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Looking to spread some holiday cheer among your team this Christmas? Step away from the usual gift-giving routine and surprise your colleagues with experience gifts in NYC they'll never forget! It's a wonderful way to bond with your coworkers and create lasting memories together. So, why not ditch the ordinary and opt for something extraordinary this year? Let's explore some of the best New York Christmas gifts in 2026!
Gifting a creative class will treat your teammates to food, drink, and hands-on fun you can only find in the city. Everyone can decompress, socialize, and enjoy doing a festive activity together. It’s natural to build close bonds with your co-workers, and whether you’re working from home or in the office, creative workshops are a nice way to celebrate the season.
Ready to get those sleigh bells ringing? From creative cocktail classes to family-friendly craft workshops, read on for our guide to the best Christmas gift ideas for your team to do together in NYC.
Gift your team a candle making experience
Best For: Marketing teams, client-facing roles, and anyone juggling a few too many tabs who could use a creative, feel-good reset.
No matter what your profession is, there are different stressors as part of your job. Being able to take a step back and make time for self-care is important. A natural wax candle making workshop makes an ideal Xmas gift that coworkers will appreciate.
It’s the perfect remedy for stress and lets you gather for a soothing activity. Candle making classes encourage you to relax, unwind, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. Get ready to create festive-inspired scents using fragrances like cinnamon, pine, and tobacco.
Never made a candle before? No worries. There’s no need for previous experience, and you’ll always learn from professional artisans at all of our NYC candle making workshops. They’ll teach you how to melt natural wax, blend your signature scent, and pour your handmade candle like an expert. Buying a fancy candle can cost upwards of a hundred dollars, and this Christmas experience gift lets you in on the secrets so you can make them yourself while having a terrific time with your colleagues.
Gift your team a Christmas baking class
Best For: Tech teams, startups, and office managers who love celebrating milestones with a sweet treat!
From sugar-dusted cookies to traditional Italian panettone or Mexican buñelos, baking classes in NYC are some of the best New York Christmas gifts to do with your coworkers. For most teams, a culinary school couldn’t be more different from the usual work environment. Your crew will love throwing on aprons and learning how to bake delicious Christmas treats.
There’s no need to work in hospitality to enjoy these sorts of Christmas gift experiences in New York. Zero previous baking experience is required, which makes these classes ideal Christmas gift ideas for a team looking for an easy-going celebration.
A holiday cookie decorating class with Atelier Sucre in the East Village is perfect for beginner bakers! These creative and casual workshops make for some of the best personalized Christmas gifts for coworkers, where everyone can relax and interact over a fun and festive activity. Icing gingerbread houses alongside your manager is a great way to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit while getting to know all your co-workers.
Gift your team a cocktail making class
Best For: Sales teams, PR folks, and anyone who already unofficially plans happy hour. Perfect for teams looking for unique holiday gifts for employees this year.
Whether it’s stirring a Negroni or putting the finishing touches on an Aperol Spritz, learning recipes for holiday cocktails feels like the perfect way to get festive with your team! Cocktail classes make excellent New York Christmas gifts and let you taste what the city’s best mixologists have to offer.
Show up to a local speakeasy and learn from a professional bartender or book a private lesson and bring the party to you. If you love the idea of getting the inside track on the latest drink recipes, this is the place to start. Take a craft cocktail class with J Bespoke in Manhattan to bring some flavor and flair to your team's holiday happy hour. Don’t stress if you have co-workers who don’t drink. You don’t have to leave anyone out because our mixology classes will include lessons on how to make non-alcoholic drinks.
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Gift your team a Christmas wreath making class
Best For: Creative teams, design studios, HR departments, and anyone who loves a cozy desk setup. Great for anyone looking for gift ideas for team members that’s hands-on but low-key.
Nothing says Christmas quite like a festive wreath, and you can get your teammates together for a DIY project that gets you in the holiday mood. You’ll love coming together with your colleagues to learn how to make handmade Christmas wreaths. Keep things traditional with holly, evergreen branches, and pinecones, or design a modern display using gold hoops, eucalyptus leaves, and sparkly decorations. Brooklyn Blooms can even come to your Brooklyn office with their seasonal wreath making class! Your office holiday planning has never been easier with this convenient Christmas activity for teams.
Try other plant displays like succulent wreath making or holiday terrariums. This is a wonderful Christmas experience gift where everyone can relax while working with plants and take home something beautiful to display at home or in your office.
Gift your team a cooking class
Best For: Teams that wish they used their office kitchen. Ideal for food-loving coworkers, hybrid teams meeting IRL, or departments ready to swap catered lunches for something memorable.
Instead of getting a Christmas lunch catered, you can spend quality time learning how to cook at a New York cooking school. Bring out your inner Iron Chef and compete with your colleagues in team cooking challenges. A friendly cooking competition is one of the coolest New York Christmas gifts and a fun way to close out the year. If you'd rather be chill about it, you can learn how to make pizza or fold perfectly filled dumplings in a more traditional cooking class.
You'll show up with all the ingredients ready for you to transform. Learn all the tips and techniques from a local instructor who will walk you step by step through each recipe. Many of our classes are BYOB, so you can indulge in a glass of Chianti or beer while you wait for your pizza to come out of the oven or your pasta to cook. You’ll never wonder what to get coworkers for Christmas again!
There's always something new to try out in New York, and Christmas experience gifts let you share the magic with your team at Christmas or any holiday to celebrate during the year. Whether you’re connecting over a cooking class or bonding while baking together, these unique Christmas gift ideas for a team will have you ringing out the season in style.
