STATE GUIDE
Christmas Dinner in New York: Top Restaurants Open and Menus
Author and Visit Details
This is a researched guide, not a visit report. We did not eat at any of these restaurants on Christmas Day, and we did not book a table while writing it. Every fact in this guide comes from current 2026 guides, restaurant listings, and booking pages, all rechecked on November 6, 2026. A restaurant is listed as open for christmas dinner new york only when a source says so. Prices are the prix fixe prices reported by those sources, and they exclude tax and tip unless stated. Menus and hours change, so confirm the date, the hours, and the menu directly with the restaurant before you go. Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, and Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, December 24, 2026.
New York is the great exception among Christmas cities. Where London and Paris go dark on December 25, New York keeps a real spread of tables open, thanks to its hotel trade, its steakhouses, and the old tradition of Chinese and brasserie dinners on Christmas Day. The marquee tasting rooms still close, but the city gives you brasseries, chophouses, and one Michelin-starred counter that actually want your business on the 25th. This guide to christmas dinner new york covers the best tables, the prices, the menus, the booking rules, and the backup plans for when everything is full.
Introduction
Planning a christmas dinner new york trip is different from planning Christmas dinner at home. At home, the worry is the turkey, the oven, and the timing. In New York, the worry is the booking. The best tables for December 25 are reserved weeks ahead, and the most popular rooms fill up months ahead. The good news is that New York has more restaurants open on Christmas Day than any other city in the United States, and there is a table for every budget, from a $43 three-course Greek dinner in Queens to a $135 four-course dinner on the edge of Central Park.
If you are planning a christmas dinner new york trip, start with our New York Food Map, which covers where to eat across the city, and our Christmas dinner menu guide, which covers the classic holiday meal if you decide to cook instead. If you are staying for Christmas Eve too, our Christmas Eve dinner ideas guide covers the night before, and our traditional Christmas dinner guide covers the classic dishes to expect on the table.
Featured Image
Christmas Dinner New York At a Glance
Here is the short version of christmas dinner new york for 2026. Every line in this table is backed by the current 2026 guides and listings named in the sources section at the end of this post.
| Detail | Christmas Dinner New York 2026 |
|---|---|
| Christmas Day 2026 | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Christmas Eve 2026 | Thursday, December 24, 2026 |
| Top pick | Cote, Flatiron, one Michelin star, confirms Christmas Day service |
| Best classic brasserie | Balthazar, SoHo, regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
| Best splurge | Tavern on the Green, Central Park, set four-course menu around $135 per person |
| Best value prix fixe | Agora Taverna, Forest Hills, Queens, three-course menu $42.95 per person |
| Price range | About $43 to $135 per person for prix fixe menus, before tax and tip |
| Book ahead | Two to four weeks ahead on Resy or OpenTable, confirm December 25 specifically |
| Reliable categories | Hotel restaurants, Chinese restaurants, steakhouses, brasseries, 24-hour diners |
| Closed on Christmas Day | Carbone, Per Se, Russ and Daughters Cafe |
| Backup plan | Katzs Delicatessen, Chinatown, hotel restaurants, 24-hour diners |
Restaurants and Prices
We did not eat at these restaurants, so the table below is not a receipt. It is a price guide built from current 2026 guides and booking listings, rechecked November 6, 2026. Every price is the prix fixe price reported by those sources, and prices exclude tax and tip unless stated. Confirm the price with the restaurant before you book, because holiday menus change.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Price 2026 | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agora Taverna | Forest Hills, Queens | $42.95 per person | Three-course prix fixe, stuffed grape leaves, lamb shank, spinach pie, brunch, lunch and dinner |
| Victory Garden Cafe | Astoria, Queens | $59.55 per person | Holiday menu, sirloin steak, balsamic chicken or salmon, Greek sides |
| Nizza | Hells Kitchen | $65 per person | Three-course prix fixe, Christmas Day 12 PM to 10 PM, listed on OpenTable for Dec 25, 2026 |
| The Blue Mezze Bar | Upper East Side | $69 per person | Four-course menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
| Red Rooster | Harlem | $80 per person | Prix fixe, family-style, live music, Christmas Day 11 AM to 9 PM |
| Marseille | Hells Kitchen | $90 per person | Three-course holiday prix fixe, bouillabaisse, moules frites |
| Le Rivage | Midtown, Theater District | $95 per person | Three-course prix fixe, roasted ham, foie gras, blueberry compote, or a la carte |
| Tavern on the Green | Central Park | About $135 per person | Set four-course Christmas Day menu, seasonal classics |
| Cote | Flatiron | Prix fixe, check at booking | Butchers Feast, four cuts of USDA Prime and wagyu, egg souffle, banchan, stew |
| Balthazar | SoHo | A la carte, check at booking | Regular hours, plateau de fruits de mer, steak frites, French onion soup |
| Gallaghers Steakhouse | Theater District | A la carte, check at booking | Dinner menu all day, dry-aged steaks |
| Strip House | Greenwich Village | A la carte, check at booking | New York strip, goose-fat potatoes |
| Sinigual | Murray Hill | A la carte, check at booking | Upscale Mexican, Christmas Day 11 AM to 9 PM |
| Fogo de Chao | Midtown | Dinner prices all day | Churrasco, Christmas Day 11 AM to 9 PM |
| Jean-Georges | Central Park South | Check at booking | Six- or ten-course Christmas menu, or vegetarian versions, all day |
Our Review
This is a researched review, not a visit report. We have not eaten at these restaurants on Christmas Day, and this section does not claim that we have. It brings together what the 2026 guides report, what each room is known for, and what the prices mean for you. If you want a first hand account of a specific room, the sources section at the end names the guides we used, and each one describes the rooms in detail.
The strongest pick for a christmas dinner new york is Cote, and the reason is simple: it is the only Michelin-starred room on this list that confirms Christmas Day service. Cote is a Korean steakhouse in the Flatiron, run by restaurateur Simon Kim with executive chef David Shim, and it has held one Michelin star since 2019. It placed tenth on the 2025 Worlds 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. The order is the Butchers Feast, four cuts of USDA Prime and wagyu grilled at the table, with egg souffle, banchan, and stew, and the beef is finished in the in-house dry-aging room. For a christmas dinner new york that feels special without feeling stiff, Cote is the best table in the city on December 25.
The Complete Guide to Christmas Dinner New York
Top Christmas Dinner New York Picks: The Best Tables
Six tables stand out for a christmas dinner new york in 2026, ranked by prestige and certainty. Cote is the top pick, the one-Michelin-star Korean steakhouse in the Flatiron that confirms service on December 25. Balthazar is the classic brasserie, open regular hours on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Gallaghers Steakhouse, founded in 1927 by former Ziegfeld girl Helen Gallagher, runs its dinner menu all day on Christmas Day from its Theater District room, where the glass-walled dry-aging locker fronts the sidewalk. Strip House, the bordello-red room off Union Square, opens on Christmas Day with chef Andreas Seidel cooking the namesake New York strip and the famous goose-fat potatoes. Tavern on the Green is the festive Central Park pick, with a set four-course menu around $135 per person. Red Rooster in Harlem is open every day of the year, and it cooks upscale soul and Southern food on Christmas Day, the extra-crispy fried chicken, cornbread, shrimp and grits, and crab cakes, usually with live music in the room.
Best Steakhouses for Christmas Dinner New York
Steakhouses are the most reliable category for a christmas dinner new york, because they are built for celebrations and they stay open for them. Gallaghers Steakhouse in the Theater District is the oldest of the group, founded in 1927, and it runs its dinner menu all day on Christmas Day. Strip House by Union Square is the most dramatic room, bordello red, with the namesake New York strip and goose-fat potatoes. Cote in the Flatiron is the modern steakhouse, Korean style, with the Butchers Feast grilled at the table. Fogo de Chao in Midtown is the Brazilian churrasco option, open 11 AM to 9 PM on Christmas Day at dinner prices all day, with fire-roasted meats brought to the table, plus seafood, cheeses, and seasonal appetizers. The New Yorker Hotels Butcher and Banker is the steakhouse inside a 1920s bank vault, serving Prime Black Angus steaks and dry-aged cuts with a whiskey list built for a special occasion.
Best Family Friendly Christmas Dinner New York Restaurants
Families have the best choice for a christmas dinner new york, because the family friendly rooms are the ones with the clearest menus and the most flexible hours. Red Rooster in Harlem is the top family pick, with a prix fixe at $80 per person, family-style service, live music, and Christmas Day hours of 11 AM to 9 PM. The menu is comfort food with a holiday twist, from cornbread with pumpkin butter to jerk shortrib. Ginnys Supper Club, in the basement of Red Rooster, is the speakeasy option, with a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu and a festive Christmas Day buffet.
Must-Try Christmas Dinner New York Menus Under $100
The best value for a christmas dinner new york is under $100 per person, and there are six strong options. Agora Taverna in Forest Hills leads the list at $42.95 for a three-course Greek dinner. Victory Garden Cafe in Astoria is $59.55 for a Mediterranean feast with a choice of main course. Nizza in Hells Kitchen is $65 for a three-course Italian prix fixe on Christmas Day, with hours of 12 PM to 10 PM, and its OpenTable listing is explicitly dated December 25, 2026, which is the clearest confirmation on this list. The Blue Mezze Bar on the Upper East Side is $69 for a four-course menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Red Rooster in Harlem is $80 for a family-style prix fixe with live music. Marseille in Hells Kitchen is $90 for a three-course French holiday menu. Le Rivage in Midtown is $95 for a three-course French menu with roasted ham, foie gras, and blueberry compote. All prices exclude tax and tip, so add about 20 to 30 percent to each figure for the real total, by our estimate.
Christmas Dinner New York in Queens and Beyond Manhattan
Manhattan gets the attention, but a christmas dinner new york in Queens is often the better meal for the money. Agora Taverna in Forest Hills is the Greek taverna with the $42.95 three-course prix fixe, and it serves brunch, lunch, and dinner on Christmas Day. Victory Garden Cafe in Astoria is the family-owned Mediterranean bistro with the $59.55 holiday menu. Both rooms are easy to reach by subway, both take reservations, and both are less crowded than the Manhattan rooms on December 25. If you are staying in Queens, or if you want to escape the Midtown crowds, these are the two rooms to book first.
Where to Eat When Everything Is Booked: Proven Backup Plans
If every reservation is gone, a christmas dinner new york is still possible, because the city has three backup categories that do not depend on a booking. The first is Katzs Delicatessen on East Houston Street, open and chaotic, as it is every Christmas Day. Katzs does not take reservations, so be prepared for a wait, but a pastrami sandwich on Christmas Day is a New York tradition of its own. The second is Chinatown, busy all day, with walk-in tables at most restaurants. The third is hotel restaurants, which operate for guests and are typically open to walk-ins: the Baccarat at 28 W 53rd, the Plaza at 5th Avenue and Central Park South, the St. Regis at 2 E 55th, the Mandarin Oriental at 80 Columbus Circle, and the Park Hyatt all serve on Christmas Day. The New Yorker Hotels three restaurants are the same kind of backup: Tick Tock Diner is open 24 hours, Trattoria Bianca serves oysters, handmade pastas, thin-crust pizzas, and Chianti-braised short rib, and Butcher and Banker serves Prime Black Angus steaks inside the former 1920s bank vault.
Step-by-Step: How to Book Christmas Dinner New York
- Step 1, pick your tier. Choose a splurge (Tavern on the Green, Cote), a classic (Balthazar, Gallaghers, Strip House), or a value room (Nizza, Agora Taverna, Victory Garden Cafe) before you start searching.
- Step 2, book two to four weeks ahead. Use Resy or OpenTable, or book direct for Tavern on the Greens prix fixe. Cote and Balthazar go first.
- Step 3, confirm December 25 specifically. Say the date out loud when you book, and check the confirmation for December 25, 2026, not December 24 or the festive season in general.
- Step 4, ask about the menu and the price. Ask whether the menu is prix fixe or a la carte, what the price is per person, and whether tax, tip, and drinks are included.
- Step 5, ask about the cancellation rule. Holiday bookings often carry a cancellation fee, so ask before you commit, especially if your plans may change.
- Step 6, confirm again the week before. Call or message the restaurant in the week before Christmas Day to confirm the time, the party size, and any dietary needs.
What to Do on Christmas Day in New York Before and After Dinner
A christmas dinner new york is only half the day, and the city gives you plenty to do around it. The Rockefeller Center tree is lit on December 2, 2026, and it stays up until the second week of January 2027, so it is there on Christmas Day. The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027, with multiple showtimes on many dates. The Bryant Park Holiday Shops run from October 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at the Bank of America Winter Village. Central Park is free to enjoy, and the holiday lights are free too. Many stores close early on December 24 and stay closed on December 25, so plan shopping for another day, and check holiday hours for anything you plan to visit. The subway runs around the clock, though holiday schedules can apply, so check the MTA before you head out.
Restaurants Closed on Christmas Day: Do Not Miss This List
Do not try to book these rooms for a christmas dinner new york, because sources say they are closed on December 25. Carbone is closed. Per Se is closed. The Russ and Daughters Cafe is closed. These are famous rooms, and they appear on many best-of lists, but they do not serve on Christmas Day. The marquee tasting rooms still close, and that is the rule, not the exception. If a restaurant is not on the open list in this guide, do not assume it is open. Call the restaurant and ask, or pick a room that is confirmed open.
Picky Eats
Picky eaters do well with a christmas dinner new york, because the open restaurants serve familiar food alongside the festive menus. A steakhouse is the safe pick: a strip steak, a baked potato, and bread will satisfy almost any picky eater, and Gallaghers, Strip House, and Cote all serve exactly that. An Italian room is the second safe pick for christmas dinner new york: Nizza serves fresh pasta and pizza, and a child who will not touch a prix fixe can usually eat pasta. A brasserie such as Balthazar is the third safe pick, because steak frites and French onion soup are familiar, and the bakery next door means dessert is easy.
Nutrition and Carbohydrate Info
Restaurants do not publish nutrition panels for their holiday prix fixe menus, and this guide does not invent them. No calorie count in this section is presented as an official figure from any restaurant on this list. What follows is general guidance, labeled as estimates, so you can judge a four-course Christmas dinner before you book it.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, a christmas dinner new york is worth it, and the reason is simple: New York is the only major city where a real Christmas dinner is easy to find on December 25, and the choice runs from $43 to $135 per person. Cooking a holiday dinner in a hotel room is not possible, and cooking at home means a full day of work. A christmas dinner new york at a restaurant gives you a festive room, a cooked meal, and no dishes, and the city gives you the tree, the lights, and the Rockettes around it. For a visitor, that is worth the price. For a local who does not want to cook, it is worth it too, because the best rooms are the ones that are open when the rest of the city is closed.
FAQ
Which restaurants are open on Christmas Day in New York in 2026?
Cote, Balthazar, Gallaghers Steakhouse, Strip House, Tavern on the Green, Red Rooster, Nizza, Sinigual, Agora Taverna, Fogo de Chao, Marseille, Victory Garden Cafe, Le Rivage, Cafe Luxembourg, Serafina Upper West, The Blue Mezze Bar, Katzs Delicatessen, Chez Josephine, Marea, Jean-Georges, David Burke Tavern, and the hotel restaurants are all reported open on Christmas Day 2026. Carbone, Per Se, and Russ and Daughters Cafe are reported closed. Confirm with the restaurant before you go.
How much does a christmas dinner new york cost?
A christmas dinner new york prix fixe costs about $43 to $135 per person before tax and tip. The cheapest is Agora Taverna in Queens at $42.95, and the most expensive is Tavern on the Green at about $135. Add tax at about 8.875 percent, a tip of 18 to 20 percent, and drinks, so a $65 dinner is about $80 per person all in, by our estimate.
How far ahead should I book christmas dinner new york?
Book two to four weeks ahead on Resy or OpenTable, or direct for Tavern on the Greens prix fixe. Cote and Balthazar go first, the steakhouses and the Central Park room hold a little longer, and the value rooms in Queens hold longest. Many restaurants are booked months ahead, so earlier is better.
What is the best christmas dinner new york for families?
Red Rooster in Harlem is the best christmas dinner new york for families, with a prix fixe at $80 per person, family-style service, live music, and hours of 11 AM to 9 PM. Agora Taverna in Queens at $42.95 and Fogo de Chao in Midtown are also strong family picks, and an early seating at 11 AM or noon works best for children.
Is Chinatown open on Christmas Day in New York?
Yes. Chinatown is busy all day on Christmas Day, and it is the center of the old tradition of Chinese dinners on December 25. Most Chinatown restaurants stay open and take walk-ins, though you should expect a wait. Yakiniku Toraji An is on Yelps 2026 list of the best restaurants open on Christmas Day.
What should I do if everything is booked for christmas dinner new york?
Try the backup plans: Katzs Delicatessen on East Houston Street, Chinatown walk-ins, hotel restaurants such as the Plaza, the St. Regis, and the Mandarin Oriental, and 24-hour diners such as Tick Tock Diner, Waffle House, IHOP, and Dennys. Applebees, Red Lobster, and Benihana also run shortened holiday hours, often noon to 9 PM.
Related Guides
- Christmas dinner menu: the full holiday meal, with turkey, ham, sides, and desserts, if you decide to cook instead of booking a table.
- New York Food Map: where to eat across New York City, from Manhattan to Queens, for the rest of your trip.
- Traditional Christmas dinner: the classic dishes to expect on the table, from roast turkey to glazed ham.
- Christmas Eve dinner ideas: easy menus for the night before, for readers staying in New York for both nights.
Sources and Review Notes
All facts in this guide were rechecked on November 6, 2026. Sources used: Restaurants for Kings, Restaurants Open Christmas Day in New York 2026 (Cote, Balthazar, Gallaghers Steakhouse, Strip House, Tavern on the Green at about $135, Red Rooster, book two to four weeks ahead); Im Just A Girl 16, How To Spend Christmas Day in New York City, updated September 3, 2026 (Rockefeller tree lit December 2, 2026; Cafe Luxembourg usually 5 PM to 10 PM; Serafina Upper West; The Blue Mezze Bar four-course menu $69); The New Yorker Hotel, Christmas in New York, October 30, 2026 (Bryant Park Holiday Shops October 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027; Christmas Spectacular November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027; Tick Tock Diner, Trattoria Bianca, Butcher and Banker); Places to Eat Near Me, Restaurants Open on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, reviewed May 2026 (Waffle House, IHOP, Dennys open 24 hours; Applebees, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, Benihana shortened hours; Katzs Delicatessen open; hotel restaurants at the Baccarat, Plaza, St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt; Carbone closed; Per Se closed; Russ and Daughters Cafe closed); Mommy Poppins, Restaurants Open on Christmas in NYC (Sinigual 11 AM to 9 PM; Agora Taverna $42.95; Fogo de Chao 11 AM to 9 PM; Marseille $90; Victory Garden Cafe $59.55; Le Rivage $95; Red Rooster $80, 11 AM to 9 PM); Garfield Brooklyn, Where to Dine in NYC on Christmas Day (Chez Josephine, Marea, Ferris, Red Rooster, Ginnys Supper Club, Hearth Feast of the Seven Fishes, David Burke Tavern, Jean-Georges six- or ten-course menu, Bluebird); OpenTable, Nizza NYC (Christmas Day 2026 three-course prix fixe $65 per person, December 25, 2026 only, hours 12 PM to 10 PM). Prices exclude tax and tip unless stated. Most 2026 menus are not published yet, and only Nizzas OpenTable listing is explicitly dated December 25, 2026, so confirm hours, menus, and prices directly with the restaurant before you go. No visit was made for this guide, and no prices, times, or menus were invented.
