With the holiday season in full swing, the Bryant Park Winter Village is bustling with shoppers wrapped up in their coats and scarves. While some are busy with their festive shopping, others come craving a quick treat from the food vendors.
This European style market features around 200 unique kiosks with an artisanal blend of foods, decorations, and gifts. This year more than ever, the market is blossoming with new shops as well as returning fan-favorites.
Holiday Activities
At the heart of the village is a 17,000 square foot ice skating rink, the largest in New York City with free admission. Visitors can pre-book skating-time slots online and come to the rink when it is time for their allotted session. This must-see attraction is open from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., and is accessible to all ages and skill levels. Beginner skaters can make use of the penguin shaped skating aids, which they hold on to to help them get their balance on the ice.
After braving the frosty rink, visitors can warm up in The Lodge, a big open seating area with a menu full of festive drinks. One can sit down with a mug of hot chocolate and some comfort food while gazing out at the brightly lit Christmas tree next to the winter shops.
Each year, on December 3rd, there is a tree lighting ceremony at Bryant Park. This year, at 6 p.m., New Yorkers gathered around the 45 foot tree and watched as roughly 12,000 lights were lit for the first time that year. The event is livestreamed so that everyone can enjoy the start of a wonderful holiday season.
Apart from the main activities, each street and corner of the park is busy with vendors hawking their products and sharing stories with their potential customers.
Through the years, I have visited and revisited almost every shop there. I’ve learned to navigate the crowds and have narrowed the food choices down to a few of my favorites.
Here are some of my go-to shops and what I’ve learned.
Shops
The Winter Village has anything from apparel, to gifts, to games, to food and drink. Through an online map, you can plan your visit and get a sense of where all of the shops are located.
The Village features numerous tributes to the city, such as 1980’s NYC Subway, which has photographs and apparel with unique photos of the subway. I enjoy visiting this shop to see all the new designs, and I occasionally purchase a photo from there, too.
To those looking for gifts for the holidays, this year there are fourteen vendors listed under the ‘Gifts’ section of the map and six that specialize in holiday decorations. One that stood out to me was St. Petersburg Collections, which was an experience from the moment I stepped in. Beautiful carved wooden sculptures and Russian dolls lined the walls, all made by artists and sculptors from St. Petersburg.
Parents in need of a gift for their children will find that there are small shops tucked away within the village that are perfect for this. There are handmade games, clothes, and toys to choose from. One of my favorites when I was younger was The New York Puzzle company, a small — and warm — shop right next to the Christmas tree. Inside you can find puzzles of the front covers of old editions of ‘The New Yorker,’ puzzles of illustrated scenes from your favorite movies, and more. As a kid, there was always something there that caught my eye.
After a few hours of shopping, children (and their parents) can enjoy a quick ride on the carousel, which is near the 40th Street entrance to Bryant Park. Fourteen animals make up this carousel, with horses, deers, frogs, rabbits, and cats to choose from for riders. The admission is $4.00 per ride, with a 10 card discount ride for $30.00.
Food Stalls
This year’s holiday market has 62 food and drink kiosks, which blend a myriad of cultures and flavors together. From rich meals, to decadent desserts, to a diverse selection of drinks, there is a seemingly endless array of choices. Majority of these food vendors are located along 40th Street, along with an additional few food vendors along the outer edge of the ice skating rink.
Bryant Park is home to some of the best hot chocolate stands. No Chewing Allowed, a truffle shop, has hundreds of people lining up for a taste of its rich hot cocoa. It comes in a pretty cup with their signature logo! In addition to its sweet drinks, the shop is best known for its french truffles with their smooth consistency. But, remember: no chewing allowed!
The Doughnuttery satisfies every sweet-tooth. It offers mini doughnuts coated in flavored sugar of your choice. Its is located right by the rink and is always busy with new people excited to try some of the famous donuts.
The savory choices are not sparse either. Vendors such as The Truffleist, which gained a lot of popularity over the years, is one of the most loved food shops. From cheesesteaks to fries with truffles, this place combines comfort fold and gourmet food to create a delicious and hearty meal. Curly fries have now become a must-have every time that I visit the village.
A recent finding of mine has been Gnocchi on 9th. It serves gnocchi topped with your choice of topping; there are five toppings to choose from. The gnocchi come in a takeout box, with enough gnocchi to constitute a good meal. I tried this dish recently with my friend, and I can safely say that it is delicious!
Bryant Park is full of amazing food places. However, every year, a few shops go viral over social media for their food. For example, the Cheese Wheel pasta, Belgian chocolate, the Raclette Sandwiches have blown up on Tiktok, which has brought an influx of new visitors to the park. Often, my friends an I will go to the park to try one of these new foods!
Advice and General Information
To avoid the busy streets and crowded kiosks, here are some tips to make the most of your visit:
- Arriving early is key. Especially on weekdays, while everyone is at work, this magical village will much less busy and more enjoyable. On weekends, people have days off and will visit the park, and it tends to become very crowded.
- Plan your budget; the Winter Village can be pricey. I suggest allocating $20.00-$30.00 for food, and $20.00+ for your shopping adventures. While you can find a lot of affordable gifts, make sure to budget wisely and know that many shops will have prices on the more expensive side.
- Skating: While general skating admission and helmets are free, rental skates cost money; consider bringing your own skates if you have them. Additionally, book your time slot in advance; the time slots for the rink will sell out fast.
This quintessential New York experience is not to be missed. From gliding alongside penguin aids to discovering your favorite truffle flavor, Bryant Park will never fail to bring joy to those visiting. Be sure to check out this festive wonderland before its closing date on January 5th, 2025 at 4 p.m. The rink remains open until March, allowing visitors to enjoy skating even after the holiday season. Escape to the wonderland for a few hours, grab some cocoa, and enjoy.
This European style market features around 200 unique kiosks with an artisanal blend of foods, decorations, and gifts. This year more than ever, the market is blossoming with new shops as well as returning fan-favorites.
