The 13 best Christmas hotels in New York City for 2026

🎄 Best for: this is the top all-rounder

At the Plaza Hotel, all that glitters is gold. Literally. From chair legs and mirror frames to the bathrooms of each guest room and suite, the details are gilded with 24-carat gold plating. It’s classy and opulent and reminiscent of another time—but then again, it’s The Plaza.

As soon as you enter the main doors, the fresh scent of gardenias takes you far away from Central Park and friendly staff greet you in the main lobby under a magnificent crystal chandelier. There are also chandeliers in the rooms, where you’ll also find beds enveloped in soft white linens, a terry-cloth robe and slippers to match. An iPad lets you set the room’s temperature to your exact preference, or dock your phone on the iHome and play some relaxing tunes as you soak in the tub. Don’t miss the Le Labo bath products in the gold-headed shower.

The Plaza is also famous for its Christmas celebrations. The team works feverishly through the night on Thanksgiving to deck the entire place out in festive cheer, so guests wake up to a delightful surprise. It also offers seasonal packages, one of which includes a six-foot Christmas tree in your room and another has a Home Alone 2 theme (it is one of the film’s key locations after all). It’s also one of the top hotels for a seasonal stay because of the pop-up holiday gift shop and meet-and-greets with Santa. It also offers a button-cute holiday-themed afternoon tea—those gingerbread men are Christmas cheer guaranteed—and before calling it a night, order milk and cookies from the concierge—for the ‘Eloise treatment’—and settle in for a movie in bed.

Time Out tip: Though there is plenty to keep you busy within the hotel, cross 59th Street to find another New York landmark: Central Park. Explore the grounds, especially the nearby attractions of Wollman Rink for some ice-skating and the Central Park Zoo.

Address: 768 Fifth Ave, New York, 10019
Price per night: Prices start around $1,069 per night 
Closest transport link: N/R/W trains are available at the 5th Ave/59th Street Station, just a minute’s walk from the hotel

➡️ Oh, and have a look at our complete roundup of the best hotels in New York right now

🎄 Best for: rooftop chalets

With a winning combination of 1905 Beaux Arts building architecture and new state-of-the-art renovations, The Peninsula New York screams Midtown Manhattan luxury. It means that staying here, you’ll feel both worlds away from the hectic streets outside and also physically (and spiritually) never far from Fifth Avenue.

The Peninsula Hotels is an international chain of luxury hotels operated by Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, and The Peninsula New York is the U.S. flagship property of the group. The historic building was originally opened as the Gotham Hotel in 1905 with a striking limestone and granite facade, and after going through a few different incarnations, it opened as The Peninsula New York in 1988.

You can sense those layers of history as you move through the hotel, especially when you encounter the grand, marble double-staircase that brings you to check-in and the hotel’s restaurants and bars. There are also spacious suites, refined dining options, rooftop bar with jaw-dropping city views and fantastic on-site spa.

The 219 rooms here feel like an upscale Manhattan apartment. It’s got a sleek and contemporary aesthetic with a light color palette, cool tones and thoughtfully placed art and objects that speak to its central location. As part of the recent renovation, all rooms now come complete with a touchscreen tablet providing access to a digital concierge as well as room controls. Luxurious Quagliotti bed linens round out the picture.

The Peninsula’s holiday decor is perfect to gawp at from the street. The hotel goes all out on its exteriors, incorporating hundreds of feet of garland, ornaments, lights, small trees, poinsettias and winter flowers, and two reindeer statues. There's an old-fashioned Sweet Shoppe in the lobby and the roof bar gets a Swiss chalet makeover. There’s also a Nights Before Christmas package that includes an in-room Christmas tree, gingerbread playhouse, candy cane scavenger hunt and much more.

Time Out tip: In the bedecked lobby, Victorian carollers sing on Fridays and Saturdays throughout December. 

Address: 700 Fifth Ave, New York, 10019
Price: Rooms from approximately $1,400 per night
Closest transport: 5th Ave subway, 10 minute walk

➡️ Check out our list of the most luxurious hotels in New York

🎄 Best for: festive high-teas

Like the hotel itself, the St. Regis’s holiday decor is best described as timeless. Come wintertime, Nutcrackers flank each side of the 55th Street entrance and, inside the grand lobby, garlands and ornaments are wrapped along banisters and walls.

This elegant hotel in midtown Manhattan is at the height of extravagance, even by New York standards. Originally founded by John Jacob Astor, this distinguished 238-room hotel has received guests like Salvador Dali (who also brought his wife and pet ocelot to stay). Everyone here has always been treated to the finest amenities since 1904, and it continues to do so today. 

Personalized experiences from restaurant reservations to theater shows are arranged by onsite assistants and the St. Regis’ signature 24-hour butler service ensures every request, no matter how big or small, is fulfilled to every guest’s satisfaction. For the holidays, the hotel usually goes all out, catering to everyone in the family. It hosts activities for the little ones, including gingerbread decorating and Afternoon Tea with Santa, and gives its Cognac Room a twinkling makeover.

There’s plenty to experience, even without even stepping foot onto the city streets. Be sure to have a proper explore around the building to take in the majestic wood-paneled library, eat a traditional afternoon tea in the stunning Astor Court dining room and take a seat in the iconic mural in the King Cole Bar—best examined with a signature “Red Snapper” Bloody Mary in hand.

Time Out tip: Look out for the hotel’s Christmas tree. It’s usually a huge 30ft specimen, covered with lights.

Address: 2 E 55th St, New York, 10022
Price: Rooms start at $1,135 per night  
Closest transport: 5 Av/53 St subway, four minute walk

➡️ Here’s our roundup of N.Y.C.’s most iconic hotels

🎄 Best for: festive performances at Café Carlyle

There are some N.Y.C. hotels that have become synonymous with the city itself. The Carlyle is one of those New York grand dames that still manages to feel as relevant today as when it first opened in 1930. Situated in a prime location in the center of the elegant Upper East Side, it’s as intrinsically a part of the upscale area as the flowers of Park Avenue.

With 192 rooms and suites, there is a wide array of options for a night here. Suites have a separate sleeping area as well as a full kitchen, and a minimal, Art Deco design that’s both modern and timeless. Another big bonus of a night here is hopping into one of the historic gold-trimmed elevators and soaring up to your throwback suite.

An interesting characteristic of The Carlyle is that, even with its reigning status as one of New York’s most high-profile hotels, it doesn’t have the grand hotel lobby you might expect to find. In fact, the elevator lobby and check-in area feel more like a very luxe hallway, adding to the discreet charm. 

A large part of what’s helped maintain this hospitality icon’s relevance has been its charming, idiosyncratic public venues which are heavy on the glitz and glamor. Bemelman’s Bar, one of N.Y.C.’s best bars, features nightly live piano, expertly made cocktails and a one-of-a-kind wall mural designed by Ludwig Bemelman. Café Carlyle, which dates back to 1955, is a classic cabaret space that is a living embodiment of a particular New York dream. Dowling’s at The Carlyle, which opened in 2021, is a restaurant infused with early 20th century glam. 

At Christmas, the Carlyle’s elegant black-and-white-marbled lobby is covered in garlands, trees, ornaments, ribbons and lights. If you happen to be there on Christmas Day, you’ll even get a visit from Santa. It’s also worth checking the events programme at Café Carlyle, where the cabaret evenings get a little festive.

Time Out tip: During Christmastime at The Carlyle, you can expect an à la carte-style Christmas-themed high tea.

Address: 35 E 76th Street, New York, 10021
Price: Rooms start at approximately $1,075 per night 
Closest transport: 77 St subway, five minute walk 

🎄 Best for: park views

If you’ve heard the song Puttin’ on the Ritz, then you’ll know just how iconic The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is. A stay here feels like you’ve checked something off your bucket list. From the moment you enter, you’re aware of the history and elegance of this Forbes five star and AAA five diamond hotel, starting with its brick facade stretching 22 stories high and the entry with a formal vintage canopy.

Inside, the hallways are a bright gloss white with coffered ceilings holding glass chandeliers and marble tables with bright orchids. This hotel dates to 1929 and became a Ritz-Carlton in 1999. One of its best aspects is the fact that Central Park is across the street, and the rooms overlooking the park have generously sized windowsills for people-watching out the window. There’s also a telescope in each room.

Rooms are elegant but surprisingly low-key. The furnishings are in earth tones and there are marble bathrooms of palatial in size and feel. Downstairs, the La Prairie spa offers a beautiful and tranquil space to get a facial or a massage or do yoga. There’s also a steam room and separate lounges for men and women.

When you get hungry, the Club Lounge is a spectacular spot with window views of Central Park, offering breakfast, lunch, afternoon light snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, as well as even a late night offering of desserts and cordials – if you’re a light eater, you can easily get by on the offerings throughout the day. Everything, of course, is beautifully plated.

At Christmas time, the Ritz-Carlton’s trimmings are all about simplicity, with nods to the hotel’s proximity to Central Park. Wreaths and garland with blue ornaments and gold leaves are hung throughout the lobby. For views of the skaters, book the hotel’s Park View rooms and suites.

Time Out tip: If you’re here with kids, you’ll want to do the Ritz Kids Check-in for them, with a uniformed teddy bear manning a tiny desk in a balloon-filled alcove near the real check-in.

Address: 50 Central Park South, New York, 10019
Price: Rooms start at approximately $931 a night
Closest transport: 57th St subway, seven minute walk

🎄 Best for: christmassy window shopping

In a city that never sleeps, The Knickerbocker Hotel proves that serenity can exist right in the middle of the chaos, and as Christmassy hotels go, there are few so quintessentially festive as The Knickerbocker, whose exterior looks almost like a glitzy gift waiting to be unwrapped. 

Once the birthplace of the dry martini, this Beaux-Arts landmark offers a rare blend of history, style, and tranquility in one of New York’s busiest neighborhoods. The hotel’s soundproof rooms and minimalist decor create a calming escape from the bright lights below, while its location—steps from Broadway, Bryant Park, and nearly every subway line—makes exploring the city effortless.

The 330 rooms and suites feature plush Stearns & Foster Euro-top beds, Egyptian cotton linens, and goose down pillows that promise one of the city’s best nights of sleep. High ceilings, leather accents, and stone finishes keep the palette sleek and timeless, while tech-forward touches—like blackout curtain controls and bedside tablets—balance heritage with modern convenience. The bathrooms are impressive, with marble finishes, rain showers, and Diptyque amenities, adding spa-like indulgence to the stay. For an extra nod to the hotel’s storied past, guests can book the Martini Suite, complete with an in-room martini kit and video-guided tutorial on crafting the original cocktail.

Time Out tip: As Christmas fast approaches, the Knickerbocker’s location is standout when it comes to exploring all the merriment that Manhattan has to offer at this time of year. While you’ve got make sure that ice skating at the Wollman Rink in Central Park and going to see the city ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker are on your bucket list, so are passing by the city’s twinkliest window displays—start at Macy’s Herald Square and follow all the way to Tiffany & Co. Oh, and make sure to check out their NYE party. 

Address: 6 Times Sq, New York, NY 10036
Price per night: Standard room rates begin at $329/night, Standard King Room starts at $450/night
Closest transport: N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7 trains at 42nd Street-Times Square; M, D, F, B trains at 42nd Street-Bryant Park; Grand Central Station is a ten-minute walk.

🎄 Best for: lip-smacking spiced cocktails

Towering over the Meatpacking District, The Standard, High Line combines bold mid-century architecture with some of the best views in Manhattan. Every one of its 338 rooms features floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows looking onto the skyline or the Hudson River. Inside, expect comfortable beds with Italian linens, warm wood paneling, and moody lighting. The open, glass-enclosed showers make for a romantic (if slightly awkward when you’re traveling with a friend) vibe—though privacy-conscious travelers can easily request a shower curtain from the front desk.

Downstairs, guests can dine on classic American fare at The Standard Grill, sip crisp beers at the lively German Biergarten, or head to the top-floor penthouse discothèque, Le Bain, for rooftop cocktails and panoramic vistas. Positioned steps from Little Island, Chelsea Market, and the High Line itself, it serves as a vibey downtown alternative to Midtown.

Time Out Tip: Visit the ground-level Plaza during December when it transforms into “The Holiday Plaza”. Featuring an upstate-style winter market, a Christmas tree farm, a Gingerbread Room, and spiced cocktails, it’s cozy and wonderfully festive. 

Address: 848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014
Price: Starting at $390/night 
Transport: Penn Station, Grand Central Station, and NYC's major airports are all nearby. 

🎄 Best for: hot cocoa hour

There’s an Upper East Side feel to the Loews Regency New York, which makes it perfect for spending special occasions in the city, like Christmas. Guests swan into the lobby with grand high ceilings, walls framed with black and white photos of old New York and luxe furnishings. It all evokes the sense that you’ve slipped back into a different era. Here, you’ll have the five-star experience in a charming older hotel, which has been hosting guests since it opened in 1963.

The smallest rooms are the 250-square-foot Superior King, while the larger suites are on the higher floors and go up to an enormous 1,400 square feet. All of the 379 rooms are pet-friendly, and some have terraces and balconies. The most unique feature is the television screen in the bathroom mirror, which allows you to watch local TV from the comfort of your bathtub. Each room is stacked with dozens of books, and Nespresso machines come in the more luxurious rooms, but no matter where you’re staying, don’t be afraid to request one from the front desk.

The lobby-level Regency Bar & Grill is the hotel’s main restaurant, with white tablecloths and servers wearing button-down shirts under jackets. You can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner here with no gaps in service from 7am to 10pm, and there's a hearty brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays.

This is a classic five-star hotel, and it’s matched by what can only really be described as proper, stonking, high-end service. No matter your request, large or small, you’ll be greeted with efficiency. It’s luxurious, but it’s worth the price. 

Time Out tip: If you’re staying over the holidays, you can enjoy free champagne or hot cocoa in the festively decorated lobby every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 6pm in December. There’s also holiday-inspired cocktails and menu specials, plus the opportunity to glam up for a festive party at the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa.

Address: 540 Park Ave, New York, NY
Price: Superior King rooms from approximately $459 per night. 
Closest transport: Lexington Av/63 St subway, four minute walk.

🎄 Best for: proximity to Bryant Park 

Despite its famous moniker as a concrete jungle, New York actually brags a fair bit of green space, and Bryant Park—which holds a sparkly winter village come festive season—is one of the best examples. So, if you’re keen to be in the center of Midtown action but still have a little nature nearby, Park Terrace Hotel is a tough one to beat.

It sits just opposite the park, but also has an onsite sauna, a lovely restaurant, views over New York Public Library and some seriously top-notch service, which is more than enough to make you want to stay awhile.

With a total of 225 rooms and studios across 15 floors, many of which offer unparalleled views of Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, Park Terrace Hotel sure has variety. There’s the Classic Room, a cozy yet contemporary space that can accommodate up to two guests. The Deluxe is also best for two, but with an upgrade of a cozy sitting area alongside the plush queen bed. The Deluxe High Floor offers stunning New York views, and the Premier rooms have the added addition of prime natural lighting. All come with a Nespresso maker and a Bose Bluetooth wireless speaker.

The sauna located on the lowest level of the hotel is the standout of Park Terrace Hotel. You simply call the front desk ten minutes before you want to sweat it out, so they can turn up the heat. 

Time Out tip: Nearby Bryant Park is also one of the best places to be in the wintertime. The Winter Village by Urbanspace is one of the most popular holiday markets in the city for good reason, and with a rotation of different food and shopping vendors, plus an ice-skating rink, it’s a festive staple.

Address: 18 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018
Price per night: Standard rooms start at $425 per night
Closest transport: 42nd Street-Bryant Park subway, two minute walk

🎄 Best for: festive guest perks

​​​​With its enormous overhanging canopy fitted with rows of exposed light bulbs and two stately flags bearing its name, the Langham New York Fifth Avenue is heavy on style and brings a touch of elegance to Midtown Manhattan. 

Going through the oversized revolving doors, you’re immediately hit with a few large Alex Katz oil paintings behind the front desk. In fact, all of the art in the hotel is by Katz—a collection of 10 original paintings worth $2 million. The other artwork is in a third floor event space called the Gallery. But throughout the rest of the hotel, you’ll find reprints, some of which are solely supplied just for the Langham. 

The rooms are in neutral colors—beige, ivory, taupe, black, gray and shades of white and blue—offset by dark brown wood fixtures. Many rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and amenities include bath products from the hotel’s Chuan Body + Soul Spa. Book into the spa for a full programme of treatments, steam showers and saunas with pink Himalayan salt walls.

Ai Fiori, the Michelin-starred restaurant from celebrated chef Michael White’s Altamarea Group, brings high-end cred to the hotel’s eating options; and Bar Fiori, is full of beautiful flower arrangements as well as top-notch cocktails and other drinks.  

This luxe Fifth Avenue hotel always goes all out for Christmas, too. Rooms booked as part of its festive packages are decorated with glittering Christmas trees and come with seasonal treats like tickets to the New York City Ballet and a Saks Fifth Avenue gift card.

Time Out tip: You’re well-placed for all of New York’s festive sites here, like the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree and ice rink and Bryant Park. In the mood for a rare scotch? Around the corner on 37th Street you’ll find Fine & Rare, an old New York-style spirits den from the group behind the Flatiron Room.

Address: 400 Fifth Ave, New York, 10018
Price: Rooms from approximately $700 per night 
Closest transport: 34 St-Herald Sq subway, five minute walk 

🎄 Best for: decorations

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, is everything you want in a classic New York City stay, from sweeping views of Central Park to top-notch service that makes you feel special. This classic, five-star hotel sits right on the southeastern edge of Central Park and is total understated elegance.

Opened in 1930, the 41-story hotel with 189 small dog-friendly rooms and 76 apartments, was modeled after Versailles by famed architects Schultze and Weaver (who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria). It boasts neo-Georgian accents, checkered marble floors, incredible ballroom spaces with grand staircases and a rotunda with murals hand-painted by American artist Edward Melcarth in 1976. It’s been featured in films like First Wives Club, Meet Joe Black and Oceans 8. It’s also hosted luminaries like Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol and Elizabeth Taylor, and you can see them represented in the hotel’s incredible candid photos by Ron Galella that line its main hallway. 

Where The Pierre really shines is in the details, which make it feel like home. Friendly attendants, many of whom have been at The Pierre for decades, ride the elevator up with you, pressing the button to your floor. The luxe carpeted rooms, are outfitted with a king-size bed featuring a tufted headboard and complimentary water bottles, tea and a NYC chocolate display with a fondant subway sign, a mini sculpture of the Empire State Building, macarons and truffles. A packet of things to do in the city is left on the desk. 

Pierre’s Two E Bar & Lounge is a great spot for grabbing drinks and taking in live jazz. It also has a rotating art gallery program, high tea in the Rotunda on the weekends, and a hidden gem of a restaurant, Perrine, with a largely French menu featuring classics—with a twist. 

At Christmas time holiday trees and garlands pop up in every corner at The Pierre, but what makes the hotel special is some of the scrummiest hot chocolate at Two E. They also provide snowman-making kits and eggnog, and milk and cookies left out for Santa.

Time Out tip: The Pierre’s Two E Bar & Lounge is a great spot for grabbing drinks and taking in live jazz from Modern Martinis Music, every night, Tuesday through Saturday.

Address: 2 E 61st St, New York, 10065
Price: Rooms start at approximately $895 per night
Closest transport: 5 Av/59 St subway, one minute walk 

🎄 Best for: rooftop holiday parties

The Dream Downtown’s first selling point is its spectacular location. Just around the corner from Chelsea Market, a block from the High Line, and a stone’s throw from the Meatpacking District and West Village, this hotel is close to everywhere you want to be. Plus, its ’hood is the home of many world-class art galleries.

But, many might not even feel like they need to leave the 12-story Dream Downtown. The hotel itself is young and sceney, with a club atmosphere that resonates throughout the design and decor. The lobby’s high-backed chairs and button-tufted banquette settees are scattered on a lushly carpeted floor before a well-stocked half-moon bar and wall of stacked Tecate and Modelo cans. Look up to the ceiling and you’ll peer directly into the 50-foot heated glass-bottom pool of the hotel’s sand-filled ‘beach’ courtyard.

The velvet-roped PHD Rooftop Lounge in the north tower draws big, exclusive crowds and boasts gorgeous panoramic views of the skyline. Head to the outdoor landscaped terrace with glass chandeliers, to hear resident DJ Big Ben spin every Tuesday, with more music makers playing other nights.

For such an eccentric hotel, its holiday decor is equally quirky. In previous years, it’s turned the rooftop bar into a ‘Midwinter Night’s Dream’, complete with a Christmas light tunnel and candy cane cocktails, and the lobby has been morphed into an alpine lodge with a taxidermied polar bear and snow leopard, as well as an ‘Outdoor Ice Bar’ with life-sized moving penguins dressed in suits at an igloo bar.

Time Out tip: At Christmas dazzling lights go up in the lobby and everyone heads to a rooftop wintry party, set against the dazzling backdrop of NYC. 

Address: 355 W 16th St, New York, 10011
Price: Rooms from approximately $395 per night
Closest transport: 14 St / 8 Av subway, two minute walk

🎄 Best for: in-room decor

Occupying a former 1912 hat factory, the Refinery Hotel channels Gilded Age charm with industrial-chic loft rooms, pre-war apartment-style tiled bathrooms, and custom Empire State Building artwork. Located on West 38th Street, it sits just steps from the Bryant Park Winter Village.

Where it truly shines during the festive season is its “Winter Spectacular Package”, allowing guests to order a real, fully decorated Christmas tree delivered directly to their room alongside milk and hot cocoa. Upstairs, the year-round, glass-roofed Refinery Rooftop serves up seasonal cocktails, elevated comfort food like sliders, and unobstructed, front-row views of the Empire State Building. With its mature, quiet atmosphere and proximity to Midtown’s holiday vibes, it’s perfect for visitng N.Y.C. at Christmas. 

Time Out tip: Book the hotel’s seasonal “Winter Spectacular” package to have a real, decorated Christmas tree along with hot chocolate and cookies delivered straight to your room. 

Address: 63 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
Price: From $665 per night
Transport: 42 St-Bryant Pk subway station is one block from the hotel.