8 Cozy Winter Bars in NYC

‘Tis the season for finding a dark, cozy bar in New York, sipping a mulled wine or hot cocktail, and simply finding a way to stay warm in one of the most frigid cities in the US. New York is full of watering holes, but some provide for a warmer respite during those dreaded winter days. For those who are looking to getaway from the cold and get into a cocktail or three, these are my favorites bars in New York for those cozy winter nights.

1. Lindens

If you wanted to make it over to Europe this holiday season, but you couldn’t make it work, NYC has you covered. Lindens, located in the back of Arlo SoHo, has three popup winter cabins that are decked out with tinsel and ornaments to make you feel like you’re in a cozy Swiss chalet. You can opt for a 4-course Winter Harvest Dinner in these gorgeous yurts for $95 per person, which can each hold up to 8 people. And while many “Christmas-themed” restaurants and bars are gimmicky, Lindens offers solid seasonal fare. Plus, all cabins are heated.

Fashion-Tip: Wear something like my blue velvet jumpsuit, to fit those wintery blue vibes.

• Reserve a table here.

2. Bar Primi’s Seasonal Patio

Bar Primi is one of the few restaurants near Penn Station that is actually worth paying a visit to, and to further drive that incentive, this winter they’re offering Bar Primi’s Seasonal Patio. This is the second year Bar Primi has opened their seasonal patio, which is held on an expansive outdoor terrace and will fully transform you to an après-ski-inspired winter retreat. You’ll find cozy decor, a warm fireplace, and a plethora of seasonal cocktails, alongside some of the eatery’s signature dishes. There are even shotskis ($48 for four people, offered in M&M, Espresso Martini, and Peppermint Patty flavors) to really transform you to the Italian Dolomites. The patio is open nightly from 5-10 p.m. throughout the winter months.

Fashion-Tip: Wear something with sequins to match Bar Primi’s dazzling lights.

• Reserve a table here (but make sure to book for the Penn District location, as that’s the only one with the seasonal patio).

3. Chesa at The Peninsula

One of my personal favorite decked out holiday hotels in New York is The Peninsula New York. Their lobby tree display always gives the others a run for their money (and pro-tip: it’s just right around the corner of Rockefeller Center with zero of the crowds).

This year, from November 19, 2025, through March 21, 2026, the West Terrace of The Peninsula Rooftop will transform into Chesa, a warm way to transport right to the Swiss Alps. Chesa features four private, heated chalets fully equipped with a firepit, Adirondack chairs, soft rugs, chandeliers, and vintage-style posters. There will be Swiss favorites like chocolate and cheese fondues, and a selection of Swiss wines.

Note that Chesa is closed Mondays and Sundays.

Fashion-Tip: Don your best aprés-ski outfit, like this matching houndstooth jumpsuit.

• Reserve a table here.

4. Somewhere Nowhere Rooftop Igloos

If you ever wanted to take in the dazzling New York City skyline from the comfort of an igloo, Somewhere Nowhere, on top of the Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel, has got you covered.  After a wildly successful launch in 2021, the rooftop igloos here have become a bucket list-worthy holiday destination in a city that already goes full out each holiday season. The menu focuses on New York City’s diversity, with offerings like truffle arepas, smoked brisket empanadas, Korean BBQ tacos, and mini bao buns, with sweet treats to finish your meal like a cannoli trio, churros, and s’mores. And if an igloo sounds too cold in the New York winters, don’t worry; they’re all heated.

Fashion-Tip: Wear something wintery and cozy.

5. Winter Bar at Lotte New York Palace

One of my favorite things to do in New York City each holiday season is to go “Christmas tree-hopping,” where my friend and I go from one festive tree to the next and take fabulous photos in front of each. The issue with this is it can get quite cold, so we always try to find one pop-up bar to warm up with a spiked hot cocktail (we love a good hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps). Since Lotte New York Palace has one of my favorite trees in the city, it’s always a great idea to swing by their seasonal Winter Bar. While this isn’t “cozy,” per se, since it is outside, the feeling of coziness is quickly delivered to you in the form of a hot wintery beverage. Options include a Mexican Mint Hot chocolate made with Patron Silver Tequila, Peppermint Schnapps, and Madagascar dark chocolate, a Hot Buttered Rum made with Bacardia Extra Rare Gold Gran Reserva Diez 10yr Rum and Steeped Vanilla, and a Kentucky Caramel Cider made with Angel’s Envy Port Finish Bourbon and New York Apple Cider. You can grab a quick bite here, too, with gingerbread cookies and a New York Palace S’mores Macaron.

Fashion-Tip: Wear a classic Christmas dress and make sure to snap a photo in front of Lotte New York Palace’s iconic tree.

6. Foxtail’s Holiday Hideaway

So many bars dub themselves as “speakeasies” but require zero effort to find or get into. One of my favorites in the city that is veiled by a thin curtain inside the Arlo SoHo hotel is Foxtail. This year, they’re going full out with a “Holiday Hideaway,” fully transforming into a winter wonderland. For $45 a person, you’ll receive two holiday cocktails and an appetizer, an absolute steal in New York City during busy season. Seasonal cocktails include options like the Spiked Mexican Hot Cocoa, a Yuletide Toddy, and even a Christmas Fruitcake. For holiday bites, go for the Fig & Brie puff pastry and the Crispy Fennel Pita. Foxtail is the type of place that’s cozy even when it’s not winter, so during this season, that coziness is only amplified.

Fashion-Tip: Wear a chic winter cocktail dress to match the atmosphere.

• Reserve a table here.

7. Blitzen’s Bar

What’s usually deemed as Berk’s Bar is quirkily transformed into Blitzen’s Bar this holiday season. Located inside Omni Berkshire Place in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, this convenient holiday bar is a great place to hang out before or after visiting some of the most iconic spots in the city. Just steps from Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue shopping, Blitzen’s Bar features innovative libations from globally recognized mixologist, author, and bar owner Julie Reiner. There are neon signs, quintessential Christmas leg lamps, and glistening tinsel, all of which can be taken in while sipping on one of the eight seasonal cocktails like The Frost Bite and Espresso-Ho Ho Ho Martini.

Fashion-Tip: Wear something neutral so the colorful atmosphere around you really pops in photos.

8. Romeo’s (or “Gnomeo’s)

Romeo’s is one of my favorite bars in New York, so much so that I even threw myself an “Antarctica going away party” there to celebrate having solo traveled to all seven continents (yes, really). Each holiday season, they transform to “Gnomeo’s,” a play on words to go full out for all things festive. This year, they’ve transformed into a disco holiday haven, with tinsel in quite literally every direction you look, holiday-themed pillows on every seat in the house, a striped red and green design around each bar stool, and even a tinsel-lined projector that plays Christmas movies. Their cocktails are always above and beyond in terms of creativity, with offerings like a tiramisu martini, a “hot buttered baklava,” and their year-round favorite Pistachio Mai Tai.

Fashion-Tip: Wear something funky to match the divey energy of Romeo’s.

DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!