old timey yuletide vibe is on your nice list this year, Lillie’s is bringing the magic of a Victorian Christmas to life at both their Union and Times Square locations with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling lights and decorations, signature cocktails, afternoon tea, dinner, and more! Reservations recommended & walk-ins welcome.
Blitzen’s at Berk’s Bar in the Omni Hotel
Blitzen’s pop-up bar returns for its second holiday season, decking the halls with ornaments, twinkle lights, tinsel, and more. In addition to first-rate ambiance, Omni is partnering with renowned mixologist, bar owner and author Julie Reiner, to bring her award-winning and exclusive cocktail recipes to Blitzen’s guests.
Oscar Wilde
Step back in time as this NYC favorite powered by the spirit of the famed Irish playwright takes its charmingly elaborate decor to the next level with some classically stunning holiday displays. Take a seat at the longest bar in the city (118.5 feet!) to enjoy special Christmas-themed cocktails in addition to its usual brunch, lunch, tea, dinner, dessert, and bar menus. Sip while marveling at the historic surroundings packed with an impressive collection of authentic antiques.
The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel
Best known to Christmas fans as the centerpiece for the holiday classic, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, NYC’s most iconic hotel is decked out in its holiday best and is playing host to a number of holiday-themed events. Stop by to see the fabulous decor in the hotel’s grand entrance, enjoy a Christmas-themed spin on the iconic Afternoon Tea, or spend your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or New Year’s evening enjoying special dining experiences and celebrations at the Palm Court and Champagne Bar.
Experiences, Shopping, & Show-Stopping Displays
.png?format=auto&width=1400 "A 2025 Guide To New York City’s Under-the-Radar Holiday Highlights")
Named the best holiday market in America in 2023, the Union Square Holiday Market welcomes 185 vendors featuring unique gifts created by local craftspeople, artists, and entrepreneurs. Running at Union Square Park, November 13th – December 24th.
The annual Winter Village transforms Bryant Park into a seasonal holiday hub featuring a large outdoor ice-skating rink, holiday shops, and food/dining options. Boasting a 17,000-square-foot rink that offers free admission (you only pay if you rent skates), the world market boasts 180+ vendor stalls offering gifts, crafts, artisan items, and seasonal treats.
Hudson Yards offers one of New York’s most modern holiday light experiences, with Shine Bright, featuring more than two million white lights draped across its soaring indoor-outdoor plazas, hundreds of illuminated trees, and a signature 32-foot glowing ornament installation that makes the whole complex feel sleek and atmospheric. Hudson Yards will also hosting the Holidays at the Park vendor market every week through December 14.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Dyker Heights in Brooklyn provides a completely different kind of spectacle: an entire neighborhood transformed by extravagant, house-by-house displays, with oversized inflatables, animatronics, and streets so brightly decorated they’ve become a citywide tradition.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Lightscape returns to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this holiday season, inviting visitors to walk a glowing winter trail that transforms the grounds into an enchanted, illuminated landscape. Now in its fifth year, the event continues to draw audiences with its expansive light-based artworks and vibrant seasonal atmosphere. This year introduces a fully refreshed experience, featuring new installations, updated music, and additional attractions that showcase the Garden’s winter beauty.
New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden will present the Holiday Train Show, featuring model trains running through nearly 200 miniature landmark replicas crafted from natural materials inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. New additions for 2025–2026 will join the long-running display. Outside on the Conservatory Lawn, visitors can explore an illuminated mountain-scape with additional trains. An after-dark light display, formerly known as Glow, will also return this eveing as part of the Train Show, on select evenings through January 18, offering views of the garden’s buildings and landscapes illuminated between 5 and 10 p.m..
Wave Hill in the Bronx will present its Winter Haven programming this season, offering a quieter alternative to the city’s busy holiday attractions. Located in Riverdale, the garden will feature illuminated pathways and three free Family Fun Nights designed to highlight art, nature, and community. The series begins on December 4 with a special Evening Edition of the Family Art Project, followed by Winter Discovery Night on December 11, which offers hands-on activities and sensory explorations of the season. Winter Haven concludes on December 18 with Winter Solstice Wishes, an evening devoted to reflection, crafting, and welcoming the solstice.
.png?format=auto&width=1400 "A 2025 Guide To New York City’s Under-the-Radar Holiday Highlights")
Performing Arts
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is now in performances at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, starring Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris in the iconic role of Scrooge. Matthew Warchus’ production of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne is set to open on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The production is co-directed for the PAC NYC stage by Thomas Caruso. See photos of the production here!
This holiday season, Summoners Ensemble Theatre and the Merchant’s House Museum celebrate the 13th season of A Christmas Carol at The Merchant’s House. It’s December 1867 and Charles Dickens has arrived in New York City for a month of sold-out performances of his beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Be transfixed as Mr. Dickens tells his timeless Christmas tale in the elegant intact Greek Revival parlor of the landmark 1832 Merchant’s House Museum. Surrounded by 19th century holiday decorations, flickering candles, audiences will be transported back 150 years in a captivating one-hour performance.
Tunes to Celebrate the Season
Ring in the holiday season with Big Band Holidays, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s beloved annual tradition, returning to Rose Theater for its 13th year. Under the expert direction of JLCO trombonist and arranger Chris Crenshaw, this holiday spectacular brings new life to classic tunes. Joining Crenshaw will be two exceptional vocalists: Shenel Johns and Kate Kortum. Get ready for an evening of swing, joy, and the timeless magic of the season.
Voices of Ascension brings back its Candlelight Christmas Concert. A treasured holiday tradition, these family-friendly concerts feature a vibrant mix of ancient carols, seasonal masterworks, and contemporary reflections on winter and light—offering warmth, beauty, and community at year’s end.
The hit Off-Broadway sensation A Soulful Christmas: A Groovy Musical Revue is back for its 9th year, stepping onto the stage at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, just steps away from the historic Lincoln Center. With only six performances, December 18th – December 21st, 2025, this holiday spectacular is the event to see this season.
Chor Leoni invites audiences to experience the mystery, wonder, and sparkling joy of the holiday season with its annual celebration, Christmas with Chor Leoni, on December 18 at 7:30pm, December 19 at 5pm & 8pm, and December 20 at 2pm, 5pm & 8pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United (1022 Nelson St).
Dance, Opera, Variety & More Holiday Fun!
Lincoln Center Theater is presenting a new production of the beloved family opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, the first seasonal family offering in LCT history, presented in association with The Metropolitan Opera. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, performances begin on December 16th at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.
Broadway sensation Jessica Vosk will appear in concert at 92NY, with music from her album SLEIGH. Vosk will lead a swinging 10-piece band for an afternoon of holiday treats and mashups, including her unique takes on “Winter Wonderland,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “The Twelve Gays of Christmas,” a Chanukah song or two, and more.
New York Theatre Ballet will present its annual presentation of Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker at Florence Gould Theater for seven shows, December 19-21, 2025. All seats for this family-friendly holiday tradition, now with over 40 years of performances in New York City, are priced at just $30.
For those looking to go a more traditional route check out BroadwayWorld’s 2025 Ultimate Guide to Holiday Shows in NYC!