The Best Christmas Trees in NYC
Don't go to Rockefeller Center.
Have other people been seeing a 1000% increase in Gossip Girl memes lately or is my algorithm off? Either way, at this time of year, I can’t stop hearing the phrase “Have a holly jolly Christmas” in Kristen Bell’s voice and finding myself drawn to the Upper East Side.
Christmas in New York is as great as everyone makes it seem, but there is one specific thing I find to be extremely overrated: The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Even the thought of going near Rockefeller Center during the back half of December gives me a mild anxiety attack. The entire surrounding area is packed with people who don’t understand the basic rules of walking on New York City sidewalks, people wait in line for Magnolia Bakery cupcakes in the year of our lord 2023, and the subways are always a mess.
But even with all of those factors, I’d still probably make an annual pilgrimage if it was a good tree! But it isn’t. It’s just a giant tree in the middle of one of the worst parts of Midtown, with some lights on it. Whether you’re visiting the city in search of some magic or are a card carrying New Yorker hoping to catch the holiday spirit instead of one of those months-long colds that have been going around, here’s where you should go to see a way better tree:
The New York Public Library is home to my personal favorite Christmas tree. It’s very Dark Academia (appropriate for a library), and the decor extends throughout the building. Hang around having a photoshoot, if you want, but the more satisfying move is to bring a book and a notebook and hang out in the Rose Reading Room for a while after you take in the decor—just tell the security guards you’re there to study.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has my second favorite Christmas tree in the city. It’s covered in faux candles and sick 18th century angels, and comes with a Neapolitan Baroque Crèche. Similarly, The Met Cloisters does some very cool Medieval Christmastide decor.
The Plaza Hotel, naturally, has a fabulous Christmas display in the lobby. Dress nicely and walk confidently through the doors and you can see it for free.
The Washington Square Arch tree is simple, understated, and lovely. There’s not a lot going on, but it’s really nice to walk past at night after a cozy dinner date at The Lavaux, my favorite fondue spot in the West Village.