A Coastal Escape in the Heart of Manhattan: ZOI’s Thanksgiving Experience
By: Marissa Ross
This Thanksgiving, one of New York’s ZOI is inviting the city to celebrate the holiday with a distinctly Mediterranean sensibility. The warmly lit, coastal-inspired restaurant tucked inside the historic Life Hotel in NoMad is reimagining the traditional feast through the lens of “Ζωή” (Zoi), the Greek word for life and the philosophy at the heart of everything the restaurant does.
Stepping into the dining room feels like a brief escape to the Aegean coast. Soft candlelight dances across marble walls, terracotta accents warm the space, and the herbal scent of the kitchen creates an instant sense of comfort. Founder Onur Safak, who built ZOI as an homage to Mediterranean hospitality, sees Thanksgiving as the moment to share that ethos with New Yorkers.
“This holiday is about warmth and togetherness,” Safak says. “We want our guests to feel a sense of joy, slow down, and really savor the moment.”
Photo Courtesy: Zoi
To mark its first Thanksgiving celebration, ZOI is offering a thoughtfully crafted three-course prix-fixe menu, created by Chefs Kaan Sen and Cetin Giineri, a duo known for their balanced approach to Mediterranean flavors. The menu blends tradition with modern elegance, turning the holiday’s expected dishes into something fresher and brighter.
Dinner begins with ZOI’s elevated take on a Greek Salad, crisp vegetables, briny feta, and a red wine vinaigrette that strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and depth. It’s a clean, vibrant start that sets the tone for what’s to come.
The centerpiece of the meal is a Roasted Turkey Breast reinterpreted with Mediterranean flair. Served alongside chestnut and pomegranate rice and finished with an herbaceous pesto sauce, the dish marries the cozy familiarity of Thanksgiving with the coastal flavors that define the restaurant. It’s festive without being heavy, thoughtfully composed without losing comfort.
For dessert, guests are served Autumn Bliss, a poetic finale starring oven-roasted quince paired with a silky vanilla pumpkin mousse. The dish captures the warmth of the season while offering a refined, unexpected twist, exactly what diners have come to love about ZOI.
Photo Courtesy: Zoi
Throughout the evening, guests are surrounded by an atmosphere designed for lingering. Leather seating, stone walls, flickering candles, and warm lighting create a space that feels both intimate and transportive, elegant without pretense. It’s the kind of room where conversations stretch, courses are savored, and time seems to slow down.
And the evening doesn’t have to end upstairs; just beneath the restaurant lies Ten11, ZOI’s not-so-secret cocktail lounge, which has been transformed for the holidays into a cozy, moody hideaway ideal for post-dinner drinks. With its velvet textures, low lighting, and off-the-record feel, Ten11 channels the magic of New York’s hidden lounges. Guests can unwind with bespoke seasonal cocktails layered with Mediterranean botanicals, saffron, and aged spirits, the ideal way to keep the night going.
More than just a holiday menu, ZOI’s Thanksgiving celebration reflects the restaurant’s deeper philosophy: that life is best when shared. In a city where holiday plans can feel rushed, transactional, or overly orchestrated, ZOI offers something refreshingly grounded, a gathering centered on connection, calm, and the simple pleasure of a beautiful meal.
As New Yorkers look for meaningful ways to celebrate this season, ZOI stands out as a destination that blends worldliness with warmth, inviting guests into an experience that feels both global and deeply local. Whether dining in the candlelit restaurant or toasting the night away at Ten11, visitors will find a Thanksgiving celebration that is thoughtful and flavorful.
Reservations are now open, with limited seating to preserve the intimate atmosphere that has made ZOI one of NoMad’s sought-after culinary gems.
www.zoinomad.com
