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No need to stress about cooking this holiday season—instead, make a reservation for Christmas Eve or Day.
Sure, you could spend the days leading up to Christmas in Chicago laboring over a supply chain-proof grocery list—or you could abandon elaborate cooking plans, relax and let the pros handle your holiday meal. Some of the best restaurants in Chicago are open on Christmas Eve and Day with holiday menus fit for every preference, whether you're looking to splurge on filet mignon and views of the Chicago River or score half-priced drinks and happy hour deals. On Christmas Eve, check out interesting riffs on holiday traditions like the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes (you'll find several variations on our list); on Christmas Day, visit restaurants inside Chicago hotels for boozy brunches, buffets and other specials. Have a very happy holiday, and don't forget to spread the Christmas cheer with an extra-generous tip for your server!
RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Christmas in Chicago
Wake up early on Christmas morning for brunch at Venteux—the Pendry Chicago's French venture that opened earlier this year—and feast on croque monsieur, steak frites, black walnut syrup-topped pancakes and a medley of other indulgent picks. Bonus: For $20, you can soak up all that food with bottomless mimosas and rosé.
Hours: 10am–4pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: OpenTable
The cafe inside this Wicker Park hotel will offer a hearty buffet on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, allowing guests to graze on dishes like pan-seared salmon, roasted beef strip with mushroom onion sauce, butternut squash mac and cheese and roast garlic mashed potatoes; round off your meal with desserts like French silk pie cups and sticky toffee pudding.
Hours: 4pm–7:45pm
Price: $75 (drinks and gratuity not included)
Reservations: Resy
Treat yourself to a customizable three-course prix fixe menu this Christmas at Lure Bar, the seafood-centric restaurant and bar in River North, which invites diners to choose from dishes like lobster bisque, Belgian endive salad, Dover sole and molten chocolate cake. Not sold on prix fixe? You can order off the regular menu, too.
Hours: 3pm–8pm
Price: $95 (drinks and gratuity not included)
Reservations: Resy or SevenRooms
A four-course meal inspired by a traditional country hunt awaits you at this sleek restaurant inside the Four Seasons Hotel—arrive hungry for a spread of deep fried turkey, cola-braised country ham and a deconstructed apple pie, among other rustic dishes.
Hours: noon–6pm
Price: $150, wine pairing $75; kids menu $55
Reservations: OpenTable or call 312-280-8800, ext. 8800
In honor of the holiday, the Waldorf Astoria's ritzy restaurant (formerly known as Margeaux Brasserie) will serve a prime rib roast special alongside its regular menu of rich new American-style fare—think steak tartare, duck breast and oyster-stacked seafood towers.
Hours: 5pm–10pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: OpenTable
Celebrate Christmas with bottomless rigatoni a la vodka, crispy chicken parmesan, holiday cocktails, tableside s'mores and tons of other specials available at the River North and Bucktown locations of etta, both of which will be open for dinner service.
Hours: 4pm–9pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: SevenRooms
This glitzy Gold Coast steakhouse will open for lunch and dinner service on Christmas Day with a special menu featuring a 36oz Chateaubriand Rossini served alongside seared foie gras, black trumpet mushroom, perigord black truffle and truffle jus.
Hours: 2pm–8pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: SevenRooms
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel's restaurant has prepared specialty menus for Christmas Eve and Day; on Christmas Day, visit for cold weather dishes like Berkshire double-cut pork chop with mustard jus and roasted acorn squash.
Hours: noon–10pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Call 312-372-7200
Chef Stephen Gillanders (S.K.Y.) helms this seasonally-oriented restaurant—which promises a specialty a la carte menu of classic holiday dishes in honor of Christmas Day— located inside the Viceroy Chicago hotel on the Near North Side.
Hours: 11am–9pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: OpenTable
Delicate white truffles take center stage on Osteria Langhe's early winter menu, where the pale delicacy is incorporated into everything from stracciatella with creamy polenta and pork belly to panna cotta drizzled with sweet and savory truffle honey. The truffles are usually only available through December, so Christmas Eve is an excellent time to indulge.
Hours: 5:30pm–10:30pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Resy
Truffle lovers can also consult the Christmas Eve menu at Siena Tavern in River North, where chef Fabio Viviani has concocted a menu that highlights the tuber with dishes like truffled burrata on polenta toast and a 6oz filet mignon with a truffled cauliflower puree. Want to go all out? You can even order the truffle menu as a five-course chef's tasting menu.
Hours: 4pm–11:30pm
Price: Varies for a la carte, tasting menu $115
Reservations: OpenTable
This River North favorite for Peruvian cuisine will be open on Christmas Eve for dining off its regular menu plus a handful of a la carte holiday specials.
Hours: 5pm–9pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Tock
With its 1920s supper club vibes and views of the river, this downtown steakhouse feels appropriate for a special occasion like Christmas Eve. Order from the regular dinner menu or spring for holiday specials like a 10oz Filet Rossini topped with foie gras and black truffle madera.
Hours: 4pm–11:30pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Via the restaurant's website.
Celebrate Christmas Eve Italian-American style with Testaccio's take on Feast of the Seven Fishes, a sprawling meal of seven different seafood dishes that's thought to have originated from southern Italian immigrants to the U.S. In chef Jacob Solomon's rendition, you'll be treated to plates like tuna crudo, risotto scampi and Sicilian-style swordfish, among other oceanic delights.
Hours: 5:30pm–10:30pm
Price: $55
Reservations: Resy
Looking for a different riff on the Feast of the Seven Fishes? Head to il Porcellino for an especially opulent option presented in the form of a seafood tower, which comes loaded with dishes like parmesan-crusted cold water prawns.
Hours: 3pm–9pm
Price: Market price
Reservations: OpenTable
Shake up your Christmas Eve dining routine with Sushi-san's ode to Japanese fried chicken. The crispy chicken, seasoned with the punchy spice blend togarashi, is paired with mashed potatoes and yakitori gravy, delicata squash with brown butter soy vinaigrette, green beans and Okinawa sugar pie.
Hours: 11am–9pm
Price: $95 for two
Reservations: Tock
You'll find yet another seafood-forward menu at chef Doug Psaltis' contemporary Greek venture in Logan Square, which is serving a menu stocked with chilled oysters, charred tomato mignotte, saffron orzotto and Athenian lobster spaghetti, plus tons of other fish-forward dishes.
Hours: 4pm–11:45pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Resy
Dine amid festive holiday lights at Le Sud in Roscoe Village, which will be offering cozy holiday specials—like rosemary roasted lamb rack with fingerling potatoes, leek fondue and madeira jus—plus a dedicated holiday menu for kids. The 21-plus crowd can also punch up their meal with a selection of boozy hot drinks.
Hours: 4:30pm–10pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: Resy
You can visit this Lincoln Park seafood joint all night for a la carte picks like Alaskan king crab legs and fried chicken, but we recommend swinging by between 4pm and 6pm—that's when happy hour deals get you half-priced cocktails and special towers of fries and oysters.
Hours: 3:30pm–8pm
Price: Varies
Reservations: OpenTable
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