Holiday Best: Great Seasonal Decor in NYC Restaurants

The holiday season in New York is luminous with events and festivities. All this requires ample refueling in between holiday sightseeing stops. New York City has some seriously festive restaurants and bars that delight in breaking out the holiday decorations and creating their own seasonal atmosphere. From tastefully decorated trees to kitschy tinsel bombs and plastic santas, there’s something for every holiday taste. Go for the ambiance and stay for some delicious food, or vice versa! Either way you can’t lose.

This classic New York establishment is the perfect place for some holiday magic. The smart red leather booths, the spruce-green walls with gold trim and the patterned ruby carpet of the Russian Tea Room all withstand the test of time and the seasons. The current dining room, updated in 1995, kept most of the charm of the original czarist 1927 decor. With this as the ideal holiday backdrop, the restaurant has added a tree with gold-wrapped presents and pipes Christmas carol music through its speakers. The various menus have offerings of caviar, vodka and Champagne and hearty main courses, all to put you in the holiday mood.

150 W. 57th St.

New York, NY 10019

(212) 581-7100

RussianTeaRoomNYC.com

The River Cafe has been in business since 1977 and is still one of the most exclusive and fine dining experiences in the city. The restaurant is an occasion to dress up. Men are required to wear suit jackets and women should dress accordingly. This formality doesn’t, however, stop the restaurant from embracing the holiday spirit. A beautiful full tree with wooden toy soldiers in the lobby greets diners, and lit wreaths adorn the eaves of the interior. Outside spruce fans with swirls of white lights wrap around the railings, and beyond this the lights of lower Manhattan glow seductively. The overall effect is a memory-making holiday experience that will delight visitors and New Yorkers alike.

1 Water St., Dumbo

New York, NY 11201

(718) 522-5200

Reservations: OpenTable at River Cafe

Tavern on the Green is a classic New York eatery in Central Park and the ideal place to stop for a drink and a New York holiday experience. The restaurant was built on a former sheep pasture in 1934 and has served generations of New Yorkers since. It’s been featured in films including Ghostbusters, Wall Street, and New York, I Love You. 

For the holiday season, Tavern on the Green pulls out all the stops including a large Christmas tree adorned with little elves, white lights, and live music. The cocktails are festive and seasonal and there’s a great photo op with the tree. Tavern on the Green is a perfect place to pause and warm up after a stroll through Central Park.

Central Park West & 67th Street

New York, NY 10023

(212) 877-8684

Ophelia Lounge is a sophisticated and upscale cocktail bar and lounge located on the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower in Midtown. Each year the lounge creates a magical holiday atmosphere with its Snow Globe in the Sky installation. The space is transformed with thousands of crystal beads in rows that dangle from the ceilings like icicles, some tipped with sparkling snowflakes. The effect is just like being transported inside a luxury snow globe.

3 Mitchell Pl 26th floor

New York, NY 10017

(212) 980-4796

Rolf’s does the holiday decorations to what some might call excess, so it’s best to leave your aesthetic sensibilities at the door and dive into this holiday melee with abandon. The kitschy decorations crowd the restaurant from top to bottom and make for an atmosphere of sheer holiday joy. Wreathes, pinecones, holiday ornaments, glowing golden orbs and velvet red bows engulf patrons in this German restaurant. Expect hearty portions and friendly staff.

281 3rd Ave

New York, NY 10010

(212) 477-4750

The Lombardy Hotel’s timeless elegance is iconic to Midtown Manhattan. Our rooms are spacious, comfortable and thoughtfully designed to make you feel at home. We look forward to hosting you on your next visit to New York City.

*Due to Covid-19 our restaurant, cafe and gym will remain closed for a time.