This Christmas, take the pressure off and leave the cooking to the professionals.
These Bay Area restaurants will be serving decadent dishes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; all you have to do is make a reservation. And whether you want to dress up and make it an event or order in for a cozy meal, you'll have plenty of choices.
Here are our top picks for dining or takeout for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024.
Where to Eat Out on Christmas Eve in the Bay Area
Terrene's fondue is a familial way to start a holiday meal.
(Conor Hagen)
3rd Cousin
Neighborhood favorite 3rd Cousin will be doing Christmas Eve up with a four-course prix-fixe ($149/person). 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 on a multi-course dining experience ($179/person) through taste and texture at Anomaly's Christmas Eve dinner. Chef Mike Lanham is delivering Southern-inspired cuisine with lots of options for vegetarians and pescatarians—including a few dishes presented personally at your table. // 2600 Sutter St. (Pacific Heights), anomalysf.com; reservations at exploretock.com
Astra (+ Christmas)
Go sweet or savory with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunch at Astra in the swanky St. Regis. If you’re not too full of holiday sugar, try some brioche French toast with strawberry compote or the indulgent chocolate croissant pudding with eggnog crème anglaise. For some protein, you can’t go wrong with Dungeness crab—in croissant form—or a Feast of the 7 Fishes option with scallops, salmon, clams, mussels, shrimp, octopus, anchovy, and spicy tomato sauce. Reservations are available from 11:30am to 2pm. // The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa), marriott.com; reservations at opentable.com
Brenda's French Soul Food (+ Christmas)
Make Christmas Eve easy by heading to Brenda’s, where the full menu is on offer from 8am to 3pm. That’s good any time, but Christmas Day is when Chef Brenda Buenviaje takes her famed soul food to the next level. Along with some of her favorite classic dishes, enjoy a bevy of Dungeness crab specials, including croque monsieur, crab and leek beignets, and “Big Mama’s Seafood Deluxe.” She’s also debuting a dreamy new dish: lobster Boudreaux will serve broiled-in-spicy-butter lobster tail with seafood maque chow, potato puree, and garlic cream sauce. Reservations are a must; open 9am to 3pm. // 652 Polk St. (Tenderloin), frenchsoulfood.com; reservations at resy.com
Bombay Brasserie (+ Christmas)
Bring a little bit of Indian spice and French decadence to the holidays at Bombay Brasserie. Start the evening off with a free glass of bubbly before you dig into a three-course menu ($85/person). Highlights include Bay prawns smothered in ghee and roasted with chili, succulent duck galotti with spiced duck pâté, and scallop moilee. Save room for dessert, truffle and caviar add-ons, or an optional wine pairing ($55/person). Dine in from 5pm to 10pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. // Bombay Brasserie, 340 Stockton St. (Union Square), bombaybrasseriesf.com; reservations at opentable.com
Crab House (+ Christmas)
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 both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11am to 8pm. 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.comDonato & Co.
Head to Venetia for your holiday at this local Berkeley gem. Seaside flavors dominate the three-course menu ($70/person) with chef Gianluca Guglielmi serving up the flavors of his hometown. Start with seafood appetizers, dig into some fish and shellfish stew, and finish the night with a classic panettone bread pudding. Bonus: You can also snag some last-minute gifts from the restaurant’s retail shop. Bring some imported pandoro or house-made treats to your Christmas gatherings. // 2635 Ashby Ave. (Berkeley), donatoandco.com
Flour + Water
Go hard for carbs at Flour + Water. Their full menu will be available Christmas Eve, as well as a special pasting tasting menu. Both options will spotlight local and seasonal ingredients and chef Ryan Pollnow’s culinary prowess. Dine in from 5pm to 8pm. // 2401 Harrison St. (Mission), flourandwater.com; reservations at resy.com
Fog Harbor Fish House (+ Christmas)
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 and garlic roasted Dungeness crab to crab cakes and award-winning clam chowder. The restaurant will be open from 11am to 8pm on December 24 and 25; reservations aren't required, but are recommended. // Pier 39 (Fisherman's Wharf), fogharbor.com; reservations at yelp.com
International Smoke
International Smoke is preparing a Christmas Eve feast for the ages. At their holiday buffet ($125/adult, $49/kids 12 and under), nosh on everything from SF garlic noodles to St. Louis-style ribs, along with comfort-food favorites like honey baked ham, mac and cheese, and co-founding chef Ayesha Curry's special cornbread served with Thai red curry butter. // 301 Mission St. (SoMa), sevenrooms.com
Luce is going all-out for the holidays. On Christmas Eve, sit down for an expansive 10-course experience ($225/person) that includes King Crab, truffle tortellini, and surf and turf with wagyu. Their Christmas menu features a toned-down but equally indulgent version for $195/person with the option to upgrade with luxe add-ons. Dinner is served from 3pm to 7pm. You can also swing by adjacent Bistro 888 early (11am to 2:30pm) for a buffet brunch. // 888 Howard St. #3011 (SoMa), lucewinerestaurant.com; reservations at exploretock.com
One Market
On Christmas Eve, One Market is rich with ample dishes from chef Mark Dommen. Starters range from wagyu beef carpaccio and grilled octopus to hearty salads and kampachi crudo. Mains will make veggie, seafood, and meat lovers sing—try pan-seared scallops, butternut squash and black truffle pave, or spit-roasted prime rib. Desserts are just as abundant, from cinnamon-sugar donuts to chocolate bread pudding. Kicking off Hanukkah? Don’t miss the restaurant’s matzo ball soup, smoked beef brisket, and inventive selection of latkes. // 1 Market St. (Embarcadero), onemarket.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 crispy calamari, hamachi crudo, chilled crab salad, spaghetti al limone with shrimp, steamed mussels and clams, and grilled swordfish—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 ($175/person) starts strong with a scallop tartelette, caviar, and roasted pumpkin with black truffle. For your main course, choose between celeriac mezzelune with black trumpet mushrooms, pan-roasted dover sole, or filet mignon. And of all 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 $95/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 ($295/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
Sula (+ Christmas)
Cavallo Point's elegant Sula is cooking up some Yuletide cheer on both Christmas Eve ($125/adult, $55/kids under 12) and Christmas Day ($130/adult, $55/kids under 12). These four-course prix-fixe affairs include both traditional and not-so-traditional California fare. On Christmas Eve, choose from hearty mains like grilled lamb chops, roasted duck breast and grilled New York strip steak. For a true NorCal Christmas, opt for Dungeness crab and hearts of palm salad with cioppino as your main. Both menus are rich in fresh ingredients and decadent details. Dinner is served between 4pm and 9pm on December 24 and 12pm to 8pm on December 25. // 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker (Sausalito), cavallopoint.comTerrene (+ Christmas)
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. Carve into a New York strip au poivre with mashed potatoes or Skuna Bay salmon with persimmon mostarda; pair with desserts and salads that showcase local farms. Ready to celebrate now? Starting Dec. 2, Terrene’s covered (and heated) patio will transform into a Northern Lights-inspired scene with seasonal bites, hot cocktails, and Cowgirl Creamery fondue. // 8 Mission St. (Embarcadero), 1hotels.com/san-francisco; reservations at sevenrooms.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. A simple prix fixe menu ($95/person) offers cozy starters and the choice between grilled salmon with lobster hollandaise or short rib Wellington. Add on festive cocktails and 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
Villon (+ Christmas)
Brunch and dim sum in one place is truly a gift this season at Villon. From 10am to 2pm on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, go for classic brunch fare like buttermilk waffles, huevos rancheros, and hearty, kimchi-topped cheeseburgers. For a true pivot, try the three-course dim sum option ($95/adult, $35 kids under 12), featuring cabbage soup dumplings, Peking squab and milk tea tiramisu served family style. Hello new traditions. // Proper Hotel, 45 McAllister St. (Civic Center), properhotel.com; reservations at opentable.com
Bay Area Restaurants Open on Christmas Day
Impress guests with an artful beef Wellington from the renowned pâtisserie Maison Nico.
(Courtesy of @maison_nico)
Greens (Takeout only)
Place your order by December 17th for a vegetarian spread that will light up your holiday table. Greens’ a la carte holiday to-go menu includes portobello mushroom Wellington with porcini jus, wild mushroom terrine, potato kugel, roasted baby carrots, matzo ball soup, and desserts like cranberry orange cheesecake and cinnamon roll babka. Pick up your order on December 24. // 2 Marina Blvd., Bldg A (Marina), greensrestaurant.com; order on Google forms
Maison Nico (Takeout only)
For Francophiles, no traditional Christmas would be complete without a bûche de Nöel, that fanciful Parisian yule log. This year, Maison Nico’s version ($93) comes with chocolate and Meyer lemon flavors. At about 10-inches long, it will easily serve at least 10 guests—or opt for the petite 3.5-inch iteration ($31). When you place your order, you can also opt in for beef Wellington ($172) and other gorgeous, celebratory pastries. // 710 Montgomery St. (Jackson Square), maisonnico.com
The Morris (Takeout only)
Chef Gavin Schmidt is pre-smoking his signature duck ($55-$110) for you to roast at home for Christmas. Pre-order half or whole birds plus root vegetables, charcuterie, a duck noodle soup kit, and chocolate pudding for dessert. Pickup is December 23 and 24 from 12pm to 4:30pm. //2501 Mariposa St. (Potrero Hill), themorris-sf.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 11am to 7:30pm on December 25. // 900 North Point St., Ste. B201A (Fisherman's Wharf), paletteteahouse.com; reservations at exploretock.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 champagne. Order now for pickup at their Bernal location between now and Christmas Day. // 525 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), uniteddumplings.com; order at exploretock.com
