A Christmas Eve dinner in NYC is one of the hardest reservations of the year, and the reason is simple: most of the city's best dining rooms release their December 24 tables on a fixed schedule, and those tables disappear within minutes. The women who get the good tables are not lucky. They know which restaurants have already published a 2026 Christmas Eve menu, and which ones open bookings on a set day. This guide gives you both, checked on each restaurant's own website on October 20, 2026. A few restaurants still show last year's holiday menus online; we left those out rather than guess at this year's prices.
Christmas Eve 2026 Falls on a Thursday
December 24, 2026 is a Thursday, and December 25 is a Friday. Expect the evening to feel like the start of a long weekend: early seatings fill with families, late seatings with couples and friends. If you want a calmer room, aim for the first seating of the evening or a table after 8:30 pm.
Already Published: 2026 Christmas Eve Menus
Delmonico's, Financial District
New York's most storied steakhouse has published its Christmas 2026 feast: a three-course menu by Executive Chef Adam Plitt, served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, at $150 per person. Beverages and tax are extra, and a 20% gratuity is added to every check. On December 24, it is served from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. An optional raw course includes Kumamoto oysters (with an Ossetra caviar supplement) and a seafood plateau. The restaurant links separate booking pages for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Best for: a classic, celebratory dinner with a sense of history, and the rare room where a three-course holiday menu still feels like an occasion.
Copinette, Midtown East
This French bistro has posted its December 2026 holiday schedule. On Christmas Eve it is open from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm with its à la carte dinner menu and holiday specials. It also notes that several December dates are already reserved for private events, and it recommends booking early.
Best for: a relaxed, à la carte dinner with friends, without a fixed holiday price.
Mark Your Calendar: When Tables Open
Many of New York's most sought-after restaurants do not take bookings months ahead. They release tables a set number of days in advance, at a set time. Here is when the dates around Christmas Eve become available, based on each restaurant's published policy. Holiday hours and menus can differ, so confirm with the restaurant once bookings open.
The Plaza, The Palm Court: from about October 25
The Plaza opens holiday reservations to the public 60 days before the date (90 days for registered hotel guests). Its Holiday Afternoon Tea in The Palm Court runs from November 11 to January 12, between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. If a December 24 sitting is offered, it is a beautiful start to Christmas Eve before dinner elsewhere; check when bookings open. The Palm Court charges $75 per person for cancellations within 72 hours.
Gramercy Tavern: November 26 at noon
Gramercy Tavern accepts reservations 28 days in advance, with new dates released at noon. For December 24, that means November 26. You can also call the restaurant between noon and 9:00 pm.
The Modern: November 26 at noon ET
The Modern, overlooking MoMA's sculpture garden, also takes reservations 28 days in advance at noon ET. Its Bar Room accepts walk-ins, which is your backup plan if the dining room is full.
Tavern on the Green: call now
In Central Park, Tavern on the Green books holiday reservations by phone at any time of year (online booking is not available for these). Its dress code is smart casual, and it applies a $35 per person penalty for cancellations within 72 hours.
After Dinner: A Nightcap Worth Dressing For
For a nightcap, Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, with its Ludwig Bemelmans murals and live entertainment, is the most New York way to end the evening. Next door, Café Carlyle presents cabaret. Check the hotel's holiday schedule and lineup before you go. For more December evenings like this one, see our Christmas date ideas in NYC.
How to Get a Christmas Eve Table in New York
Set an alarm for release day
For restaurants that release tables 28 days ahead, be online a minute before noon on November 26. Have every guest's name, your card and your preferred time ready.
Choose your seating time wisely
The 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm slots go first. A 5:30 pm or a 9:00 pm table is easier to get, and often more relaxed.
Read the holiday terms
Holiday menus often come with fixed prices, automatic gratuity (Delmonico's adds 20%) and cancellation fees. Read them before you confirm.
Use the waitlist and the bar
Join the waitlist on the booking platform, then call on the afternoon of December 23 or 24, when last-minute cancellations often appear. Bar seating, where a restaurant offers it, is often first come, first served.
Watch for last year's menus
Some restaurants still show their 2025 holiday menus. Check the dates on the page (December 24, 2025 was a Wednesday; in 2026 it is a Thursday) before you plan around a price.
What to Wear to Christmas Eve Dinner in NYC
Christmas Eve in New York is a dressed-up night. A velvet or silk dress with a long wool coat, a sequined top with tailored trousers, or a black jumpsuit with statement earrings all work. Wear shoes you can walk a few blocks in, in case a cab takes a while. Our guide to holiday party outfits for women has more ideas.
Your Week Between Christmas and New Year's
Christmas Eve is the start of the city's most social week. Book New Year's Eve at the same time: our guide to New Year's Eve dinner in NYC 2026 compares the options. If you are in the city on your own, our plan for things to do alone on Christmas in NYC covers December 24 and 25.
To know which rooms in New York are worth your evening, and how to get into them, New York Access, Explained covers 22 institutions and how entry really works. For downtown dinners and late nights, DOWNTOWN: The Scene, Decoded separates the real Tribeca and Soho rooms from the hype. Browse all New York guides.
FAQ
Do NYC restaurants take reservations for Christmas Eve?
Yes. Many restaurants take Christmas Eve reservations, but often only within a set window: Gramercy Tavern and The Modern release tables 28 days ahead at noon, and The Plaza opens holiday bookings 60 days ahead for the public.
How much does Christmas Eve dinner cost in NYC?
It varies widely. Delmonico's 2026 Christmas Eve menu is $150 per person before beverages, tax and a 20% gratuity. Some restaurants, such as Copinette, serve à la carte menus with holiday specials instead of a fixed price.
When should I book Christmas Eve dinner in NYC?
As early as each restaurant allows. Restaurants with published menus, like Delmonico's, are bookable now. For restaurants that release tables 28 days ahead, the Christmas Eve date opens on November 26.
Are NYC restaurants open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Many are, but hours change. Delmonico's serves from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Copinette from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm on December 24, 2026. Always confirm holiday hours directly.
Cover photo: Delmonico's, by Billie Grace Ward, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Menus, prices and reservation policies checked on official websites on October 20, 2026; always confirm with the restaurant before booking.
✦ FEMME JET SET
Ready to Enter These Rooms?
Our guides give you the exact system — event links, access strategies, and insider intelligence for New York, London, and Paris.
Explore Our Guides →
0 comentarios