The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park (CLOSED)

This annual outdoor marketplace provides a place for New Yorkers (as well as their visiting families) to buy gifts in a beautifully lit, festive location. Sip hot chocolate and peruse the wares from more than 125 artists and brands (among our favorites are Diana Warner New York rose gold necklaces, SOVL NYC recycled messenger bags and Brazilian Home Collection hand-painted lamps). Though it can get crowded, shopping in the park beats squishing into an indoor mall any day.