Holiday markets in New York City

Holiday Shops at Bryant Park

Photograph courtesy Bryant Park Corporation

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park

Where: Bryant Park, between Fifth and Sixth Aves and 40th and 42nd Sts (bryantpark.org).

When: Nov 6–Jan 3. Mon–Fri 11am–8pm; Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–6pm (Dec 14–23: 10am–10pm).

Why go: Clustered around the city’s free-admission skating rink, the Pond at Bryant Park, this 125-strong collection of glassed-in shoplets is part of an entire festive microcosm. Warming drinks and snacks—hot apple cider, dumpling soups, candy apples—from an array of food vendors will keep up your stamina.

What to buy: Gift-geared goods—including jewelry, accessories, toys, foodstuffs and household devices—come from around the globe, but many are made right here. Look out for NYC-based Paradise Found Design’s adorable children’s hats and clothing made from soft vintage blankets and bedspreads, soy wax candles from the Long Island Candle Factory and Onurth Organic Skincare concocted by a duo on Elizaville. Although some of the wares skirt tourist-craft-shop territory, there are plenty of unusual finds.

Don’t miss: The ice rink aside, if you’ve got tinies in tow, give them a spin on Bryant Park’s lovely little carousel. Designed by defunct Brooklyn-based firm Fabricon, it features a menagerie of animals (kids can ride on a cat, for example) in addition to equine classics.

BUST Holiday Craftacular

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (bust.com).

When: December 6, 10am–7:30pm.

Why go: The antithesis of Martha Stewart’s cookie-cutter-perfect aesthetic, neo women’s mag BUST takes an irreverent, indie approach to the DIY lifestyle, which is reflected in its biannual NYC craft-fest (jet setters: There are also Craftaculars in London and L.A. on December 12). Admission costs $2, but with more than 200 vendors, you can probably blitz the bulk of your gift list here—and have fun doing it. Drinks, DJs (Tara Angell and Dirty Finger, to name a couple), Two Boots pizza and a raffle of desirable merch from sponsors such as Modcloth foster a party atmosphere.

What to buy: Original, handmade goods of all kinds, including many styles of jewelry; knitted accessories; millinery; clothing; items for the home such as ceramics, glassware and prints; bath and body products; and sweet treats.

Don’t miss: Goodie bags for the first 500 to arrive—incentive to get up early!

Gifted

Where: 20 E 4th St at Lafayette St (brooklynflea.com).

When: Nov 27–29; Dec 2–6, 9–13, 16–24 (hours TBD).

Why go: This isn’t your grandma’s holiday market. Held in the defunct Tower Records Annex, it’s run by the people behind the cult phenomenon Brooklyn Flea, in partnership with Lucky magazine, so you won’t find any cheesy reindeer tree ornaments here—unless they’re of the ironic variety. The 50 vendors rotate regularly, and Lucky editors will be overseeing a “Curated Corner” of designers and makers, which also change throughout the month—so it’s worth making return visits.

What to buy: Unsurprisingly, the market has a prominent vintage strand, but the handpicked mix is strong on cool contemporary home design, handmade jewelry and other arty wares. We love Brooklyn ceramicist Allysa Ettinger’s understated porcelain tableware and reproductions of antique milk bottles, painter Kate Durkin’s wonderfully simple handmade stuffed animals, and the Brooklyn Brew Shop’s DIY beer kits.

Don’t miss: The Wednesday-night “after-work shopping parties” from 6 to 9pm on December 2, 9, 16 and 23, featuring DJs from vinyl trove Other Music across the street, tasty nosh and free suds samples from brew-it-yourself vendors Brooklyn Brew Shop.

Grand Central Holiday Fair

Where: Grand Central Terminal, Lexington Ave at 42nd St (212-340-2345, grandcentralterminal.com)

When: Nov 23-Dec 24 (closed Nov 26). Mon–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 11am–7pm.

Why go: Featuring 74 microboutiques illuminated by gold chandeliers suspended from a 48-foot ceiling, this elegant affair gives you a peek inside Vanderbilt Hall (Grand Central’s waiting room in the days when train travel was still glamorous, now an event space). Live festive sounds are courtesy of the MTA Arts for Transit’s Music Under New York, and when shopping fatigue sets in, the briny delights of the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant are just a staircase away.

What to buy: The organizers are picky about vendors, so the goods—ranging from contemporary jewelry and art objects to African crafts and Christmas ornaments—shouldn’t disappoint. Look out for colorful, “earth-friendly” bags and accessories by Engage Green and Art Plush toys, created by a former Sesame Street designer and inspired by modern art masters such as Miró and Picasso.

Don’t miss: The free, five-minute laser light show in the Main Concourse that brings the famous Astrological Ceiling to life every half-hour.

Union Square Holiday Market

Where: Union Square at W 14th St (212-529-9262, urbanspacenyc.com).

When: Nov 25–Dec 24. Mon–Fri 11am–8pm; Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 11am–7pm.

Why go: Based on the traditional northern-European template and now in its 14th season, the Union Square Holiday Market was at the forefront of the phenomenon in NYC. About 150 decorated, tented booths should provide enough diverse merchandise to get much of your shopping done in one sweep.

What to buy: If you’re aiming for a green Christmas, this market offers an array of eco-conscious items from handbags made of recycled paper to organic dolls. Pet products, kids’ clothes and toys, household goods, bath and beauty, jewelry and accessories are all in the diverse mix.

Don’t miss: On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you can also stock up on fruit, veg, jams, breads and other treats at the farmers’ market.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

Where: Southwest entrance to Central Park at Columbus Circle (212-529-9262, urbanspacenyc.com).

When: Dec 2–24. Mon–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 10am–7pm. Hours TBD.

Why go: When else can you shop in Central Park? It’s run by the people behind the Union Square market, so expect a similar, though slightly smaller, selection of goods.

Don’t miss: The Museum of Arts and Design, just across the Circle—its shop is worth investigating for more gift ideas, including jewelry by about 200 rotating designers.

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