Bryant Park Winter Village — Attraction in New York

Absolutely loved this holiday market. As others mentioned, the vibes are spot on. There’s a wide variety of unique and not-so-unique(which is fine) shops. Some of my favorite spots were Just Stars; a very rare find that sells Berlin-made handcrafted star lanterns that you really don’t see anywhere else and they only ship within EU so you can only find them at select holiday markets throughout the world! Obviously I bought some. I also loved Pinky Pilots stand, which consists of very affordable art created by Megu Fukuda; everything is super cute and one-of-a-kind as well. She has a lot of pieces that highlight the beauty of the concrete jungle(NYC). I picked up a few cat pieces and very much feel the need to go back for more of her art. Cantina Royal is a great place to pick up some top tier hot sauce with a network of people that are worth supporting. I saw one of the employees go out of his way to protect a family of shoppers from a crazy, nanobyte-nonsense-spewing airhead who was talking some smack about the family’s child, to which the father didn’t respond lightly to, and the airhead started to cause an uproar. If you’re reading this and not from NYC, please don’t look at the crazies that walk around NYC, pay them no mind and don’t respond even if they say something out of pocket to you! The Cantina Royal employee did a better job than the security at Bryant Park. So, to touch base on that, the security at Bryant Park is NOT up to par. Lazy boi Fernandez was leisurely walking over to the scene of the crazy nanobyter airhead situation, instead of hustling all 5’4 of himself to the poor family being harassed by the crazy dude. The Cantina Royal employee started to ask Fernandez why he was walking over so slowly if he could see that there was a situation going on and Fernandez got all types upset at the Cantina Royal employee instead of immediately trying to control the crazy dude situation. Shame on Fernandez! Shout out to Cantina Royal for being amazing and protecting that family; it was refreshing to see. I’m taking a star off because of lazy boi Fernandez. The food at winter village was nothing too spectacular to me but that’s probably because I’m from NY so I’ve been there, done that, with most of it and anything that I haven’t tried before was pricey with a long line. I highly suggest hitting Matto which is a 8 min walk from the winter village! Download the app and enjoy $2.50 coffees and select food items. I will be back to this holiday market for more star lanterns and more Pinky Pilot art! You could spend hours here easily, so I didn’t get to hit all the shops that I wanted to. The shop keepers take breaks too so keep that in mind when shopping! We ended up forgetting to go back to some stands since they were closed for 30 mins and there’s so much to look at that you can easily forget to circle...

So, I will start off by saying that the whole atmosphere and setup of the winter village was excellent and very well done. I am envious that something similar doesn't exist in Toronto where we are from (although the potential is there).

The reason for the 3 stars comes down to one issue....the rental skates. First off, the price of the skates is shameful. They advertise "free skating" but for the majority of the people (tourists) who are coming here, they obviously need to rent skates. They use a sort of 'surge pricing', where depending on the time of day, the price of skate rentals fluctuates, with the higher price being later on in the afternoon/evening and on weekends. We aren't talking a few dollars for rentals, the pricing was above $40 to rent skates at the peak periods! For this reason, we chose to come early morning, as we were staying across the street at the Bryant Park Hotel.

In addition to the pricing, the skates were so dull that in my opinion, it is actually dangerous for someone who is a experienced skater. As there was no edge at all, the moment you go to push off with your leg, instead of biting into the ice, the skate will simply slide backwards. This resulted in a very slow and frustrating few laps around the rink. Thinking that this was just an issue with my pair of skates, I brought them back to the rental area and asked if I could exchange them for a sharper pair. The attendant would NOT believe me that they were dull, and actually came around the booth to check them for herself?! I am sorry, what is the big deal with simply changing out a pair of skates? So, after finally convincing them to change the skates, I quickly realized that all their skates were the same way....extremely dull. You could run your finger over the blade with no fear of cutting yourself. I do understand their reasoning for not sharpening them: liability (less chance of cutting yourself) and less wear and tear on the ice surface; however, to an experienced skater, it completely ruined the experience for me. The worst part about the skate exchange, was that as I was walking away with the new pair of skates to put them on, I could hear the attendant telling her co-worker that there was nothing wrong with the other skates and that I was wrong....totally within earshot.

Overall, the setup, ambience, and all was awesome....but the quality of skates and service at the skate shop definitely soured...

The Bryant Park Winter Village transforms one of New York’s most beloved parks into a festive winter wonderland each year, bringing together locals and visitors alike. Located just blocks away from Times Square and surrounded by Manhattan’s iconic skyscrapers, Bryant Park is, in many ways, New York’s second most cherished green space after Central Park.

A Seasonal Experience Like No Other

Bryant Park Winter Village offers a unique combination of holiday cheer, shopping, dining, and entertainment, creating an immersive experience that feels like a holiday market straight out of a storybook. Visitors can stroll through the charming rows of boutique-style shops, where they’ll find handcrafted gifts, local artwork, and holiday treats from artisans and small businesses.

Ice Skating and More

One of the main attractions is the free-admission ice skating rink—the only one of its kind in New York City. Skaters can glide beneath the city lights, surrounded by views of Midtown’s architectural skyline. Skate rentals are available for those who don’t have their own, making it easy for everyone to join in on the fun.

A Culinary Treat in the Heart of the Village

For those looking to grab a bite, the Lodge Deck offers seasonal dishes and warm beverages to keep visitors cozy. From hot chocolate to festive cocktails, the Lodge Deck provides a welcoming spot to warm up and take in the holiday ambiance.

Why Bryant Park is a NYC Essential

Beyond Winter Village, Bryant Park itself is a treasure year-round, with an accessible location and a rich history as one of New York City’s oldest public parks. Its unique, welcoming design—filled with open lawns, shaded walkways, and iconic green chairs—makes it an inviting place for gatherings, events, and a peaceful escape in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle.

For anyone visiting New York in the winter, Bryant Park Winter Village is a must-see. It’s a place where you can experience the magic of the holiday season while enjoying the cultural and architectural richness of one of New York’s most...