Winter is one of the most beautiful times of year to visit New York, with cold-weather activities like ice-skating and warm food and beverages galore.
Chilly weather is the perfect complement to a warm mug of hot chocolate. Start your day with a piping-hot cup at any one of the several Jacques Torres Chocolate locations throughout the city. Choose from classic cocoa or the store’s specialty spicy variety for about $4.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center, New York City © Littleny | Dreamstime 35981922
Ice-skating in New York is a fun winter experience. Whether you’re skating at the world-famous Rink at Rockefeller Center ($25 admission, $12 skate rental) or Central Park’s Wollman Rink ($11.25 admission, $8 skate rental), Bryant Park (free admission, $15 skate rental) or Chelsea Piers ($10 admission, $5 skate rental), or just watching locals and tourists take a spin, you will enjoy this popular winter tradition.
For lunch with a view and a brew, visit La Birreria, a rooftop restaurant and microbrewery in the Flatiron District. The restaurant’s retractable roof and heaters keep the space open through all seasons. Enjoy a classic Italian dish from $17 and beers from popular American breweries like Dogfish and Allagash from $8 or Italian beers like Peroni from $7.
Venture to the Upper East Side and step out of the cold and into the warmth of The Frick Collection, a home turned art gallery boasting masterpieces of European painting from renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez, major works of sculpture and a quaint garden courtyard. Get your daily dose of art for $20.

Campbells Soup Cans by Andy Warhol, Museum of Modern Art © Carlos Neto | Dreamstime
Through Feb. 7, the Museum of Modern Art features the largest exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s sculptures in nearly half a century, with about 150 incredible pieces, many of which are on view in the United States for the first time. Admission costs $25 for adults, $14 for students.
If you’d rather stay outside and brave the cold, head to the New York Botanical Garden, New York’s largest public garden, nestled across 250 acres of Bronx Park, and a living museum of the natural world. Weekday admission costs $20, while weekends run you $25.
Finish the day next to a roaring fire at Shoolbred’s in the East Village. The cozy bar features a buy-one, get-one happy hour daily until 8 p.m. as well as burgers and snacks from $6.50.
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