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Rockefeller Center has officially flipped the switch to “festive,” which means the rink is spinning, the tree will soon be glowing and the most charming little holiday hideaways in midtown are open for business. Yes, the Après Skate Chalets—those wood-trimmed, twinkly mini-lounges perched above the ice—are back and they remain one of the most delightfully extra ways to do the holidays in New York.
Presented by Balsam Hill, each chalet is private, heated and trimmed like a tiny alpine living room, complete with that postcard-perfect view of the rink and the Christmas Tree. They fit up to six people each, making them ideal for families, friend groups or anyone looking to impress a date with a 40-minute burst of seasonal magic.
But the real holiday flex? Chalet guests can order food and cocktails from Greg Baxtrom’s 5 Acres and have everything delivered straight to their door. That means sharing plates like New York-style hot pretzel bites, the gooey spinach and artichoke dip and the crowd-pleasing s’mores dip, a molten swirl of marshmallow fluff, ganache and graham crackers that basically dares you not to grin. Drinks lean festive: mulled wine, a peppermint-spiced Negroni and a poached spiced apple punch, all designed for maximum warming-up-after-skating energy.
There are two booking tiers this year and the premium option comes with an extra perk that’s very much worth knowing about. In addition to your private chalet and two digital photos, premium reservations include four same-day tickets to Top of the Rock—a holiday power-move if you’ve been meaning to catch those skyline views or try Skylift and the new ride-The-Beam moment. Prices range from $190 to $570, depending on date and time, with food and drinks available for purchase. (A $25-per-person food-and-beverage minimum applies.)
Standard Après Skate Chalet bookings offer the same cozy experience—same décor, same snacks, same drinks, same two photos—just without the Top of the Rock access. These run $90 to $470, also with the food-and-beverage minimum and options to add on sweets like Christmas cookie kits, chocolate chip cookies and more.
In short: if you’ve ever wanted your own tiny holiday lodge in the heart of Manhattan (and who among us hasn’t?), the chalets remain a very charming way to level up your Rockefeller Center moment this season. Reserve early. These fill fast!