These 10 excellent NYC restaurants are open Thanksgiving

The old-world charm of well-worn communal tables, dangling copper cookware and flickering lamps may help explain why a 20-year-old restaurant is still tough to get into on a Saturday night. Seasonal produce shapes the holiday menu of executive chef Roger Martinez, which will include dishes like Zuppa red kuri squash with toasted pumpkin seed, Cavoletti Brussels sprouts and Bartlett pear and house-made ravioli filled with ricotta, toasted chestnuts and sage. You’ll have no trouble finding a wine to match your meal; Il Buco’s list is one of the city’s best.

A curated thrift store in front hawks vintage jewelry, boom boxes and guitars; a gigantic one-story crystal chandelier fronts a grand, curving staircase; and the main dining room opens up under a massive skylight. Though the interior aims to dazzle—and there’s an equivalent expectation that you dress to impress – the food offers comforting flavors. There’s also a thoughtful non-alcoholic cocktail list.

New York's French-food revival is alive and well. This provençal outfit has a Mediterranean-hopping holiday menu (3 courses; $78) laced with North African and Middle Eastern influences, like the sweet potato falafel and the vegetable tagine. The walls of the rustic space are walled with gorgeous white hand-painted tiles, making it feel like you’re having Thanksgiving dinner on a faraway vacation.

Chef Laurence Edelman (Barbuto, Mermaid Inn) converted the Braeburn space—now outfitted with a vintage crystal-and-wrought-iron chandelier, white-painted brick walls and steer horns—into this New American restaurant. Expect unexpected Thanksgiving plates like rotisserie cauliflower and grilled local swordfish.

Kick off the holiday season in luxury at the Loews Regency Hotel’s signature upper east side restaurant. Enjoy four courses ($175/pp for adults; $65/pp for children under 12) beginning with roasted pumpkin soup or classic lobster bisque, followed by a foie gras or seared tuna appetizer, then an entree choice between roasted turkey breast with sage stuffing, herb-crusted rack of lamb, butter poached halibut or grilled chateaubriand with potato mousseline. If you’re not too full once it’s time for dessert, sweet selections include pumpkin pie, three-layer chocolate cake, carrot cake and a selection of artisanal cheeses.

Thanksgiving dinner at this standout West Village bistro includes a well-curated variety of options for every palate. If you’re feeling extra festive, go for both the Thanksgiving salad (made with a seasonal array of produce including Brussels, candied walnuts, poached pears and a honey cranberry vinaigrette) and the traditional Thanksgiving plate (featuring roasted turkey breast, braised dark meat, sausage stuffing, vanilla whipped sweet potatoes, and truffled baby Yukons amongst other delights). 

Perhaps the most unassuming and earnest Michelin star-winning restaurant in NYC, Oxalis never disappoints, and their Thanksgiving dinner will be no exception. Expect a dynamic locavore menu made to share, including a guinea hen feast surrounded by traditional Thanksgiving sides served with a twist, and a number of a la carte additions available for the especially hungry diners. 

Bubby’s is understandably one of NYC’s most favorite family restaurants: it’s welcoming, warm and the food is hearty and flavorful. Their Thanksgiving Day menu (three courses; $180/pp, children under 10: $70/pp) includes their trademark buttermilk biscuits and the traditional turkey and ham; there’s also a vegetarian lasagna option available for the non-meat eaters (note that it must be pre-ordered). For dessert, choose from their iconic holiday pie list, including apple, pumpkin and cherry.

If you’re looking for a no-frills holiday dinner without actually having to eat traditional Thanksgiving food, this 75-year-old, 24-hour Long Island City diner is your spot. Choose from one of the many classic American dishes – go for the all-day breakfast if you really want to rebel against the Thanksgiving machine – in the retro space for a late night, early morning or anything-in-between meal.

Celebrate everything you’re thankful for this year against the stunning backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge. This DUMBO waterfront cafe is known for presenting dishes that compete with the unforgettable views, which makes their special Thanksgiving dinner (three courses; $125 for adults, $60 for children under 12) a surefire memory maker. Expect hearty plates full of fall-friendly produce like a fall chicories salad, stracciatella with brown butter squash and whole branzino with Meyer lemon.