Get Into The Holiday Spirit At These 7 Winter Themed Pop-Ups In NYC

The holiday spirit is alive and well in New York City. This season some of New York’s favorite restaurants are taking that holiday spirit up a notch and completely transforming their spaces into a winter wonderland. Get your calendars out because you’re not going to want to miss reservations at these haute spots.

Eataly’s SERRA ALPINA by Birreria

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eataly

Eataly NYC Flatiron’s seasonal restaurant on the roof, SERRA ALPINA by Birreria, is finally open to New Yorkers and visitors looking to escape the cold city streets and features a warm, Alp-like setting inspired by the Stella Alpina (a rare flower found in the Northern Italian Alps). From the moment guests step into the restaurant, they will enter a winter wonderland featuring the snow-white flowers, twinkling lights, and views of the snowy city skyline through the retractable glass roof.

Beverage highlights include over 35 types of Amaro, Amaro-based specialty cocktails, cocktails infused with mountain herbs, and white and red versions of mulled wine. Dishes include gnochhi with maitake mushrooms and taleggio fonduta and fusilli with speck and radicchio.

Timing: Open now through Spring

Industry Kitchen

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Industry Kitchen

Industry Kitchen, the New-American restaurant on the water’s edge in the South Street Seaport, will be transformed to resemble a cozy holiday chalet on the water this winter. With exposed wood in modern-industrial digs, the restaurant has been adorned the ideal winter wonderland completely adorned with sparkling lights, Christmas greenery and tasty holiday treats. Guests are welcomed by twinkling white lights covering the overhead canopy, life-size reindeer families on the terrace, snow flocked Christmas trees and two giant nutcrackers lining the entry way. Garlands with glistening ornaments wrap around the ceilings, and decorated wreaths hang along the glass doors facing the river.

Indulge in new holiday dishes like the Gingernut Pizza, with a ginger crust, eggnog frosting, spicy pecans, candy canes and sprinkles. Festive libations include the Frozen Peppermint Slide, a giant shareable cocktail with Baileys, candy canes, peppermint bark and pretzel rods for a true Christmas in a cup, Spiked Hot Chocolate with Nutella and dark chocolate to warm you from head to toe.

Timing: Mid-November through the end of January

Snow Globe in the Sky at Ophelia

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ophelia Lounge NYC

Ophelia, the rooftop lounge located on the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower in Midtown East will be completely transformed this winter to resemble a shimmering snow globe in the sky. Designed to resemble an illuminating jewel box, the glass encased rooftop lounge will be decked out with magical holiday adornment evoking the feeling of being inside a snow globe. Expect garlands with thousands of crystals and sparkling snowflakes suspended from the 17-foot-tall ceiling in the main bar area and greenhouses, white sheepskin throws covering all of the plush furniture, golden candelabras and more.

Taste new decadent cocktails like the Rising Star, with cognac, rum, cinnamon simple syrup, and lotus cookie infused cream, the Fireside, with whiskey, kina lair d’or, lillet bloc, suze, and orange bitters, and desserts like churros and tiramisu.

Timing: Mid-November through the end of January

Midwinter Night’s Dream at PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown

Photo Credit: Courtesy of PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown
Paying homage to Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, the favored all-season rooftop PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown will be transformed into a whimsical garden. Midwinter Night’s Dream at PHD Terrace is designed to be a romantic and enchanted escape set high above the bustling streets of Manhattan with décor elements such as an ascending series of tiered winter floral installations, a floor-to-ceiling swing and a tunnel flooded with twinkling lights leading you to the mistletoe bars adorned with several hanging mistletoes, located at the East and West terraces.

Timing: Opens November 28th

Arlo-Arctica at Arlo Hotels

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Arlo Hotels
This winter, Arlo is transporting guests and locals to early 1900s Antarctica for a taste of arctic adventure, scenery and spirits at Arlo-Arctica. Launching in partnership with Shackleton Whisky and Symmetry Labs, both Arlo NoMad and Arlo SoHo are transforming their indoor and outdoor spaces to match the rugged atmosphere of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s now-famous 1907 Antarctica expedition to Finse.

Setting sail in 1907; Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship was stocked with Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky. The expedition left behind three crates, hidden deep beneath their hut, eventually engulfed by the ice. Nearly a century later, the crates of whisky were discovered frozen in the ice, and the Shackleton brand has set out to re-create this antique whisky. The Arlo courtyards will feature ice huts decked out in winter finery, ice sculptures, virtual reality LED lighting installations, and a lighting show by Symmetry Labs which will transport guests to the depths of the arctic.

Timing: Launches November 8th at Arlo NoMad and will launch December 1 at Arlo SoHo; both will run through March

The Harvest Moon Fall Pop-up Bar At The Rainbow Room

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Rainbow Room

This fall, New York’s iconic Rainbow Room will be home to a fall-inspired pop-up bar, Harvest Moon Pop-Up Bar, for select dates in November. Located 65 floors above Rockefeller Plaza, guests can take in unparalleled views from the highest rooftop bar in NYC while sipping seasonal bespoke cocktails like the Sweater Weather served with chocolate covered maple bacon and sharing savory bites such as Pumpkin and Whiskey Fondue with grilled pretzels.

Timing: November 9th and 26th

Apres Ski at Treadwell Park

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Treadwell Park

The lively neighborhood beer Mecca, Treadwell Park, will bring Apres Ski this winter to all three of its NYC locations (UES, West Side, Downtown). Expect elevated comfort dishes, mulled hot cocktails, and games galore in the comfort of a lively ski lodge at Treadwell Park’s Apres Ski. The pop-up will feature antler-inspired chandeliers, garlands and winter greenery, and glowing fireplaces on the TV screens. A variety of games and communal seating is prevalent throughout the space.

Enjoy a variety of shareable dishes including a Hefeweizen Beer Fondue, Short Rib Pumpkin Ravioli and a Gingerbread dessert with cream cheese frosting dips. Drinks will lean heavily towards all things mulled and warm: Bourbon Hot Cider in vintage thermoses, and of course…a shotski of mixed seasonal shots.

Timing: December 1st through March