THE JOURNAL | WHAT'S ON
Winter in New York
Your cultural agenda for January, February and March...
Scenic snowscapes, crisp, clear days and the warm glow of cafés, shops and stoops at dusk: winter in New York can be a magical season. Fittingly for the city that never sleeps, Manhattan’s cultural scene is as vibrant as ever in the run-up to springtime, from guided city walks and limited-season shows to cosy restaurants and art exhibitions. Our round-up of the best the city has to offer promises to make it an unforgettable experience.
Walking Tours with The Municipal Art Society of New York
SELECT Dates from Jan-MArch
There’s no better way to get under the skin of a city than by exploring it on foot. Rich in history, urban folklore, art and architecture, New York’s many layers are best unpicked with a little expert help. The MAS has been sharing the city’s secrets since 1956 thanks to its knowledgeable guides who head up intimate tours comprising no more than 20 participants. Winter highlights include Grand Central Terminal (23rd January); a tour of the city’s Subway Art (8th February) and Greenwich Village’s Art Deco heritage (21st February).
115 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Gabriele Münter: Contours of a World at The Guggenheim
Until 26th April
German artist Gabriele Münter was at the forefront of the early twentieth century European art scene, celebrated for her bold landscapes, portraits and still lifes. Head to the Guggenheim to view over 50 of her paintings, focusing on subjects rooted in daily life and shaped by travel, place, and community - plus photographs taken with a portable box camera. At the same time, explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece building itself, now a UNESCO World Heritage site and an enduring monument to modernism.
1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128
The Sleeping Beauty by New York City Ballet
11th - 22nd February
Nothing is more magical than being spirited away through the spectacle of dance – and when it’s performed by the city’s world-renowned ballet troupe, all the better. This winter, choreographer Peter Martins has conceived a sumptuous production of The Sleeping Beauty. Expect intricate costumes, fantastical characters and a sense of magical realism set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.
For the inside track, don’t miss ‘Inside NYCB’, spotlighting the inner workings of the city’s ballet company, including performance excerpts, demonstrations, and the opportunity to hear directly from artists and collaborators. Monday 26th January, 6.30pm.
David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Snowy Downtown Views
Enjoy the romanticism of snowfall from a cosy spot. Whether bar, bistro, restaurant or café, the key is to sequester yourself at an intimate table with a generous view. Head to Barbuto in the West Village for neighbourhood Italian food by chef Jonathan Waxman. Located in a landmark building defined by overscaled elegant arched windows, it’s perfect for framing snow flurries. Nearby, Little Owl’s floor-to-ceiling deep red windows provide a snow globe view over a relaxed weekend brunch, from wholewheat pancakes to avocado toast. Meanwhile, in a landmark industrial building just north of Union Square, Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern offers a refined seasonal menu and vast windows for weather watching.
Barbuto: 113 Horatio St, New York, NY 10014
Little Owl: 90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
Gramercy Tavern: 42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
Winter Warmers at Bar Pisellino
When the temperature drops, head out for the best hot chocolate in town and make tracks downtown to Bar Pisellino, close to historic Christopher Park. Open from morning till late and founded by award-winning chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, this hideaway celebrates the Mediterranean arte del bere in style. Order a hot chocolate and a pastry and stand at the curvy marble-topped counter like a true Italian or get cosy on the heated sidewalk terrace.
52 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014
Louise Bourgeois: Gathering Wool at Hauser & Wirth
Until 18th APril
From the first artist commissioned to fill the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in 2001 comes this short season exhibition. The collection focuses on the late French-American artist’s life-long relationship with abstraction through a series of sculptures, reliefs and works on paper, many of which have never been exhibited before. Curated by Canadian writer Philip Larratt-Smith, Gathering Wool explores a seven-decade career from a fresh perspective.
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, New York 10011
Shopping in SoHo
In the heart of downtown Manhattan, there’s a host of individual fashions stores, galleries and lifestyle ateliers to explore. For ultra-modern homeware, head to the MoMA Design Store which offers licensed reproductions of many of the iconic furniture pieces displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, as well as accessories, barware, flatware and art prints. While you’re in the neighbourhood, check out The Hat Shop on Sullivan Street for a host of custom or off-the-shelf hats from founder Linda Pagan.
MoMA Design Store: 81 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
The Hat Shop: 148 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10012
Every Brilliant Thing with Daniel Radcliffe
From 21st February
Catch Daniel Radcliffe in this one-of-a-kind solo show at Hudson Theatre, profiling a man looking back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through. Told through a list of every wonderful and delightful moment - both big and small - that makes life worth living, this heart-warming play arrives on Broadway for the first time this winter.
141 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Inside the New York Public Library
Available Monday - Saturday
Not many people know that one of the largest public libraries in the world, whose famed Fifth Avenue entrance steps have featured in countless films, is open for discreet in-person guided tours. Discover the history of the Beaux-Arts Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, which houses millions of volumes, and take the opportunity to view the historic Rose Main Reading Room too.
476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
2026 ENCORES! at New York City Center
4th - 15th Feb | 18th - 29th MArch
The distinctive Neo-Moorish New York City Center (located between Sixth and Seventh Avenues) has been playing a defining role in the city’s cultural life since 1943, when it became the first performing arts centre to make theatre, dance and music accessible to all. This winter, its beloved annual series of Tony-recognised concert stagings from American musical theatre returns. Highlights include High Spirits (4th-15th February) based on Noël Coward’s witty and whimsical Blithe Spirit and The Wild Party (18th-29th March), an irreverent musical encapsulating the city’s dark underbelly in the 1920s.
131 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
Header Image Credit: Gabriele Münter, From the Griesbräu Window (Vom Griesbräu Fenster), 1908. Painting on board, 13 × 15 13/16 in. (33 × 40.1 cm). Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau München, On permanent loan from the Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich L142. © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn