Spiked Hot Chocolate at El Granjero Cantina. Photo Credit: Photography by Tonelson.
Christmas is just days away. Whether you’re a procrastinator, your plans changed, or you just haven’t made a decision yet on where to dine in LA on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, you’ll find great options, from decadent luxury feasts to meals with more accessible price points, on our list below.
Savoring a three-course White Truffle Tasting Menu is a great way to spend Christmas Eve. You’ll find that special offering at Nerano in Beverly Hills. Start with antipasto: Burrata con Tartufo Bianco made with imported Apulian Burrata, San Danielle Prosciutto, and rosemary focaccina. The primo course is your choice of Tagliolini al Tartufo Bianco with handmade tagliolini pasta, butter emulsion, and Parmigiano Reggiano, or Risotto al Tartufo Bianco. Chef Michele Lisi’s dolce is Panna Cotta con Miele al Tartufo: vanilla panna cotta, truffle-infused honey, and hazelnut granella. Each course is enhanced with freshly shaved White Truffle from Alba, Italy. Five luxurious Christmas Eve dinner specials will also be available. More info here.
One of LA’s most renowned seafood restaurants, Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood is open on Christmas Eve. A special three-course dinner is available from 4 p.m. onwards, featuring a starter (lobster bisque, 1/2 dozen oysters, or market salad), main (smoked rib roast or cioppino), and bourbon bread pudding for dessert. You can find more information here.
Nested against the water, SALT at the Marina del Rey Hotel is celebrated for high quality, bold flavors, and stunning marina views — in fact, it was awarded “Best Ambiance and Outdoor Dining” on the Westside by OpenTable’s Diner Choice. This Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, guests can savor SALT’s traditional holiday Roasted Prime of Beef with potatoes and red wine jus, along with SALT’s regular brunch and dinner menus. Note that SALT will close early, at 8:00 p.m., on both nights. You can make reservations here.
Photo credit: Carbon Beach Club & Malibu Beach Inn.
At Carbon Beach Club, the restaurant at the intimate luxury boutique hotel Malibu Beach Inn, every seat has an ocean view, whether you’re dining inside or on the private terrace perched above the sand. Using locally sourced ingredients from nearby farmers markets and One Gun Ranch, Carbon Beach Club is offering three-course dinners on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Choices from the special prix fixe menu include Wild Mushroom Flan, Pan Seared Duck Breast, Local Vegetable Tarte Tatin, and Eggnog Cheesecake. Dinner is $95 per person, or $125 with wine pairings (note: Carbon Beach Club received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator this year). You can find more info here.
Housed inside a historic Craftsman cottage in Pasadena, The Raymond 1886 is always a special place to dine or sip a cut-above cocktail. This Christmas Eve, visit The Raymond for their special three-course tasting menu. Start with onion soup or pickled beet and kale salad. Then, savor a main: half a roasted Mary’s chicken, seared local halibut, 10 oz. rib-eye filet, or butternut squash ravioli. Dessert is lava cake with raspberry coulis and chantilly or Santa’s Delight with homemade cookies and milk. Dinner is $135 per person. The Raymond 1886 will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Learn more here.
El Granjero Cantina, the vibrant Mexican restaurant at the Original Farmers Market, is open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dine in and enjoy Chef Jenni Sklar’s extensive menu of delicious antojitos, salads, burritos, quesadillas, pozole, bowls, and more. Don’t forget a holiday cocktail or a spiked hot chocolate! You can also order a holiday tamale four-pack for takeout for $20. You’ll find five different tamale options, including one vegan and two vegetarian choices. See here for more info.
Hollywood Boutique hotel MAMA Shelter‘s rooftop offers staggering views of the Hollywood sign, DTLA, the South Bay, and the West Side. This Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, MAMA Shelter‘s main restaurant offers a 3-course prix fixe menu, $85 per person, with mains like prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes, scallops with sunchoke and lardon, or honeynut squash/wild mushroom risotto, starters such as Hawaiian tuna tartare or pork belly with cranberry bean ragu, and desserts that include egg nog panna cotta and bouche de noel. You can book your table here.
Photo courtesy of Nerano.
Burbank’s Castaway restaurant features stunning views of Downtown LA and the San Fernando Valley. A favorite for decades — particularly since its $10 million overhaul a while back — Castaway is now as noted for its food as for its views. Castaway’s elaborate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunch begins with a platter laden with seafood and oysters. Other options include Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad, Crab Cake Benedict, Salt Roasted Turkey, and Pecan Cheesecake. Brunch is $79 for adults and $35 for children. A la carte dinner offerings are also available on both days. Learn more here.
Opened in Naples back in 1870, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele has long been a destination for pizza lovers. Fortunately for Angelenos, we have a local outpost of the legendary restaurant in Hollywood. More than half of the spacious eatery is located in a beautiful courtyard offering lush trees, a fireplace, and prime spots for watching pizzaiolo remove artfully crafted pizzas from the wood-fired clay oven. The welcoming indoor area also has a stunning fireplace. You can dine at L’Antica Restaurant Da Michele on Christmas Eve, ordering festival specials and the regular menu. Book your reservation here.
Savor Christmas Day brunch at Tocca Ferro, the elegant Italian chophouse at the JW Marriott Resort in Anaheim. This upgraded brunch experience will include carving stations and specialties like Ricotta Gnocchi Soup, Pan Roasted Sole, Grilled New York Sirloin, and Raspberry Tiramisu cups. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and begins at $120. You can make your reservation here.
Zagat-rated one of the 10 best restaurants for waterside dining in LA, BALEENkitchen at the Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach promises a luxe specialty menu for Christmas Eve dining. The festive meal begins with a honeynut squash and ricotta pinwheel, followed by your choices of starters: broccoli-spinach and white cheddar soup; beet-cured salmon tartare; or citrus and endive with satsuma vinaigrette. Then choose one of five main plates, among them grilled za’atar lamb chops, squid ink laminated tagliatelle, and pistachio-crusted scallops. Finish with pumpkin cheesecake or apple crisp. The specialty menu is $90, while optional wine pairings are $30. You can book a reservation here.
Photo courtesy of The Castaway, Burbank.
Take in stunning views of the San Gabriel Valley at Luminarias in Monterey Park while indulging in a four-course seafood-focused brunch on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Priced at $58 ($25 for kids), the prix fixe menu includes a chilled seafood platter, a wedge salad to share, your choice of a main dish (with options including Crab Cake Benedict, Fried Chicken & Waffles, Salt-Roasted Turkey, and more), and an impressive dessert platter featuring five festive favorites. You can make reservations here.
Savor an eight-course modern Korean feast at Kinn, K-Town’s first (and so far only) fine-dining restaurant. Chef Ki Kim’s reimagined Korean feast will be available on December 23 and 24 (as well as New Year’s Eve). The menu includes Duck Liver Mousse, Cranberry Gelee, Brioche Toast; Caviar, Squash Ice Cream, and Chungju Rice Wine; Hen of the Woods & Sea Urchin, Butter Poached Lobster, Crispy Tilefish, Roasted Lamb Chop, Truffle Barley Rice, and Bourbon Tres Leches Cake. This lavish dinner is $175pp, and you can make your reservation via Resy.
The esteemed FIG Restaurant, located at Santa Monica’s five-star oceanfront Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, serves ultra-seasonal cuisine, with produce directly from the nearby Santa Monica Farmers Market. This Christmas Eve, FIG serves dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a menu of seasonal dishes such as Roasted Chilean Sea Bass and festive specials including a Prime Rib Carving Station. Reservations are available via Resy or by calling 310-319-3111.
Celebrate Christmas with Indian food to go from Tulsi Indian Eatery, a fast-casual concept with locations in DTLA, Westwood, and Northridge. The Holiday Celebration Feast for four is just $39 and features both vegan and vegetarian options, like samosas, saag paneer, khaman dhokla, curries, masalas, and more. There’s also a Celebration Sweet Box for $12. You can order your feast to go here.
