10 of the most festive restaurants decorated for the holidays
Holiday memories are made huddled around tables full of delicious food.
Is there anything more festive than a restaurant trussed up with garland, glowing with warm Christmas lights, sparkling with crystals? Or... cluttered with vintage Santas?
Add a warm meal, a glass of wine and a chill in the air outside, and you've got yourself a picture-perfect evening. (Bring your cameras.)
Here are some of the most well-decorated restaurants this holiday season.
Varrelmann’s, Rutherford
All the decorations at German bakery Varrelmann’s have a special meaning. Owner Catherine Young says customers often stop by to give her old Christmas tchotchkes. “This was grandma's,” they tell her. “Can you put it up?”
The result is a bakery that’s bursting with old St. Nicholas figures, poinsettias, gingerbread and snowmen. One sled propped up in the window is from the 1930s. The Santa that stands outside is more than 20 years old. “Everyone loves it,” said Young. “They stand outside and take selfies with it.”
Perhaps the decoration most special to Young is the paper garland that hangs from the ceiling. It was made by children with disabilities about 15 years ago. Young has meticulously stored it all these years so it hasn’t crumbled.
Stop in to ask Young about the history of each item. And, while you’re there, grab some German stollen. “It’s soaked in rum and butter,” she said. “I’m probably one of the only people who still make it like that.”
Go: 60 Park Ave., Rutherford; 201-939-0462, facebook.com/Varrelmanns-Bake-Shop.
Fiorentini, Rutherford
Brenda De Ieso, co-owner of the newly opened Italian restaurant Fiorentini, has a background in design, which is apparent in her stunning holiday decorations. An arch fringed with five different kinds of pines and threaded with warm lights frames the entrance, guarded by a towering Nutcracker.
“A gift from my mother,” said De Ieso. “He opens and closes his eyes. People love it.”
Fiorentini puts an emphasis on sustainability, from its recycled wood floor to its locally sourced ingredients for dishes like poached pear salad and tagliatelle with Tuscan bolognese.
“Sustainability is very important, even in design,” said De Ieso, who made sure to use decorations that will decompose when the season is over (so hardly any plastic). White pine and berry sprigs are scattered throughout. Rustic honeysuckle branches weave through the Christmas tree. Brown and bronze ornaments hang from the tree and the ceiling.
“It’s a sophisticated farmhouse aesthetic,” said De Ieso.
Go: 98 Park Ave., Rutherford; 973-721-3404, fiorentinirest.com.
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The Walpack Inn, Layton
The Walpack Inn is already cozy with its big stone fireplace and sturdy wooden beams, tucked among (occasionally) snow-covered mountains. It is even more heartwarming during the Christmas season. Lara Darco, daughter of owner Jim Heigis, said she is most proud of the Inn’s tree.
“We try to stay with the Inn's country, rustic theme,” she said. “The ornaments consist of natural dried pieces such as pine cones as well as red berry ornaments and antique doilies.”
Natural flower arrangements with dried plants and flowers from the field that abuts the restaurant are placed throughout the space. Back this year for one day is the Inn’s holiday cookie table, where guests can grab homemade cookies free of charge. Stop in on Dec. 17 to enjoy the treats with your dinner by the roaring fireplace.
“We are grateful to share in those traditions as a destination to relax and enjoy,” said Darco. “Our remote location offers the opportunity for people to tune out distractions, enjoy nature and the company of those that are along for the adventure.”
Go: 7 National Park Service Route 615, Layton; 973-948-3890, walpackinn.com.
The Highlawn, West Orange
The recently reopened Highlawn (formerly the Highlawn Pavilion) has been renovated and revamped in crisp whites and clean creams. But the gorgeous, 360-degree view of the New York City skyline has remained the same. For the holidays, the historic building (once used by Thomas Edison as a laboratory) has been decked with red and green floral arrangements. A towering Christmas tree sits in the lobby, bursting with red and gold bows and ornaments.
Helming the kitchen is experienced chef Sam Hazen, a Culinary Institute of America alum, who has worked at impressive New York City restaurants La Côte Basque, the Quilted Giraffe, Terrace in the Sky, and Cascabel. Take in the décor while dining on Hazen’s prime-aged steaks or olive-oil poached squash.
The Highlawn is also hosting a holiday brunch every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.
Go: 1 Crest Dr., West Orange; 973-731-3463, highlawn.com.
Oceanos, Fair Lawn
'Sophisticated' is the word for the holiday display of fine seafood restaurant Oceanos.
“We don’t do trees,” said Lyuba Panteleakis, wife of owner Nikos. She handles all of the decorations. “Instead we do installations of ferns.”
The restaurant and outdoor tent are turned into sleek, elegant winter wonderlands with big wreaths of greenery, dripping with white flowers and white-and-gold baubles, that hang from the ceiling. Pine garland with white and pewter ornaments run throughout, as do lights.
Lyuba said she avoids flashy greens and reds and keeps to a silver and gold color scheme.
“We don’t want it to be too Christmas-y,” she said, “But, we want it to feel special for the season.”
Go: 2-27 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn; 201-796-0546, oceanosrestaurant.com.
Fisher’s Café, North Arlington
Fisher’s Café in North Arlington is a humble breakfast and lunch spot with the typical egg dishes, wraps and sandwiches most corner cafés offer. But during the holidays, what sets it apart are the hundreds of nutcrackers that line the walls. Soldiers, "The Nutcracker's" mouse king, elves, sailors, even Stormtrooper nutcrackers crowd the shelves of Fisher’s. Owner Catalina Trueallo estimates there are about 300.
Go: 18 Ridge Park Dr., North Arlington; 201-998-2626, facebook.com/FishersCafe.
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The Grand Café, Morristown
Even with no Christmas decorations up, The Grand Café has a cozy, wintery feel. Its dark wood paneling, heavy curtains and shimmering chandelier are, well, grand. During the holidays, the space gets even more festive with Christmas trees, poinsettias, ornamental Santa Claus figurines and red bows on every light fixture.
Owner Desmond Lloyd said his wife, Alice, is in charge of the decorations. They start to decorate the week before Thanksgiving and get it all up in about a week.
“We have a lot of the same customers that have holiday parties here every year,” said Lloyd. “It’s a nice warm atmosphere.”
Go: 42 Washington St., Morristown; 973-540-9444, thegrandcafe.com.
Candlewyck Diner, East Rutherford
Sure, the Candlewyck Diner has a 14-foot Christmas tree (give or take a few inches) loaded with ornaments. But, the real showstopper is the intricate nutcracker display set up near the dessert case. Owner Emanuel Logothetis said his mother Vasilia is the mastermind behind the décor. About 50 nutcrackers guard the case, some glittering, some that light up, some several feet tall, some just a few inches.
“Customers love it,” said Logothetis. “A lot of people come and take pictures in front of it.”
Go: 179 Paterson Ave., East Rutherford; 201-933-4446, candlewyckdiner.com.
The Barn, Wyckoff
Admittedly, The Barn doesn’t do much in the way of holiday decorations. With its dark wood walls, wagon wheels fixed on the bar and old-timey stove, it doesn’t have to.
“The barn itself is very rustic and cozy so it doesn’t need much to transform it to holiday mode,” said Jessica, a manager at The Barn. The building was originally an actual barn, built in 1779, until it was converted to a bar and restaurant.
The staff does put up a gigantic Christmas wreath and lights outside. The wreath is Jessica’s favorite.
“We put it outside so it’s the first thing anyone sees before even coming in,” she said. “The symbolism of the wreath is really a beautiful thing — eternal life and light. Two things that really embody the holidays for us.”
Inside, they hide little Christmas trinkets in the nooks and crannies, hang some garland and put up a menorah. (And here’s a secret – Santa’s sleigh actually stays tucked away in the barn all year round. See if you can find it.)
“We want it to feel like home to our staff and loyal customers,” said Jessica. “And there’s nothing that feels more like home than the holidays. So, creating a festive ambiance helps us capture that feeling, making it super important to us.”
Go: 359 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff; 2010848-0108, thebarnoriginal.com.
WNTR Holiday Village, Maplewood
WNTR isn’t exactly a restaurant. It’s more like a mini winter village you can roam through while sipping hot chocolate and shopping from local vendors. It’s hosted by the General Store Cooperative (known for its charming locally made items) and the organization Springfield Avenue Maplewood.
The market includes fresh-cut trees and tables of gifts under white tents. About 70 vendors display their wares – from ceramics to soaps to toys to artisan chocolates. Expect entertainment in the form of African drumming, visits from Mrs. Claus and more.
“We wanted to run something that would celebrate a variety of winter holidays and offer a fun spin on the traditional holiday markets,” says Amy Howlett, one of the event organizers and founder of the General Store Cooperative.
WNTR runs from noon to 4 p.m. every weekend until Christmas.
Go: Yale Corner on Springfield Avenue, Maplewood; generalstorecooperative.com.
Other highly decorated restaurants
Son Cubano: Decorated with trees, nutcrackers and poinsettias. Will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. 40-4 Riverwalk Place, West New York; 201-399-2020, soncubanonj.com.
Ventanas: Decorated with wreaths, trees and Christmas lights. Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. 200 Park Ave., Fort Lee; 201-583-4777, ventanasatthemodern.com.
Sorellina Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: Beautiful garland and warm lights. 1036 Washington St., Hoboken; 201-963-3333, sorellinahoboken.com.
Franklin Social (Miracle on Mercer): 292 Barrow St., Jersey City; 201-413-1300, franklinsocial.com.
Cowan's Public (Miracle on Centre): 229 Centre St., Nutley; 973-542-8151, cowanspublic.com.
Gus' Last Word (Miracle on Valley): 191 Valley Blvd., Wood-Ridge; 973-939-5608, guslastword.com.
The Vanguard (Sippin Santa): Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. S., Harrison; 201-292-3633, thevanguardharrison.com.
Rebecca King is a food writer for NorthJersey.com. For more on where to dine and drink, please subscribe today and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter.
Email: kingr@northjersey.com
Twitter: @rebeccakingnj
Instagram: @northjerseyeats
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 10 of the most festive North Jersey restaurants decorated for the holidays
