This Christmas, take the pressure off and leave the cooking to the pros.
These Bay Area restaurants will be serving decadent dishes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; all you have to do is make a reservation. Whether you want to dress up and make it an event or keep things casual, you'll have plenty of choices.
Here are our top picks for dining on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025.
Bay Area Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve
Celebrate Christmas Eve with a special menu at Jo's Modern Thai.
(Courtesy of Jo's Modern Thai)
3rd Cousin
Neighborhood favorite 3rd Cousin will be doing Christmas Eve up with a four-course prix-fixe ($157/person plus optional wine pairings at $120/person or $250/person for library selections). The festive menu includes di Napoli squash soup, black truffle and porcini mushroom ravioli, and a choice of filet mignon or butter-poached lobster tail. There's also plenty of vegetarian options, with a main dish fashioned around grilled tofu, pumpkin seed romesco, date-and-tamarind butter, and a touch of winter truffle. // 919 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), 3rdcousinsf.com; reservations at exploretock.com
Anomaly
Adventure through taste and texture at Anomaly’s multi-course Christmas Eve dinner. Chef Mike Lanham is delivering “southern-inspired modernism” with lots of vegetable- and seafood-forward dishes, as well as notable wine selections (Anomaly SF has been the recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award Of Excellence for the last two years). // 2600 Sutter St. (Pac Heights), anomalysf.com; reservations at exploretock.com
Flour + Water
Go hard for carbs at Flour + Water. Their Christmas Eve menu features taleggio scarpinocc with aceto balsamico and parmigiano reggiano, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and a special pasta tasting menu. Per usual, all will spotlight local, seasonal ingredients and chef Ryan Pollnow’s culinary prowess. // 2401 Harrison St. (Mission), flourandwater.com; reservations at resy.com
International Smoke
International Smoke is preparing a Christmas Eve feast for the ages. At their holiday buffet ($135/adult, $49/kids 12 and under), nosh on everything from SF garlic noodles to Jamaican pumpkin soup, along with comfort-food favorites like honey baked ham, mac ‘n cheese, and co-founding chef Ayesha Curry's special jalapeno cornbread served with Thai red curry butter. // 301 Mission St. (SoMa), sevenrooms.com
Jo’s Modern Thai
Opened by Oakland native Kao Saelee in the Laurel District, Jo’s Modern is a deeply personal project that bridges nostalgic Thai cooking with elevated, modern dining featuring Bay Area ingredients and purveyors. New chef Nui Surach (formerly of Nari SF and Kin Khao), will be creating a special menu for Christmas Eve dinner. // 3725 MacArthur Blvd. (Oakland); josmodernthai.com; reservations at opentable.com
Penny Roma
The pasta masters at Penny Roma continue their annual tradition with the return of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The family-style tasting menu ($145/person) includes seven courses of seafood-centric specials like local crab, mussels, handmade pasta, and tons more—plus dessert. An optional wine pairing is also available. Dinner starts at 4pm. // 3000 20th St. (Mission-Bernal), pennyroma.com; reservations at resy.com
Spruce
Spruce has a curated Christmas Eve offering that captures the refined, California-fresh cuisine that made the lauded restaurant’s name. The five-course menu ($180/person) starts strong with a butternut squash tartlette and Dungeness crab salad. For your main course, choose between Liberty Farms duck breast with chestnuts and orange sabayon, roasted dover sole with caviar sauce, or New York strip steak. Bûche de Noël for dessert is a no-brainer. Of all of the places to do a wine pairing, this is the one, with curated picks from Spruce’s renowned collection of more than 3,500 blends for $125/person. // Spruce, 3640 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights), sprucesf.com
Ssal
Michelin-starred contemporary Korean restaurant Ssal is hosting a luxurious Christmas Eve meal. Just like last year, the deluxe holiday tasting menu ($350/person) remains under wraps. Whatever they serve, you'll watch it all come together in the open kitchen. // 2226 Polk St. (Russian Hill), ssalsf.com; reservations at exploretock.com
The Vault Garden
You don’t need an excuse to visit the lauded steakhouse’s winter wonderland makeover, but Christmas Eve at The Vault Garden is that and more. Their three-course feast ($95/person) offers cozy starters and hearty mains. Add on festive cocktails like the Abominable Snowman with rum, spices, and milky whey, plus a view of the city’s tallest Christmas tree, and you’ve got yourself some solid holiday plans. // 555 California St. (FiDi); vaultgarden.com; reservations at opentable.com
United Dumplings (Takeout only)
If you've never known the joys of eating Chinese food on Christmas Day—a longstanding Jewish tradition—here's your chance. Take home United Dumplings' lobster dumpling or crab dumpling meal ($229, serves 4-6), which also include potstickers, fried noodles, sweet and spicy chicken wings, veggie spring rolls, pork bao, and a bottle of bubbly. Order now for pickup at their Bernal location by December 24th. // 525 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), uniteddumplings.com; order at exploretock.com
Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Do Christmas Day the Bay Area way: with Dungeness crab.
(Courtesy of @crabhouse39)
Astra (+ Christmas)
Enjoy a fancy holiday afternoon tea ($210/person) at Astra in the swanky St. Regis, in partnership with the famous Parisian patisserie, Ladurée. Think flutes of Moët & Chandon, signature macarons, Eugénie biscuits, and Champagne add-ons all afternoon (bookable daily through December 31st). Astra’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunches are also luxurious affairs, complete with gingerbread cinnamon rolls, eggnog bread pudding, and savory croissant French toast—plus extensive flights of Bloody Marys. // The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa), marriott.com; reservations at opentable.com
Brenda's French Soul Food
Make Christmas Eve and Christmas day easy by heading to Brenda’s, where the full menu is on offer from 8am to 3pm. Chef Brenda Buenviaje takes her famed soul food to the next level with another fun option; her Cajun prime rib feast kits ($299, pick up on December 23rd), which serves up to six with all the sides and fixings: Beef au jus, “troublemaker” sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, French rolls and optional add-ons, like shrimp cocktail, crab cakes and pumpkin bread pudding for dessert. Reservations for dine in are a must; open 9am to 3pm. // 652 Polk St. (Tenderloin), frenchsoulfood.com; reservations at resy.com
Crab House
Do Christmas dinner the San Francisco way with Dungeness crab. Pier 39's Crab House has got theirs roasted in garlic sauce and ready to serve alongside other local seafood stars like crab chowder, shellfish topped garlic noodles, and cioppino on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11am to 9pm. Although reservations are recommended, this is one of the few places that'll take walk-ins in case you have a last minute hankering for the riches of the deep. // 203 C Pier 39 (Fisherman's Wharf), crabhouse39.com; reservations at yelp.com
Fog Harbor Fish House
Celebrate the holidays with fresh, sustainable seafood from Fog Harbor Fish House on Pier 39. The whole menu is on offer both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which includes everything from seared scallop and crab risotto to garlic-roasted Dungeness crab to crab cakes to award-winning clam chowder. The restaurant will be open from 11am to 9pm on December 24th and 25th. Reservations aren't required but are recommended. // Pier 39 (Fisherman's Wharf), fogharbor.com; reservations at yelp.com
Palette Tea House
Join the Christmas Day festivities in Ghirardelli Square at the expansive, modern Cantonese and dim sum restaurant, Palette Tea House. They'll be open for indoor or outdoor seating from 11:30am to 7:30pm on December 25th. // 900 North Point St., Ste. B201A (Fisherman's Wharf), paletteteahouse.com; reservations at yelp.com
Radhaus Alpine Beerhall & Restaurant
The Bavarian-inspired waterfront beer hall in Fort Mason will be open and serving their extensive menu of Old World-meets-modern dishes and curated German biers. This year, they have also introduced a limited-time caviar & bier pairing menu, available through December 31st. The Radhaus Selection ($98) comes with 28.3 grams of Sasanian Kaluga caviar, potato waffle, crème fraîche, egg, chives and the Haus pickle. Pair the bites with 0.3-liters of Grevensteiner Kellerbier, Rothaus Pilsner, or Weltenburger Dunkel ($8/each or $20 for all three). Open 12pm to 8:30pm on Christmas Even and Christmas. // Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. Building A (Marina); radhaussf.com, reservations at yelp.com
STK Steakhouse
STK Steakhouse is making holiday dining effortless—and unforgettable—this season. From 10am to 10pm on Christmas Eve and 11am to 10pm on Christmas Day, they're serving up classic festive fare alongside the regular menu. Highlights include roasted free-range turkey with sage stuffing, parmesan-crusted Yukon mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cranberry-orange chutney ($64 for adults, $29 for kids 12 and under) or roasted prime rib with confit fingerling potatoes, green beans, and a rich pomegranate reduction ($69). // 1 Market St. (Embarcadero), stksteakhouse.com.
Sula
Cavallo Point's elegant Sula is cooking up some Yuletide cheer on both Christmas Eve ($130/adult, $55/kids 12 and under) and Christmas Day ($175/adult, $70/kids 4-12, age 3 and under is free). The four-course prix-fixe affair on the 24th includes both traditional and not-so-traditional California fare including hearty mains like five spice grilled pork chops, roasted duck breast, and braised short ribs. For a true NorCal Christmas on the 25th, opt for Dungeness crab cocktail, foraged mushroom salad, or lobster ravioli from the eight different buffet-style food stations on offer. Service is between 4pm and 9pm on Christmas Eve and 12pm to 5pm on Christmas Day. // 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker (Sausalito), cavallopoint.com
Terrene
Terrene at 1 Hotel San Francisco is bringing its signature farm-to-table fare to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a menu focused on Northern California ingredients. Slice into beef Wellington with mashed potatoes or local halibut with farro, and pair them with desserts and salads that showcase local farms. Ready to celebrate now? Starting December 4th, Terrene’s covered (and heated) patio will transform into a winter greenhouse-inspired scene with seasonal bites, hot cocktails, and Cowgirl Creamery fondue. // 8 Mission St. (Embarcadero), 1hotels.com/san-francisco; reservations at sevenrooms.com
The Post Room
The holidays are a festive time inside the Union Square classic the Beacon Grand. It starts with their holiday tea ($130/adults, $65/kids 12 and under), every Friday through Sunday through December 28th. But it’s Christmas Eve dinner ($120/adults, $75/kids 12 and under) that really shines with a prix-fixe menu featuring dishes like a duck confit salad and Creekstone Farm prime ribeye, plus live piano music by Gaea Schell. The celebration continues on Christmas Day with a family-style menu ($120/adults, $75/kids 12 and under) of prime rib, maple-glazed ham, wild mushroom risotto, and more. Open 5pm to 8pm Christmas Eve and 12pm to 7pm Christmas Day. // 450 Powell St. (Union Square); beacongrand.com; reservations at opentable.com
