While San Francisco's premier restaurant scene delivers amazingly delicious meals year-round, during Christmas, you can guarantee even more exclusively spectacular dinner specials. No matter what type of cuisine you're craving for this holiday, here is a diverse list of all of the best Christmas dinners that will satisfy, impress, and feel like a personalized gift from the city.
See also: The Best San Francisco Holiday-Themed Bars For Fun Festive Drinks
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1100 Market St / (628) 895-2040 / Website
The Proper Hotel's Villon is an elegantly stunning work of art that feels like you're dining in a literal masterpiece. The food is effortlessly the same, providing a multi-course pre-fixe feast from Executive Chef Jason Fox that includes crispy chicken liver, Feast of The Seven Fishes Antipasti, Roasted Prime Rib or Sablefish, and so much more. Definitely pair this with their holiday cocktails or the optional $65 wine pairings for a perfectly exquisite Christmas gift, all for $145 a person.
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680 Folsom St / (415) 537-1111 / Website
Head to Afici on Christmas Eve for a divine $189 six-course tasting menu carefully paired with cute winter cocktails. Comforting highlights on this merry menu inspired by Chef Eric Upper's childhood include elevated Lasagne with chestnut and Roasted Quail with quince, jus and sage stuffing.
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655 Jackson St / (415) 981-8988 / Website
If you're craving some heat this winter, Z & Y is sure to warm you up! Recently unveiling their new pre-fixe holiday menu, this spice-tastic Szechuan hotspot includes a family-style $150 per person shareable dinner built for eight to ten people. You'll also be able to cool off with their Guinigi Prosecco Rosé pairing option.
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252 California St / (415) 417-3969 / Website
For a merry Mediterranean menu, Michael Mina's Estiatorio Ornos will authentically transport you to Europe with their $165 a person four-course Christmas Eve dinner with Winter Fattoush made from the freshest seasonal produce and generously doused in a brown butter truffle vinaigrette, Sonoma Liberty Duck, and comforting Loukoumades for dessert with Greek honey, cinnamon spice, and toasted sesame seeds.
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4 Embarcadero Center / (415) 399-1200 / Website
For a dinner with a backdrop that magnificently feels straight out of a Hallmark movie, nothing beats Harborview's literally elevated waterfront views. This palatial Chinese restaurant gorgeouslt channels traditional opulence in both their impressive interior and cuisine. Definitely take a photo out on their patio with the twinkling Bay Bridge behind you for a Christmas card picture that is stunningly irreplicable.
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400 Post St / (415) 986-5830/ Website
Morton's is an ever-popular choice just off of Union Square, and for good, delicious reason! Enjoy a three-course dinner available for pick-up or on their grand patio.
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950 Mason St / (415) 772-5260 / Website
With a vacation stay as regal as the Fairmont, why leave the hotel for dinner? Their Laurel Court is simply divine, and you can fulfill all of your Bridgerton or Dickensian photo moments here while you elegantly feast on their Christmas Buffet.
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3213 Scott St /(415) 400-8500 / Website
If you need a cozy, yet refined place to retreat to for Christmas Eve, let Maybeck's take care of you with their exclusive $125-per-person four-course dinner that comes replete with snacks, Chestnut and Apple Soup or Salad with Winter Fruits, and choice of either Roasted Goose with herb spätzle, Wild Mushroom Risotto with hazelnuts, or Pan Roasted Halibut with brown butter. Definitely save room for dessert though, as you'll have to decide between their rich Chocolate Peppermint Bûche de Noël or luscious Gingerbread Pudding with cranberry ice cream.
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555 California St / (415) 508-4675 / Website
Not does The Vault Garden whimsically transform into a full-on winter wonderland, but the Vault Steakhouse pairs the most exquisite $105 four-course dinner to truly make your holidays here magical. Enjoy a Smoked Onion Dip, followed by either Lobster Bisque, Potato Pave "Tots," or a Winter Chicory Salad, choice of Alaskan Halibut or Roast Prime Rib, and all capped off with a rich Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake. Treat yourself even further with their additional $75 wine pairing.
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301 Mission St / (415) 660-2656 / Website
With Chef Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry curating your Christmas Eve dinner, you'll feel like its your own special personal gift. This is a $105 a person buffet-style atmosphere that's inventively global, showcasing shellfish, soup, a carving station, and all of the traditional fixings made with the absolute freshest of seasonal ingredients. You'll feel like you've traveled the world just from their sleek and trendy downtown interior!
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2272 Market St / (415) 552-3000 / Website
For a generously affordable $89 a person, you'll be able to either sample a traditional Spanish-style meal filled with anchovies, clams, octopus, sea bass, and so much more. You can also take it to-go, uplifting your home with a sense of comforting Spanish flair from this brilliant Castro District landmark.
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1838 Union St / (415) 525-4804 / Website
Sushi on Christmas Eve? Sign us up! Kaiyo is spectacular Nikkei cuisine that is beloved both at their Cow Hollow and SoMa rooftop locations. Enjoy a four-course prix-fixe that highlights all of their classic hits of oysters, tiradito, anticucho, a seafood tower, and more. Definitely don't miss out on their two limited-time festive cocktails as well- the Señor Clause and Run Run Rudolph.
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101 California St / (415) 535-0184 / Website
If you need a place to impress downtown on Christmas Eve, PABU's nightly dinner menu and omakase are their deluxe gifts to you. We also recommend pairing your meal with either their seasonal cocktail menu, or a special sake, delivered by Pabu's jolly own famous Sake Master Stuart Morris.
Lastly, our Silicon Valley pick is iChina, which has recently unveiled their new Dim Sum Afternoon Tea, served with extraordinary traditional tea in their remarkable JiuBa cocktail lounge. There are also signature set dinner menus ranging from $88 to $138 to delightfully assist you decide what to dine on this holiday season. For even greater splendor and intimacy, definitely choose from their four different private dining rooms, one being the cutting-edge VR Realm.
With these restaurants, your Christmas Eve dining will be immensely flavorful, chic, and of course, merry and bright.
See also: Best SF Holiday Home Decor Shops To Stylishly Deck Your Halls With
Photography by: Courtesy of Libby Penner/Unsplash
