‹ Holidays · The New York food guide
Thanksgiving to New Year's · 2026-27
The holidays in New York
From the tree going up on November 7 to the ball dropping on New Year's Eve: the markets worth a stop, the windows and lights in walking order, where to buy the bûche and the panettone, who's serving Christmas Eve, and the New Year's Eve dinners.
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0The dates to know
- Sat, Nov 7The Rockefeller Center tree arrives on the plazaFrom Time Out New York
- Nov 12 to Dec 24 · in 4 daysUnion Square Holiday Market (listed dates, closed Thanksgiving Day)Listed dates, check before you go · From My Bucket List Events
- Thu, Nov 26Thanksgiving ›
- Wed, Dec 2Rockefeller Center tree lighting, 7 to 10pm, free, no ticketsFrom Rockefeller Center
- Thu, Dec 24Christmas Eve: the Seven Fishes ›
- Thu, Dec 31New Year's Eve
The Christmas markets
Where to drink something hot and buy something you can eat on the walk.
1A photo like it
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Get: Something hot from the kiosks by the rink, then a lap of the holiday shops.
The first market to open and the last to close, built around a free ice rink in the middle of Midtown.
Weekday afternoons are calmest. Skating is free if you bring your own skates; rentals cost.
From Secret NYC, Time Out New York · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: DALIBRI, CC BY-SA 4.0
2A photo like it
Union Square Holiday Market
Get: Gifts from the stalls, then lunch at the Greenmarket on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday.
The city's biggest open-air holiday market, next to its best farmers market.
Go on a Greenmarket day and do both.
From My Bucket List Events, Secret NYC · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: DALIBRI, CC BY-SA 4.0
3A photo like it
Grand Central Holiday Fair
Get: Browse Vanderbilt Hall, then oysters at the Oyster Bar downstairs.
The holiday market with a roof, inside the station, for the cold or wet day.
Indoors, so it's the one to save for bad weather.
From Ultimate Christmas Markets · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: DALIBRI, CC BY-SA 4.0
4A photo like it
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Get: A quick stop on the way into Central Park.
Right at the corner of the park, the end of a Fifth Avenue lights walk.
Check Urbanspace's site the week you go.
From Time Out New York · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: DALIBRI, CC BY-SA 4.0
The lights
The lights worth leaving dinner for, in walking order.
The lights walk, Herald Square to the park
About 2.5 km up Sixth and Fifth Avenues, an hour with stops. Go after dark.
- Macy's Herald Square windows
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
- The Rockefeller Center tree
- Saks Fifth Avenue light show
- Bergdorf Goodman windows
- Columbus Circle Holiday Market
5A photo like it
Macy's Herald Square windows
Look for: The windows on 34th Street, after dark.
The windows Macy's has dressed for the holidays for generations, a block from Penn Station.
Start the lights walk here and head north.
From ABC7 New York · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0
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The Rockefeller Center tree
Look for: The tree and the rink below it, late at night when the crowds thin.
The one everyone comes for. The lighting is free, first come, first served, from the streets around the plaza.
After 10pm on a weeknight is the easy time to see it.
From Rockefeller Center, Time Out New York · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0
7A photo like it
Saks Fifth Avenue light show
Look for: The show on the facade, straight across Fifth Avenue from the tree.
Saks lights its whole front to music; you watch it from the tree's side of the avenue.
It runs on a loop in the evening, so you don't need to time it.
From Time Out New York, CBS New York · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0
8A photo like it
Bergdorf Goodman windows
Look for: The windows, which are art installations more than displays.
The most elaborate windows in the city, at the top of the Fifth Avenue walk.
Then cross to the Columbus Circle market or into the park.
From ABC7 New York, Free Tours by Foot · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0
The holiday sweets
Where to buy the bûche and the panettone. Order ahead: the good ones sell out in the last week.
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Balthazar Bakery
Get: The bûche de Noël: mocha-soaked sponge with chestnut mousse.
The French bakery next to the brasserie, and one of the city's best-loved bûches.
Order a few days ahead for Christmas week.
From Frenchly, 2025 · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Jebulon, CC0
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La Maison du Chocolat
Get: The all-chocolate bûche, which serves 8.
For the chocolate person at the table.
Order 48 hours ahead for pickup on Madison Avenue.
From Frenchly, 2025 · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Jebulon, CC0
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Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
Get: The milk chocolate and pecan bûche ($85 in 2025).
A bakery counter with a serious pastry kitchen behind it.
Order ahead the week of Christmas.
From Frenchly, 2025 · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Jebulon, CC0
12A photo like it
Ferrara Bakery
Get: The tall panettone, full of rum-soaked raisins and candied citron.
Run by the same family on the same corner for five generations.
Buy one for the hotel room and one to take home.
From amNY, Goldbelly · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Codice1000 at Italian Wikipedia, Public domain
13A photo like it
Settepani
Get: The rainbow cookie panettone.
A Sicilian family bakery that InsideHook calls the city's best Italian pastry shop.
Pair it with a box of their Christmas cookies.
From Matador Network, InsideHook · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Codice1000 at Italian Wikipedia, Public domain
Christmas Eve and Day
The night that matters most here, and where to book it.
Open on Christmas Eve and Day in New York ›8 holiday menus Chef has read, which year each menu is from, and when to book.New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve dinners worth booking now.
14A photo like it
The River Café
Get: The New Year's dinner with a live band, facing the lit-up Manhattan skyline.
The most famous view in the city to watch midnight from, with dinner.
Book as soon as the menu is posted; it sells out.
From Restaurants for Kings, 2026 · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Mitantig, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Four Twenty Five
Get: Jean-Georges's five-course New Year's tasting ($398 a person, as listed).
A grand room for a grand night.
One seating from 8pm.
From Secret NYC · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Ed g2s, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Delmonico's
Get: The four-course New Year's dinner, and a steak.
The city's oldest name in fine dining, with an early seating if midnight isn't the point.
Pick the seating that fits your night.
From Woman Around Town · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Ruth Hartnup, CC BY 2.0
17A photo like it
Scarpetta
Get: Dinner into midnight with live music ($250 a person in its listing).
The spaghetti people cross town for, and a party that ends at midnight.
Price is before tax and tip.
From Scarpetta · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the map
Plan your holiday trip
Tell Chef your dates and where you're staying. He puts the markets, the lights and the dinners you save into your Trips and fills the days around them. Free, no password.
More for your trip
The holidays somewhere else
Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris17 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Paris
The Champs-Élysées lit from late November, the Christmas market by Notre-Dame, the bûches de Noël from the great pâtissiers, the réveillon dinners on the 24th, the Saint-Sylvestre on the 31st, and the galette des rois in January..
Les Hull15 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in London
The West End lit from early November, Winter Wonderland and the river markets, the mince pies worth crossing town for, who's serving Christmas Day (the Tube doesn't run), and the New Year's Eve dinners. With our own holiday Almanac..
Nicholas Gemini15 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Rome
Rome does Christmas around the table.
Daniel X. O'Neil from USA13 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Chicago
The tree goes up in Millennium Park on November 20 and the German market opens the same night. Here's the lights weekend, the Walnut Room under its tree, stollen from the old German bakeries, who's open Christmas Eve, and where to eat on New Year's Eve..
Kstipek13 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Vienna
The Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus, Punsch at Spittelberg, the chandeliers over the Graben, Vanillekipferl from Demel, carp and a long dinner on the 24th, and the whole Innere Stadt out on the Silvesterpfad on the 31st..
Jordiferrer8 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Barcelona
The Santa Llúcia fair in front of the cathedral, the lights up Passeig de Gràcia, turrón from the old shops on Portal de l'Àngel, a long Christmas lunch on the 25th, canelons on Sant Esteve, and grapes at midnight on the 31st..
Luis García (Zaqarbal)10 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Madrid
The market in the Plaza Mayor, the lights down Gran Vía and Alcalá, turrón from Casa Mira, Lhardy's consommé on Christmas Eve, twelve grapes under the clock at Sol, churros at dawn, and the roscón for the Three Kings on January 6..
Alf van Beem6 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Amsterdam
The Light Festival on the canals, skating on Museumplein, oliebollen from a stall in the cold, a long Christmas with two days off, and a New Year's Eve that, from this year, moves to Museumplein..
Good to know
What are the best Christmas markets in New York?
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park (Midtown, Late October to January 3, 2027 (listed; Bryant Park hasn't posted 2026 dates)); Union Square Holiday Market (Union Square, November 12 to December 24 (listed; closed Thanksgiving Day)); Grand Central Holiday Fair (Midtown East, From about November 9 (listed)); Columbus Circle Holiday Market (Columbus Circle, Usually late November to Christmas Eve; 2026 dates not posted yet).
Where are the best Christmas lights in New York?
The lights walk, Herald Square to the park: Macy's Herald Square windows, then Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, then The Rockefeller Center tree, then Saks Fifth Avenue light show, then Bergdorf Goodman windows, then Columbus Circle Holiday Market. About 2.5 km up Sixth and Fifth Avenues, an hour with stops. Go after dark.
Where can you buy the bûche and the panettone in New York?
Balthazar Bakery: The bûche de Noël: mocha-soaked sponge with chestnut mousse. La Maison du Chocolat: The all-chocolate bûche, which serves 8. Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery: The milk chocolate and pecan bûche ($85 in 2025). Ferrara Bakery: The tall panettone, full of rum-soaked raisins and candied citron. Settepani: The rainbow cookie panettone.
Where to eat on New Year's Eve in New York?
The River Café (DUMBO, Brooklyn): The New Year's dinner with a live band, facing the lit-up Manhattan skyline. Four Twenty Five (Midtown, 425 Park Ave): Jean-Georges's five-course New Year's tasting ($398 a person, as listed). Delmonico's (Financial District, 56 Beaver St): The four-course New Year's dinner, and a steak. Scarpetta (NoMad): Dinner into midnight with live music ($250 a person in its listing).
Every pick was checked on November 8, 2026 and says where Chef found it. Market dates, holiday hours and menus change, and some places haven't posted 2026 yet (each card says which year it's from): check before you go. Photos marked "a photo like it" aren't of that place. Chef Amazing isn't paid by any place here. Something wrong or missing? hello@chefamazing.com.
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