Christmas Dinner in Palm Springs: Restaurants Open on Christmas Day

Yes, you can find a good Christmas dinner in Palm Springs. Spencer's, Eight4Nine, Johannes, LuLu California Bistro, Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse and Peaks at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway all served Christmas Day meals in 2025, and most are worth booking again. Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, which makes it an easy long weekend. Pair dinner with a Palm Springs weekend getaway, and check our Palm Springs events guide for what else is on in December.

Which Palm Springs restaurants are open on Christmas Day?

These restaurants served Christmas Day in 2025, according to the local tourism boards' holiday dining guides. Holiday menus usually appear in late November or December, so confirm hours and menus directly before you book.

• Spencer's Restaurant. A three-course holiday menu served from midday into the evening, on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. One of the more flexible options if your group arrives at different times.

• Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge. A four-course festive prix fixe on Christmas Day. A roomy pick for a bigger group.

• Johannes. A three-course menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

• LuLu California Bistro. A Christmas Day holiday feast downtown.

• Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse. A full rodizio dinner on Christmas Day for anyone who'd rather skip the turkey-and-ham debate entirely.

• Escena Lounge and Grill. Open for breakfast and lunch on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The easiest answer for a Christmas morning meal.

Book early. The best Christmas seatings in Palm Springs fill weeks ahead, and the week before Christmas is when everyone else remembers to call.

Where to eat on Christmas Eve

Spencer's and Johannes have served both nights. Copley's on Palm Canyon, set in Cary Grant's former guesthouse, did a three-course Christmas Eve menu in 2025, and it's one of the most romantic tables in town. If you can only get one reservation, take Christmas Eve somewhere special and keep Christmas Day loose.

Christmas dinner at the top of the tram

Peaks Restaurant at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway served a Christmas Day menu in 2025, with tram fare sold separately and reservations recommended. The tramway's Pines Café also offered a casual Ride 'n' Dine meal bundled with tram admission. It's much colder at the top than on the desert floor, so bring a real jacket. See our Aerial Tramway guide for tickets and timing.

Is Palm Springs a good place to spend Christmas?

It is if you like your holidays sunny. December days are usually mild and bright, and nights get cold enough for a fireplace and a sweater. The mountains above town sometimes hold snow, which makes for a very strange and very good view from a lounge chair. Our Palm Springs weather guide has month-by-month averages.

Come early in the month and you can catch the Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Otherwise, spend the week on hikes, galleries and long lunches. Easy to get to. Hard to leave.

Christmas with your crew at The Muse

Some families and friend groups skip the restaurant scramble altogether. A full hotel buyout at The Muse gives you all nine suites and nine bathrooms for up to 22 overnight guests, plus the courtyard pool, the six-person hot tub, the outdoor fireplace and a lobby with a big table and booth seating for opening presents. Four king suites have full kitchens, and there's a BBQ grill in the courtyard.

Want a night off from cooking? Book a private hibachi dinner at the hotel. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included with every stay.

CHECK YOUR DATES

Christmas dinner in Palm Springs FAQ

What restaurants are open on Christmas Day in Palm Springs?

In 2025, Spencer's, Eight4Nine, Johannes, LuLu California Bistro, Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse, Escena Lounge and Grill and Peaks at the Aerial Tramway all served Christmas Day. Confirm 2026 hours directly with each restaurant.

Do I need a reservation for Christmas dinner in Palm Springs?

Yes. Popular Christmas Eve and Christmas Day seatings book weeks ahead, so reserve as soon as menus post.

Is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway open on Christmas Day?

It was in 2025, with a Christmas menu at Peaks Restaurant and a Ride 'n' Dine option at Pines Café. Check the tramway's site for 2026 hours.

Where can I get breakfast on Christmas morning in Palm Springs?

Escena Lounge and Grill served breakfast and lunch on Christmas Day in 2025.

Is The Muse Hotel adults-only?

Yes. The Muse is adults-only, and all guests on a full hotel buyout must be 21 or older.

Sun on Christmas morning, a fireplace at night. Send us your dates for December.