*Updated for 2026*
It’s Christmas in New York City, and time to review another one of my favorite holiday spots in the city: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment! Lillie’s is one of those over-the-top Christmassy bars and restaurants, where everyone wants an Instagram picture. I have been to the Times Square location numerous times at both Christmas and otherwise (it is one block from my office), and I want to the Union Square location last November (2025) to see the Christmas decor first hand. This post details a visit to Lillie’s Victorian around the holidays and how to get inside, even without a reservation!
Lillie’s Victorian Union Square.
Very fun decorations at the Union Square location starting mid-November.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
With two locations, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment is a year-round Victorian-era British Pub in New York City named for late British actress Lillie Langtry. The restaurant’s namesake arrived in New York in 1882. Her American debut was set for New York’s Park Theatre, which burned down on October 30, 1882, the day she was due to open. According to Lillie’s, only a charred sign with her name survived. For your purposes, Lillie’s is most famous for its elaborate Christmas decorations, which go up year in mid-November.
Dan and I at Lillie’s Victorian in Union Square in mid-November.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, Union Square in November 2025.
Union Square vs. Times Square at Christmas
As mentioned, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment has two locations: Times Square and Union Square. And honestly, while their Christmas decor style is different, they otherwise are quite similar: a one-story, Victorian-style pub, with nearly identical menus. The seating is all high-top, and Lillie’s offers tea service (although only on the weekend at the Union Square location), in addition to an à la carte menu serving lunch and dinner. If a festive afternoon tea is your thing, compare it with Christmas tea at Edinburgh Castle.
The menu at Lillie’s Victorian in November 2025.
Lillie’s Union Square Location
The restaurant most famous for its Christmas decorations is Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Union Square, and this paragraph pertains solely to the Union Square location. In 2025, reservations for the Christmas season at Union Square opened on November 4th and decorations were fully up on November 15th.
As of November 18, 2026, Union Square reservations for all of December are live! However, it is unclear the date the Christmas decor will debut. But, let me tell you, Union Square goes all out. Its decor theme is very Christmassy: red and green, featuring lots of Santa, elves, wreaths, and spinning things hanging from the ceiling. I would describe it, particularly compared to the Times Square location, as Santa’s toy shop theme. The entirety of the restaurant is decorated this way, and there is no “bad seat.” You can also walk around the restaurant to see it all during your reservation.
Christmastime at Lillie’s Victorian.
Union Square location.
A very cute Christmas beagle in Union Square.
Can’t forget Santa at the Union Square location.
Times Square Location
In contrast to the Union Square location, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Times Square is done in a very white theme, which I would describe as a winter wonderland. Think white poinsettias on the ceiling, polar bears, penguins, white lights and of course, a Santa here and there! Both are wonderfully decorated and child-friendly, just different vibes. Like Union Square, it also goes all out, just in a different way. There are, of course, a few Santas and an elf or two, but its more winter white than green and red.
The Times Square location uses Resy for reservations. And, as of October 18, 2026, they are open for all of November and December!
The Times Square location is also right in the middle of the Theatre District, which makes it an easy stop before or after a show. And if you still need the show, here is how we saw 31 Broadway shows for about $47 a ticket – almost all of it via the lottery and rush. Here is every show with a Broadway lottery or rush right now, and check which Broadway shows are closing soon before you book.
Times Square location in December 2025.
Lillie’s at Times Square.
Times Square location.
Close up of the decor.
More of Times Square.
I love the ceiling.
There’s the stray Santa.
Reservations & How to Get In Without a Reservation
And yes, you need a reservation for both locations. Reservations opened up for the Union Square location in early November, and before that for Times Square (I think I booked in early October). If you were not lucky enough to score a reservation, you are not necessarily out of luck. First, check the morning you are trying to visit. I have often scored a same-day reservation by checking in the morning before opening. People cancel reservations somewhat regularly. Next, the bars at both locations are first come, first served for both food and drinks. If you intend to do this, especially on the weekend, I recommend arriving early. When I visited on November 15th, people were already lining up for the bar!
The entrance to Lillie’s Victorian. Be prepared to wait outside for the bar.
Food, Drinks and Prices
Now, onto the food. Both locations have very similar menus, often identical. The food menu is slightly upscale British pub fare: think fish and chips, a burger, soup, a few salads, etc. My favorite thing on the menu, a chicken salad sandwich, was so good, but it was recently removed from the menu. Hopefully it will return in the spring. While the food is generally not holiday themed, the drinks are! Recently, I enjoyed the Candy Cane Martini and a Mulled Wine. Both were pretty good (not too sweet) and beautifully prepared. Perfect for photographs!
Candy Cane Martini.
Mulled wine at Lillie’s Victorian.
A Christmas cocktail at the Times Square location in 2025.
Of course, I had to have my Guinness!
I would note that there is no minimum spend, but there is a time limit of 90 minutes per table (enforcement varies). Drinks are about $20 apiece, while main courses are typically in the $25 range. The food is decent and fair for the price, but to be clear, you are not visiting for the food.
Halloween and Spring Decor at Lillie’s
And if Christmas is not your holiday, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Times Square also decorates really, really well for Halloween, and fills the room with pink flowers in the spring and summer. Halloween decor goes up at the beginning of October and stays up into November. It’s so fun! Like at Christmas, holiday cocktails are also served at Halloween (albeit Halloween themed). You usually need a reservation for Halloween, but usually not for the spring decor.
The Union Square location also decorates for Halloween, but in a clown theme.
Lillie’s Victorian in Times Square decorated for Halloween in 2025.
Times Square location for Halloween in October 2026. They’ve upped their game.
Lillie’s in the spring and summer.
All in, I’m a big fan of Lillie’s for a fun Christmas meal. It has replaced Rolf’s German Restaurant as my favorite, as Rolf’s is just too hard to get a reservation and too crazy the entire season. You can read about my Rolf’s experience here. If you want to experience Christmas in Europe, here is our European Christmas market itinerary, or our Colmar Christmas market day trip. For more ideas, see our New York City guides.
Steal Our Trip
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment Times Square: 249 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019. Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations highly recommended, but the bar is walk-in only. 90-minute table limit (based on experience, this is rarely enforced except when the restaurant is insanely busy).
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment Union Square: 13 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003. Open 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday to Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Sunday. Reservations highly recommended, but the bar is walk-in only. 90-minute table limit.
Rolf’s German Restaurant: 281 Third Ave, New York, NY 10010. T: 212-477-4750 and 212-473-8718. The phone line for reservations is only open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Open daily, 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., closing at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.