There’s just something about New York City that goes hand-in-hand with the holiday season. Sure, you have the classic sights of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (now available as an NFT, if you’re into that sort of thing), Macy’s with its annual holiday facelift and the Salvation Army’s jingling donation bells.
You also have the backdrop of numerous classic holiday films, from “Miracle on 34th Street” to “Elf” and “Home Alone 2.” Even “When Harry Met Sally” couldn’t resist making Christmas in Manhattan a pivotal aspect of its plot that helps lead the titular characters to a merry ending.
Although this December is unlikely to yield any cinematically crisp white snow, if you want to recreate the classic aesthetic of a holiday movie, your first step should be owning a Manhattan apartment. More specifically, an Upper West Side apartment, because nothing says Christmas in New York like pre-war buildings steps from Central Park or Lincoln Center.
To jump-start your search, our Select Spaces team has made a list (and checked it twice) of five Upper West Side homes for sale now. Check out our choices below, and live in the spirit of the holiday season all year long.
For the successful single seeking a meet-cute
2505 Broadway #PHC | 2BR | 3.65M
With its own private terrace that beckons you to run out in awe of unexpected Christmas flakes, Penthouse C at 2505 Broadway is a perfect backdrop for your life on film. Its high ceilings, Herringbone wood floors and large windows set the scene for an instant classic. The open kitchen has Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and Gaggenau appliances, its bathrooms feature a lux undermount tub and its power room is covered in marble. This apartment says, “I seem to have it all, but I wish I had someone to share it with.” Cue the opening scene.
For the city newbie missing home
243 West End Avenue #907 | Studio | $325K
Located in a brick, pre-war building with a dark, wood-paneled lobby, this co-op studio at 243 West End Avenue features chestnut wood floors, a bright kitchen alcove and modern millwork on its ceilings. Although small, this apartment is ideal for the newcomer who wants to own a piece of old New York. Much of the hypothetical movie set here might be spent with the protagonist longing for their hometown during the holidays, but that’s okay. It’s only the first act.
For the fun-loving family
332 West 101st Street #3FR | 3 BR | 1.25
This artsy family-style apartment at 332 West 101st Street is located in a row of crisp brownstones. This apartment could be owned by a quirky, protagonist family, one that a movie plot would portray as down to earth. In reality, it’s a more than $1M, designer-curated home. Regardless, parents could enjoy having guests in the bright, modern kitchen with updated stainless steel appliances, and train their children to be avid readers in the spacious living room filled with built-in bookshelves. Bedrooms feature ample windows for watching the snow fall, or looking out in longing during some holiday-timed drama.
For the upscale family who needs some closeness
1965 Broadway, 26/27D | 5BR| $14.295M
This duplex at 1965 Broadway is the type of extravagant Upper West Side apartment that makes the rest of the world see the neighborhood as a mecca for the upper crust. And sure, with over 4,800 square feet, two floors connected by a winding staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wood-paneled library, it is a tony property indeed. The apartment is located a block from Lincoln Center, another classic holiday movie stop, which adds some additional glamour. Marble spa bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen and a formal dining room make this a home for the family that seems to have it all. For a buyer, this place is more modern-day fairytale than anything else.
For the wishful family man
225 W 86TH ST, 1017 | 5 BR| $12.96M
This sprawling condo at 225 West 86th Street is the quintessential backdrop for a single, successful protagonist, something along the lines of Nicolas Cage’s character in The Family Man. It’s even located in the Belnord, a Renaissance-style building that stretches across a full city block, recently remodeled by architect Robert A.M. Stern. With its ten-foot ceilings, Molteni-designed kitchen and spa-like master bathroom with Siberian white slab marble, it spares no luxury. But its more than 4,700 square feet could probably be better used by a full family rather than one person. Which is exactly why there are windows with city views sprinkled throughout the home, perfect for staring out at the snow, deep in thought. Luckily, the apartment complex comes with its own landscaped courtyard, so this holiday movie can show character development throughout the year.