From luxury classics to design-driven retreats, these Christmas Hotels in NYC capture the mood of the season with thoughtful details and seamless hospitality.
There is something unmistakable about waking up in New York in December. The streets are still quiet, the sky has that pale winter brightness, and somewhere downstairs a lobby is already glowing, trees lit, garlands draped, and the first guests settling into armchairs with coffee as the city begins to stir. It feels cinematic, familiar, and new all at once.
The Best Christmas Hotels in NYC
In 2025, the best Christmas Hotels in NYC are not just decorating. They are building full holiday worlds. Think in-room Christmas trees, rooftop chalets overlooking the skyline, carolers in the lobby, menus written solely for the season, and suites that feel more like private December apartments than hotel rooms. These stays turn a holiday trip into something deeply felt, a mood you carry with you long after checkout.
For more ways to experience the season, explore our curated guide to the Best Things to Do in NYC in December, from festive markets to winter-only cultural highlights.
Below is a curated look at standout Christmas hotels in New York City for 2025, places that don’t simply host your visit, but help shape the entire experience around it.
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The Plaza Hotel
📍 Location: 768 Fifth Avenue — Midtown, Manhattan
Few addresses in New York signal the holiday season with such immediate clarity. The Plaza, perched at the edge of Central Park, does not simply decorate for Christmas; it stages a full seasonal tableau. Its lobby and promenade unfold in layers of warm gold lighting, opulent garlands, and trees positioned with an eye for symmetry and drama. Nothing feels excessive. Everything feels intentional, as though the space has been quietly anticipating December all year.
The charm of staying here begins the moment you step into your suite. Select rooms come fully dressed for the season with in-room trees, floral arrangements, and small festive touches that make the space feel lived-in rather than styled. The hotel’s “Suitest Season of All” offer amplifies this even further, with certain suites featuring a seven-foot decorated tree, a festive floral arrangement, and a holiday welcome amenity that makes the space feel like a private December retreat from the moment you arrive.
Afternoon tea at The Palm Court becomes its own December ritual, tiered trays of pastries and seasonal sweets collected under the glow of the stained-glass dome. It is busy, yes, but never rushed. Evenings shift the mood to something softer: cocktails at The Champagne Bar after a walk through Central Park, or a slow wander along Fifth Avenue for the windows and the Rockefeller Center tree. The Plaza holds all of that energy. The glamour, the nostalgia, the city’s cinematic shimmer—without losing its sense of ease.
Good for: Travelers who want classic New York glamour; families who cherish the Home Alone 2 nostalgia, and anyone who wants Central Park woven into their December stay at one of the classic Christmas Hotels in NYC.
Holiday Offer Details
Availability: Book through December 31, 2025, for stays from November 12, 2025, through January 5, 2026.
This offer applies to Junior Suites, Edwardian Suites, Pulitzer Suites, Carnegie Suites, Penthouse Suites, and Vanderbilt Suites. A one-night deposit is required at booking; cancellations are permitted up to 30 days before arrival. New reservations only, and the offer cannot be combined with other promotions. Subject to availability.
Lotte New York Palace
📍 Location: 455 Madison Avenue [Between 50th and 51st Streets] — Midtown, Manhattan
There is a moment every December when you enter the courtyard of Lotte New York Palace and the season snaps into focus. The towering tree, framed by the hotel’s ornate brownstone façade and the spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, shines against the winter sky, creating a holiday scene that delights both locals and visitors alike. It is a moment when passers-by pause without realizing it, drawn into a vision that feels both grand and quietly timeless.
Inside, the sense of ceremony continues. Select Holiday Suites arrive fully dressed: a tree positioned in the corner, garlands and seasonal details woven throughout the room, and warm lighting that makes the space feel more like a December apartment than a hotel suite. Children can slip letters into the dedicated Santa mailbox and receive a reply. An old-fashioned ritual that somehow still feels sincere.
The location deepens the appeal. St. Patrick’s Cathedral sits directly across the street; Rockefeller Center’s rink and tree are a short walk away, and Fifth Avenue’s holiday windows begin right outside the door. You can spend the evening moving through the nearby lights, including a stop at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. And return to a courtyard that feels like a private, softly illuminated square in the middle of the city.
Good for: Families and multigenerational groups who want tradition woven into their stay. Children who love a little Santa magic, couples who want to be footsteps from St. Patrick’s, Rockefeller Center, and Fifth Avenue’s iconic displays.
Plan a Getaway
Savor a slow breakfast at VILLARD, wander along Fifth Avenue’s boutiques, and slip into Central Park when the light is soft. With the hotel’s curated packages and “Only At The Palace” seasonal offers, your stay becomes less about checking in and more about collecting small, memorable moments in the city.
Holiday Offer & Booking Info
Lotte New York Palace runs seasonal packages under its “Only at The Palace” program. And for 2025, the hotel offers holiday-themed suites and exclusive seasonal add-ons—decorated rooms, festive touches, and curated amenities that vary by suite category and dates. If you are planning a holiday stay, check availability, inclusions, and updated terms directly on the official offers page.
Book Your Stay
https://www.lottenypalace.com/exclusive-offers
The Peninsula New York
📍 Location: 700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street — Midtown, Manhattan
There is a particular kind of elegance that The Peninsula carries year-round, but in December it takes on a quiet theatricality. Greenery is layered through the lobby with precision, warm lighting softens every corner, and the décor leans festive without tipping into excess. It is the kind of space where you can settle in with a drink and watch the season take shape around you with ease.
The Peninsula’s holiday programming has its own cadence. Afternoon tea becomes a December ritual. From there, it is an easy walk to Fifth Avenue’s most dazzling seasonal displays, including the famed Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show, one of the city’s most spectacular winter traditions. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus are crafted with intention rather than grandeur, and New Year’s Eve feels more like an intimate gathering than a countdown frenzy.
Above it all, the rooftop terrace turns into a wintry retreat, often styled as an alpine chalet overlooking Fifth Avenue. Blankets, string lights, and hot drinks come together against shimmering city views, atmospheric without feeling themed.
Rooms and suites echo this mood. Seasonal touches are woven in thoughtfully, and curated holiday packages add layers of experience, from dining to wellness to small, memorable city moments. The hotel’s Holly Jolly New York Holiday package extends this even further with festive in-room touches, welcome cocktails, a guided window-shopping tour, and access to Top of the Rock, available for stays from November 14 through December 31, 2025.
Good for: Travelers who want classic five-star service, a strong food-and-beverage program, and a festive hotel that maintains an atmosphere of calm sophistication.
Holiday Offer & Booking Info
The Peninsula’s 2025 Holly Jolly New York Holiday package includes themed experiences such as a decorative window-shopping tour, in-room festive details, Top of the Rock access, and seasonal cocktails at Clement Bar or the rooftop chalet. Available for stays November 14–December 31, 2025. Check availability and updated terms directly on the hotel’s offers page.
Book Your Stay
https://www.peninsula.com/en/new-york/special-offers/rooms/holly-jolly-new-york-holiday
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
📍 Location: 50 Central Park South — Midtown, Manhattan
There is a particular kind of New York morning that only happens along Central Park South in December. Quiet, pale light over the trees and the soft clatter of carriages lining the curb. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park captures that feeling effortlessly. Its façade and interiors are trimmed with garlands, white lights, and classic gold details that read as understated holiday elegance rather than ornamentation.
Inside, the hotel leans toward the intimacy of a polished townhouse. A gleaming lobby tree anchors the room, framed by winter greenery and lighting softened for the season. It is elegant without theatrics. A place where you instinctively lower your voice, settle into a club chair, and let the city shift into a gentler pace around you.
Many rooms and suites face directly onto Central Park, giving you front-row views of Wollman Rink, horse-drawn carriages, and wintry paths. There is something deeply cinematic about sipping coffee in a robe while the park wakes up below your window.
Holiday programming aligns with the hotel’s quiet-luxury ethos. Champagne-focused brunches, thoughtfully paced Christmas menus, and a concierge team adept at crafting the winter day you imagine. Whether ice-skating, a carriage ride, or an afternoon on the Upper West Side, bring the season to life. Seasonal holiday packages build on this mood, adding in-room festive touches and curated experiences that make a December stay feel personal.
It is the kind of base that works beautifully for travelers who alternate between exploration and pause. Long walks, long meals, and long windows of stillness that allow December to feel like December.
Good for: Travelers who want tranquil views, quieter luxury, and a refined stay that sits between Midtown’s energy and the calm of Central Park and the Upper West Side.
Plan a Getaway
Begin the day overlooking Central Park, wander through Fifth Avenue’s boutiques, and ease into evenings shaped by Champagne or a long, lingering dinner. With The Ritz-Carlton’s curated seasonal packages, the hotel turns winter in New York into something intimate, thoughtful, and entirely your own.
The Ultimate Rockefeller Holiday Experience
A private, curated journey through Rockefeller Center, including an insider art and architecture tour, VIP access to Top of the Rock with a private SKYLIFT ride, and The Beam Experience. And extended ice skating at The Rink with a private chalet for food and beverage service. Guests return to an in-room Christmas tree, a Rockefeller-themed gift basket, and a professional family photograph beneath the Rockefeller Center tree.
Availability: Daily from December 4, 2025, through January 10, 2026. Begins at $10,000; requires one week’s notice; cannot be combined with promotions or Points Redemption stays.
Home for the Holidays
A more intimate package featuring an in-room Christmas tree, a keepsake FAO Schwarz ornament, and a holiday-themed puzzle for a cozy evening indoors.
Valid stay dates: November 26–December 25, 2025. Notes: No Sunday or Monday check-ins; reservation must be booked at least 7 days prior; subject to availability.
Book Your Stay
https://ritzcarltonnewyorkcentralpark.realtimereservation.com
1 Hotel Central Park
📍 Location: 1414 Sixth Avenue — Midtown, Manhattan
For travelers who prefer their holiday season with more texture than sparkle, 1 Hotel Central Park offers a different interpretation of December in New York. The hotel’s “urban woodland” aesthetic—reclaimed wood, living greenery, tactile materials—takes on a richer depth this time of year. Instead of chandeliers and gilded garlands, you get a nature-forward kind of glamour that feels modern, grounding, and quietly luxurious.
In December, the lobby becomes a softened winter tableau. Evergreen garlands blend into the existing design, seasonal florals warm the space, and the lighting shifts in a way that evokes the warmth of a mountain lodge rather than a Midtown hotel. It is the kind of lobby where you instinctively exhale, a welcome contrast to the pace outside.
The food-and-beverage program follows the same ethos. Seasonal cocktails lean into herbal notes, infused syrups, and winter citrus; menus highlight local ingredients with care rather than performance. Some of the hotel’s holiday packages extend this feeling even further, adding touches like dining credits, festive in-room amenities. Or curated Rockefeller Center experiences that connect the city’s holiday spirit to the hotel’s grounded sensibility.
The location adds another layer of appeal. Steps from the southern edge of Central Park and within walking distance of Wollman Rink, holiday markets, and Fifth Avenue’s windows, the hotel becomes an effortless home base for December wanderings. Mornings begin with a quiet loop through the park, afternoons with shopping or museums, and evenings with a return to a lobby that feels restorative rather than overstimulating.
Good for: Eco-minded travelers; couples who prefer softness and contemporary design over ornamentation. Anyone who wants Central Park woven naturally into their December stay.
Plan a Getaway
Holiday Offer & Booking Info
Winter Solstice
Save up to 30% on accommodations and receive a $25 daily dining credit for Jams or in-room dining. Each stay donates $10 to Housing Works, pairing a festive retreat with meaningful impact. Book by: March 19, 2026.
Festive in the City
A more expansive holiday experience featuring a $300 dining credit, $200 FAO Schwarz gift card, VIP in-room amenity, airport transportation, and a curated Rockefeller Center holiday experience, including a guided tour, exclusive tree viewing, hidden rooftop access, official tree photo, Champagne toast at The Weather Room, the Skylift, and Private Beam Experience, plus a digital photo pass and retail discount.
Book Your Stay
https://www.1hotels.com/central-park/offers/festive-in-the-city
The St. Regis New York
📍 Location: Two East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue — Midtown, Manhattan
Some hotels lean into holiday décor; The St. Regis steps into December as though it were born for it. There is a distinct old-Hollywood elegance to the way the season unfolds here. Sweeping floral arrangements, a dramatic staircase that invites slow ascents, and chandeliers that cast the kind of warm, flattering light you only find in timeless films. The lobby feels composed, glamorous, and deeply intentional, as if designed for the small rituals that make the holidays meaningful.
Seasonal dining is central to the hotel’s festive rhythm. Afternoon tea at Astor Court becomes a December staple, complete with live music, tiered trays, and a steady hum of conversation. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus bring a sense of occasion without theatrics, dinners that feel celebratory, not staged.
The King Cole Bar remains one of Manhattan’s most storied rooms, especially during the holidays. It is a place for martinis, Champagne, and conversations that stretch longer than planned, shaped by warm lighting and deep leather banquettes. The room captures the romance of old New York with effortless precision.
Step outside, and Fifth Avenue’s holiday energy greets you instantly: window displays, lights, shoppers, the buzz of Midtown in December. But the beauty of staying here is the contrast. The ability to return to a space that feels quieter, more polished, and entirely removed from the rush.
Good for: Travelers seeking traditional European-style elegance. Cocktail lovers who appreciate a storied bar. And anyone chasing the refined, cinematic romance of New York in the holidays.
Dream Midtown
📍 Location: 210 West 55th Street — Midtown, Manhattan
Dream Midtown is not a legacy grand hotel, and that is precisely what makes its holiday season so memorable. In December, the property embraces a more exuberant kind of festive spirit. The lobby and public spaces explode into color: ornaments, lights, and whimsical vignettes layered with a sense of high-energy fun. It is unapologetically bold, a sharp contrast to the city’s more traditional holiday palettes.
The rooftop is one of the hotel’s strongest assets this time of year. With skyline views stretching toward Broadway marquees and Midtown’s glowing corridors, it becomes an ideal spot for a pre-dinner cocktail or a post-show nightcap. There is a youthful momentum to the space. Music, conversation, and lights reflecting off nearby towers capture the social side of the season.
Its location reinforces that energy. Dream Midtown sits within easy walking distance of nearly every classic holiday landmark: Columbus Circle’s Holiday Market, Central Park’s southern edge, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and, of course, Rockefeller Center. For travelers trying to fit as much December magic as possible into a short stay, this address is a strategic advantage.
It is not a quiet hotel, and it does not pretend to be. Instead, it offers a lively, colorful take on the holidays that feels fresh and playful, the kind of place where a trip naturally stretches later into the night.
Good for: Friends’ trips; younger or social travelers; anyone who enjoys bold décor and a high-energy atmosphere close to New York’s most iconic holiday attractions.
The Mark Hotel
📍 Location: Madison Avenue at 77th Street — Upper East Side, Manhattan
If Manhattan has a residential heartbeat during the holidays, it is on the Upper East Side. And The Mark captures that spirit with an understated confidence. The hotel’s iconic striped awning and floral displays take on subtle seasonal layers in December, transforming the entrance into an elegant winter vignette without sacrificing its signature black-and-white aesthetic.
Inside, the atmosphere shifts to something chic, composed, and quietly glamorous. Festive greenery is styled with architectural precision, and florals appear in sculptural arrangements rather than overflowing displays. The result is a lobby that feels curated rather than decorated. A space that embraces the holidays while maintaining The Mark’s modern, fashion-forward identity.
Holiday offerings often include thoughtful touches: carriage rides, in-room treats, or menus crafted by Jean-Georges. The hotel’s more immersive packages, including seasonal suite experiences, extend that sense of personalization even further, shaping December through detail rather than display.
The setting adds another layer of charm. Within minutes, you can be at the Met, moving along Madison Avenue’s boutiques, or wandering the quieter paths of Central Park. Days flow with ease. Late museum mornings, long walks, a stop for hot chocolate or Champagne in the lounge as dusk settles over the neighborhood.
For travelers who prefer a more intimate, refined version of the holidays, The Mark offers a polished sanctuary away from Midtown’s intensity.
Good for: Guests who love discreet luxury; art and fashion lovers; families and couples who prefer the calm, residential pace of the Upper East Side over Midtown’s holiday bustle.
Plan a Getaway
Begin the day with a walk along Madison Avenue, settle into slow museum mornings, and return to a lobby shaped for quiet elegance. With The Mark’s tailored seasonal offerings and elevated culinary program, every December stay feels intentionally crafted.
Holiday Offer & Booking Info
The Night Before Christmas at The Mark
A two-night experience that transforms the hotel’s iconic 10,000 sq. ft. penthouse into a private holiday retreat. Personalized stockings, a fully adorned Christmas tree with ornaments from Bergdorf Goodman, and surprises for every family member—including pets—set the tone. The experience includes a private performance of The Nutcracker and skating beneath the stars on the penthouse’s private rooftop rink.
Stay Dates: December 1, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Booking Window: November 3 – December 28, 2025
Availability: Throughout December; subject to availability.
Book Your Stay
https://www.themarkhotel.com/special-offers/
The Standard, High Line
📍 Location: 848 Washington Street — Meatpacking District, Manhattan
If Christmas in New York feels most alive to you when paired with skyline views, creative energy, and nights that stretch a little too late, The Standard, High Line delivers that downtown mood effortlessly. Suspended above the High Line with floor-to-ceiling glass, the hotel frames the Hudson River and cityscape in a way that feels cinematic, especially in winter, when the light sharpens and the evenings arrive early.
In December, the rooftop transforms into a cold-weather escape that’s equal parts cozy and atmospheric. Transparent igloos or cabin-style pop-ups offer blankets, hot cocktails, and twinkling lights with sweeping river views. It is festive without being themed, dramatic without being performative, a quintessential downtown balance.
The property carries this creative energy throughout. Holiday pop-up bars, seasonal drinks, and a social, mixed crowd give the hotel a sense of movement and spontaneity. It is the kind of place where a quick drink becomes a lingering night, and where locals and travelers blend into one easy, lively scene.
Step outside, and the neighborhood amplifies that rhythm. The West Village, Chelsea galleries, the Whitney Museum, and the High Line are all within a short walk. On cold evenings, the High Line in particular takes on a quiet, almost cinematic magic. An elevated perspective of the city is reserved for those willing to bundle up and wander.
For travelers who want a contemporary, nightlife-forward version of the holidays, The Standard offers a stylish, spirited base that feels distinctly downtown.
Good for: Couples and groups seeking a modern, design-forward Christmas stay; travelers drawn to nightlife and creative energy; anyone who treasures dramatic river views paired with festive winter evenings.
Why These Christmas Hotels in NYC Stand Out
There is no single “best” Christmas hotel in New York, only the one that mirrors the kind of season you want to step into. The city holds multiple versions of December, and each neighborhood, each lobby, each view offers a different interpretation of the holidays.
Match the neighborhood to your mood
Midtown, especially around Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, puts you in the center of the city’s holiday heartbeat. Lights, window displays, Radio City, Rockefeller Center: everything is immediate, loud, and cinematic.
The Upper East Side moves at a gentler rhythm. Museums, boutiques, and residential streets create a softer, more polished December, ideal if you want the season without the overwhelm.
Downtown offers a different kind of holiday energy entirely: independent restaurants, creative spaces, river views, and nightlife that stretches long after Midtown quiets down.
Decide how much Holiday you want inside the Hotel.
Some properties embrace the season with full theatricality, towering trees, ornate displays, and lobby moments designed to be photographed. Lotte New York Palace and Dream Midtown fall beautifully into this category.
Others, like 1 Hotel Central Park or The Mark, offer a more restrained, design-led interpretation: festive, yes, but subtle, calm, and architectural.
Look closely at this year’s festive programming
Afternoon teas, special menus, rooftop chalets, Santa mailboxes, and in-room trees, these offerings shift each season. If any of these details shape your vision of December, confirm the 2025 programming before booking. The right experience can transform a stay from comfortable to unforgettable.
Planning Your Stay at the Top Christmas Hotels in NYC
However you choose to spend your time, staying somewhere that genuinely embraces the holidays turns New York in December from a busy city break into something far more cinematic: a lobby that feels like a warm landing, a window that frames the lights just right, a stay that becomes part of the story.
And when you choose well, the hotel becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes part of the memory, the moment, the season itself.
