This year, cross cooking and cleaning off your holiday to-do list. Instead, spend more time with those you love while supporting these local eateries. This roundup features everything from traditional Feasts of the Seven Fishes to bottomless brunches and creative pop-up specials. It also highlights take-home options like festive cookie tins, holiday spirits and full heat-and-serve meals.

Get all the insight into Christmas dining in Denver with this comprehensive guide:

Restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Ash’Kara
2005 W 33rd Avenue
303-537-4407
Israeli restaurant Ash’Kara is mixing things up this Christmas Eve. It will be offering a one-night-only Chinese food pop-up featuring Cantonese, Sichuan and Chinese American classics. À la carte options will include veggie egg rolls, shrimp shumai dumplings, scallion pancakes, roasted Peking duck, lo mein, char sui lamb shank, sesame chicken and more. In addition to dine-in seating, a limited number of takeout orders will also be available.
Make a reservation: On Tock

Apple Blossom
822 18th Street
303-301-8999
Apple Blossom will be open for Christmas Day brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The farm-to-table eatery inside the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver will be serving a variety of sweet and savory favorites. Highlights include a walnut sticky bun, corned lamb shank hash, deep fried bananas foster French toast, and a variety of boozy brunch drinks.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Bar Dough
2227 West 32nd Avenue
720-668-8506
On December 24 from 5 to 8:30 pm, Italian eatery Bar Dough will host one of its most popular nights of the year: its Feast of the Seven Fishes. “We love putting our own twist on this Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition,” says Chef Russell Stippich. The four-course menu is $75 per person, including fried calamari, mussel and shrimp conserva, linguine and clams, whole roasted fish with orange and Sicillian pesto, as well as vegetable sides and dessert.
Make a reservation: On Tock

The Bindery
1817 Central Street
303-993-2364
On December 23, the Bindery will put its own spin on the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. The seven-course tasting menu celebrates various regional cuisines found throughout the culinary destination, including terrina di cappon magro of Liguria, saffron tagliatelle of Lombardy, swordfish involtini of Sicily, and for dessert, panpepato of Tuscany. The feast begins at 6:30 p.m. and costs $150 per person. The following morning, the Bindery will be open for Christmas Eve brunch, serving its standard menu.
Make a reservation: On Tock
Bistro Vendôme
1705 1420 Larimer Street
303-825-3232
After nineteen years in Larimer Square, French restaurant Bistro Vendôme will move to a new location in Park Hill. Bid the current space au revoir by attending its Réveillion dinner on Christmas Eve. Priced at $75 per person, the menu includes a cheese plate for the table, smoked salmon crostini, citrus and fennel salad, duck breast with potato gratin, Brussels sprouts and cherry compote, and bûche de Noël, or Yule log, for dessert. Optional wine pairings are an extra $35, and the restaurant will be serving its regular menu, too.
Make a reservation: On bistrovendome.com

Coperta
400 East 20th Avenue
720-749-4666
In honor of the eatery’s Italian roots, the Feast of the Seven Fishes returns to Coperta on December 22 to 24. Chef Paul Reilly and his culinary team have put together a celebratory multi-course menu, priced at $75 per person. Seafood dishes include salmon crudo with citrus and pistachio, salt cod fritters with potato aioli, rigatoni with smoked bay scallop carbonara, and more creative dishes featuring Manila clams, monkfish, and swordfish.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

FIRE
1201 Broadway
720-709-4431
Inside the ART Hotel near the Denver Art Museum, New American restaurant FIRE will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Open both days from 6:30 a.m. to noon, it will host a celebratory brunch, followed by holiday dinner seating from 1 to 3:30 p.m. For $85 per person, the dinner menu by executive chef Jon Keeley includes slow-roasted prime rib, whipped butternut squash, truffle macaroni and cheese, and red velvet cake with candied walnuts.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

The Fort
19192 Colorado 8, Morrison
303-697-4771
This historic, award-winning restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve, offering a special three-course prix fixe menu. Start the meal with a mixed green salad served with a basket of freshly baked dinner rolls and pumpkin walnut muffins. For the main course, choose from an 8-ounce ($54), 12-ounce ($62) or 16-ounce ($72) buffalo prime rib au jus, complete with horseradish sauce, seasonal vegetables, buttery mashed potatoes, popovers and gravy. Save room for dessert: an indulgent peppermint crème brûlée.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Frasca Food and Wine
1738 Pearl Street, Boulder
303-442-6966
On December 24, James Beard Award-winning restaurant Frasca Food and Wine will host its annual Feast of the Seven Fishes. An Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition, the meal will feature a six-course seafood tasting menu for $215 per person. An optional wine pairing is also available, as is a children’s menu for those ten and under. Seating is available from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Make a reservation: On Tock
Hilton Denver Inverness
200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood
303-799-5800
Kick off Christmas morning with a festive brunch at the Hilton Denver Inverness Garden Terrace, available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu highlights include bottomless mimosas, Chef Dan's vanilla bean waffle bar, and an omelet station. Also, herb and garlic-crusted prime rib beef, butternut squash ravioli, and charred bison loin. Complete the feast with a selection of festive desserts, like peppermint bark tart, hot chocolate crème brûlée, and gingerbread bundt cake. Pricing is $109 per adult, $49.50 for children ages six to ten, and guests under five are complimentary.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Multiple locations
Celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. The five-course meal is $85 per person and features tuna conserva, stuffed charred calamari, little gems and chicories, grilled branzino, and a honey-soaked struffoli for dessert. The regular dinner menu will also be available.
Make a reservation: On jaxfishhouse.com

Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro
900 Walnut Street, Boulder
720-406-7399
Set inside the St Julien Hotel & Spa, Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro offers casual elegance and organic, elevated cuisine. Book a candlelit dinner on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, with seating available from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The three-course menu features a variety of choices, including classic French onion soup or burrata with fig jam; a grilled Little Gem Caesar or maple-roasted carrot salad; and braised beef short ribs or Moroccan sweet potato hash. Complete the meal with an assorted dessert station. Pricing is $90 for adults and $35 for children twelve and under.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Kachina Cantina
1890 Wazee Street
720-460-2728
On Christmas Eve from 5 p.m. to close, Southwest eatery Kachina Cantina will host its special holiday feast. Plates are $32, featuring a bone-in rib eye with a mole negro rub, chimichurri compound butter, fried onions, and grilled lemon asparagus.
Make a reservation: On kachinadenver.com

Panzano
909 17th Street
303-296-3525
Set inside the Hotel Monaco, Italian restaurant Panzano will serve a special Christmas Eve tasting menu. Curated by executive chef David Gross, it will feature five courses for $75 per person. The feast includes a chef-inspired cicchetti, ricotta gnocchi with parmesan crema and black truffle, beef tenderloin with gold Yukon potato, bone marrow butter and black garlic jus, and a rum cake for dessert. All holiday specials will also be available à la carte.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Señor Bear
3301 Tejon Street
720-572-5997
Open on Christmas Eve, Señor Bear is celebrating its fifth annual Polar Bear Express. This seasonal tradition allows the restaurant’s bar team and chefs to make their favorite classic holiday recipes, with twists inspired by Latin American flavors. These dishes will be served alongside Señor Bear’s regular menu, now through January 8.
Make a reservation: On Tock

St Julien Hotel
900 Walnut Street, Boulder
720-406-9696
In addition to holiday happenings at Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro, St Julien Hotel will host a Christmas Day brunch in its grand ballroom. Served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the holiday menu features a buffet of breakfast classics, plus a carving station, seafood bar, market green counter and much more. Bottomless sparkling wine, Bloody Marys and mimosas are sure to get you into the holiday spirit. Pricing is $90 per adult and $40 per child between four and twelve years old.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable
Tamayo
1400 Larimer Street
720-946-1433
A chic Mexican spot in Larimer Square, Tamayo is excited to host a bottomless brunch on Christmas Eve day. From 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., unlimited small plates and brunch cocktails will be available, including apple cider mimosas and cranberry Christmas margaritas. Pricing is $42 per person, not including coffee, tea, juice or guacamole. Following brunch service, guests can enjoy the restaurant’s regular dinner menu until 10 p.m.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable

Toro
150 Clayton Lane, Suite B
303-253-3000
South American restaurant Toro will be hosting a bottomless brunch on Christmas Eve and Christmas day mornings. Free-flowing food and drink is $60 per person, though you can opt for just the food for $40. It may be hard to turn down its seasonal cocktails though, with options like cinnamon persimmon margaritas and holiday white sangrias.

Those that prefer evening dining can enjoy Toro’s abbreviated regular menu or the special, three-course pre fixe menu for $52 per person. It includes clam corn chowder, turkey roulade, and a red wine pear tart topped with pumpkin ice cream. This celebratory meal can also be taken to-go for $67.39 per person.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable or by calling 303-253-3000
Place an order: On torodenver.com; pick up on December 22 to December 24

Urban Farmer
1659 Wazee Street
303-262-6070
Set inside the Oxford Hotel, Urban Farmer will be offering a Christmas menu on December 25 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The meal includes charcuterie for the table, as well as shareable sides like roasted root vegetables and oven-roasted yams with maple bourbon butter. Guests will also have various choices for each course. These include seafood chowder or short rib gnocchi, spiral-cut ham or cauliflower steak, and for dessert, traditional pumpkin pie or chocolate cake. Pricing is $75 for adults and $35 for children under twelve.

Prefer to dine at home? Opt for the Christmas to-go package, starting at $110 for two people or $195 for four to six people.
Make a reservation: On OpenTable
Place an order: On Tock by December 22; pick up on December 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Restaurants offering to-go specials for Christmas:

The Bindery
1817 Central Street
303-993-2364
Along with its take on the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the Bindery has a variety of pickup options available from December 22 to 24. Holiday specials include Christmas Eve “big foot” large tamales, with flavors like chicken with green mole and beet with goat cheese. For a more traditional feast, consider the holiday meal kit, which serves six to eight people. Choices include maple glazed holiday ham or bison tenderloin Wellington, plus holiday sides like truffled mac and cheese. Complete your order with sweets and bread from The Bakery, like pistachio-sour cherry biscotti and a DIY gingerbread cookie gift box.
Place an order: On Tock before December 18 at 3 p.m.

Centro Mexican Kitchen
950 Pearl Street, Boulder
303-442-7771
Known for creative Latin fare, Centro Mexican Kitchen has made Christmas seafood paella kits for an easy, finish-at-home holiday meal. The $140 kit feeds four to six people and features littleneck clams, PEI mussels, shrimp, lobster tail, saffron rice, chorizo, garlic, peas, carrots and onions. Toast to the feast with $38 Crowlers of red sangria or mojitos, which serve five.
Place an order: On Tock before noon on December 20; pick up on December 23

Coperta
400 East 20th Avenue
720-749-4666
In addition to the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Coperta is offering to-go holiday cookie platters by pastry Chef Jodi Polson. The delicious assortment includes chocolate pistachio sables, chewy ginger snaps, hazelnut mocha biscotti, iced vanilla bean sugar cookies, lemon shortbread and raspberry linzer. Platters are $42 and feature two dozen cookies.
Place an order: On Toast before December 20; pick up at Coperta on December 24
Deviation Distilling
1821 Blake Street, #130
720-645-1539
Known for creating beautiful gins, Deviation Distilling has put together a $42 holiday trio pack. It includes 200-ml bottles of the company's flagship gins: Spice Trade, Citrus Rosé and Mountain Herb. These spirits include unique ingredients such as Szechuan peppercorns and Thai basil, as well as local botanicals like Rocky Mountain juniper. Pick up the kit from its tasting lounge at Dairy Block.
Place an order: Visit 1821 Blake Street #130

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Multiple locations
Alongside its Christmas Eve dinner service, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar cuts down the effort of holiday cooking with take-home sides. Its $64 baked lobster mac and cheese is a crowd favorite. Other shareable dishes include sautéed greens, bacon-fat cornbread, pork belly collards, and Chinese-style broccoli, each $28.
Place an order: On jaxfishhouse.com

The Post Chicken & Beer
Multiple locations
Complete your holiday table with delicious sides from The Post Chicken & Beer. Each $40 portion serves ten to twelve people, with options including green chile mac and cheese, bacon-braised collard greens, and roasted beets and sweets. Buttermilk biscuits are also available, priced at $12 for a pack of eight and served with whipped honey butter.
Place an order: On postchickenandbeer.com Süti & Co.
2031 16th Street, Boulder
303-728-9123
A Scandinavian-style cafe and shop, Süti + Co specializes in Danish shortbreads. To celebrate the season, owner and Chef Andrea Uzarowski hand-made couture holiday cookie boxes using small-batch, high-end ingredients. Scandinavian artist Annie Bailey even created a one-of-a-kind piece to make the packaging just as pretty as the treats. From November 20 to December 20, these holiday cookie boxes can be picked up during regular business hours (Tuesday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, and Friday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Place an order: Call 303-728-9123

Tavernetta
1889 16th Street Mall
720-605-1889
Sweeten the holiday season with pickup-ready cookie tins ($50) from Tavernetta. Baked by Chef Charlene and her pastry team, the treat assortment includes spiced pecans, passion fruit pâte de fruits, ricotta cookies, almond and anise biscotti, espresso and almond shortbread, and cocoa amaretti. Pair these with the Tavernetta Wine Kit ($150) featuring a festive wine trio, the Elijah Craig Private Barrel Bourbon ($55), or the Tavernetta Classic Negroni cocktail kit ($55), which serves eight. The Tavernetta Alimentari Gift Box ($115), a selection of Chef Cody's favorite local and Italy-sourced products, is another celebratory accompaniment.

Cookie tin orders must be placed by December 16 and picked up between December 22 and 24. All other Tavernetta Holiday Market items can be collected during two pickup time frames. The first deadline is December 12, with pickup available between December 16 and 17. The second deadline is December 19, with pickup available between December 22 and 24.
Place an order: On Tock

West End Tavern
926 Pearl Street, Boulder
303-444-3535
Spend more time with those you love this holiday with the help of West End Tavern. The take-home menu highlight is a 8.5-pound honey-smoked ham with a bourbon pineapple glaze ($60), which serves four to six people. Sides serve eight to ten people, with options like Tavern mac and cheese ($35), jalapeno cheddar cornbread ($19), candied yams ($30), and classic green bean casserole ($32). Choose between three flavors of handmade pies ($30) for dessert: apple, pecan, or pumpkin.
Place an order: On Tock before 9 p.m. on December 21; pickup from 5 to 8:45 p.m. on December 24