Restaurants and cafés open on Christmas Day

Time: 5pm-late

All three floors of 127 Brunswick St will be open come Christmas night. Get a coffee and muffin at Ichi Ni Nana, follow up with Thai bites at Village People Hawker Foodhall, and toast to Jesus's birth at Upside Rooftop Bar.

Time: 7am-11am (coffee and cakes only)

If there's no way you are getting through a family lunch without the help of a lot of caffeine you best make tracks to Hobba, who are doing coffee only service for Baby Jesus' birthday.

Time: 7am-6pm

Start your yuletide celebrations with a coffee, then St Ali's buttermilk pancake or take it up a notch at lunchtime with their traditional Christmas lunch, complete with roast lamb and pavlova.

Time: 8am-12pm (coffee only)

These East Melbourne champs will be rising early to serve up their quality coffee this Christmas morn', helping you get set for the long day of visiting the relos. 

Time: 7.30am-4pm

Spend Christmas Day at one of the best bars in Melbourne. Sit back with a drink and a few friends (or a friend and a few drinks) and take a break from the silly season rush. Book tables ahead, they're going fast.

Bookings: Noon-4.30pm

Have a Southern Christmas with Le Bon Ton. For $99, diners will get oysters and champagne on arrival, followed by smoked turkey, house-made smoked ham and all the trimmings. Just make sure to save room for the pumpkin pie with white chocolate cream.

Bookings: 12-1pm

Book a table at this financial district favourite and let chef Guy Grossi cook you a Christmas lunch you won't soon forget. 

If you’re one of the thousands that don’t participate in the December 25 holiday, then you might be looking for something to do. While it may seem that the jolly red man has an iron grip on Australia, with most shopping centres, cinemas and attractions closed for the big day – it's actually not the case.