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If you’re visiting New York City in the winter, Bryant Park Winter Village is a must.
Right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, this festive market has everything—free admission ice skating, holiday shopping, and a seriously impressive lineup of food vendors.
As a foodie, I went in with one mission: try as many weird and wonderful bites as possible.
Here are the most delicious things I found.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Bryant Park Winter Village is a seasonal open-air market that transforms the park into a yearly holiday wonderland.
Set up around the park’s ice skating rink, the holiday market features over 170 holiday shops where you can shop for unique gifts.
You can also enjoy delicious food at the lodge and take part in festive activities, such as enjoying the massive Christmas tree.
I have been a handful of times, and each year feels like a new visit!
Everything I Ate At Bryant Park Winter Village
One of the biggest attractions at the holiday market is all of the viral foods that you can try.
Here is everything I ate!
1. S’mores N’ More
I knew I couldn’t leave the village without grabbing a hot chocolate from S’mores N’More.
This spot is one of the busiest in the Winter Village—and for good reason!
They’re famous for their marshmallows and s’mores—hence the name—which they torch right in front of you. I decided to get a hot chocolate topped with a marshmallow.
With so many marshmallow flavors to choose from, I landed on the strawberry Pop-Tart.
Once I made my choice, the talented employee used a torch to crisp it up to perfection.
The line here can get incredibly long, with some people waiting an hour or more.
To avoid the wait, I came first thing in the morning since we had ice skating reservations at 10:00 AM.
We only waited in line for 10 minutes and enjoyed our hot chocolate before hitting the ice skating rink.
2. Bao By Kaya
Next up were the tasty Bao Buns by Kaya.
Bao by Kaya is a popular spot at Bryant Park’s Winter Village, known for serving Taiwanese street food.
Their Gua Bao, soft steamed buns filled with options like braised pork belly, fried chicken, or vegetarian fillings, is a big hit.
We tried the combo platter with veggie spring rolls, curry chicken bao buns, and a tofu version.
It was a quick and convenient spot to refuel after exploring the market.
While it was good, it wasn’t my favorite foodie stop in Bryant Park Winter Village.
3. Pickle Me Pete
Let me start by saying that I absolutely love pickles, so stopping at Pickle Me Pete was a must.
This small pickle shop offers a variety of pickles, from pickle-on-a-stick to pickle flights.
I went for the pickle flight, which featured classic flavors like Half Sour, and Kosher alongside unique options like Wasabi.
It was much bigger than I expected and surprisingly filling. I also loved the little card that explained each flavor.
4. Lazy Dog
My favorite stop on my foodie tour through Bryant Park Winter Village was Lazy Dog, known for its Korean corn dogs.
They offer a variety of bizarre corn dogs, including options like Hot Cheeto.
While I usually would go for that choice, I couldn’t pass up the Ramen Corn Dog! It was too weird not to try!
The crispy batter was coated with ramen noodles for extra crunch.
It was filled with cheese and a hot dog—crunchy and delicious with every bite.
I mean, it comes as no surprise that I love hot dogs. I even traveled to Brooklyn this past summer to try the Hot Dog Cocktail!
Read my Honest Review Of The Hot Dog Cocktail In Brooklyn! A weird yet tasty NYC cocktail.
5. Saucy Greek
Our last stop was Koukli Saucy Greek, where I couldn’t resist trying a Baklava Hot Chocolate.
This rich drink combines the bold flavors of hot chocolate with the nutty sweetness of baklava, a Greek dessert made from layers of flaky phyllo dough, nuts, and honey syrup.
Since Baklava is one of my favorite Greek desserts, I knew I had to give it a try.
It was absolutely delicious, topped with a piece of baklava for an extra treat.
6. ToastieLand
I stopped by ToastieLand at the Bryant Park Winter Village to try their viral rainbow grilled cheese.
Partly because it’s impossible not to stare at, and partly because I needed to know if it was as gooey as it looks.
Spoiler alert, it absolutely is. The bread was crispy and flavorful, and the cheese was equally as good!
Where Is Bryant Park?
The park, located between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues.
Bryant Park Winter Village Activities
Here are a few other activities you can enjoy after finishing your foodie tour of Bryant Park Winter Village.
Ice Skating
One of the biggest draws of Bryant Park Winter Village is its free ice skating rink, which is open from late October to early March.
It’s smaller than some other rinks in NYC, but it’s still popular!
The rink offers skates for rent, making it easy to join in on the fun, and it’s a wonderful way to work up an appetite before hitting the food vendors!
Holiday Shopping
With more than 170 kiosks, the market offers everything from handmade jewelry to specialty foods and holiday decor.
It’s a great spot for finding one-of-a-kind gifts, especially if you want to get something with a personal touch.
When is Bryant Park Winter Village Open?
Dates for 2025 are not open yet! It is likely open in late October 2025and close in March 2026.
Where is Bryant Park?
The park is centrally located in Midtown Manhattan, close to Times Square and 5th Avenue.
Explore More of NYC
New York City is one of my favorite places in the world! Every time I go, I find something different.
After exploring Bryant Park Winter Village, make sure to walk down 5th Avenue to see all of the beautiful holiday window displays.
Looking for more of my favorite NYC foodie spots? Read all my New York City Foodie Guides.
One of my favorite things to do in the city is to grab a creative cocktail at the hidden bars. Here are 8 Secret NYC Speakeasies You Need to Find in 2025!
You can also check out my entire collection of New York City Travel Guides.
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