chloedickensonLast Updated on 4th January 2026
Are you heading to New York City for Thanksgiving but you’re not sure what’s open or where to eat? My huge New York Thanksgiving Day guide and itinerary has got you covered!
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is one of the country’s biggest holidays, and is arguably even more celebrated than Christmas!
If you’re heading to NYC for Thanksgiving, but you’ve never spent the holiday in the US before, then I’m hopeful my huge guide below will cover everything you need to know!
I’m answering all your questions, including “are restaurants open on Thanksgiving in New York?”, “What is open in NYC on Thanksgiving Day”, and what you can typically expect from the New York Thanksgiving weather, so you can plan the perfect trip to New York City over Thanksgiving!
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When is Thanksgiving in New York 2026?
Thanksgiving is always the last Thursday in November, and in 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday 26th November 2026.
What is closed in NYC on Thanksgiving Day?
While there are certain sights, attractions, stores, and restaurants open in NYC during Thanksgiving Day (more on those things in the section below!), you will find that many museums and certain attractions are closed for the holiday.
Below, you can find a brief list of things that will be closed in NYC on Thanksgiving:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 9/11 Museum
- Museum of Modern Art
- American Museum of Natural History
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tours
- Most Broadway shows
- Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
- Certain stores such as Target and most clothes shops
Furthermore, the New York subway and buses do run on Thanksgiving Day, but they operate on a reduced Sunday schedule. You can check the MTA website for more information.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives in NYC in mid-November, but it won’t be lit until Wednesday 2nd December in 2026, so while you might see it erected outside the Rockefeller Center, unfortunately, you won’t be able to see it in all its magnificent glory until the start of December.
Thanksgiving in New York weather
As Thanksgiving falls at the end of November, you can generally expect the weather to be pretty chilly, with average temperatures of around 5°C to 9°C (41°F to 48°F) throughout the day.
Of course, it’s almost impossible to predict the weather super accurately in advance, but for the best and most accurate historic weather data, I would highly recommend checking Weather Spark.
Best things to do on Thanksgiving in New York City
While Thanksgiving is a major holiday in New York City, and many sights, attractions, and stores close for the holiday, there are still a fair few things to enjoy over Thanksgiving in New York.
Thanksgiving Eve
The day/evening before Thanksgiving itself is a fun time in NYC, as you can actually watch the famous Macy’s Parade balloons being inflated on the Upper West Side next to Central Park (usually between West 77th and West 81st Streets, with the “official” viewing area on 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue).
The giant balloons are usually inflated between midday and 6 PM, so be sure to head there early enough to grab a good viewing spot!
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is by far the best thing to experience in NYC at Thanksgiving, and it’s a tradition that’s been going strong for almost 100 years!
The Parade route takes place over the course of 2.5 miles, beginning at the west side of Central Park at 77th Street, and concluding outside Macy’s infamous flagship store in Herald Square.
The best spots to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade are along Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st Streets, and the Parade usually begins at 8.30 AM and finishes around midday. However, if you want to enjoy the best viewing spots along the Parade route, it’s a good idea to arrive as early as possible (usually from around 5 AM!) to ensure that you get a good view of all the incredible floats, balloons, and participants.
You can find out more about the Parade, including the exact route, start and finish times, and the best viewing spots on the Macy’s website.
Attend a performance of the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
While almost all of New York City’s Broadway shows cease performances on Thanksgiving Day, you can still enjoy a festive performance of the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
There are three performances of the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular on Thanksgiving in 2026, at 2 PM, 5 PM, and 8 PM. Tickets for these performances book up fast, so I would recommend purchasing tickets online via Ticketmaster as soon as possible to guarantee your seat!
Bryant Park Bank of America Winter Village
Bryant Park’s beloved Bank of America Winter Village opens up again for the season on the 23rd October 2026, so the festivities will be well under way by the time Thanksgiving in New York rolls around on the 27th November!
The Bank of America Winter Village is the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving in NYC as there are so many festive things to enjoy, including ice skating on the giant rink, shopping at the many holiday pop-up shops, and indulging in a delicious, warming drink and sweet treat from one of the open-air après skate stalls in the Winter Village.
Go ice skating at Wollman Rink
Another excellent skating spot in NYC, and a great option for a Thanksgiving Day skate in NYC is Wollman Rink in Central Park. Wollman Rink is probably my favourite ice rink in the city as it’s surrounded by gorgeous vistas of the towering New York skyscrapers, and it’s also one of the biggest ice rinks in the city.
Enjoy the views from an observation deck
Despite many NYC attractions and museums being closed over the Thanksgiving period, the city’s five observation decks remain open (although their opening hours may vary), giving you the perfect opportunity to take in the views of the Manhattan skyline while most people are tucked up at home with their families.
Get Thanksgiving Day tickets to all NY’s observation decks here:
Enjoy the holiday window displays
The week before/week of Thanksgiving in New York usually also signifies the start of the Christmas holiday period in the city, which means that you’ll find many storefronts beginning to decorate for the holidays.
Stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, as well as many of the famous designer stores along Fifth Avenue, will all begin to decorate their window displays in festive themes around the time of Thanksgiving, so the holiday itself is the perfect time to enjoy the beautiful decorations around the city.
Take a Thanksgiving Buffet Harbor Cruise with City Cruises
While I have listed many New York City Thanksgiving restaurants below, another great option is to take a Thanksgiving Buffet Harbor Cruise around the New York Harbor to enjoy incredible vistas of the NY skyline while tucking into a delicious 3-course Thanksgiving feast.
The dinner cruise lasts for approximately 2.5 hours, and departs from Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers at 2.30 PM, giving you enough time in the morning before the cruise, as well as in the evening after the cruise, to enjoy more of the best New York Thanksgiving activities.
The Thanksgiving Buffet Harbor Cruise starts at $204pp, so it’s by no means cheap, but it is a great way to enjoy the remarkable views of New York City, all while enjoying a buffet feast of numerous entrées, salads, and desserts, plus unlimited coffee, tea, and water.
The best restaurants for Thanksgiving in New York
While many families opt to stay at home in New York around Thanksgiving, if you’re visiting the city as a tourist over the holiday, you will likely be looking for somewhere to eat!
Many restaurants remain open on Thanksgiving Day in New York, including certain fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Wendy’s, and there are also numerous restaurants that offer a specific Thanksgiving Day menu in New York City!
If you’re looking for the best Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC, check out the list of restaurants below! It goes without saying, but it’s definitely advisable to reserve a table in advance for all the following restaurants (where permitted) so that you can guarantee a Thanksgiving Day reservation, as tables tend to get booked up quickly!
Looking for more NYC restaurant recommendations? Check out my ultimate NYC food bucket list here!
Bond 45
Bond 45, located just a few minutes from Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall, offers a fantastic 3-course Thanksgiving menu, complete with an aperitivo from $79pp.
You’ll get the choice of dishes such as butternut squash soup and pumpkin gnocchi for starters, free-range turkey for main, and traditional pumpkin pie for dessert.
The Elgin
The Elgin is a Midtown Manhattan restaurant that offers both a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu, as well as numerous à la carte options, such as a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings and a Thanksgiving turkey burger.
Their prix fixe Thanksgiving menu includes three courses, consisting of honeynut squash soup, roasted turkey with all the trimmings, and fresh baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream, for just $59pp.
- Website/reservations: The Elgin
- Thanksgiving menu: From $59pp + à la carte options
- Address: 64 West 48th St, Midtown
Redeye Grill
Located just a few blocks from Central Park and Columbus Circle, Redeye Grill is a great place to eat on Thanksgiving in NYC as they offer a festive-themed 3-course menu from $89pp, as well as their regular à la carte menu, too.
On their Thanksgiving 3-course menu, you’ll get the choice of shrimp scampi, butternut squash soup, and harvest salad to start, free-range herb-roasted turkey for your main, and traditional pumpkin pie, New York cheesecake with strawberries, or warm apple pie for dessert.
- Website/reservations: Redeye Grill
- Thanksgiving menu: From $89pp
- Address: 890 7th Ave, Midtown
Keens Steakhouse
Keens is one of the most famous steakhouses in NYC, and they also happen to have an excellent Thanksgiving Day buffet!
It is one of the most expensive restaurants for Thanksgiving in New York, at $159pp, but it does include a vast selection of traditional Thanksgiving treats, such as pumpkin soup, free-range turkey, Brussels sprouts, yams, glazed carrots, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and much more!
- Website/reservations: Keens
- Thanksgiving menu: From $159pp, $79 for children under 12
- Address: 72 West 36th St, Midtown
Union Square Cafe
Union Square Cafe is one of the most expensive restaurants in New York at Thanksgiving, with its seasonal menu costing a whopping $175pp! As part of their Thanksgiving menu, you can enjoy family-style side dishes and amuse-bouche, as well as the choice of one appetiser, one entrée, and one dessert per person.
- Website/reservations: Union Square Cafe
- Thanksgiving menu: From $175pp
- Address: 101 East 19th St, Midtown
Rolf’s
Rolf’s German Restaurant is more synonymous with Christmas in New York City as it’s famous for going all-out when it comes to extravagant festive decor all throughout the restaurant, but they just so happen to host a special Thanksgiving menu, too.
The dedicated Thanksgiving menu at Rolf’s is one of the cheapest in this guide, starting at just $42.95pp for the traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings. They also offer their regular à la carte menu, too, so you don’t have to order Thanksgiving-specific dishes.
Haven Rooftop
If you want to experience Thanksgiving in New York from one of Midtown’s best rooftop bars, be sure to check out Haven Rooftop, which is just a few blocks from Bryant Park, Times Square, and the Rockefeller Center.
Their Thanksgiving Day menu consists of the choice of an appetiser, an entrée, and a dessert, and you’ll find dishes such as lobster bisque, tuna tartare, turkey, salmon, New York strip steak, pumpkin cheesecake, and crème brûlée on the menu for you to choose from.
- Website/reservations: Haven Rooftop
- Thanksgiving menu: From $85pp
- Address: 132 West 47th St, Midtown
The following restaurants also usually offer Thanksgiving dinner in NYC, but they haven’t released their 2026 menus just yet; I’ll be sure to update this Thanksgiving New York guide as soon as they have released their menus!
- Bubby’s
- Carmine’s
- Tavern on the Green
- The Whitby Bar and Restaurant
- Peak at Hudson Yards
- PJ Clarke’s
Conclusion – NYC Thanksgiving guide
I really hope you found this guide about how to spend Thanksgiving in New York City useful, and I hope it’s given you plenty of inspiration for the best things to see and do over the beloved American holiday!
Pin for later – how to spend Thanksgiving Day in NYC
Do you have an more recommendations for the best Thanksgiving in New York restaurants or things to do over the holiday? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!
