You haven’t seen your college roommate and friends in ages. Your team has been working its a** off this year. And you are due for a big night out that’ll bring water cooler stories the next day. Whatever your reasons, these are the places to go for NYC holiday dinners done right.
Mēdüzā Mediterrania
The Neighborhood: Meatpacking District
If Mykonos isn’t in the cards this holiday season, Mēdüzā Mediterrania is the next best thing. A night here feels like a trip to the Greek islands, right in the heart of the Meatpacking District. Order a spritz and enjoy the live DJ sets, while you dive into a menu paying homage to Mediterranean beach towns. Who doesn’t want oysters and caviar at Christmas? Be in the middle of the action in the main dining room or book Taylor’s room—the private space where Taylor, Travis, Patrick, and Brittany dined.
The Corner Store
The Neighborhood: SoHo
You’ll be a hero if you score a reservation here for your holiday dinner. And you must have good blackmail material if you can actually get a resy. The scene’s electric—yes, that’s Gigi over there—but the food is also a draw. It’s comfort food elevated: cream cheese croutons on the Caesar, lobster caviar rolls, wagyu french dip. For drinks, The Corner Store goes hard on the martinis. Tableside dirty martini service? Say less.
Beefbar
The Neighborhood: Tribeca
If you’re looking for a man in finance, 6 ‘5, blue eyes, trust fund, he’s eating a $500 steak here. Born in Monte-Carlo, Beefbar has gone global. Beefbar serves a classic New York Strip, but you might be better off trying one of their other beef dishes, like bao buns, wagyu bolognese, or Korean BBQ. Beefbar is the perfect place to mingle with financiers, chill to the live DJ, and fend off the impending seasonal depression.
Port Sa’id
The Neighborhood: SoHo
The holidays are all about family, and Port Sa’id is where you go to break bread family-style. They literally have an entire section on the menu called “Bread Creatures.” The 4,000-square-foot restaurant in SoHo, with a vinyl library and DJ set, feels like a lofted Williamsburg living room. It’s a place to listen to good music, eat with friends, and capture the warm vibes you can sometimes only find in a Mediterranean home.
The Grill
The Neighborhood: Midtown East
This is as grand dame NYC as it gets. You know you’ve made it if you’re eating the $30 crudité and watching your pasta sauce made tableside in an antique press wheeled around the dining room. The Grill is classic New York—the kind of place Mr. Big would dine if it existed back in Sex and the City. And it’s the perfect place to soak in the city’s holiday glamor. This is definitely the spot to get a prime rib, served via trolley service right at your table.
Baccarat
The Neighborhood: Midtown
There is only one way to describe Baccarat: fancy, fancy, fancy. Laurent-Perrier on tap (okay, not quite on tap but free flowing), Jouffre silk lounge seating, and Baccarat crystal chandeliers donning every part of the ceiling. If you want to pretend like you made it to Paris for the holidays, Baccarat is serving a French-American Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day meal. But before you eat, have a drink at The Bar, where the red walls and black-and-white checkered floor set the scene for the classy meal that follows.
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FAQs
Q: Do any of the restaurants on the list of NYC holiday dinners have a dress code?
A: Mēdüzā Mediterrania, Beefbar, The Grill, and Baccarat all encourage business casual or cocktail attire.
Q: Are any of the restaurants on the list of NYC holiday dinners offering prix fixe menus for the holidays?
A: Baccarat and The Grill have already announced prix fixe Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners.
Q: Do any of the restaurants on the list of NYC host private events?
A: All the restaurants listed are able to host private events, but The Corner Store requires full or partial buyout of the restaurant.
