This December, I visited the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Bryant Park Winter Village, Ralph’s Coffee, and the West Village in New York City (NYC). I judged each place on their decorations, prices, and overall Christmas feel.
Ralph’s Coffee
First, I tried out one of the hidden gems in NYC, Ralph’s Coffee. The warm cup of coffee at Ralph’s is the perfect way to start your day around the city. Since there is only one main location, during the winter months, there are mini retro-car-shaped stands around Manhattan. I went to Ralph’s Coffee concession stand on Fifth Avenue, which has beautiful decor that is festive for the holidays. I ordered a cappuccino for $7.00 and a chocolate chip cookie for $5.50. It took around three minutes for the staff to prepare my order. The cookie had a perfect balance of chocolate and sugar, and the cappuccino was an nice addition.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Christmas tree is large and has bright lights which is what attracts many tourists. Recently, I visited the tree and saw all the decadent lights. Many people gathered around the tree to admire its beauty. The tree was complete with ornaments, colorful bright lights, and topped with a bright star. Standing by the tree, I felt the Christmas spirit as many people were singing and dancing. I felt that the Rockefeller Christmas Tree has the most Christmas cheer.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Next, I headed over to Bryant Park Winter Village, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. The Winter Village has little house-like shops and each vendor sells unique and varied merchandise, ranging from ice cream to hot chocolate to jewelry and clothes. To me, this felt like a festive Christmas paradise, consisting of a free ice skating rink, a European-inspired holiday market, and on-ice performances. In front of the ice-skating rink, there are small shops that sell trinkets like NYC souvenirs. Behind the rink, the shops consists of mostly food and drink stands. There were many food options with cuisines, like pickles on a stick, freshly made mini donuts, homemade apple cider, and hot chocolate. The Winter Village is open daily from 8 a.m. through 9 p.m., and the food section opens at 11 a.m. I am a big fan of hot chocolate, so I was on the hunt for the perfect one while I was exploring the Winter Village. I headed over to the Chocolate Works stand and bought a $13 hot chocolate with toppings. Overall, I thought the taste was rich and the marshmallow was delicious.
The West Village
After stopping at Ralph’s, I walked for about 35 minutes to arrive at the West Village. I walked through the neighborhood to see bright Christmas lights and decor. There are local shops to explore and do some last-minute Christmas Shopping. In addition to shopping, the neighborhood has many festively decorated restaurants, such as Rosemary’s, where I ate lunch. Rosemary’s features Italian food, and I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka pasta for $18, which I would rate it a 10/10 for taste.
Winner
After visiting all of these locations, I think that the Bryant Park Winter Village is the winner of these NYC top attractions. All of the attractions are accessible, and you do not need to pay for entry. The ambiance is amazing, and if you have a chance to go to NYC during the Christmas season, I would definitely make a stop here.
Featured Image by Addie Callaway ’27
