Downtown Chicago Christmas Feasts
Several downtown Chicago establishments are offering luxurious and elaborate menus, ensuring high-end dining options for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Elevated Christmas Dining and Italian Classics
Smith & Wollensky is presenting an exceptionally luxurious experience on Christmas Day with its exclusive Wine & Wagyu Experience, available from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. This elevated pairing dinner offers guests the rare opportunity to savor premium American or Japanese Wagyu beef matched with iconic California wines. For a more traditional, old-school celebration, Gene & Georgetti is open on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving a special à la carte menu alongside its regular fare, featuring celebratory items like Adamas Italian caviar, a seafood platter, and Gene’s iconic Holiday Prime Rib.
Signature Hotel Buffets and Prix-Fixe Menus
The Albert, the Italian-American restaurant at Hotel EMC2, offers a full schedule of festive dining. On Christmas Eve, The Albert’s Christmas Eve Feast is a sparkling, prix-fixe dinner starting at 5 p.m. for $60 per person, which includes a pour of rosé Prosecco and features an inventive holiday menu. The celebration continues on Christmas Day with The Albert’s All-Day Buffet, starting at 11 a.m. for $70 per person, offering a lavish Italian-inspired spread with roasted turkey, prime ribeye, cioppino, and a sprawling sweets table. The restaurant also supports the community with a Holiday Book Drive, offering a complimentary glass of wine for guests who donate a gently used book.
Similarly, State and Lake Chicago Tavern celebrates Christmas Day with an abundant All-Day Christmas Buffet, available from 11 a.m. for $70 per person. Curated by Chef Steve Chiappetti, the feast includes a plentiful antipasti and seafood bar, entrée choices like salt-and-pepper prime rib and herb-crusted trout. It finishes with sweet treats from a 10-foot-long dessert table. FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is offering a cozy, indulgent $80-per-person Christmas Dinner prix-fixe menu from December 22nd to 25th, showcasing roasted heirloom tomato balsamic bisque, oysters Rockefeller, and entrées like slow herb-roasted prime rib and seared halibut.
Seasonal Brunch and Family Celebrations
Beyond the city center, local favorites are hosting special events and limited-time menus focused on family fun and daytime dining throughout the season.
Festive Neighborhood Gatherings
Eden in Avondale is inviting Chicagoans to celebrate the winter season with the return of its annual family-friendly Brunch with Santa on December 7th, featuring a seasonal breakfast buffet and activities. The restaurant is also taking pre-orders for holiday baked goods, like the $ 35 Holiday Cookie Tin, and is available for customizable private dining events. Although Eden is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it will offer special weekday brunches on December 26th and New Year’s Eve.
Comforting Daytime Specials
Nationwide chain First Watch has introduced its new chef-driven seasonal menu through early January 2026, featuring nostalgic, comforting flavors. The festive lineup includes the returning Cinnamon Chip Pancake Breakfast, alongside savory new items like the Carne Asada Breakfast Tacos and the indulgent Double Bacon Parmesan Hash. Guests can also enjoy Cheesecake Holey Donuts and the refreshing new Tangerine Dream juice.
