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Left picture: Baita; Top right picture: Miracle on 9th st; bottom right picture: Rolf’s.
New York is pulling out all the stops for the holiday season: oversized Christmas trees, shiny ice skating rinks, store fronts adorned with gold and glittery bells. Few destinations crystallize fairy fantasies and embody Christmas spirit as fully as New York. To help you get your bearings among all the festivities, we selected three spots that will give you a real taste of Christmas. 3 places, 3 neighborhoods, 3 atmospheres:
The most alpine: Baita
Baita, pronounced [bài-ta], translates to a small ski lodge in Italian. You won’t need a ski lift to reach this one, you simply take the elevator in the Eataly delicatessen to discover, on the fourteenth floor, a covered terrace with a wooden cabin spirit. Get cozy under the tartan blankets and order a cup of mulled wine, cheese raclette or Piedmontese specialties. A chic dwelling overlooking the Flatiron building steps away from 5th Avenue – how can it get better than this?
Baita, Rooftop of Eataly
200 5th Ave, Flatiron
The most tacky: Rolf’s
Qualifying Rolf’s setting as “excessive” is an understatement. This German-Alsatian restaurant that goes unnoticed the rest of the year, turns into a Teutonic version of Ali Baba’s cave for the holiday season. It’s simple: there is not a single square inch of ceiling not covered with colorful bulbs, draped garlands or twinkling lights. A prowess of space optimization that will instantly transport you into Christmas enchantment.
Rolf’s Restaurant
281 Third Avenue, Gramercy
The most ephemeral: Miracle on 9th street
You only have until December 24th to discover the twelve Christmas cocktails devised by Nico de Soto, former mixologist at the Experimental Cocktail Club. The initial bar (Mace) has completely reinvented itself for the holiday season. Cocktails are served in cups in the shape of Santa Claus and bartenders are decked out in Christmas hats. Try the Candy Cane Fizz: peppermint-infused gin, Buttermilk syrup, clementine acid and Prosecco.
Miracle on 9th street
649 East Ninth Street, East Village