Union Square Holiday Market

The Union Square Holiday Market is a yearly tradition for New York city. Attracting numerous visitors and tourists from outside New York, the holiday market is the perfect spot to find hand-made artisan crafts and much more. You can find everything from Christmas ornaments, jewelry, fashion accessories to unusual gift ideas, decorations, and even beer. A variety of food vendors will be present including desserts like chocolate, macarons, pastries, and especially hot apple cider. Momofuku Milk Bar, which is usually located a bit farther from Union Square, will be right nearby the subway entrance during the market.

Union Square itself is a frequent transit station, ranking 4th busiest mta station in Manhattan with more than 34 million riders annually. As The New School, Parsons, and NYU dorms are located nearby, the area is usually full of college students during the day. Some big retailers nearby include Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Nordstrom Rack, DSW, and Regal Movie Theater. Max Brenner, a restaurant focusing on American entrees and chocolate desserts, is a favorite in the area. Union Square Cafe, opened by the same group operating Shake Shack, is another renowned restaurant acclaimed for its famous chefs and American style food and hospitality.

The prices of items selling here may be a bit expensive, but looking around for a bargain is also half the fun. If not, simply browsing through all the different vendors and merchandise is enough to pass the time here. 

The Holiday Market will stay until December 24th, Christmas Eve. The Market starts at 11am to 8pm on weekdays, opens 10am on Saturdays, and closes at 7pm on Sundays. For more vendor information, visit their website. There is also a pdf map with vendor names and locations.

Map of the Holiday Market

Visitors taking a rest

Daisy Dog Studio, D11

Design ornaments and gifts

Traditional ornaments

Teddies, A61

Modern Tibet, E5

Tribal Home, C40

Visitors from all around congregate at Union Square

Chelsea Market Shops

At Chelsea Market, there are a couple places to buy gifts and arts from. The Flea Market features mainly hand-crafted artists who sell jewelry and clothes. At the center are several shops selling books, kitchenware, gifts, and many more if you simply like to browse through shops. Imports from Marakesh is also at the corner in front of the Flea Market.

Imports from Marakesh

Artists Flea Market

Bowery Kitchens

Vitra store in the Meatpacking disctrict

Although there are many design stores available in Manhattan, the Vitra store is one that designers should make time to visit. The store features furniture from internationally renowned designers such as Charles and Ray Eames and Verner Panton. Many of the collections have been in productions since the 1960's yet remain popular to this day. The Swiss company strives to improve the quality of homes, offices, and public spaces through the power of design.

The lower floor of the store doubles as a design exhibition space, featuring their furniture collections indoors and available to the public for viewing. It is not uncommon to find students and designers frequenting the lower floor for study. Of course, all their items are available for purchase as well.

29 Ninth Avenue 10014

New York, NY

1-212-463-5700

Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market in the Meat Packing industry has become one of the world's most famous food halls. There are over 30 different vendors at Chelsea Market, so even 3 meals one day wouldn't be enough to try everything. There are a wide variety of vendors to choose, from bakeries to restaurants to specialty groceries and wines. Chelsea Market will satisfy any time of the day from breakfast to dinner with dessert and in-between-meal snacks as well. There is also an artist's market within the building, where vendors sell hand-made jewelry and clothes.

Some places that might be interesting to visit:

Sarabeth's and Amy's Bread are definitely worth checking out, as both bakeries are known for their pastries and bread. For seafood, The Lobster Place is a one-stop for all. Even if you aren't interested in eating, it's fun to just watch the seafood market working where people pick their own choosing of seafood on the spot. At the end, Ninth St Coffee can provide the much needed cup of coffee to sit down with. A lot of the dessert vendors such as Bar Suzette or Liddabit Sweets are located in the center plaza.

Chelsea Market is also nearby the High Line, so you can buy food and head on over to the park on a nice day out for picnics or just for a stroll after meals.

Visit the Chelsea Market website to see a current list of vendors and their locations!

75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets)

New York, NY 10011

Buon Italia Italian grocery

Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory

Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory is one of those places that you need to have at least one in a neighborhood: an all-day breakfast and pancake diner that everyone gets the cravings for. The place certainly is capable and already is the center hub of neighborhood gatherings from family friends to after-school activities and the occasional tourists that happen to stop by.

You can satisfy your pancake dreams any time and any day, and their pancake menu is sure to get you stuck deciding among the all the choices. Portions are definitely hearty and goes beyond expectations. You can also ask for bread service while waiting, but the food is relatively fast paced and also it would be a shame to fill in your stomach before the actual meal unfolds. They do have different policies regarding sharing one plate of food between people or minimum charges, but none of them are unreasonable.

Visit their website for menus and more information!

426 Jersey Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07302

201.433.0471

Extra Virgin

Extra Virgin is another one of those "interesting" restaurants in West Village. On a weekday it is certainly worth a visit as the place isn't as packed as it would be during dinner or on weekends. During busy hours however, be prepared to wait a while, and that means more than an hour.

However, their food is certainly pleasing plus their dessert menu was a delight. The apple tart was not overly sweet but tangy, and with the ice cream melting on top it was nothing short of delicious. Their coffee comes in a small pot and a separate metal cup to pour it in, which looks very charming. The place would be, like any other restaurant on West Village during brunch, packed to the elbows, so be prepared.

Check their website for the menu and more information!

259 W 4th St (between Charles St & Perry St)

New York, NY 10014

(212) 691-9359

Sevilla

Sevilla is an authentic Spanish cuisine place located in West Village. The restaurant has been open and served the neighborhood since 1941. The bar is charming to see in the interior, and their seats are quite comfortable as well. The owner is friendly as well, if you stand outside the windows peering inside he will wave at you to come in :)

Just reading their menu will be enough to start off your hunger, which you can satiate for a while with their complimentary bread and butter. Their portions are quite large as well, especially if you have been enjoying their bread. A note to vegetarians, you will be out of options here.

Please visit their website for menu and more information.

62 Charles Street (Corner of W. 4th Street)

New York, NY 10014

Mary's Fish Camp

Mary's Fish Camp in West Village will instantly charm you when you step inside. The atmosphere inside and the music will make you feel as if you are at a seaside restaurant, except in New York. The interior is very charming with vintage style posters, a sit down-bar, and tables to the windows.

You can check their chalk board for daily market price seafood, or choose from their menu as well. Oyster crackers are complimentary :) Portions are decent, if anything more than enough for one person. Especially with their limited supply of lobster rolls that come with a mountain of fries. Also a note about their fried oysters: the tartar sauce was the best, with just enough raw onions for refreshing taste. The oysters were a bit heavy on the grease though, but the sauce did help with that. If anything, the experience of dining here is worth a visit. 

For their menu and more information, check their website!
They also have a Brooklyn location called the Brooklyn Fish Camp.

64 Charles Street

New York, NY 10014

(646) 486 2185

Culinary Cafe at Journal Square

The Culinary Cafe at Hudson County Community College is definitely a place to go if you're in the neighborhood on a Tuesday. The Cafe, which only opens on Tuesdays for breakfast and lunch, offers buffet meals for a convenient price.

Although you won't be able to order from a variety of choices, their food is always delicious and sure to please you. Their menu changes every week offering salad, soup, entree, dessert, drinks, along with vegetarian options.

The Culinary Cafe is open every Tuesday for breakfast from 8am to 9:30am, and lunch from 12pm to 1:30pm. Cost is $3 for breakfast and $12 for lunch. If you plan to stay at Coolhouse on a Tuesday, make sure to eat here at least once! You can also book the Conference Center for special events, business meetings and other occasions.

161 Newkirk Street at Sip Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07306

201-360-5300

For more information, visit their website at http://culinaryconferencecenter.com