New York City Restaurants Open on Christmas Day

December is flying by and we are nine days away from Christmas, can you believe it? If you had a busy Thanksgiving slaving away in the kitchen and want the luxury of having someone else prepare your Holiday meal, check out the NYC restaurants that will be open for Christmas.

A “Buon Natale” at Lumaca, NYC

Lumaca, Chef and Restaurateur John DeLucie’s newest Italian venture in the HGU New York Hotel, will be offering Christmas specials all-day in addition to their classic Southern Italian menu surrounded by a cozy fireplace and black and white photographs by famed photographer, Anton Perich.

Christmas brunch includes Artichokes with goat cheese and herb frittata and Breakfast Pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, copa, fontina, and sunny side up eggs. Guests can enjoy Christmas cocktails like a Spiked Hot Chocolate with hot chocolate, cinnamon, and chamucos tequila or choose from Lumaca’s extensive Italian wine list. Lumaca will be open on Christmas Eve 7:00am-11:00pm, and Christmas Day from 11:30am-8:00pm.

Christmas Dinner and Views of The Vessel at queensyard

queensyard, D&D London’s all-day dining destination located at Hudson Yards, will be serving up a traditional Christmas dinner from across the pond for $150 per person. Join them this holiday for classic British flavors, spectacular views of The Vessel, and a stunning holiday installation at Hudson Yards guests won’t want to miss. Highlights from the pre-fixe menu include Truffle Polenta with pickled celery and a duck egg, Venison Loin with ginger and candied pumpkin, and the beloved Sticky Toffee Pudding served with egg nog ice cream.

Diners can also sip on winter-inspired cocktails like the Well Into Winter with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pimms, Grenadine, and Winter Fruit. For those who are looking to be taken on a journey inspired by worldwide cuisines, Head Mixologist, Jeremy Le Blanche, has curated a “Gastrology” menu which bridges the concepts of gastronomy and mixology. Try the Cuvee Concept, a pear vodka-based cocktail served in a unique wine glass, purposefully and ironically mimicking the look of red wine with notes of beets and berries.

Hudson Yards Grill

Helmed by esteemed Chef Michael Lomonaco of Porter House Bar and Grill, Hudson Yards Grill introduces his signature approach to grilled classics and everyday favorites which opened earlier this year. The classic American brasserie features seasonal dishes made with carefully curated farm-to-table ingredients. Hudson Yards Grill will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:30AM — 9:00PM offering the regular menu and specials. Additionally, the restaurant will be open on New Year’s Eve, serving an a la carte menu with the last seating at 10:00 PM, accompanied by a champagne toast at midnight. Hudson Yards Grill is located on the fourth floor of the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

To make a reservation at Hudson Yards Grill, visit here or call (212) 545–7600

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Le Club

Enjoy a French-inspired Christmas Eve dinner this year at two-star Michelin, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, or the newly opened Le Club, helmed by Chef Christophe Bellanca. Both restaurants are located in the Meatpacking District (85 10th Ave), and will be open from 12pm — 7pm. The hotspots are offering a wonderful six course Christmas menu for $195 including Caviar & Alaskan King Crab with crustacean jelly and celery vanilla cream, Foi gras over white truffle ravioli with chestnut emulsion, Grilled Wagyu Ribcap with coffee scented parsley root “Chartreuse”, Poached Maine lobster in anise hyssop broth with bok choy and black trumpet mushroom, and a Gingerbread flavored Christmas ball with caramelized apple and biscuit with cranberry compote.

Don’t miss out on a lively and chic New Year’s Eve as well. Both restaurants will be offering an exquisite five course menu for $155 and a six-course tasting menu for $395. Dinner includes Foie gras Royale with parmesan foam and emulsion of Maury “Vielles Vignes”, Hamachi Sashini with ciltanto guacamole and yuzu dressing, Wild Turbot with artichoke and black truffle emulsion, and Chocolate mousse with kirsch macerated cherries and Chantilly. Ring in the New Year with a champagne toast, as well as a late-night DJ and ball drop experience in Le Club. The night is sure to be the perfect downtown celebration.

To make a reservation for L’Atelier visit here or call (212)-488–8885.

For Le Club, visit here or call (212)-488–8886.

Benno and Leonelli Taberna

Benno, located inside The Evelyn Hotel on 7 E 27th Street, is your one stop shop this holiday season, offering their full a la carte dinner menu on Christmas Eve. Please all your picky relatives with trustworthy, yet exciting dishes from Tagliatelle with white truffle and stracciatella to Rohan Duck Breast and spiced crème Catalan for dessert. For New Year’s Eve you and your guests can make a reservation for first seating beginning at 5pm or second seating at 8pm including a special 5-course Tasting Menu for $195 per person as well as complimentary champagne toast at midnight, live jazz music, and a special parting gift that are sure to impress on this momentous annual occasion.

Benno’s sister restaurant, Leonelli Taberna, is a great place to escape the cold and indulge in Christmas Eve fish specials and a festive dinner during the holiday season. For New Year’s Eve, guests set goals and resolutions over a Prosecco toast, an impressive Champagne list, and truffle shaving offerings.

To make a reservation at Benno, visit here or call (212) 451–9557.

For Leonelli Taberna, visit here or call (212) 451–9495.

Le Jardinier and Shun

Le Jardinier is a modern vegetable-driven restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli, longtime protégé of legendary French chef Joël Robuchon, and designed by award-winning French architect Joseph Dirand. Shun is a contemporary French restaurant with Japanese influences with a menu that serves dishes grounded in French technique, selectively integrating Japanese flavors and aesthetics. Le Jardinier and Shun will be open on Christmas Eve offering their regular menus with dish specials. Both restaurants will be open on New Years Eve as well.

Le Jardinier will be offering two seatings on December 31st, the first with reservations from 5:30–6:30PM which will feature a $95 prix fixe 3 course menu including choices and supplements, with offerings such as Marinated Bay Scallops with Bay leaf and Grapefruit as well as Beef Tenderloin with Rutabaga, Bone Marrow and Grilled Cabbage. The second seating at 8:00–9:00PM will feature a $225 prix fixe 7 course set menu with offerings such as Sunchoke with Foie Gras, Dried Black Trumpet and Cashew Milk as well as Ora King Salmon with Leeks and grilled Maitake.

Shun will also be offering an elevated two seatings for New Year’s Eve with the first seating of reservations from 5:30PM-6:30PM at $225 prix fixe 5 course set menu and the second seating with reservations from 8:00–9:00PM at $375 prix fixe 7 course set menu. A few dishes to be served are Ora King Salmon with Caviar and Smoked Cream and Braised Ox Cheek with Black Truffle Mash Potato. Le Jardinier and Shun are located on 610 Lexington Avenue.

To make a reservation at Le Jardinier, visit here or call (212) 451–9211

To make a reservation at Shun, visit here or call (212) 451–9228

MEDITERRANEAN CHRISTMAS EVE FEAST AT SAVIDA

If you’re looking to stray away from the classic Christmas fare this year, Savida is offering a pre-fixed Mediterranean-inspired feast on Christmas Eve. For $75 per person, guests can indulge on Savida’s infamous assortment of Mezze, Lamb Kofta Kebabs, Goat Cheese Panna Cotta, and more. Reservations at (212)-202–3175.

Fine & Rare

This Christmas, Fine & Rare invites you to experience their fine food, rare spirits, and rhythmic live jazz, all while enjoying the timeless sophistication of old New York. For $95 per person, you’ll receive a 3-course meal, including an appetizer, main course, and dessert. The menu is made up of delicious modern American items with a twist, from Tuna Carpaccio and Truffle Burrata to Fettuccia Duck Ragu, Autumn Risotto, and Crème Brûlée.

Harold’s

Located in SoHo, Harold’s will be offering a special menu the week of Christmas, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The menu includes hearty items, like tortellini stew with butternut squash, kale, and navy beans ($16) and potato latkes with smoked salmon, apples and creme fraiche ($18), as well as sumptuous dishes like Christmas Duck with a pecan crust and served with a l’orange and wild rice ($32), and Herb Crusted Prime Rib served with au jus, roasted cipollini onions, and Parker house rolls. For a festive twist, guests can choose to have their Christmas dinner in the cozy cedar cabins, part of Arlo’s winter installation: Après Arlo.

Irvington

Located on the ground floor of the W New York in the heart of Union Square, Irvington guests can enjoy a delicious meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in a space that draws inspiration from the adjacent farmer’s market boasting a warm and welcoming layout.

Irvington will be offering a trimmed down version of their normal menu + the below specials for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

• Salt Baked Beets — Bibb lettuce, hazelnuts, citrus, labne ($17)
• Roasted Arctic Char — crispy sunchokes, red mustard greens, tangerine ($28)
• Braised Short Rib — parsnip, pearl onion, blackberry mustard ($34)
• Spiced Chocolate Terrine — red wine cherries, cardamom gelato ($14)

Those looking to dine with a group of 6–12 people can enjoy their holiday meal at the restaurant’s beautiful 12-seat Farm Table that sits directly in-front of the bustling kitchen. Be sure to ask for their large format dining menu as well!

Kingside

Located on the street level of Le Méridien New York, Central Park, Kingside features New American classics highlighting fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, paired alongside hand-crafted cocktails. Kingside will be offering up a spectacular meal Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for New York’s city dwellers looking for a warm respite from buzzing Midtown.

Christmas at Bluebird London NYC

Take a carriage ride through the beautiful Central Park this Christmas and warm up afterwards with a cocktail from Bluebird London NYC, the British Brasserie located in Columbus Circle. This year, Bluebird has partnered with renowned home furnishing and clothing company, The White Company, to create a festive holiday cocktail menu based on The White Company’s holiday candle scents. Imbibers can indulge in cozy, winter drinks like the Roasted Chestnut with Bulleit Bourbon, Vanilla, Honey and Chocolate Mole, the Fir Tree with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Cranberry, Ginger, Citrus, Zirbenz and Brut.

After cocktails guests can sit down to a pre-fixe menu fit for a royal for $125 per person from 2 pm-8 pm on Christmas Day. Dinner feature selections include dishes such as Lobster Ravioli with lemongrass velouté, Pheasant with smoked chestnuts and caramelized sunchokes, Ribeye with roasted chicken sauce and potato gratin and much more. Finish off this classic British meal with desserts from across the pond including the decadently delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding, Baked Alaska or Cheese Board paired with a Sherry Trolley.

Christmas at ASSET Restaurant

ASSET, the recently opened “New American” restaurant on the Upper West Side will offer a $75 per person pre-fixe Christmas dinner with a twist. From 1pm to 9pm on Christmas Day, guests can indulge in holiday classics such as Prime Rib and Stuffed Lobster or stray away from the usual with Asian selections such as Spare Ribs, Duck and Lo Mein. Those who wish to enjoy a beverage with their meal may choose from a menu of hand-crafted cocktails designed by ASSET’s beverage director, Brandon Lestor and the team at Liquor Lab.

Bagatelle NYC

• Christmas Eve — guests can dine on a prix fixe menu ($95/person) with selections including oysters with cucumber jelly and caviar, Hudson Valley Foie Gras with apple and quince compote or black truffle risotto, beef wellington with mashed Yukon potato, Dorade filet in a red wine sauce over a celery puree, and Black Forest dessert served in a sugar ball.
• New Year’s Eve — guests will enjoy a Roaring 20s-themed event with music from DJ Stan Courtois. Reservations are available beginning 8:30pm for the prix fixe menu ($380/person or $550/person for Dom Perignon Brut pre-order only). Decadent menu selections include lump crab and caviar, Hudson Valley Foie Gras with roasted pineapple rose and porto reduction, Maine lobster and tarragon risotto sprinkled with trout roe, truffle wagyu beef wellington with mashed potato and mixed greens, and for dessert, Mont Blanc with chestnut cream, meringue and blueberry.
• New Year’s Day — Bagatelle will host a Hangover Brunch featuring music by DJ Stan Courtois and menu staples such as the truffle pizza, croque madam with Parisian ham, and homemade truffle gnocchi.

FELICE 56

This Christmas Eve, FELICE 56 will bring Italian sensibility to New York City through an authentic 3-course Tuscan Christmas menu. The specific holiday offerings will start with antipasto Astice Alla Catalana, a steamed lobster salad with aromatic vegetables, before the Spaghetti con Ricci di Mare, complete with sea urchin and calamari and a lemon garlic sauce. A common tradition on Italian Christmas Eve, there will also be a fresh fish dish, Dentice al Forno, an oven roasted whole red snapper with choice of two vegetables.

The meal will be complete with traditional Italian holiday dessert Panettone topped with vin santo cream. The buzzing wine and cocktail lounge situated towards the back of the first floor will offer various holiday-themed cocktails and signature house wines, Felice Bianco, Rosso and Rosato.

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

CUT by Wolfgang Puck located at the Four Seasons Downtown New York will have both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve offerings. Guests will be able to enjoy CUT classics and favorites, along with seasonal dishes and delicious desserts.

Christmas Eve

CUT NY will be offering a 3-course dinner for $105 per person.

New Year’s Eve

CUT NY will have two seating’s on New Year’s Eve.

First seating: 4-course meal plus a champagne toast with reservations between 5:30 PM — 7:45PM, $165 per person.

Second seating: 5-course meal plus a champagne toast with reservations between 8:30PM — 11PM, $225 per person.

Zuma New York

Open for dinner on Christmas Eve, Zuma New York will offers guests an authentic Japanese experience complete paired with exotic, internationally-inspired dishes and seasonally-inspired cocktails including the festive Japanese Eggnog. Offering informal-style Izakaya dining, guests can relax after the busy holiday season and enjoy Zuma’s signature dishes, omakase tastings and libations mixed with bold Japanese flavors and premium liquors, as well as an extensive array of small-batch sakes.

Groups looking to celebrate Christmas Eve dinner in a more intimate setting, can book one of the restaurant’s six private dining and event spaces, sleek second-floor bar or hidden lounge area.

Bodega Negra

Open Christmas Eve from 5:30PM — 10:00PM, the celeb favored Mexican eatery in Meatpacking District, Bodega Negra, is the perfect place to switch up your dinner plans this holiday. Stay warm amidst the cozy, intimate, moodily-lit “Tudor Hacienda” décor while enjoying Mexican takes on some favored Christmas Eve dishes by Bodega Negra’s Corporate Executive Chef Bradley Warner and Pastry Chef Paola Marocchi.

Offerings include:

• Tortilla Soup ($11) — traditional Mexican soup with pulled chicken, epazote crema, avocado and tortilla strips
• Beef Short Rib Birria ($41) — spicy stew with huitlacoche tamal, pomegranate salsa and chipotle reduction
• Mexican Chocolate Pot de Crème ($14) — rich café de olla crema with spicy caramelized peanuts

Click HERE to make a reservation.

Bistrot Leo at SIXTY SoHo

Located within SIXTY SoHo, the boutique, luxury hotel part of the SIXTY Collective, Bistrot Leo opened last Spring when restaurateur, John McDonald (Mercer Street), noticed a profusion of Italian restaurants and a shortage of French ones downtown. It’s chic, Parisian vibe mixed with floral wallpaper flowing into the back room with booths and long tablescapes creates the perfect ambiance for your friends and/or family holiday dinner.

The special à la carte menu includes Christmas-inspired offerings with a French twist such as:

• Foie Gras Terrine ($26)
• Duck Bigarade ($38)
• Volavante de Bouef ($36)
• Buche de Noel ($14)

Click HERE to make a reservation.