Let the Reindeer Graze and Head to these Atlanta Restaurants for Christmas Eve Dining

Welcome Christmas by sharing brunch, lunch or dinner with loved ones on Christmas Eve. Atlanta restaurants provide welcome respite amid the last-minute shopping frenzy and festive feasting before or after Christmas Eve services. Santa’s helpers will appreciate the “no assembly required” aspect of dining out before settling in with instruction manuals. “Yule” have to check our list to see which jolly restaurant will serve dinner on Christmas Day.

Multiple Locations
Jingle all the way to Henri's Bakery & Cafe's Westside location on Christmas Eve. While the newest outpost is open from from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., sister locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Both locations of HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern will be open during regular hours on Christmas Eve, welcoming guests with tavern fare with a Southern flair. The Brookhaven location will be closed on Christmas Day but the Midtown location will open at 3 p.m., serving up a limited menu of burgers, pizzas and wings. 

Celebrating the holidays with Ray’s Restaurants is an Atlanta holiday tradition, and reservations are recommended. All three restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve offering an a la carte dinner menu from 5-9 p.m. While Ray’s in the Citywill be closed during brunch and lunch hours Christmas Eve, it’s a perfect place to sit down for dinner when downtown for a Christmas Eve service or other festivities. Ray’s on the River will serve a brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. priced at $45.95/adult, $22.95/child on Dec. 24. Welcome Christmas Eve at Ray’s at Killer Creek and enjoy a brunch buffet from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. for $42.95/adult, $21.95/child. The Ray’s trio will be closed on Christmas Day so staff can spend the holiday with family.

These Southern Proper Hospitality restaurants will follow their regular opening hour schedules and offer menu specials on Christmas Eve: The Big Ketch - Canton Street, Milton’s Cuisine + Cocktails and Gypsy Kitchen. On Dec. 24, pop into The Southern Gentleman for lunchtime comfort and joy -- delicious bites, beer or bourbon -- when shopping for that last gift at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.

Feliz Navidad! Santa loves tacos. Luckily, Tin Lizzy's Cantina locations in Buckhead, Grant Park, Perimeter, Kennesaw, East Cobb and Augusta will be open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 24 so the jolly elf can take in some tacos before his flight. (Better watch the margaritas, Santa.)


Midtown and Around

In Midtown, 5Church will be open and offering its regular menus on Christmas Eve. Enjoy favorites from executive chef Scotley Innis like short rib pappardelle ($28), rabbit pot pie ($21) and truffle mushroom risotto ($18).

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland hosts a special Christmas Eve brunch on Dec. 24 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and will close at 6 p.m. The merry brunch menu includes breakfast egg rolls ($8), country ham, grits and red-eye gravy ($14) and eggnog pancakes with bacon or pesto chicken sausage ($12). They promise “special gifts for all of the good boys and girls.” On Christmas Eve, all customers will have an opportunity to win a $50 Atkins Park gift card. Atkins Park is the neighborly place to be on Christmas Day, opening at 6 p.m. and offering plenty of holiday fixings: Big Green Egg smoked turkey breast with caramelized apple and sage stuffing and cider gravy, braised pork shoulder, roasted root veggies with bourbon glaze, green bean casserole, crispy onions and roasted mushrooms, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry Grand Marnier compote, sweet potato biscuits, Southern pecan pie and eggnog cheesecake. $30 adults, $18 for young adults and $10 for ages 10 and under. Reservations recommended.

On Christmas Eve day or night, gather friends for tapas, craft cocktails and Spanish specialties around communal tables at Bulla Gastrobar in Midtown, which will follow its regular hours on Dec. 24.

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Midtown and Brookhaven will honor their regular business hours on Christmas Eve for yuletide greetings and eatings then close for Christmas Day.

Revival, chef Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur restaurant, will serve beloved Southern brunch specialties on Christmas Eve from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. As is its custom, the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Count Gunshow out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; the Glenwood Park restaurant will be closed Sunday and Monday as usual, reopening Tuesday and serving dinner from 6-9 p.m.


Buckhead and Sandy Springs

Glitzy American Cut in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta will be open on Christmas Eve until 10 p.m. Dinner service begins at 5:30 with the last seating at 8:30 p.m. Head home for a celebratory nightcap as The Regent Cocktail Club will be closed on Christmas Eve.

Cherish an elegant Christmas Eve dinner at Aria. Chef Gerry Klaskala’s acclaimed Buckhead restaurant is usually closed on Sundays so this is an especially sweet opportunity to celebrate this special night.

Rein in the busyness preceding Christmas Eve and be present in calm, exquisite moments at Umi. The celebrity-favored Buckhead sushi restaurant, normally closed on Sundays, will be open for dinner service on Christmas Eve for the first time this year.

Incentive to complete the gift wrapping and stocking stuffing early: Johnny's Hideaway plays jolly jingles and dance tunes well past midnight on Christmas Eve, staying open until 2 a.m. (Hear that, Santa?) The Buckhead hideaway will be closed Christmas Day and night. Psst. Word’s out they’re having a holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 21, so finish that shopping and tootle on over.

Food 101 American Kitchen & Bar in Sandy Springs sustains Santa’s helpers with Christmas Eve brunch and dinner options. Peruse the regular brunch menu from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. From 5:30-9 p.m., savor a special limited dinner menu featuring starters such as “New England-style” smoked haddock chowder, Blue Point oysters stuffed with smoked bacon and kale and braised beef short rib petite Wellingtons with red wine demi-glace ($9-$16). Chef Ron Eyester’s main plates that night include pan-roasted Florida grouper with eggplant purée, haricot vert and tomato jus; crab-stuffed lobster tail with asparagus gratin, new potatoes and hollandaise; smoked chicken risotto with wild mushrooms, herbs and foie gras jus; seared tuna with braised white beans, fennel and olive jus; Santa’s burger with Kobe beef, St. Andres cheese, balsamic onion relish, baby arugula and foie gras mayo; and braised beef short rib with creamed kale, grained mustard and whipped potatoes ($24-$32). Closed Christmas Day.

Outside the Perimeter

Come Christmas Eve in East Cobb, dine on chef-driven seasonal specialties at Seed Kitchen & Bar or go coastal for the “Best Seafood in Atlanta” per the AJC at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar. Both of chef/owner Doug Turbush’s restaurants will be open for dinner as usual on Christmas Eve.