Christmas Dinner in San Diego: Where to Go in 2022

Are you wondering where to have your Christmas dinner this year? Maybe you’d rather skip cooking and doing dishes and enjoy a meal at your favorite restaurant. This post will detail all the great spots you can dine at for your Christmas celebration in San Diego.

Note: This list is a work in progress, so if I’m missing San Diego restaurants with Christmas or New Year’s offerings, please leave a comment or email me. The prices below do not include tax, service fees, or gratuities.

Fogo de Chao

If you’ve never experienced the culinary wonder that is Fogo de Chao, then Christmas dinner is the time to do it! Inspired by the taste of southern Brazil, diners this Christmas can feast on steak, chicken, lamb, pork, seafood, and more.

For a holiday celebration at home, Fogo de Chao is also offering their filet mignon and roasted turkey along with sides to go.

Osteria Panevino

The oldest restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter is also one of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego and the Tuscan-themed restaurant is offering a 3-course Christmas dinner (menu to come!) that will make any Italian nonna (grandmother) proud.

Bronze Bird

Located in the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, Bronze Bird offers a 3-course Christmas dinner for $45/person or $60 with wine pairings.

Choose from Steelhead Trout, Maple Glazed ham, or Pumpkin ravioli at this casual California-inspired restaurant. Their regular menu will also be available.  

Hotel del Coronado Crown Room

Dine in the iconic Crown Room and Coronet Room on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, where you can indulge in their lavish holiday buffet. The buffet will include all the traditional favorites and culinary surprises to enjoy all day.

• $205  per person, $100 per child ages 4-10, young children 3 and under are free with a paid adult
• Reservations are recommended

While at The Del, you will be surrounded by thousands of sparkling lights on the property, as well as Christmas trees, garlands, and holiday decor that will surely delight guests of all ages. Make reservations ASAP.

Enjoy your San Diego Christmas dinner or brunch and spend the night! At the time of this writing, there are still rooms available. Read my full Hotel del Coronado review. Through me, you have access to the following:

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Room selection tips: Don’t book rooms in The Cabanas or The Views without a view type listed, as they offer subpar views and locations. The Victorian Building will close for renovation in September 2023.

Arlo Restaurant

San Diego’s destination eatery inside Town & Country Resort, Arlo, will offer a special Christmas menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The menu will include holiday favorites such as Air Dried Christmas Goose, Lobster pot pie, Pumpkin Spiced Gnocchi, and Snowball Flight Dessert. Pair this with a hand-crafted cocktail such as Spiked Brown Butter Egg Nog, and you will ride on holiday cheer.

Sally’s at Manchester Grand Hyatt

Holiday travelers staying at Manchester Grand Hyatt and locals alike are invited to Sally’s Fish House & Bar to indulge in a plated Christmas Day dinner including salt and herb crusted prime rib, grilled jumbo prawns, caramelized cipollini onions, creamy herb horseradish sauce and much more.

Seasonal craft cocktails, such as the Winter Rose with Makers Mark, and Rudolph with You & Yours Gin, will also be available.

• $52 per person (excluding beverages)

Harrah’s Resort Southern California

If you’re looking for a holiday escape, or to just enjoy top-tier dining, look no further than Funner, California. Harrah’s Resort So Cal’s lobby will welcome and quickly transport you to a Christmas winter wonderland.

With dining options at Hell’s Kitchen, the Cafe, and KJ Chinese restaurant, you will surely be covered for Christmas dinner. 

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Rancho Valencia will welcome guests with the ultimate Christmas Feast on Christmas Day.

Menu highlights include an expansive cold seafood station, a sushi station, photo-worthy cheese and charcuterie, house-made rigatoni, mero sea bass, and osso bucco, with a specialty kid’s buffet sure to satisfy the pickiest of eaters (pigs in a blanket, assorted mini quesadillas and mac, and cheese).

Live music, seasonal sweets, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, caroling, and horse-drawn carriage rides will accompany your magical Christmas celebration.

• December 25, 2022 , 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
• $195  per person, $55 per child 11 years of age and under, free for children 3 and under
• Also offering a Christmas to-go option to choose from favorite sides and pies to the entire holiday meal. Orders must be placed online by Thursday, December 19, at 5 p.m. More details are available here.

Café Gratitude

DIY Gingerbread  Cookie Kits are a delicious way to spend quality time with the family this Christmas. The cookie kits are plant-based and gluten-free, made with the highest quality ingredients and 100% organic products, and free of artificial colorings and shortening.

The unique red frosting is colored with beet juice, while the green frosting is made with matcha powder – available for nationwide shipping.

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Ranch 45 a la Carte Holiday Pick-Up Menu

Don’t need a full meal? No problem. Turn to Ranch 45’s completely a la carte holiday pick-up menu so you can customize your Christmas or Christmas Eve feast.

Choices include:

• Herb-crusted Prime Rib
• Smoked Beef Tenderloin
• Smoked Cornish Game Hens
• Smoked Turkey legs
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes
• Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pecan Pie, or Apple Crisp
• And Much More

The Solana Beach butcher shop and eatery are currently accepting orders, so place yours today! 

Sign in or create a free Virtuoso account to see the discounted rate!
Room selection tips: Don’t book rooms in The Cabanas or The Views without a view type listed, as they offer subpar views and locations. The Victorian Building will close for renovation in September 2023.

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Avant at Rancho Bernardo Inn

For an elegant Christmas dinner (which, for some, is the only way to do it), Avant will knock your socks off with its four-course tasting menu or a la carte entrees. Plan to be impressed by the beautiful presentation and plating of your dinner, an art form Chef Jimenez is known for. Try out one of their 12 Days of Christmas cocktails that will surely bring on the holiday cheer. 

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Veranda Fireside Lounge and Restaurant  at Rancho Bernardo Inn

The casual, Mediterranean-inspired with a Southern Californian twist Veranda Fireside Lounge will also be serving dinner on Christmas day. Gather around the fire, take in the gorgeous views of the golf course, and enjoy live music this Christmas at the Veranda Fireside Lounge.

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Roy’s Waterfront Dining

If you can’t be in Hawaii for Christmas, you can dine like you are! Roy’s is a  Hawaiian fusion restaurant offering a three-course Christmas dinner for $84.95. Choose from their signature Chateaubriand, Thai Style Bouillabaisse, or their classic Misoyaki “Butterfish”. A children’s menu is also available for $19.

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Pacifica Del Mar

Combine an award-winning menu with unparalleled ocean views, and you have a winning formula in Pacifica Del Mar. While they don’t have a specific Christmas menu, you simply can’t go wrong with the New England clam chowder, blackened fish tacos, or crab cakes.

Sunset at this restaurant is a super popular time for dining among locals and tourists alike, so consider yourself lucky if you can snag a table during that time.   

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Vintana Wine + Dine

Perched on the top level of the Centre at Lexus Escondido, Vintana Wine + Dine brings delicious California cuisine to Escondido in a posh and hip setting.

This year, their Christmas menu offers seasonal specials like the Duroc Pork Chop and Filet mignon. Enjoy this three-course dinner for $64.95 for adults and $16.95 for children.

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Adelaide at L’Auberge Del Mar

Gorgeous ocean views, impeccable service, and the freshest, ocean forward entrees welcome you at Adelaide. Oysters, Dungeness crab, Halibut, and Salmon are all on the menu this Christmas, and if you’re looking for Christmas brunch, they have you covered as well. 

Stay overnight at L’Auberge Del Mar with extra benefits.

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Covewood at San Diego Mission Bay Resort

Who says Christmas has to be stuffy and formal? Not Covewood! Barefoot chic is the vibe here, so feel free to walk in straight from playing on the bay for a casual but delectable dinner.

Charred octopus, scallops, halibut, and truffle fries await you to be washed down with a beverage of your choice. After dinner, take an idyllic walk along the bay…still barefoot, of course. 

Spending the night at San Diego Mission Bay Resort is also fun.

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Mediterranean Room at La Valencia Hotel

“San Diego’s Hottest New Restaurants”, “11 Great Patios with a View”, and “Reader’s Best Choice Restaurants” are all titles that Mediterranean Room holds, so why not have Christmas dinner here?

Choose from mussels, ribeye, tuna belly, and prawns, and find out for yourself what all the hype is around the Mediterranean Room.

You can also spend the night at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla.

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The Marine Room Restaurant

Christmas Day on the Surf is made possible this year at the Marine Room with its four-course prix fixe menu. Offered at $150 per person, their Christmas menu includes selections such as lobster roulade, Maine lobster bisque, sea bass, Wagyu prime rib, and a Christmas dessert trilogy.

The only thing that matches the food here are the ocean views, so make sure to soak in both this Christmas. The Marine Room is adjacent to La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.

The Shores Restaurant

The casual counterpart to The Marine Room, The Shores Restaurant inside of the La Jolla Shores Hotel has a Christmas buffet this year all day starting at 10 a.m.

A brunch station, carving station, fresh seafood bar, and charcuterie station are all on their Christmas buffet menu for $72 per adult and $36 for children ages 6-12. 

Vistal Bar + Restaurant at the Intercontinental

This bayfront restaurant at InterContinental San Diego will not disappoint you this Christmas with its menu. Served both on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, the three-course tasting menu for adults is $85 and for children 12 & under, $32.50.

Opt for a wine pairing for $35 (because it is Christmas, after all) and sip it slowly while enjoying the harbor views.

Saltwater

Legend has it that San Diego’s best seafood is in the Gaslamp District, and Saltwater is out to claim that it IS the best.

They certainly have some of the freshest catches in the city, with much of their seafood on ice displays for patrons to choose from.

Simply pick out your fish, weigh it, and let their chefs work their magic. An exclusive three-course Christmas Day dinner (menu not set yet) is also available.

Huntress

If a swanky steak dinner is on your Christmas wish list, Huntress is where you want to be. Not only will Christmas dinner feature their usual dinner menu but also Chef’s holiday favorites like Beef Wellington, Short Ribs, and Bone Marrow Agnolotti.

Top it off with sticky toffee pudding and check out their Japanese whisky collection – they have one of the largest in the state! 

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Where will you pick up Christmas dinner in San Diego? See also: Ultimate Guide to Christmas in San Diego.