Looking to celebrate Christmas with a dazzling meal and zero kitchen cleanup? North County’s top restaurants and resorts are serving up festive feasts, whimsical experiences, and holiday charm in all its glittering glory. Here’s where to eat, drink, and be very, very merry this year.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
If “classic Rancho charm” put on a cashmere sweater, riding togs and displayed fine dining etiquette, it would look a lot like Christmas at Lilian’s. This Rancho Santa Fe hideaway is rolling out the tinsel with a four-course dinner on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day—each dish lovingly crafted to evoke nostalgia, warmth, and perhaps the memory of a time when everyone arrived on horseback.
Expect seasonal favorites, perfectly curated entrées, and desserts that whisper, “Yes, have the extra bite—’tis the season.”
Christmas Eve: 4-Course | $175 adult / $75 kids
Christmas Day: 4-Course | $175 adult / $75 kids
5951 Linea Del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
858-221-4000
https://theinnatrsf.com/
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Rancho Santa Fe said, “What if Christmas… but extra?” and Rancho Valencia said, “Hold my hot cocoa.”
With horse-drawn carriage rides, a tree lighting complete with “light snowfall” (California-style, meaning “magical and suspicious”), and more fairy lights than an elf can reasonably plug in, this resort is going all out.
On Christmas Day, the Pony Room presents a lavish buffet with seafood stations, carving tables, a kids’ buffet, and enough holiday spirit to power Santa’s sleigh without reindeer.
Hosting at home? They offer Christmas-to-go—because why cook when someone else makes it better?
Christmas Day Buffet: $235 adults / $95 kids 4–11 / free for littles
5921 Valencia Circle, CA, 92067
(858) 756-1123
https://ranchovalencia.com/
Lana
Solana Beach’s retro-cool newcomer is serving up a vintage-style California Christmas, conveniently located right off Highway 101 for maximum coastal cheer.
Christmas Eve brings a three-course feast for adults, kids, and anyone who appreciates a good holiday cocktail with a name referencing classic holiday movies. Order a Say It’s Carol Singers for peak festive sophistication—or You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out for those who want bourbon with a side of nostalgia.
Christmas Eve: 3-Course | $85 adults / $25 kids
437 California Highway 101, Solana Beach, California 92075, United States
(858) 286-1211
https://www.lanasb.com/
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
If there were a competition for “Most Extra Holiday Experience,” the Fairmont would win, frame the award, and hang it next to their Glice skating rink. This luxury wonderland has everything: teas, ballets, and Santa sightings.
Amaya’s four-course Christmas dinner features lamb, sablefish, hen egg in bacon jus, and desserts that would impress Martha. Or, go big—like, ballroom-buffet big—with smoked salmon, oysters, chilaquiles, prime rib, porchetta, and more. It’s “holiday abundance” and a reason to break out the velvet stretchy pants.
Four-Course Christmas Dining: $210 adults / $75 kids
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego, California 92130
(858) 314-2000
https://www.fairmont.com/
A.R. Valentien
Newly renovated and ready to sleigh (sorry), A.R. Valentien is offering a three-course prix fixe Christmas dinner with a free welcome drink—because they know December requires libations.
The menu features elegant options like pomegranate-braised pork belly, ahi tuna carpaccio, mushroom-crusted sea bass, and desserts decadent enough to make sugarplums jealous. It’s refined, it’s festive, and it’s the perfect excuse not to let Uncle Bob bring his deep fried turkey this year.
Christmas Dinner: $165 adults / $65 kids
11480 North Torrey Pines Road, CA, 92037
(858) 777-6635
https://www.lodgetorreypines.com
NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar
On Christmas Eve, NINE-TEN is serving a three-course dinner that’s fancy and festive. On Christmas Day, they pivot to brunch—with mussels toast, Spanish octopus, swordfish schnitzel, and bruleed French toast.
Christmas Eve Dinner: $115 per person
Christmas Day Brunch: a la carte
910 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California 92037
(858) 964-5400
https://www.nine-ten.com/
George’s at the Cove
George’s brings the ocean views, the upscale holiday vibes, and the kind of menu that makes you consider becoming a person who uses the phrase “notes of citrus.”
Their Christmas dinner is a three-course coastal celebration, featuring filet mignon, lamb, scallops, winter veggie lasagna, and a hot chocolate semifreddo or cranberry almond tart for dessert. Kids 12 and under get their own menu.
Christmas Day Seatings: 2 p.m.–8:30 p.m./$110 per person served family style
1250 Prospect Street, CA, 92037
(858) 454-4244
https://www.georgesatthecove.com/
La Valencia Hotel
The Pink Lady of La Jolla is not just a hotel—it’s a full holiday mood. With its iconic rosy façade and lobby ceiling fancy enough to make you gasp politely, La Valencia is offering everything from holiday high tea (champagne included, obviously) to festive meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
On Christmas Eve, a three-course prix fixe menu is available. On Christmas Day, think lobster Benedict and cinnamon rolls the size of a small wreath, all surrounded by iconic La Jolla’s ocean views. The evening will feature the standard dinner menu with a la carte dishes.
Holiday High Tea (Until Dec. 19): $95 per person
Christmas Eve: 3-Course Prix-fixe Dinner / Christmas Day Brunch
1132 Prospect Street, CA, 92037
(855) 476-6870
https://www.lavalencia.com/
Hotel del Coronado
It’s not exactly North County, but the Del and Christmas are synonymous. If Hallmark made a movie called Christmas at the Beach, they’d set it here.
The Del brings pure whimsy: seaside ice skating, beach igloos, s’mores around private bonfires, a glittering trail of Christmas trees, and a Wizard-of-Oz–inspired light show because L. Frank Baum lived in Coronado — his very own Emerald City.
Christmas meals range from buffets to brunch to upscale oceanfront dining at Serea. And now there’s a Nobu Barrel experience—where you dine inside a whiskey barrel like a very elegant raccoon.
Christmas Dining: Various buffets + à la carte options
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
(619) 435-6611
https://hoteldel.com/