NYC at the Holidays | What to Pack + Where to Stay, Eat & Play

Ever wanted to head to NYC during the holidays? I just returned from a mid-December trip to New York City to visit my daughter, who is in graduate school at NYU! She planned an amazing itinerary for us, complete with so many must-see spots and fabulous restaurants! Today, I’m sharing the details on where to stay, eat, and play, so you can start planning your trip for next year!🍎🎄🎁

The first thing you need to know is that the crowds (and some of the prices) in New York City surge during the holidays. My best advice is to schedule a trip during the week rather than the weekends, if possible, and get your dining reservations and show tickets in advance. (Becca: Tell them to think about it like ‘Disney!'”) If it’s not possible to go during the week, then try to do a long weekend and knock out the especially crowded activities during the weekdays you’re there.)

How to Get There

You should be able to find affordable airfare! LaGuardia, where I flew into, is a hub for American and Delta, so I’d start looking for flights on those airlines first. It’s a gorgeous airport, home to my favorite Admiral’s Club in the world, and they decorate beautifully for the holidays!

I posted a lot of Stories on my Instagram and Facebook pages while I was there! To see them, follow me on Instagram and tap the “NYC at🎄” highlight button on my Instagram profile page.

Where to Stay

We love New York and have stayed in lots of different hotels, including the JW Marriott Essex House (highly recommend), the New York Marriott Marquis (good if you want to be in Times Square), and the Central Park Ritz Carlton (lovely). Like most of you, we try to be brand loyal in order to earn those valuable loyalty points! Marriott Bonvoy has one of the best loyalty programs in the industry!

A few years ago, Bob’s company shifted from using Marriott to Hyatt, so we’ve also stayed at the Park Hyatt New York, which we love. This time, I stayed at the Thompson Central Park, which is another Hyatt property located near the Park Hyatt.

Suzy’s Pro Tip: When you’re visiting NYC, it’s important to stay somewhere that is convenient to the places and restaurants you’re planning to visit. (All of the ones I mentioned above are well-located.) Accommodations in NYC are expensive, and the rooms may be smaller than you’re accustomed to. We almost always stay on points, so you might want to start banking your points now.

What to Wear

I always wear black in NYC, because it doesn’t show the dirt and it’s easy to mix and match.🖤 Be sure to watch the weather before you go so you know what to pack! Even if you pay attention to the weather, it can be unpredictable, so dress in layers!

My Must-Haves

• Silk Long Underwear – This ultra-thin-but-warm long underwear is what I wear anytime it’s cold (even in Dallas). It doesn’t add bulk! Tops HERE; bottoms HERE.
• Rainboots – I like THESE Hunter Chelsea boots because they’re easier to pack than tall boots.
• Sturdy Travel Umbrella – THIS one is windproof, compact, and opens with one hand.
• Raincoat – THIS insulated raincoat from Lands’ End is a good one!
• Long Down Jacket with Removable Hood – I recommend a LONGGGG jacket! THIS Orolay jacket is the iconic “Amazon Jacket.” It’s so warm, but it’s bulky! If you’re looking for a lighter and less bulky down jacket that will still keep you warm, try THIS Long Ultralight 850 Down Coat from L.L.Bean.
• Lightweight Packable Backpack – THIS is the one I love!

Core Wardrobe

• Opaque Fleece Lined Tights – Great under pants or with skirts/dresses.
• Fleece Lined Leggings – I love the handy cell phone pocket.
• Sherpa Lined Crewneck Sweatshirts – I own several colors!
• Cashmere Sweaters – I own multiple of the high-quality but reasonably-priced cashmere sweaters from Quince. Crewneck HERE. Vneck HERE. Turtleneck HERE. I took black and red with me this time.
• Long Tunics – I’m super modest, so I prefer to cover my rear end when I wear leggings! I love the flattering shape of THIS cashmere mock neck tunic from Lands’ End, and I also love THESE funnel neck fleece tunics from Dudley Stephens (also a flattering shape + pockets).
• Black Jeans – NYDJ is my favorite brand.
• Plaid Burberry Scarf – THIS cashmere scarf kept me warm, went with everything, and was festive for the Holidays! If you don’t want to pay for Burberry, check out THIS Burberry dupe or opt for a Holiday plaid.
• Warm Tech-Friendly Gloves – These are pretty too!
• A Headband, Foldable Ear Muffs, or a Hat!

Shoes & Handbags

Take a good pair of sneakers! I took THESE Brooks sneakers in black. I also took a pair of really comfortable flat black booties from Easy Spirit. (Take 20% off your order with code ENB20.)

For a handbag, a crossbody is good, but a sling bag or a belt bag is even better! Becca wore her Lululemon belt bag across her chest for security.

Suzy’s Pro Tip: We walked about 20K steps a day in NYC, so consider training for your trip before you go! You’ll want to make sure you’re in shape and that you have some travel Acetaminophen with you!

Where to Eat (Especially if you’re Gluten Free)

Both Becca and I are gluten-intolerant, so we’re all about finding spots that can accommodate our dietary restrictions. We also both have migraine food triggers, and I’m pretty much dairy-free, so we are hard to accommodate! (To read more about my diet, click HERE.) Here’s where we ate.

Suzy’s Pro Tip: I highly recommend you make advanced reservations for as many of these reservations as possible to avoid a wait.

Sensa Gluten

Everything at Sensa Gluten is 100% gluten free. It’s an Italian restaurant that is also vegetarian friendly, with vegan options. It’s a sit-down, waiter service spot, and it was delish! Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE. Be sure to make a reservation.

Los Tacos

Los Tacos is a street taco hole-in-the-wall type joint that is big with the locals. It’s counter service, and you stand to eat! There are several locations throughout the city. The first morning we were there, I asked Becca to walk me through her daily schedule at NYU, so we hit Los Tacos No. 1 nearby for lunch. It was fabulous, and I can’t wait to take Bob there. Truly some of the best street tacos I’ve ever had, and I loved the salsa!🌶️.

Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE.

The Donut Pub

After Los Tacos, Becca took me to The Donut Pub for a gluten free donut! They had several gluten free flavors, but if you’re not gluten free, you’re really in for a treat! They have a wall of freshly made donuts, cookies, and croissant donuts that are to die for! They’re also peanut and tree-nut-free, making it the perfect stop for anyone with a nut allergy. Plus, they’re open 24 hours a day! Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE.

Carnegie Diner

Carnegie Diner has two locations in the city, and their menu is huge. (Becca: “It’s kind of like Cheesecake Factory in NYC!) Becca eats there with her friends frequently because there’s something for everyone, and they’re great about accommodating dietary restrictions. As you can see above, I had a lobster roll on a GF bun. It was awesome (but not as good as the one I had at Luke’s Lobster later in our trip).  Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE. Be sure to make a reservation.

BTW, Carnegie Diner isn’t associated with Carnegie Deli, which is also a well-known restaurant in NYC. I’ve never been there.

Wild

One day, Becca and I met one of her good friends for brunch at Wild in the West Village near Hudson Yards (a great place to look at Christmas lights, BTW). It’s 100% gluten free. Becca had a GF pizza, and I had an omelet. It was nice enough the day we went to eat outside, which was lovely! It was a good thing, because when I went inside to use the restroom, the interior part of the restaurant was tiny, packed with people, and really loud! Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE. Be sure to make a reservation.

Friedmans

There are several Friedmans locations throughout the city, and they’re open from 7 am to 11 pm. The location we usually go to is the one in the Edison Hotel, because it’s in the theater district—making it perfectly located for dinner right before a show. Anything on their (large) menu can be made GF! Wednesdays through Saturdays, their talented wait staff sing Broadway tunes during service, which is fun, but it’s loud and can make conversation a little challenging. Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE. Be sure to make a reservation.

Luke’s Lobster

Luke’s Lobster is a counter-service chain with several locations around the US. The day we ate there, it was raining, and the restaurant we had planned to eat at was unexpectedly closed. Becca and I both adore their lobster rolls, and they have GF buns! Bob loves their lobster bisque! Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE.

Bareburger

Bareburger is a great spot for burgers in NYC! There are several locations throughout the city. It’s a sit-down/waiter restaurant, but it’s reasonably priced. They have GF buns and also dairy-free milkshakes! Check them out on Trip Advisor HERE and check out their website HERE.

King’s Carriage House

If you’re going to visit NYC during the holidays, I highly recommend a Holiday Tea! Make reservations months in advance and know that there are all kinds of price points. Our favorite place for tea in NYC is definitely The Palm Court in the Fairmont Plaza Hotel. They are great about accommodating dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, they were full when we called, so we started researching other options that would work with our GF diet. We stumbled upon the charming, British-themed King’s Carriage House. It was reasonably priced and adorable, and if you love all things British, it’s a great place to go!

Other Restaurants to Try

• TwentyOneGrains – This fast-casual restaurant is 100% GF. It was on our list, but we didn’t make it there. Next time!
•  Trattoria Dell’Arte – This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the city. The decor of the restaurant is modeled after an Italian artist’s studio with oversized sculptures and drawings, as well as a wall gallery of famous Italian noses! 👃😂
• Pappardella – A delicious and atmospheric Italian restaurant with lots of gluten free options, including gluten free garlic bread!
• Modern Bread & Bagel – Fabulous GF and Kosher bagels!
• Serafina Broadway – More Italian food. We like their pizza!
• Baked by Melissa – Good cupcakes! GF options are available, but only in a multipack.

Places to Go

In my opinion, NYC during the Holidays isn’t really the ideal time to visit all of the regular tourist spots like the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. I suggest you come back in the summer to do that. (To read my two other NYC trip posts, click HERE or HERE.) Instead, I recommend you stick to the holiday-specific sights and sounds if you’re visiting NYC during the Holidays.

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (Starring the Rockettes)

Swipe above (or use your mouse to advance) to see several photos.

If there’s one must-do when you visit NYC during the Holidays, it’s definitely the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular! It’s an amazing multi-media show, with several showtimes every day and night during the Holiday season. Radio City Music Hall is the largest indoor theater in the world, and it holds 5,960 people, and pretty much every show is sold out. Becca and I are somewhat obsessed with the Rockettes, so we like sitting close to the stage so we can see their faces and observe how effortlessly they kick! It’s truly remarkable! Be sure to arrive early to get a snack, shop the merch, and use the restroom. (The show is 1½ hours, without an intermission.)

Holiday Markets

Christmas Markets are a relatively new addition to the Holiday scene in NYC! We checked out the Holiday Market at Bryant Park, which is probably the most well-known. The crowd was insane, to the point that we felt crushed. 😬 So we headed to the Holiday Fair at Grand Central Station, which is beautifully decorated for the holidays. (Not to mention heated! There are also nice public restrooms and even a Starbucks.)

Other Holiday Markets to check out include the ones at Columbus Circle and Union Square. For more information about the Holiday Markets in NYC, I suggest checking out THIS article.

The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center

Whether you’re there to see the tree or you want to ice skate, Rockefeller Center is a festive place to visit. (Expect crowds!) We walked around, looked at the tree (50K lights!😲), and watched the skaters for a few minutes. For more details on the Holidays at Rockefeller Center, click HERE.

Holiday Window Displays

The holiday store windows at Saks, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman are works of art! I finally stopped taking photos (and am just sharing one) because the photos weren’t doing them justice! For more information on the Holiday Windows, check out THIS article.

Suzy’s Pro Tip: Unless you’re completely obsessed with the windows, you don’t really need to see them all! Do your research before going and pick one or two of the displays.

Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche (at the Met)

This is one of the lesser-known Holiday attractions in NYC and one I highly recommend! Nestled inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a 20-foot blue spruce tree is arrayed with silk-robed angels and encircled by an eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene, surrounded by hundreds of lifelike figures. It is truly breathtaking. You can read more about it HERE.

Central Park

New York’s Central Park is gorgeous in the winter! Take a walk like we did, or grab one of the horse-drawn carriages!

Holiday Lights

The Holiday lights throughout NYC are stunning! Here are a few I recommend checking out:

• Hudson Yards – Indoors, so it’s warm!
• Saks 5th Ave. Light Show – Thousands of LED lights synchronized to holiday music! The show is projected onto the side of its flagship store on 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. 
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden Lightscape Light Show – This is an after-dark illuminated trail with seasonal treats and festive music.
• Chelsea Market – This is an immersive holiday experience that brings holiday themes to life and immerses you into a holiday digital world. Think floating among giant swinging jingle bells, a party of a thousand nutcrackers, and a spin on the candy cane carousel!

There is so much to do in NYC during the holidays, and Becca and I feel like we just scratched the surface! We’re already planning what we want to do next year! Have you been to NYC during the holidays? I’d love to know your recommendations!

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