The best things to do in the winter in NYC

The ambitious Museum of Broadway has three floors of displays, which take about 90 minutes to navigate, include beautiful costumes, illuminating documents and photographs, and tasty bursts of detail; other parts of it seem aimed at Broadway newcomers and tourists, including tributes to well-known shows and immersive spaces that call out for selfies. (It also includes a space for temporary exhibits, where sketches from decades of work by the peerless Broadway illustrator Al Hirshfeld are currently on view.) If you’re a theater fan, it’s a must-attend: You will love some of it, get annoyed by some of it and argue about some of it with your friends—and that, after all, is a Broadway tradition, too.

Warm up completely and comfortably at World Spa, the new 50,000-square-foot space at 1571 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. As its name implies, the destination is bringing a slew of authentic spa experiences from all around the world smack-dab in the middle of Brooklyn. Visitors will get to indulge in Eastern European banyas (Russian steam baths with wood stoves), Finnish saunas, cleansing Himalayan salt therapy sessions, Turkish and Morrocan hammams (types of steam baths), Japanese onsens (hot springs) and much more. There’s no need to go outside of the five boroughs!

You’re bound to feel hungry after exploring this new exhibit at New-York Historical Society Museum & Library all about Jewish deli culture. Pastrami sandwiches, knishes, bagels, pickles and babka all get their due in “I'll Have What She's Having: The Jewish Deli,” a show that’s both delightfully fun and deeply meaningful. 

Battle your friends in a game of pétanque at the brand new Carreau Club, the nation’s first pétanque bar at Industry City. For the uninitiated, pétanque (pronounced puh-TONK) is a bocce-ball style French boules sport gaining popularity in the U.S., starting here in NYC. This new indoor location with nine pétanque courts adds 6,000 square feet to the existing 2,000 square-foot outdoor space. Carreau Club also delivers with a full bar, craft beer, wine and cocktails. Plus, a small deli counter will serve French-inspired salads, crispy socca waffles, pissaladière (flatbreads), and sandwiches including lamb merguez “mitraillette,” jambon beurre, and pan bagnat. It’s a perfect place to stay inside all day and have fun.

Want to escape the frozen hellscape that is NYC? The energy in INTER_, Manhattan’s newest art experience, feels more like a meditation retreat than a typical gallery—and that’s by design. The experiential, multi-sensory museum opening in Soho next week invites visitors into a heightened state of contemplative awareness through a sound bath, light installations and aspects of meditation all combined with interactive digital art. You’ll forget all about the temperature when you’re delving deep into 4D art.

Admire nearly 130 outfits ranging from haute couture pieces to stage costumes, alongside custom accessories, sketches, videos, images by leading fashion photographers, and spectacular installations that mirror the approach of fashion visionary Thierry Mugler. Brooklyn Museum’s Thierry Mugler: Couturissime explores the fascinating, edgy universe of the French designer. Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late twentieth century through bold silhouettes and unorthodox techniques and materials, including glass, Plexiglas, vinyl, latex, and chrome.It’ll make you forget about your garbage-bag-like puffer coat for a few minutes!

It’s the last night of 2022 — celebrate in a big way with our help! We’ve rounded up the best parties and celebrations right here.

You’ve thought about it but this year is the year! Pretend you’re a kid again and go sledding. Some of the best NYC parks (in all five boroughs) offer great hills for thrill seekers. After having a playful day throwing snowball fights and sliding down those slippery slopes until you become a snowperson, take us up on our recommendations for watering holes where you can grab a drink and warm up afterward. There are many great bars with fireplaces in the city that will do the trick, but if you want the real post-sledding beverage, check out our list of the best hot chocolate in the city.

This time of year, when sweaters replace ceiling fans and we’re already eyeing our jackets, gathering around a contained flame sounds more idyllic than ever. Whether they’re in a dive, a cocktail spot or a cold weather rooftop, these are the best fireplace bars in NYC.  

Martin Luther King Day has served as a reminder to honor the doctor’s legacy to the causes of civil rights, nonviolent opposition and community service since it was first observed nationwide in January of 1986. If you plan to celebrate, NYC hosts many events and tributes honoring the man with a dream.

Color Factory, the vibrant interactive art museum in Soho, is hosting its own wintry adventure. Ride a ski lift through a confetti snowstorm, traipse through a plaid confetti forest and relax on a cozy sky lift chair. Color Factory’s signature ball pit will turn wintry with a chance to go sledding indoors. After all that seasonal fun, get some rest while enjoying some seasonal treats. Keep your eyes peeled for cool giveaways throughout the museum as well.

Duh. Ice skating in NYC is one of the city’s most beloved seasonal traditions. While some skating rinks are open year-round, ice skating in the winter — especially around the holidays — is a special treat that will warm your cockles with the spirit of the season. The iconic rink at Rockefeller Center and the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park are bursting with holiday cheer (and fab food and drinks), while low-key rinks at NYC parks offer a more chill experience. 

Tucked away inside New York’s top-notch restaurants, bars and coffee shops are some of the best nooks to relax in. From fancy drinks dens with warm, winter cocktails to neighborhood bars with roaring fireplaces, these are the coziest bars and restaurants in New York. Leave the cold behind.

The Bronx Brewery just opened a new outpost at Hudson Yards.  At its 1,400-square-foot space, there’s a one-barrel pilot brew system, artwork by Bronx-based artists, some cool merch and an open kitchen serving up cheesy nachos.

“Titanic. The Exhibition” has officially opened near Union Square and is an interesting way to spend an afternoon this winter. In about 80 to 90 minutes, ticket holders come face-to-face with a selection of personal artifacts that have never before been on display in the United States, offering an intense view into the lives of the legendary ship’s passengers and crew, 15,000 of whom tragically passed away on April 15, 1912 when the liner hit an iceberg on a voyage from Southampton in the United Kingdom to New York City.

Get nostalgic and work up a little road rage at The Standard, which has redesigned its plaza to include bumper cars in an ode to 1980s punk culture (think safety pins, “Barbiecore” uniforms and mohawks everywhere), complete with a food and drink menu featuring both comforting classics and more modern offerings.

There’s nothing so perfect for a cold winter day than a steaming hot bowl of ramen. Tsuta, the first Michelin-starred ramen restaurant in the world, has opened in Dumbo. You can opt for five different types of ramens here, including two signature truffle options that are served at the original restaurant in Toko as well.

There’s always a ton of seasonal pop-ups here in NYC. Go to one of the most vibrant at Magic Hour rooftop at the Moxy Times Square. “The Pink Winter Lodge: Frosted Edition” on the hotel’s 18th floor expands on the rosy glow of the last iteration and coats it all in a faux-frigid sheen. Rouge blooms and spruce now have an arctic cast to cosplay your ice queen dreams. Its snapshot-staple gondola, conveniently situated before the Empire State Building backdrop, remains, its previous bubblegum hue is now more subdued with a canopy of white branches intended to evoke the fallen snow overhead, and further framed by otherwise unadorned Christmas trees in shades of ballerina barely-pink. 

Don't waste a moment this winter by going to the same old restaurants. Try the city's best out! Check out our perpetually updated list includes the best new restaurants that have opened over the past six months. 

Craving that Scandinavian spa experience? You can find a close second in Brooklyn. The Willam Vale has brought back its Winter Spa with four perfectly appointed, private, red cedar outdoor saunas and hot tubs for some cold weather self-care. Set up on the fourth floor of The William Vale, the Winter Spa lets you sweat your stress away, relax your muscles and remove toxins as you enjoy the view through the panoramic dome window, away from the frosty winter air.

It’s only a five-minute ferry right to Governors Island to chill at its winter village with glittering lights, a 5,000-square-foot ice rink, sled rentals, warm drinks near fire pits and winter programming as well. Its massive ice rink will be open Fridays, weekends and on New York City public school holidays from noon to 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours available for youth, adult and nonprofit sports leagues and associations. There will be themed events as well as Free Admission Fridays! Sleds will be available to rent alongside bikes from Blazing Saddles NYC. Governors Island will also have winter activities including cornhole, can jam and giant Jenga as well as winter arts and cultural programming and a dazzling display of holiday lights throughout Colonels Row. There will also be a fun and historic photo opp with a Coast Guard-era fire truck at the Winter Village.

This winter, you can go to the beach and a winter oasis at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa. At its Winter Pool House Experience, you can sit in one of three new cedar, barrel saunas that encircle the hotel’s outdoor pool before or after taking a refreshing dip or getting cozy in its lounge space that’s outfitted in teak furniture and sherpa throws for just $30 per person for a day pass. While you’re there, themed food and cocktails will be on tap, plus day pass holders will get 10% off at Margie’s and The Rooftop as well as access to the entire Winter Pool House, towels and robes.

There's no need to trek all the way to the Village to hear live jazz. The Ornithology Jazz Club, a new music destination in Brooklyn, has musicians on the stage every night and serves up an elevated food menu. Generally, jazz clubs aren't necessarily known for their food offerings—but at Ornithology the fare is meant to be just as exciting as the music.

You'll want to spend a couple of hours inside the NYPL to see every item of its collection within "The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures." The artifacts on view span 4,000 years of history and includes a wide range of history-making pieces, including the only surviving letter from Christoper Columbus announcing his "discovery" of the Americas to King Ferdinand’s court and the first Gutenberg Bible brought over to the Americas...just wow!

This outdoor light experience will brighten up the garden’s grounds with thousands of energy-efficient LED lights and festive installations. After dark, you can walk this expanded 1.5-mile colorful experience with even more illuminated displays than last year, including plant stories, and whimsical, picture-perfect installations reflecting the surrounding gardens and collections with the Haupt Conservatory and Mertz Library Building as glowing centerpieces. It's all an ideal backdrop for a family holiday photo op. Plus, there will be dance performances, ice carving demonstrations and other seasonal activities (and snacks) to enjoy.

Go dark and sip on champagne or absinthe at a bar in the East Village that is inspired by... hell. The decor at Café de L’Enfer, which literally translates to "hell cafe" in French, is just as striking as the cocktails developed by mixologist Sother Teague. The destination, which calls out to the famous Victorian-era Cabaret de l'Enfer in Paris, is filled with touches of the underworld. Expect skulls, deep red booths and ogre-like statues to adorn the dark space, located directly above Amor y Amargo. In terms of cocktails, the absinthe portion of the menu includes the De La Louisiane (rye, sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, absinthe), the Cobbler (Amontillado sherry, absinthe, apricot, cinnamon, Peychaud's and berries) and the simple but exquisite Death in the E'Ville (Vert, peach liqueur and champagne).

We can't help but feel the pull of this midtown destination when the famous heated igloos are set up. The glowing cocoons will stay in place through April 15 and, as usual, will be able to accommodate up to ten guests at once. Yes, you'll still find warm red snuggies for use inside each one. In addition to admiring the spectacular views, you'll be able to order food and drinks from inside each bubble. 

The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, open now through March 6, has its own series of cozy igloos that are heated and overlook the park's iconic skating rink. Inside the clear and intimate structures, each one decorated with holiday cheer in mind, patrons can order delicious food and drinks to enjoy among friends or family (each igloo can accommodate up to eight guests). If it's something a bit more active that you're looking to do, consider visiting the on-site Curling Café, which will offer the first-ever iceless curling experience. Expect dedicated curling lanes where two teams of up to four people each can play some "street" (also known as iceless) curling for an hour-and-a-half. According to an official press release, the lanes are accompanied by "a private, heated dome where teams can warm up and share seasonal drinks and bites between games."

Whether you dig football or not, the big game is, if anything, an ace excuse to gorge and get sloppy. And if football isn’t really your jam, there’s always the Puppy Bowl, a televised gaggle of adorable doggies in a mock stadium. Who are we kidding? We’re mostly here for the puppies.

Valentine's Day in NYC can be so romantic! It's one of the biggest NYC events in February so, of course, the city offers a bevy of options, including enjoying a decadent dinner from one of the best NYC restaurants and a number of performances from stand-up to burlesque.