A Crisper Bite of the Big Apple

New York in mid-winter makes an unbeatable break

Winter is the best-ever time in snow-chilled New York City. The crisp, cool air is perfect for walking the streets and checking out winter sales, or crossing Central Park and watching skaters in action. If it gets too nippy there are plenty of indoor amusements to keep you toasty, not to mention some top New York romantic hotels for bedding down.

Get into the winter spirit (take plenty of warm gear!) by skating on the ice rinks at the Rockefeller Center, Central Park or down at Chelsea Piers. You’ll find plenty of places serving up mugs of steaming hot chocolate and muffins to keep you toasty. Admire the window displays of iconic stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Bloomingdales – and pop inside to snap up some bargains when you need to warm up.

Many of New York's outdoor events move inside for winter and the Brooklyn Flea Market can be found inside the impressive Art Deco former Williamsburg Savings Bank building on weekends until 1 April.

Winter is also a great time to catch a show and it's not just the big hits on Broadway that attract the stars – Kevin Spacey will be starring in Shakespeare's Richard III, at the BAM Harvey Theatre in Brooklyn until 1 March. Even if you missed Chinese New Year – when over half a million firecrackers are set off – Chinatown makes a great place to browse in oriental foodshops and dine out.

New York is famous for its museums and the mighty Met (the Metropolitan Museum of Art) has recently revamped some 25 of its galleries. Art fans can also head to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for a retrospective of artist Cindy Sherman's work, in which she transforms herself into an array of characters, between late February and June.

Where to stay in the Big Apple? Our favourite places include Chambers Hotel in mid-town – a chic and affordable loft-dweller’s dream. You could well bump into some stars at The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca – owned by none other than Robert de Niro, or mingle with the media set at hip and happening Soho House.

Chilly temperatures a tad too crisp? Take a trip to Park Here, an enclosed green space in Soho's Openhouse Gallery, complete with hammocks, music and food stalls, or hot things up with a trip to the Tropic Zone at Central Park Zoo. The arts scene is in full swing, too and you’ll find an array of theatre, ballet, jazz and more on offer.

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