Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

Christmas Starts NOW: Rolf's Decorations Are Up And Shining


By

Garth Johnston

Published Nov 10, 2011

Modified Nov 10, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Enjoying the decorations in 2008. There are even more lights now!

 

Conor McDonough's flickr


By

Garth Johnston

Published Nov 10, 2011

Modified Nov 10, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Oh, crap. The Christmas season has begun. Though it is nearly 65° outside and it feels like Halloween just ended and yeah, Thanksgiving isn't even here yet, one of the surest signs of the impending noel has arrived: Yesterday morning the long-standing Gramercy German/French Bavarian restaurant Rolf's put the finishing touches on its famous Christmas lights. The holiday season is ON.

And oh, what lights they are. This year they've got more than 80,000 of them strung up, along with buckets of other decorations in the not-huge restaurant known more for its kitsch than its kitchen.

Considering how much earlier and earlier restaurants keep bringing out their decorations its a wonder that nobody has opened a year-round Christmas bar yet. Perhaps we should start a Kickstarter? We could call it Noel-land or Jolly St. Nick's or just A Christmas Bar.

281 Third Avenue // 212-477-4750

Tagged

christmas

gramercy

manhattan

rolf's

seasons greetings


Garth Johnston

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE food

North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.

Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.

By

Robert Sietsema

Published Oct 10, 2026


10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema


Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

By

Sonia Rao

5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

By

Robert Sietsema


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .