The advent of the holiday season in New York City bears an assortment of winter specialties: fresh snow, festive lights and best of all, the brisk winter air marks the arrival of ice skating season. Notorious for the overplayed jingles and infinite lines for lackluster food, ice skating remains a timeless appeal to us New Yorkers craving the feelings of holiday joy. Assuaging the stress of the search for the best possible skating experience, we journeyed to the most popular ice skating rinks to present the official 2024 Riverdale Review ranking. We assessed each contender through four categories: Holiday Spirit, Ice Quality, Food, and Ambiance. Each category is out of five points, one being the worst ranking and five being excellent.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Holiday Spirit: 5
Besides the Ice Skating rink, Bryant Park is iconic for its winter village. The large Christmas tree is less known than Rockefeller Center but still magnificent.
Ice Quality: 3
Out of all three rinks, Bryant Park is the largest, however, that comes with more people. On the right day, Bryant Park offers a smooth skating experience, but on most days the crowds flock to the ice, creating slush and damage. It was less frequently manicured by the Zamboni as well.
Food: 3
It is no secret that Bryant Park is famous for its food stands filled with the perfect and pricey chilly day bites. When it comes to the quality of the food itself, most of the treats are mediocre, and aesthetics and presentation are more impressive than taste itself.
Ambiance: 2
The surrounding streets and rink are crowded, and the lines are very long. However, we think that going to the Bryant Park winter village is essential because of its adventure and unique stalls. Just be prepared to be squished and encounter large lines.
Rockefeller Center
Holiday Spirit: 5
The extravagant Christmas tree, lights lining the rink, and loud music felt like we were stepping away from the dense city into a winter wonderland. Thereís a reason itís so iconic.
Ice Quality: 5
The ice was routinely brushed, and despite the rinkís popularity, the ice was very slick, not too icy or slushy. It was very polished making the rink the ideal skating surface.
Food: 5
Rockefeller Center serves a wide variety of delectable ice skating treats such as Glacé’s hot chocolate and Swedish candy from Lilí Sweet Treat. There was no shortage of top-notch dining experiences to be had at Rockefeller Center.
Ambiance: 4
The iconic gold statue and palpable energy of the people added to the joyful ambiance of Rockefeller Center. Moreover, there are many indoor and outdoor spaces that are clean and relaxing if you want to step away from ice skating. We are taking away one point due to the massive crowds and tourists; however, we do know that it all adds to the New York holiday experience.
Wollman Rink
Holiday Spirit: 1
There are ZERO decorations, and we suspect that the Grinch may have stopped by and taken the holiday spirit with him. The plastic igloo that sat in the corner was embarrassing compared to the adornment of the other locations. The music was played at a very low volume. We think that Wollman Rink could use a mood board and some creative redirection. However, we believe that the rink is usually used for more practical reasons, less for catering to tourists or New Yorkers looking for a winter wonderland.
Ice Quality: 3
The rink is a very generous size, accommodating different skating levels with a section for beginners. The ice felt very fresh and smooth; however, this was probably due to the lack of people. Overall, it is a solid option.
Food: 2
There were limited food options, with a humble hot chocolate stand and a food bar characteristic of a mall food court. We were underwhelmed by the lack of innovative choices compared to the previous rinks.
Ambiance: 2
Lacking is an understatement. The environment felt dreary compared to the decorations and colors that were characteristic of the other two. However, the only redeeming quality is the location of the rink, being placed in the beautiful Central Park. Though there were very few people there, we would not call it a hidden gem. Wollman Rink lacked the excitement and energy we hoped for, leaving us to look around at the blank canvas of a rink.
Overall, our personal favorite ice skating rink for this winter season was Rockefeller Center. The atmosphere, as well as the experience fulfilled our winter wonderland dreams. With photo-worthy scenery, mouth-watering smells, and decorations galore, the rink offered the best of all worlds. We believe the crowds can be overlooked by the plethora of holiday spirit that exudes from Rockefeller Center. At The Riverdale Review, we recommend going on a weekday to optimize the crowds and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa!