Xmas in NYC. Stay? Eat? Fun?

November 3, 2008 12:54 PM

Xmas in NYC - where to stay? where to eat? what to do?

Hi all. My girlfriend and I are going to be in NYC from xmas eve to 27th december. We will have just been exposed to my extended family - and will therefore be seeking solace in the city. We're on an okay budget for hotels (up to about 250 dollars a night between us) but could go lower (definitely go lower - shouts the girlfriend from the next door room) if we can find the right sodding place. We'd like to have a romantic lunch on xmas day (I'm a chowhound so was thinking ?Jean-Georges) but again budgetary restrictions (though not culinary restrictions) apply. Also - ideas for cool/fun stuff to do would be really appreciated.

Thanks - you've all been legends all ready.

posted by you're only jung once to travel & transportation around New York, NY (12 answers total)

Stay at the Hudson and have Christmas Dinner at Balthazar.
posted by plexi at 1:07 PM on November 3, 2008

You're welcome.


Try wd 50 for food.


For $250 a night I would look in NJ for a hotel. You won't find anything decent in Manhattan at that rate especially during the Holidays.
posted by Zambrano at 1:35 PM on November 3, 2008

You could stay at the pod hotel, but would probably come close to $250 during Christmas even there. Doing a search on kayak.com, the Comfort Inn is coming in at $245 for those dates. The Comfort Inn is not a high-end chain.

There is a lovely Hyatt on the river in Jersey City, and you will have stunning views of Manhattan and transportation via the PATH right outside the hotel's front entrance. That might be under $250.

the point being, you're not going to have a lot of choice, and you'll need to book NOW to have any choice at all whatsoever. Please be wary of a deal that seems too good to be true, because it absolutely will be.

providing data on cool/fun stuff in manhattan is almost impossible without some information about who you are and what you like to do and how much you want to spend. please, everyone reading this question, help us help you with future questions by at least telling us if you're opera buffs or you're students and flat broke or if you're photography enthusiasts or if your favorite book as a child was Harriet the Spy and want to see the neighborhood in that book. Otherwise, it's a big city with a million stories.
posted by micawber at 2:04 PM on November 3, 2008

If you cannot find a place in Jersey City, there's the Pan American out in Elmhurst Queens (Grand Avenue subway station on the R/V/G lines) that can probably be had for $150-200. However, you will not have a nice view of anything there, and it will be about a 30 minute subway ride into the city. There also isn't much near the hotel that would be of interest to a tourist. Can't vouch for the place since I've never had a reason to stay there, so read reviews - I just notice the tourists always getting off at that subway station.
posted by Calloused_Foot at 2:12 PM on November 3, 2008

If you're so inclined, there are plenty of CouchSurfers in NYC. Jean Gorges is certainly a steal at lunch. Hit up Momofuku Noodle for lunch and Ssam for dinner. Get the pork buns.

Use the Chowhound Manhattan boards for more specific suggestions.
posted by GilloD at 2:22 PM on November 3, 2008

Go to hotels.com for a place to stay. Right now the Hilton, Sheraton, and Grand Hyatt in midtown are all available for those dates and under $250/night. There are many other choices.
posted by lockedroomguy at 3:02 PM on November 3, 2008

thanks for all this. apols for not being more specific re likes and dislikes - like virtually everything except puppet theatres. I love music (all except wagner), great food, drinking, architecture. She loves art, illustration, design, fashion.

Also apols for spelling already as all ready. Unforgivable really.
posted by you're only jung once at 3:16 PM on November 3, 2008

Go to a Rangers game.

No not those Rangers, these Rangers.
posted by Zambrano at 5:46 PM on November 3, 2008

I really like the hotel roger williams in midtown but you have to see if your price can get you a special there as the usual room rate is a bit higher. it's well worth it if you can swing it though.
posted by krautland at 6:33 PM on November 3, 2008

If you are on a budget, I would not go to WD-50, especially if you are not really into molecular gastronomy or techno-emotional cooking or whatever they are calling it these days. WD-50 is also a very divisive restaurant, so caveat emptor.

Wherever you go, it will be crowded since between Christmas and New Year's is the second biggest tourist visit time of the year in NYC. Good luck finding a hotel!

NYC Virgin: getting into town, most commonly visited places, the basics of visiting NYC, events listings, and more.

See also:
What's open on Christmas Day in NYC?
Where to eat and drink in NYC on Christmas Day?
NYC on Christmas Eve
posted by kathryn at 10:08 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Try a sublet on craigslist.

This one looks good, I'm sure there are others. That will be a good way to find a deal.

Carlton Arms is interesting. Might be booked full though, it's popular.
posted by sondrialiac at 5:59 AM on November 4, 2008

If you are on a budget, I would not go to WD-50, especially if you are not really into molecular gastronomy or techno-emotional cooking or whatever they are calling it these days.

Seconding this. The menu at WD-50 may lure you in, but Wylie Dufresne's schtick is coming up with "alternative" ways to "create" food or some such twaddle, so his "eggs benedict" is actually a pair of croutons on a plate, with a cube of jello-ized egg beside each one and a small strip of bacon balanced atop them, with a smear of hollandaise sauce drizzled artfully between them. (Check out the picture.)

Personally, if I'm going to pay $31 for duck breast, I'd like there to be a BIT more food on my plate than he offers. I'd also like it to, y'know, LOOK like a duck breast.

...Clearly I am exhibit A in the "WD-50 can be divisive" category.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:55 AM on November 5, 2008