Restaurants Open on Christmas in San Diego

‘Tis the season for festive decorations, peppermint hot chocolate, and the scent of pine trees and cinnamon! Celebrating this Christmas holiday in America’s finest city means you probably won’t have to bundle up with extra layers. Not only will you enjoy the sunny December weather but also holiday specials offered by San Diego’s stunning restaurants. From upscale Brazilian steakhouse and elegant oceanfront dining to a la carte gourmet menu and Breakfast buffet, this list will guide you to a very merry Christmas dining experience.

Dining Out for Christmas in San Diego

Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse

If you want to celebrate your holiday with a real meat feast, this authentic Brazilian steakhouse located in Gaslamp is the right place to be. They offer full Churrasco experience with an access to the market table and Feijoada bar with an excellent array of soups, salads and seasonal specials all day on Christmas.  Once you are seated in their elegant, classy dining room, you encounter meat servers who will pleasantly cut your choice of meat right at the table. They serve a various types of meat from their signature Picanha, prime part of the Top Sirloin, to tender Lamb Chops, to perfectly seasoned Pork Ribs. The side dishes such as Garlic Mashed Potatoes and their mouthwatering homemade cheese bread rolls are served through the entire dining experience. They will open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Christmas day with a fixed dinner price. Don’t miss the opportunity to fill your stomach with joy and indulgent bone-in cuts this Holiday!

Estancia La Jolla

Start your Christmas morning after gift openings with a sophisticated Breakfast Buffet, Adobe El Restaurante overlooking Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa resort. Christmas Buffet will be held in the beautiful Adobe dining room. The Buffet will offer a variety of breakfast specials such as Brioche French Toast stuffed with Banana, Nutella and Mascarpone Cheese, Corn Pancakes, Smoked Salmon station, Chorizo Bilbao Frittata and Monte Cristo Sandwich. It will be available at 7:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Christmas Day. Make sure to reserve your seats in advance!

In Addition to their amazing breakfast buffet, Estancia La Jolla is offering several events for the holiday season. On December 17th, a special project. "Story time Breakfast with Santa" will include a breakfast buffet, a fireside reading with Santa and Gift making practices for delivery to local homeless children through Alpha Project. Another holiday feast is happening on New Year’s Eve at Mustang and Burros located in Estancia La Jolla. They will offer a three-course dinner with live music, two specialty cocktails and champagne toast. Celebrate the last season of this year with a variety of festive dining events at Estancia La Jolla. 

Boathouse Restaurant

Perks of being in San Diego in December is that you won’t freeze yourself near the ocean. Enjoy San Diego’s beautiful harbor view this Christmas at the Boathouse Restaurant located on Harbor Island. This elegant, traditional seafood restaurant is offering Christmas specials served 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can skip all those procedures of roasting a turkey and mashing potatoes and join Traditional Turkey Dinner at Boathouse Restaurant with fresh roasted Turkey, Sage Stuffing, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Candied sweet potatoes, and cranberries. Another special is Classic Slow Roast Prime Rib with two portion options served with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.

In addition to their festive holiday specials, their menu includes a selection of seafood dishes such as Seafood Platter, Pan Seared Salmon, Blackened Ahi Ruby Rare, and Island Blackened Swordfish. This charming restaurant overlooking the San Diego Bay will make sure you have a memorable experience with your loved ones.

Christmas dinner is a hectic holiday. Making a traditional Christmas meal requires a myriad of lengthy preparations, hours cooking and late nights washing dishes. For those who would rather spend their Christmas with their families and not their stovetops, going out to dinner is an easy alternative. But which restaurants are open, and which restaurants serve an elegant Christmas meal? Compiled below is a list of Christmas dining options in San Diego.

Bellamy's | Escondido 

This holiday, friends and family can head to Bellamy’s, one of Escondido’s top dining destinations, for an exclusive holiday experience. With an array of traditional yet unique holiday favorites, Executive Chef Jonathan Freyberg has curated an exclusive Christmas Eve menu fit for every palate. Standout dishes include Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, Lobster & Seafood Stew, Mustard Crusted Pork Chop and Mont Blanc Bouche de Noel. For $65 per person, guests can indulge in three delicious courses with the option to enhance the experience with additional wine pairings. 

THE US GRANT | Downtown

A true destination in downtown San Diego, THE US GRANT is the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit this season. The hotel’s newly restyled grand lobby will be elegantly decorated for guests and locals to celebrate traditions, new and old. From THE US GRANT’s annual holiday tea in the lobby to Christmas dinner at The Grant Grill—there’s something for everyone this season. In addition, the hotel will play host to the Lamb’s Players presentation of "An American Christmas" for the second year in a row. The timeless holiday show will take place Dec. 14 – 24, 2016 in THE US GRANT’s Presidential Ballroom and will be accompanied by a four-course dinner. 

Lamb’s Players "An American Christmas" 1916 Feast and Celebration––December 14-24, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: http://www.lambsplayers.org/

THE US GRANT Traditional Holiday Tea––December 10 and 17, Noon-1:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 619-744-2039.

Grant Grill Christmas Dinner––December 24 and 25, 5:30-9 p.m. 

Reservations: www.grantgrill.com 

Tidal at Paradise Point | Mission Beach

Delight in a true California Christmas while dining seaside at Paradise Point’s signature restaurant, Tidal. Celebrate the holiday from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. by indulging in a three-course Christmas dinner created by Executive Chef DJ Tangalin. Christmas dinner highlights include seafood sinigang, pork and veal lumpia, molasses and apple glazed ham, wood roasted lamb loin, maple leaf duck breast, garlic and herb roasted prime rib and more. In addition, specialty holiday desserts include Horchata wanna cotta, and eggnog creme brûlée. Enjoy three-courses with optional wine pairings. Reservations can be make by calling 858-490-6363. 

Rancho Bernardo Inn | Rancho Bernardo

There is never a dull moment during the holidays at Rancho Bernardo Inn, in picturesque North County, San Diego. Perfect for the holiday season, the property offers four festive dining options. Savor a specialty three-course Christmas menu at the Inn's signature restaurant, AVANT or indulge in the three-course menu all weekend long at the Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant. For guests and locals who are interested in celebrating earlier in the day, Aragon Ballroom will be hosting a Christmas Day Brunch Buffet. Additional details are as follows:

AVANT Christmas Eve & Christmas Day three-course menu from 3pm-8pm Menu highlights include roasted carrot bisque, spiced venison carpaccio, roasted filet mignon, foraged mushroom risotto, a chocolate mousse bar, toffee rum cake and more.

Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant will offer a three-course holiday menu all weekend. Guests can join for lunch from 11:30am-4pm and dinner from 5pm-10pm. Menu highlights include Dungeness crab cake, pan seared sea bass, the white chocolate cheese cake and more.

Aragon Ballroom Christmas Day Brunch Buffet- The brunch is from 11am-3pmand will offer specialty dishes and libations including mimosas, sparkling cider, make your own omelet station, grilled shrimp and crab legs, hot carving station, traditional yule log cakes and more. Plus don’t miss out on a petting zoo and pony rides for kids!

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa | Rancho Santa Fe

Relax this holiday season at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and indulge in fine dining on Christmas Eve and Christmas at the resort’s signature restaurant, Veladora. Before the celebrations begin, adults and children alike can enjoy a complimentary holiday decorating cookie session with Pastry Chef Stephanie Tesnow’s decadent sugar cookies and gingerbread men on Friday, December 23 from 3 - 5 p.m.

Christmas Eve Dinner – On December 24 from 5-10 p.m. guests can enjoy a special three-course Christmas dinner offering festive dishes including local Scarborough Farms mixed greens with pears, candied walnut crumb, Nicolau Farms classic chèvre and sherry vinaigrette; wild mushroom risotto with Nicolau Farms black truffle goat cheese and shaved truffles; Brandt beef short rib with pommes mousseline, salt roasted shallots and port wine; dark chocolate Napoleon with candied winter orange and more. Christmas Eve dinner at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa.

Christmas Day Buffet – On December 25 from 12:30-5:30 p.m., celebrate the holidays with Rancho Valencia’s traditional Christmas buffet at Veladora. The buffet will host a cold seafood station with assorted sushi, salmon, and slow poached Baja white prawns, salads and starters, a house made pasta station with braised short rib mac & cheese gratin, carving station, holiday desserts and more. The Christmas buffet at Veladora.

Rustic Root | Downtown

Rustic Root has announced a Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 25 with a delicious feast that would make even Santa Claus leave feeling full. The three-course holiday dinner will feature dishes such as the herb oven-roasted Jidori chicken, salmon wellington, prime rib, honey baked ham, and sea bass. The meal will be served between 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. Make a reservation by calling (619) 232-1747 or online at OpenTable.com/rustic-root. Link to menu, here.

Manchester Grand Hyatt | Downtown

Guests and locals alike can make the Manchester Grand Hyatt a part of their holiday traditions this year with delicious dining specials. Its iconic location on Gaslamp Quarter’s waterfront, spectacular views of the San Diego Bay and festive holiday dining at Seaview Restaurant and Sally’s Fish House & Bar make the picturesque hotel the perfect place to celebrate with family and friends. Make this season one to remember with dazzling views of San Diego Bay’s sparkling waters and the following delectable dining options at the Manchester Grand Hyatt:

Seaview: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can enjoy Seaview's Christmas Day Buffet menu. Complete with a raw seafood bar, meat carving station, ravioli station and more. Please call (619) 358-6735 for reservations.

Sally's Fish House & Bar: Delight in the Grand Breakfast Buffet at Sally’s Fish House & Bar from 6:30-11 a.m. The waterfront eatery will also be offering a Christmas dinner special, complete with salt and herb crusted prime rib, steamed king crab legs, Bourisn Cheese mashed potatoes and more. Please call (619) 358-6740 for reservations. 

Holiday Dining at Harrah’s Resort Southern California | Greater San Diego

Enjoy a variety of decadent cuisine this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Harrah’s Resort SoCal. Indulge in fine dining at Fiore Steakhouse and experience handcrafted dishes such as lamb wellington with mushroom duxelle, thyme jus, minted carrots vichy and roasted squash purée and lobster stuffed prime tenderloin of beef served with chive whipped potatoes and haricots verts. As additional dining option this holiday season, guests also enjoy a special Christmas menu at The Buffet. Dining options at The Buffet include a carving station with honey glazed, bone in ham, leg of lamb, turkey, and prime rib; seasonal tamales and carnitas tacos; fresh salads such as the sweet broccoli slaw and chicken apple, savory soups including pumpkin squash and lobster cream ravioli, and an impressive dessert station with all the favorites.