Top Restaurants In Philadelphia Open On Christmas Day

Maybe you're not celebrating the holiday, or you'd just rather leave the cooking to the pros. Whatever your reason for dining out on Christmas Day, finding spots that are open can be a bit tricky. Here's a list to help make the day special. Options range from a more casual gastropub to multi-course dinners and brunch buffets. So there's something for everyone. Keep in mind that reservations can fill quickly for the holiday, so you'll want to call in advance to check availability.

10 Arts Bistro And Lounge
The Ritz-Carlton
10 Ave. of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 523-8000
www.ritzcarlton.com

You have two opportunities to dine among the Ritz-Carlton's beautiful holiday decorations at 10 Arts Bistro and Lounge on Christmas Day. A buffet brunch will be offered between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., priced at $79 for adults (with a free mimosa for guests over 21 years) and $39 for children under 12 years old. Or visit for a special holiday dinner available at $60 for adults and $30 for children under 12. The pre fixe menu will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Ritz's famous hot chocolate bar will also be available in the lobby between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tax and gratuities are not included.

Related: Ask A Philadelphia Expert: Christmas Cookie Recipes

Bank & Bourbon
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
1200 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 231-7300
www.bankandbourbon.com

While known for its extensive bourbon program as the name suggests, Bank & Bourbon also offers a modern-rustic menu of American classics. For the second year since opening in spring of 2014, Chef Tom Harkins will offer a three-course prefix menu on Christmas Day. Guests will have the option to choose one dish for each course from the special holiday menu with highlights including braised beef and onion soup, seared trout, filet mignon, bourbon bread pudding and Christmas yule log. The meal is priced at $55 per person (not including tax and gratuity), and reservations can be made by phone or using Open Table. Dinner will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Vernick Food & Drink
2031 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 639-6644
www.vernickphilly.com

If prix fixe meals aren't your thing, visit Vernick for your Christmas dinner. The Rittenhouse-area favorite will offer a la carte dinner and bar service from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day. The everyday menu will be available with favorites including beef tartare, black pepper octopus, pumpkin and brown butter toast, black sea bass and wood-fire roasted Amish chicken. Chef Greg Vernick will also be adding on a few special holiday dishes.

Lacroix Restaurant
The Rittenhouse Hotel
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 790-2533
www.lacroixrestaurant.com

Spend your Christmas morning at the beautiful Rittenhouse Hotel. The hotel's premier restaurant, Lacroix, will be open for a la carte breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. This will be followed by Lacroix's famous brunch from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The menu features raw bar specialties, hors d'oeuvres such as beef baklava and crispy sweetbreads, house-cured charcuterie, hand-carved meats including grilled skirt steak and roasted duck and breakfast and lunch entrees like Belgian waffles, peanut butter pancakes, stuffed shells and braised shortrib. Chef Cichon will also offer holiday specialties like his take on buche noel and stollen. Brunch is priced at $105 per person. A limited dinner menu will be available Christmas evening, and hot chocolate is available in the lobby.

South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 271-7787
www.southphiladelphiataproom.com

No fancy multi-course menus here, just good food and drinks at this neighborhood favorite. South Philly Tap Room will open at 6 p.m. on Christmas night and stay open until 1 a.m., offering its regular menu. This means quality pub fare made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Think options like pork cutlet with provolone sandwiches, grass-fed cheeseburgers, hot chicken wings, oysters and hanger steak. And if you need to take the edge off of the holiday stress, relax with your choice of 14 North American and European draft beers. Christmas is on a Friday this year, after all.

Related: Top Hot Chocolate In Philadelphia

Michelle Hein is the social media editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery…perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer husband would love to open.
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