Article from San Diego Magazine
For Christmas, most of us want the extravaganza, a property we can stroll with the family or enjoy the facilities. We want to have space for all the tipsy and pint-sized kin. A true holiday experience with the appropriate elbow room, which is why hotels, resorts, or even restaurants on the water—like Roy’s San Diego—make the most sense for a holiday meal. But, the plucky marrow of our food and drink scene is mom and pops, the indie spots that are waiting to be discovered. So, we picked some smaller places we love as well. From multi-course prix-fixe meals and generous buffets to take-out candied yams, here are local restaurants serving up Christmas dinner in San Diego this year.
Christmas Dinner Specials | Christmas Buffets | Restaurants Open on Christmas
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
Christmas Dinner Specials in San Diego
The Grill at Torrey Pines
Upgrade your holiday game with a three-course dinner that’s as extra as it sounds. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is serving up seasonal bites like parsnip soup, caramelized scallops, and chocolate peppermint mousse from executive chef Kelli Crosson and chef de cuisine Ryan Dzierzawski. Oh, and did we mention the views? Picture yourself digging into your holiday meal with the iconic Torrey Pines Golf Course as your backdrop.
- Price: $135 for adults | $65 for kids (11 and under)
- Hours: Dec. 25 | 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Address: 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
- Reservations: OpenTable
Solare
Who isn’t up for special Italian holiday dishes? Start your Christmas Eve at Solare, with a prix-fixe menu crafted by Randy and the Solare Team. Family-owned and operated, Solare will be sharing traditional cuisine from Italy including fresh pasta made each morning and organic produce, wild fish, and hormone-free meats the entire evening.
- Price: $68 + per person | Holiday kids menu will be available
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 12:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Closed on Dec. 25
- Address: 2820 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma
- Reservations: OpenTable
Provisional Kitchen at the Pendry
Christmas Dinners always come with a twist, so why not make it one with great food and a touch of holiday luxury? At the Pendry San Diego, executive chef Brandon Sloan’s three-course special menu features dishes that are as indulgent as they are memorable. Black truffle french onion soup, glazed duck breast, and bourbon bread pudding—the good kind of holiday twist.
- Price: $105 per adult | $40 per child
- Hours: Dec. 25 | 4:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.
- Address: 550 J St, Gaslamp Quarter
- Reservations: OpenTable
Valle
If a six-course holiday menu perfectly paired with specially selected wines that complement each dish sounds like your kind of celebration, then Valle is the place to be this Christmas. Chef Roberto Alcocer’s decadent flavors complemented with an optional holiday wine pairing will prove that it really is the most wonderful time of the year.
- Price: $200 per person
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Address: 222 North Pacific Street, Oceanside
- Reservations: Tock
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
Christmas meets modern coastal cuisine at Gaslamp’s Lionfish. Treat yourself to their Holiday Large Cast Iron featuring a half roasted duck, duck confit stuffing, harvest mashed potatoes, and buttery biscuits all by chef Jojo Ruiz.
- Price: $75 per person
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Address: 435 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter
- Reservations: OpenTable
Mister A’s
Celebrate Christmas with stunning skyline views and food to match it. Start with appetizers like beet and arugula salad, French onion soup, or black truffle cacio e pepe. For the main course, enjoy A5 Wagyu bavette, lamb osso buco, or Chilean sea bass. You can even indulge in desserts like vanilla crème brûlée or caramel apple cheesecake.
- Price: Dec. 24 $115 per person and $45 for children (12 and under) | Dec. 25 $105 per person and $45 for children (12 and under)
- Hours: Dec. 24, 4:30–9 p.m. | Dec. 25, 12–7 p.m
- Address: 2550 Fifth Ave 12th floor, Bankers Hill
- Reservations: OpenTable
Marine Room
The Marine Room brings the Christmas flavors and beauties of the Turks and Caicos lifestyle right to La Jolla. Their holiday curated menu blends seasonal favorites, like chestnut spinach ricotta cannelloni, ferrari island salmon crudo, and roasted whole fresh branzino, paired with the restaurant’s coastal flair.
- Price: $165 per person
- Hours: Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 | 4:30–9:00 p.m.
- Address: 904 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla
- Reservations: OpenTable
Juniper + Ivy
This previously abandoned warehouse turned impressive social dining space invites San Diegans to spend Christmas Eve at theirs! With a four-course prix fixe, crafted by executive chef, Jonathan Kinsella and pastry chef Amanda Santiago, you can have your holiday choosings of Kusshi oysters, pumpkin spiced kabocha squash agnolotti, koa king salmon, and an assortment of mignardise for entire the table.
- Price: $168 per person
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 5 p.m.–9 p.m.
- Address: 2228 Kettner Blvd, Little Italy
- Reservations: OpenTable
Ranch 45
Don’t worry, take out on Christmas is always an option. A customizable a la carte holiday feast at Ranch 45 offers choices from herb-crusted prime rib, braised short rib, smoked turkey legs, 45-day aged ribeye, and smoked cornish game hen, plus desserts such as pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and apple Crisp. Perfect for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, this pick-up menu offers the flexibility to create your ideal holiday at-home spread.
- Hours: Pre-orders due by Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. for pick-up on Dec. 24
- Address: 437 S. Highway 101, Solana Beach
- Order Online: Ranch 45
Huntress and Lumi
This year, Huntress will be providing holiday dining just as impressive as its steaks. This year, they’ll be serving their traditional menu along chef specials such as beef Wellington with mushroom duxelle, creamy lobster risotto with a hint of preserved lemon, and caviar deviled eggs.
- Hours: Huntress: Dec. 24 | 5:00 p.m. – 9 p.m and Dec. 25 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Address: Huntress: 376 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter
- Reservations: Huntress OpenTable
Herb & Wood
Herb & Wood combines rustic, wood-fired dishes with Mediterranean flavors, embracing a California feeling of seasonality and sustainability. With just a touch of Southern charm, it feels right at home in Southern California. Chef Adian’s specials like beef tartare, wild boar sausage, creamy mushrooms and whole tiger prawns is the “timeless yet approachable” choice for a Christmas Eve dinner.
- Price: $92 per adult | $37 per child.
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Address: 2210 Kettner Blvd, Little Italy
Roy’s
Marriott Marquis, Roy’s San Diego gives the gift of aloha this season. With picturesque views of San Diego Bay, this restaurant celebrates Christmas with a three-course holiday menu featuring everything from 8 oz. filet mignon to tempura lobster tail. End the holidays blissfully on the bayfront, while indulging in Hawaiian fusion cuisine.
- Hours: Dec. 25 | 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Address: 333 West Harbor Drive, Downtown
- Reservations: OpenTable
Christmas Dinner Buffets in San Diego
Dockside 1953
Why stress over Christmas dinner when you can escape to lush tropical gardens and miles of sandy beaches? The Bahia Resort provides a dockside three-course Christmas Eve meal at Dockside 1953, and this chef-curated menu is all about options. Think tender beef, bergamot-infused duck, or Mediterranean sea bass—and dessert that melts together with a chocolate and Nutella yule log. And if that wasn’t enough, on Christmas Day the resort has a brunch buffet where seafood lovers can indulge in fresh oysters, while breakfast fans build their ultimate eggs Benedict.
- Price: Dinner: $79+ per person | Brunch: $150 for adults | $50 for kids (5–12) | Free for kids (4 and under)
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 5:00–9:00 p.m. & Dec. 25 | 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last seating at 2:30 p.m.)
- Address: 998 W Mission Bay Dr, Mission Beach
- Reservations: Bahia Hotel Resort
ARLO
Award-winning ARLO restaurant will be open for both a plated dinner and a lively reception-style dinner. Chill indoors or head out to the cozy fireplace patio for stunning resort views. Need a little extra space? Semi-private areas and full buyouts are available for a more intimate gathering. ARLO has options to match any holiday vibe with custom or set menu choices with tasty bites like Wagyu tartare, thyme roasted pork chop, salmon wontons, and even Calabrian chili prawns.
- Price: $90 per person | $38 for children (12 & under)
- Hours: Dec. 25, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Address: 500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley
- Reservations: OpenTable
Pony Room
Open Christmas Eve, Rancho Valenci’s signature grand holiday-inspired buffet at the Pony Room allows customers to choose between traditional trimmings, seafood station, carving station, and endless delicious culinary creations like Nueske’s Honey Spiral Cut Ham and 4 oz. Petrossian Caviar. Between live music, horse-drawn carriage rides and cookie decorating it’s the ideal setting for celebrating with friends and family. Plus, this year Pony Room is offering this Christmas buffet to-go!
- Price: $235+ per person | Children ages 4-11 $95+ | Free for children 3 and under
- Hours: Dec. 25 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Address: 5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe
- Reservations: Call (858)759-6246
Hotel Del Coronado
Nothing says “quintessential San Diego winter” quite like ice skating at the Hotel del Coronado’s iconic beachfront rink. Perfect for making holiday memories, The Del also hosts a lush Christmas Eve dinner buffet full of traditional favorites as well as a Christmas day brunch. Grab your fur coat because holidays at The Del are a glamorous tribute to Hollywood’s golden age.
- Price: $205 per adult | Children ages 5 – 12: $100 | Children 4 years and under complimentary with a paying adult
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. & Dec. 25 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado
- Reservations: Hotel Del Coronado
Coasterra
Christmas at Coasterra is a classic. This modern Mexican restaurant, surrounded by a mural-painted main dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, transforms into an expansive Christmas buffet on the solar-heated patio, complete with skyline views of Coronado. While the buffet features holiday classics, Coasterra also serves signature dishes like gluten-free tortilla soup, cheese and rajas tamales, and cauliflower al pastor.
- Price: $94.95 per adult | $24.95 per child (under 6 free)
- Hours: Dec. 25th, 12:00–7:00 p.m.
- Address: 880 B Harbor Island Drive, Shelter Island
- Reservations: OpenTable
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Who isn’t up for a Christmas feast alongside 400 acres of nature’s dreamlike scenery? The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is hosting an extravagant dining event at the Manchester Salon with a lavish buffet featuring culinary delights, traditional holiday favorites, and live entertainment. Did I mention the twinkling palm trees and sparkling 25-foot tree to really set the festive season?
- Price: $195 per adult | $85 per child (ages 3-12)
- Hours: Dec. 25 | 10:30 am to 2:00 p.m.
- Address: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Carmel Valley
Amalfi Cucina Italiana
San Diego Restaurants Open on Christmas
Echale
Who says traditional Christmas Eve dinner needs a glazed ham and roasted turkey? Experience a neighborhood restaurant and wine bar serving a mix of California, Mediterranean, and Spanish-style cuisine. This North County Mexican restaurant on the Coast highway serving green chili burgers and tuna crudo might be the present you’ve been waiting for.
- Hours: Dec. 24.| 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
- Address: 947 S Coast Hwy 101 Suite 103D, Encinitas
- Reservations: OpenTable
Eddie V’s
Ready to trade cookies and milk for prime seafood? Open Christmas Eve with two locations, Eddie V’s dinner menu highlights their iconic shellfish tower featuring wild jumbo gulf shrimp, blue point oysters, royal ossetra petrossian caviar and lobster from Maine on ice. Not the biggest seafood lover? Don’t worry, Eddie V classic appetizers, premium hand-cut steaks, and “cocktails with attitude” are available, too!
- Hours: Dec. 24 | 4:00-9:00 p.m.
- Address: 1270 Prospect St, La Jolla and 789 W Harbor Dr Suite 158, Downtown
- Reservations: La Jolla OpenTable and Downtown OpenTable