Our favorite Christmas Restaurants NYC

Though the majority of places are closed for Christmas day, a surprising number stay open for a very special Christmas Dinner in NYC. Our favorite Christmas Restaurants NYC offer many additional special dishes, prix fixe options, and, of course, Christmas decorations.

If you’re in town on Christmas Day and are wondering where you could go out to eat at night, this is the right article for you. After living in New York for almost 6 years now, there’s not much I haven’t tried yet. When it comes to the best restaurants on Christmas Day there are a few that I can highly recommend.

7 New York City Restaurants Open on Christmas Day

Are you looking for options for Christmas dinner in NYC? New York City has top-notch restaurants featuring impressive menus on Christmas Day. Christmas in New York is the most wonderful time of the year in the city. Here is a list of my absolute favorite Christmas New York City restaurants and your guide to which restaurants are open on Christmas Day in NYC.

Red Rooster Harlem & Ginny’s Supper Club

If you’re looking for authentic Harlem Soul Food, Red Rooster is the perfect spot for you. It is open on Christmas Day in NYC and will create a very casual environment on Christmas Day for you. Red Rooster offers excellent American cuisine as inspired by Marcus Samuelsson’s culinary journey and influenced by the vibrant neighborhoods of his travels.

If you are more into speakeasy vibes, escape from the hustle of the city outside and find yourself downstairs in Red Rooster’s best-kept secret, Ginny’s Supper Club. Stay for the live music after and dance your Christmas dinner off (Address: 310 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027).

Rolf’s Bar & Restaurant

Christmas in New York wouldn’t be the same without Rolf’s NYC. They go all out with their Christmas display and have hundreds of ornaments hanging everywhere inside the restaurant.

Literally every inch of Rolf’s walls and ceiling are covered in hundreds of garlands, ornaments, baubles, and beautiful Christmas lights. Their Christmas decorations stay until May (!) which sounds odd but its really what makes Rolf’s restaurant in NYC so famous. People come here only to see the decorations. If your purpose to go is the authentic German cuisine that you would also find on a Christmas dinner table in Germany, Rolf’s will do its job. You can expect pork, goose fat, duck, choucroute with sauerkraut, sausages, chicken, and trout that gives a distinctive flavor (Address: 281 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010)

Christmas Restaurants NYC: The Boqueria

One of my favorite restaurants is Boqueria which is a lively, Barcelona-style tapas bar. They are serving a menu of Spanish classics and market-driven seasonal specials in a warm, modern space. Do you love authentic Spanish cuisine? Then you won’t ever want to leave Boqueria in NYC. Their Christmas menu offers classic tapas including a seasonal favorite of fried egg, delicious potato cream, Perigord truffles, and Jamón Ibérico. They also feature a luxurious Seafood Suquet for the table to share and concludes with an extra special treat. Feliz Navidad! (Address: 260 WEST 40th Street, New York, NY, 10018)

Tavern on the Green

Can you imagine anything more romantic for Christmas than spending your Christmas dinner on Christmas Day in Central Park? Tavern on the Green is an American cuisine restaurant located right inside the park that offers a pre-fix Christmas dinner for $125.

The landmark restaurant has been featuring excellent cuisine since 1934 when Central Park was renovated. Tavern on the Green on Christmas is very popular also because of its all-out holiday decor where you can cozy up under 10,000 sparkling string lights and lots of green firs. Make sure to reserve your table months in advance (Address: Central Park, W 67th St, New York, NY 10023).

My insider tip: Chinatown on Christmas

Did you know that Christmas and Christmas Eve are the busiest day of the year for most American Chinese restaurants? While a lot of New Yorkers struggle with the challenge of finding delicious restaurant options that are open on Christmas Chinatown is very much open on Christmas Day.

Chinatown on Christmas Day has been a tradition in New York City for many years.

So if you don’t really care much about a fancy Christmas dinner in New York City you should head to Chinatown and experience culture, great Chinese cuisine like dim sum and a different kind of Christmas dinner that is a tradition for many New Yorkers since the early 1900s.

My favorite Christmas restaurant NYC: Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs

Stepping into this early 19th century Tribeca townhouse with its tin ceiling, a copper-topped bar, and a wood-burning fireplace everything feels like Christmas in here. It’s one of the best Christmas Restaurants NYC not only because Tiny’s & the Bar Upstairs feels very welcoming but also because the food is incredibly delicious. Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs is a very unique spot with so much history and character (Address: 135 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013)

If you still couldn’t find your perfect restaurant for Christmas Day in New York City, check our article about the best restaurants & bars in NYC and maybe you happen to stumble across a spot that you like. Confirm with them via email or on their website if the restaurant is open on Christmas in NYC.