From savory soups to spiced coffee drinks, Lincoln Square’s restaurants, cafés, and more are showcasing the best flavors of winter.

Dining out in Lincoln Square is a great opportunity to try the entirely new winter menus currently being served at El Fish Marisquería (155 Amsterdam Avenue at West 67th Street), Lincoln Ristorante (142 West 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue), Per Se (10 Columbus Circle), Masa (10 Columbus Circle), and Tatiana (10 Lincoln Center Plaza). On weekdays at Rosa Mexicano (44 West 63rd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue), you can try the winter prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus, and at Jean-Georges (1 Central Park West), you can try the “Tastes of Winter” prix-fixe menu, available only for lunch. Canto (2014 Broadway between West 68th and 69th Street) has added several dishes to its menu for winter, including Pumpkin Ravioli, and ZiZi Wine Bar (2012 Broadway between West 68th and 68th Street) is serving a Creamy Polenta paired with a Yacoubian-Hobbs white wine this January. 

Maman (152 Columbus Avenue at West 67th Street) has several items on its winter menu crafted with Martha Stewart. The collection includes a Golden Potato Gratin Tart, Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie, and Pecan Streusel Cake, and to drink, Pomegranate Punch, Homemade Hazelnut Latte, and more. At Le Botaniste (156 Columbus Avenue at West 67th Street), seasonal signature bowls are now available on the menu, including Mushroom Stroganoff, Magic Miso Soup, and a Samosa Bowl. A lighter seasonal option is the Umami Salad with wild mushroom gravy, thyme-roasted carrots, and spiced crispy chickpeas. Dig (100 West 67th Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue) has several additions to the menu that are new for winter, including Carrot Ginger Soup, Tarragon Mustard Chicken and Salmon, Braised Chickpeas and Lentils, and more. For a limited time, Shake Shack (10 Columbus Circle) is serving its popular Korean-style menu, as well as decadent Tiramisu, Chocolate Blackout Pudding, and Spicy Caramel Shakes.

On a cold winter day, nothing hits the spot quite like a hot beverage. This season, the menu at Capital One Café (1843 Broadway at West 60th Street) features a Cinnamon Maple Latte, Cardamom Ginger Matcha Latte, and Gingersnap Latte. You can also add Cinnamon Maple Cold Foam to any drink. While the holidays are over, you can still enjoy wintery treats at Café Fred in Strand Bookstore (2020 Broadway at West 69th Street), such as a Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Mocha Latte, Frosted Mint Chai Tea Latte, and more. Meanwhile, pistachio and caramel take center stage on the winter menu at Starbucks (141 Amsterdam Avenue at West 66th Street and 1889 Broadway at West 63rd Street), where you can try an Iced Caramel Protein Matcha, Caramel Protein Latte, Pistachio Latte, and more. Bar Masa, Ascent Lounge, and Center Bar (all located at 10 Columbus Circle) are great places to try seasonal cocktails, such as the Prickly Pear Margarita at Ascent Lounge and Center Bar.  

A tour of Lincoln Square’s winter menus wouldn’t be complete without dessert. At Amorino (44 West 63rd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue), the special this season is a Roasted Peanut gelato finished with salted caramel, and at P.J. Clarke’s (44 West 63rd Street at Columbus Avenue), you can enjoy a variety of Irish Coffees on the dessert menu. There’s even more to enjoy this winter in Lincoln Square—for a complete list of businesses, check out the BID’s Neighborhood Guide.

Photo Credits: 1) Starbucks, 2) Maman

One of the best things about the holiday season is all the nostalgic and delicious food we get to enjoy. Lincoln Square has many restaurants, cafés, and bakeries to find your favorite sweet and savory dishes for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holiday gathering of your dreams!

Looking to celebrate by eating out? On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Nougatine by Jean-Georges (1 Central Park West) is offering a special three-course menu, and Jean-Georges, the two-star Michelin restaurant at the same address, has three- and six-course tasting menu options, available for three people or more on Christmas Day. Robert at the Museum of Arts & Design (2 Columbus Circle) has a three-course menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can also celebrate at MO Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental, New York (80 Columbus Circle), which is serving a festive Christmas Day brunch buffet featuring a beef carving station, caviar, lobsters, and dessert stations—a great way to enjoy the holiday with loved ones.

Lincoln Square is also the perfect place to mark Christmas with a New York classic, Chinese food and a movie. Check out what’s playing at AMC Lincoln Square 13 (1998 Broadway at 68th Street) and Film at Lincoln Center (144 & 165 West 65th Street), and then head to Shun Lee West and Shun Lee Café (43 West 65th Street) for traditional fare in an elegant setting, or order in from Wok City (153 Amsterdam Avenue).

Lincoln Square’s supermarkets make it easy to entertain without cooking all day. Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle) has special catering menus dedicated to Christmas and Hanukkah, Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street) has you covered with kosher and non-kosher Hanukkah packages and a winter holiday menu, and Morton Williams (2015 Broadway at 68th Street) has catering options that are great for hosting any holiday party. For an Asian-American twist on Christmas dinner, Momofuku Noodle Bar Uptown (10 Columbus Circle) is also offering a Christmas Bo Ssäm Take-Home Feast, available for pickup on December 23 or 24, featuring brown sugar-glazed slow-roasted pork shoulder with accompanying sauces and sides, ready to reheat at home.

Dessert takes center stage with many specialty items around the neighborhood. Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway at 63rd Street) is known for its babka, but it has many Hanukkah delicacies available for pre-order. At Breads, you can find sufganiyot (deep-fried doughnuts) in five flavors, as well as latkes and rugelach. Rosetta Bakery (1928 Broadway at 64th Street) is where to go for classic Christmas Holiday Specials, including panettone (a dome-shaped Italian sweet bread), and the Rosetta Christmas Tree, an artistic puff pastry composition with fresh custard cream. Maman (152 Columbus Avenue at 67th Street), the French bakery and café, has teamed up with none other than Martha Stewart to create a Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie made with freshly grated ginger. Click here for the rest of their menu, including more holiday-inspired treats! Magnolia Bakery (200 Columbus Avenue at 69th Street) has a wide range of holiday desserts and sampler packs with cute decorations. Cap off a cold winter night with an indulgent hot chocolate with a generous layer of whipped cream from Amorino (44 West 63rd Street) or hot chocolate with marshmallows from Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway at 63rd Street).

Lastly, while Chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurants in Lincoln Square are temporarily closed, you can still order one of his many holiday-themed gift boxes or Bûche de Noël in three different flavors. You can also roll up your sleeves with Chef Boulud’s Bake-at-Home Hanukkah Sugar Cookies Kit! Each kit has sugar cookie dough, Hanukkah cookie cutters, and royal icing to decorate for a guaranteed fun time in the kitchen.

With holiday food squared away, all that’s left is to find great gifts. For inspiration, visit the Lincoln Square BID’s Neighborhood Guide for a full list of businesses in the neighborhood and read our recent story about where to find unique gifts nearby.