What Not to Miss in New York During the Christmas Season

Few places are as festive over the holidays as New York City—a destination that turns into a virtual snow globe in winter, teeming with seasonal pop-ups, caroling and tree-lightings, a rich roster of shows and cultural events and more. Classic activities, like ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, taking in a performance of the Nutcracker, shopping at Bryant Park Winter Village and viewing the beautiful Christmas windows along Fifth Avenue, remain steadfast in their popularity, but there are also lots of new attractions getting attention. From a pop-up at one of our favorite boutiques on the Upper East Side that is ideal for purchasing stocking stuffers to Broadway comedy starring Amy Schumer and written by Steve Martin, here are the best things to do and see during this New York Christmas.

Contact Indagare for assistance planning a trip to New York City. Our specialists can book you at the hotel that is right for you and plan guided tours, great meals and special insider activities.

Seasonal Pop-ups: Holiday Shopping

No matter the holiday you celebrate, New York has an abundance of pop-ups this winter that are perfect for scooping up last-minute gifts. Leading the charge is goop GIFT (25 Bond St., through Dec. 24), a NoHo space teeming with Gwyneth Paltrow–approved finds organized into easy-to-shop stations for each type of person on your list (like the host, the traveler, the animal lover). On the Upper East Side, Fivestory—one of Indagare’s favorite boutiques for high-end fashion—is hosting a Follain pop-up (through Jan. 15) where shoppers can scoop up the retailer’s bestselling clean beauty products. Home décor enthusiasts should plan a visit to the Sugarplum Pop-Up (through Dec. 24) at the St. Regis, where interior designer Rebecca Gardener is selling a curated selection of delicate tableware, holiday gifts and entertaining staples. For a dose of girl-power and appropriate goodies for all the women in your life, check out the Bulletin Mini Mall (927 Broadway; through Jan. 15), a seasonal feminist boutique that exclusively sells products made by women and donates 10% of its proceeds to Planned Parenthood. Finally, Brooklynites needn’t leave their nave to do any shopping thanks to FORM VINTAGE (through Dec. 20), a holiday pop-up at the Wythe Hotel that is selling jewelry, fashion and ceramics from local Brooklyn artists.

Fuel Up: Holiday Dining in New York

Between shopping and museum-hopping, you’d be wise to plan out nearby meals at some of the city’s best new eateries in the city’s highest trafficked areas. A stylish newcomer, Blue Box Cafe at Tiffany’s brings the brand’s signature packaging to life with its beautiful robin’s egg–blue space, where it serves tea and light café fare like avocado toast and truffled eggs. One of most anticipated openings of the year, Midtown’s Lobster Club opened in November and serves Japanese-inspired brasserie fare from the team behind downtown juggernaut Carbone. Drawing critical acclaim is the elegant Cote, a new Korean steakhouse where patrons can warm up while cooking their own steaks at tabletop grills. For hearty cuisine and an early dinner after shopping in the West Village, Don Angie delivers with delicious lasagna for two and other upscale takes on comforting Italian classics.

Related: Top Tables New York

Culture Heatmap: The Coolest Winter Shows and Exhibits

This winter, New York City is playing host to many cultural options that provide reason to head indoors and escape the chilly weather. One of this season’s most impressive exhibitions is the spectacular Louis Vuitton show Volez, Voguez, Voyagez (through Jan. 7), which takes visitors on a visual journey through The House of Vuitton’s travel legacy. For an early Christmas treat, surprise a loved one or friend with tickets to one of Indagare’s exclusive VIP tours of the show on December 13 or 14, which will take participants behind the scenes with a Louis Vuitton Ambassador (contact us to learn more and sign up).

One could easily while away an entire day at the Met, which is currently showing Michelangelo: Divine Draftsmen and Designer (through Feb. 12), a must-see that displays a huge range of the artist’s drawings, and a retrospective on David Hockney (through Feb. 25) showing some of his most iconic pieces. Unveiling much of the vast holdings of art dealer Eugene V. Thaw, Draw to Greatness: Master Drawings From the Thaw Collection (through Jan.7) at the Morgan Library and Museum features works by an array of artists including Vincent Van Gogh and Edgar Degas.

Theater buffs have equally exciting reasons to plan a visit to the Big Apple. From House of Cards creator Beau Willimon, political drama The Parisian Woman (Hudson Theater) stars Uma Thurman and is set in Washington D.C after the 2016 presidential election. Time is running out to see Bette Midler as the star in the critically acclaimed Hello, Dolly! (Shubert Theater), as her last performance in the Broadway revival will be on January 14 (Bernadette Peters will assume the role in her absence). For serious laughs, purchase tickets to Meteor Shower, a hilarious new comedy from Steve Martin that stars Amy Schumer (through Jan. 21).

Contact Indagare for assistance planning a trip to New York City. Our specialists can book you at the hotel that is right for you and plan guided tours, great meals and special insider activities.