This holiday season, Boston is transforming into a culinary wonderland, offering a variety of extravagant New Year’s Eve and Christmas dinners (and even a festive brunch) that promise to delight. From luxurious hotel dining experiences to festive pop-up restaurants, the city showcases its vibrant culinary scene with unique holiday menus and seasonal specialties. Join in the festive spirit and indulge in these remarkable holiday dining options that will make your celebrations truly unforgettable.
Geppetto, East Cambridge
On Saturday, December 24, Chef Will Gilson and the Geppetto team will present a prix fixe Feast of the Seven Fishes, featuring 5 courses and a dessert with items like like clams casino, lobster and crab gnocchi, and pan-roasted bass. This Italian Christmas Eve celebration will be available from 4 to 8 PM at Geppetto, located at 100 N First St, Cambridge, MA 02141, for $110 per person. Learn more and reserve your feast.
Prima, Charlestown
Prima’s Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner features a seafood-forward menu that highlights traditional Italian dishes reimagined with bold flavors. Guests can enjoy delicacies such as Bay Scallop Crudo with sweet potato, brown butter, aged balsamic, apple, and sesame, Spaghetti All’Assassina topped with tuna tartare, and Bistecca “Alla Oscar,” a beef tenderloin paired with crab velouté. This exquisite dining experience will be available on Sunday, December 22, from 4 PM until close, and again on Christmas Eve, December 24, from 12 PM with the last seating at 8 PM, priced at $150 per person. Find Prima at 10 City Square, Charlestown.
The Vermillion Club, Downtown
Enjoy the curated Christmas Eve menu from Michelin-starred Chef John Fraser! For $125 per guest, the prix fixe menu begins with indulgent starters like a decadent raw shellfish platter or Lobster and King Crab Bisque with Lemon Oyster Crackers. Entrées include options such as Roasted Honey Nut Squash, Dover Sole, or Veal Osso Buco. To end the evening on a sweet note, guests can choose from festive desserts like NY Cheesecake or a traditional Yule Log. Find it from 11:30 AM until 8 PM on December 24 at 115 Federal St, Boston.
Swing back on December 31, for a festive New Year’s Eve celebration at The Vermillion Club.
La Padrona, Back Bay
Join the James-Beard spearheaded Italian spot inside the swanky Raffles Hotel for their first Christmas Day dinner which includes a series of festive specials. La Padrona will be open from 3-8 PM on December 25 at 38 Trinity Place, Boston.
Contessa, Back Bay
Contessa Boston, located on the enclosed rooftop of The Newbury hotel overlooking Boston Public Garden, will celebrate Christmas Day with a family-style menu priced at $195 per person. Guests can enjoy antipasti such as Burrata with Caviar and Chianina Beef Carpaccio, followed by entrées like Spicy Lobster Rigatoni or Prime Rib Grilled, and finish with Nutella Fudge Cake Panettone for dessert. The event will take place on December 25th, with breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and lunch and dinner served from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 3 Newbury Street.
Abe & Louie’s, Back Bay
Abe & Louie’s, the renowned steakhouse in Back Bay, will offer a selection of Christmas Day specials, including roasted East Coast oysters and brie en croûte to start. For the main course, guests can choose a traditional 14-ounce prime rib with twice-baked potato or pan-roasted branzino with melted leeks, followed by a gingerbread yule log dessert. Reservations are available from 4 to 9 PM at 793 Boylston Street, Boston.
il Casale, Lexington and Belmont
On December 24, il Casale will host its annual Feast of the Seven Fishes at its Belmont and Lexington locations, offering a traditional Italian Christmas Eve menu for $89 per person. The four-course feast features a Grande antipasto di mare with shrimp cocktail, fried calamari, and baccalà fritters, followed by capelli d’angel pasta with anchovy and capers, and a main course of grilled striped bass with mushroom broth and walnut stuffing. The meal concludes with Neapolitan zeppole fritters with orange pastry cream, all prepared using the deMagistris family’s treasured Nonna’s recipes.
Para Maria, Seaport
The Seaport standout spearheaded by Food Network Chopped Champion, Tatiana Rosana promises and delicious transition into the New Year with a family-friendly countdown to 7 PM celebration. Highlights include amazing food and beverage plus face painting, giveaways, an official countdown, and a special appearance by Bluey who will help guests freeze dance their way into 2025 in true Heeler Holiday style!
Bar Enza, Harvard Square
Celebrate the New Year at Bar Enza with a luxurious four-course prix-fixe menu by Chef Tony Susi for $95 per person, featuring dishes like wagyu carpaccio and chestnut agnolotti. The evening concludes with assorted biscotti and chocolate truffles, ensuring a sweet finish to a memorable dining experience on December 31!
Margeaux Supper Parlor, Porter Square
Not a night owl? No problem! Margeaux will host a delightful La Bon Temps New Year’s Day brunch featuring live music, specialty cocktails, and a French Quarter-inspired buffet with dishes like shrimp & boursin grits and crab eggs benedict. Guests can enjoy a variety of delicious options, including banana bread pudding and pain perdu French toast.