Searching for thanksgiving restaurants open in Los Angeles in 2026? Los Angeles does not shut down for Thanksgiving — it might be the easiest big city in America to eat well on the holiday. On Thursday, November 26, 2026, restaurants from Malibu to Downtown run special prix-fixe feasts, rooftop dinners, oceanfront seatings, and even a Thanksgiving brunch cruise. Below are the 10 best bets across the city, with neighborhoods, styles, and booking advice.
One honest note before the list: most LA restaurants announce their Thanksgiving menus in October and early November, so consider the details below a well-researched starting point based on recent seasons. Confirm 2026 holiday hours, menus, and prices on each restaurant’s official site or by phone — and book early, because the prime seatings sell out fast in this town.
The 10 Best Thanksgiving Restaurants Open in Los Angeles 2026
1. Geoffrey’s Malibu — Malibu
Geoffrey’s is back — and that is a genuine 2026 story. The legendary oceanfront restaurant, perched above the Pacific in Malibu, reopened after being closed for more than a year following the January 2025 Palisades Fire and mudslide damage. It rejoins the ranks of Malibu’s recovered dining icons for Thanksgiving 2026, and there is no more dramatic setting for the holiday meal: floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean, a classic California coastal menu, and a Thanksgiving prix fixe that has historically been one of the most sought-after seatings on the coast. If you want Thanksgiving with salt air and a sunset, start here — and book the moment reservations open, because the comeback year will be packed.
2. Castaway — Burbank Hills
Castaway, the hilltop institution overlooking the San Fernando Valley, runs one of LA’s most popular Thanksgiving prix-fixe dinners year after year. The panoramic views stretch for miles, the menu leans classic American steakhouse with a full holiday spread, and the room handles large family groups with ease. It is the kind of place where three generations can all find something to love, and the sunset over the valley is a free bonus. Thanksgiving seatings here are a tradition for many LA families, which means regulars book early — call well ahead for 2026.
3. Merois — West Hollywood
For a Thanksgiving that feels like an occasion, Merois — Wolfgang Puck’s rooftop restaurant atop the Pendry West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip — pairs sweeping city views with a refined holiday menu. Recent seasons featured an elegant starter lineup alongside a classic roasted turkey with cranberry compote, honey nut squash, and chive pomme puree, with more decadent options for those who want them. The rooftop setting, the Strip lights below, and Puck’s kitchen make this the special-occasion pick for couples or small groups who want Thanksgiving to feel glamorous. Rooftop tables are limited; reserve early.
4. Lunetta — Santa Monica
Lunetta in Santa Monica offers a Thanksgiving menu that splits the difference between traditional and adventurous. Recent years featured a three-course dinner (around $120 per person) with a classic turkey dinner — potato gratin, candied yams, stuffing, cranberry sauce — alongside alternatives like slow-roasted osso buco or almond-dusted John Dory, with starters from scallops and crab cakes to roasted butternut squash ravioli. It is an excellent pick for mixed groups where not everyone wants the bird. Santa Monica on Thanksgiving afternoon has a relaxed, beachy holiday energy you will not find anywhere else.
5. Dear John’s — Culver City
Dear John’s, the lovingly restored mid-century steakhouse in Culver City, hosts a Thanksgiving dinner that feels like stepping into classic Hollywood. Recent seasons ran a three-course meal from 3 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (about $125 per person, same price for kids) mixing traditional Thanksgiving fare with signature touches like praline pecan yams and apple-and-brioche stuffing, finishing with pumpkin pie with vanilla cream chantilly or apple crumble pie. The room — all dark wood, red leather, and Rat Pack atmosphere — is half the experience. It is kid-friendly, festive, and very LA in the best way. Confirm 2026 times when the holiday plan posts.
6. Marelle — Santa Monica
Marelle, at the Sandbourne Santa Monica, does Thanksgiving twice: a holiday brunch and a holiday dinner. Recent brunch service featured pumpkin-spiced pancakes and bacon Bloody Marys, while dinner ran a preset menu (around $95) starting with roasted pear salad or butternut squash soup, then a choice of roasted turkey, crispy salmon, herb-crusted prime rib, or lemon mushroom rigatoni. That flexibility — brunch for the early crowd, dinner for the traditionalists — makes Marelle one of the most versatile Thanksgiving picks on the Westside. Steps from the beach, it is also perfect for a post-meal ocean walk.
7. Sugar Palm — Santa Monica
Sugar Palm, the poolside restaurant at the Viceroy Santa Monica, serves a three-course California Thanksgiving family-style on its sprawling patio — recent pricing around $90 per person. Expect to start with butternut squash soup, then turkey roasted to perfection (or lamb osso buco with red wine au jus for the rebels), with sides like Brussels sprouts and mac and cheese. Eating Thanksgiving outdoors by a pool in late November is a sentence you can only write in Southern California, and Sugar Palm leans into it beautifully. A great pick for visitors who want the holiday to feel unmistakably like LA.
8. Catch LA — West Hollywood
Catch LA at 8715 Melrose Avenue brings its famously trendy, seafood-leaning energy to Thanksgiving. The rooftop-style dining room is one of the most photogenic in the city, and the holiday service typically keeps the signature style — shareable plates, a strong raw bar presence, and a scene that skews younger and livelier than the traditional hotel dining rooms. If your Thanksgiving crew would rather celebrate than sit through a solemn carving ceremony, Catch LA delivers the holiday with a pulse. It is also a strong choice for Friendsgiving-style groups. Check their site in the fall for the 2026 holiday plan.
9. Buca di Beppo — Universal City
For a big, loud, joyful family Thanksgiving, Buca di Beppo at Universal CityWalk is hard to beat — and it has a real 2026 footnote: this location survived the chain’s 2024 bankruptcy that closed 13 restaurants nationwide, and it is still serving its family-style Thanksgiving spread. The format is communal by design: platters of Italian-American classics built for passing, a lively room, and a location steps from Universal Studios for a pre- or post-dinner theme park visit. With kids, grandparents, and picky eaters at one table, family-style is the lowest-stress way to do the holiday. Confirm holiday hours for 2026.
10. Circa 55 — Beverly Hills
Circa 55, the mid-century modern restaurant at the Beverly Hilton (9876 Wilshire Boulevard), serves Thanksgiving with views of the hotel’s iconic Aqua Star pool. The holiday feast leans sumptuous and classic, in a room that has hosted its share of Hollywood history. It is an excellent middle ground: upscale enough to feel special, relaxed enough for families, and centrally located for anyone staying on the Westside or in Beverly Hills. Pair it with a stroll down Rodeo Drive’s holiday decorations for a full festive afternoon.
In Pictures
Thanksgiving in Los Angeles looks different from anywhere else — rooftops, ocean views, and palm trees next to the turkey. Here is the scene.
Watch
LA’s holiday season runs on parades too. Here is a look at the Hollywood Christmas Parade experience on Hollywood Boulevard — the city’s signature procession and a great Thanksgiving-weekend outing if you are in town for the holiday.
At a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Style | Reservation Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoffrey’s Malibu | Malibu | Oceanfront California | Reopened 2026 — comeback year will book fast |
| Castaway | Burbank Hills | Steakhouse, panoramic views | Family-group favorite; book weeks ahead |
| Merois | West Hollywood | Rooftop, Wolfgang Puck | Special-occasion pick; limited tables |
| Lunetta | Santa Monica | Coastal, traditional + adventurous | Good for mixed tastes |
| Dear John’s | Culver City | Classic steakhouse | 3–7:45 PM window; kid-friendly |
| Marelle | Santa Monica | Brunch + dinner options | Most flexible timing on the Westside |
| Sugar Palm | Santa Monica | Poolside, family-style | Outdoor Thanksgiving, only-in-LA |
| Catch LA | West Hollywood | Trendy seafood | Lively scene; check fall announcements |
| Buca di Beppo | Universal City | Family-style Italian | Best for big groups with kids |
| Circa 55 | Beverly Hills | Hotel classic | Central, polished, relaxed |
More Thanksgiving Options Around LA
Beyond sit-down dinners, LA offers a few only-here alternatives. City Experiences runs Thanksgiving dinner and brunch cruises out of Marina Del Rey — a two-and-a-half-hour dinner cruise with a buffet-style holiday meal, or a two-hour brunch cruise, both with ocean views. The Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood serves a lively Thanksgiving in its music-filled room, a fun pick for families with teens. And The Grove stays open on Thanksgiving with its holiday decor already up — many of its sit-down restaurants run their own holiday service, so you can combine dinner with a head start on Black Friday shopping. For the parade side of the holiday, our Los Angeles Thanksgiving parade guide covers the Hollywood Christmas Parade and more, and the Thanksgiving hub collects every holiday guide.
How to Book Thanksgiving Dinner in LA
Book two to three weeks out, minimum. LA restaurants that serve Thanksgiving either run a special prix fixe on shortened hours or close entirely — the ones that stay open fill up. For Geoffrey’s, Merois, and Castaway, earlier is better.
Decide: prix fixe or a la carte. Most upscale rooms run a fixed holiday menu; a few keep the regular menu available. If anyone in your party is a picky eater, confirm a la carte availability before booking.
Factor in traffic. Thanksgiving Day traffic in LA is lighter than usual, but cross-town drives (Malibu to Downtown, say) still take real time. Pick a restaurant near where you are staying.
Confirm the 2026 plan. Menus, prices, and hours from prior seasons are a starting point. A quick call or website check in late October confirms the current-year details and whether a deposit is required.
Consider the cruise. If restaurant reservations fall through, the Marina Del Rey Thanksgiving cruises are a memorable backup that rarely feels like settling.
Hosting at home instead? Our Friendsgiving dinner ideas guide has menus and timelines that scale to the main event.
Make It a Full Thanksgiving Weekend in Los Angeles
Thanksgiving dinner is one day; LA gives you four. Thursday: dinner from the list above — then an evening walk on the Santa Monica Pier or along the Venice canals, both glowing with holiday lights. Friday: Black Friday at The Grove and the Original Farmers Market, a combination that mixes shopping with some of the city’s best casual food. In the evening, check the holiday programming at the Griffith Observatory or take the sunset drive up Mulholland. Saturday: beach day, Thanksgiving-weekend style — a morning in Malibu (stop by Geoffrey’s neighborhood even if you dined elsewhere), an afternoon on the Santa Monica boardwalk, and dinner somewhere casual on the Westside. Sunday: the Getty Center, which is free (parking excepted) and offers some of the best views in the city, followed by the Hollywood Christmas Parade if its schedule aligns — it traditionally marches down Hollywood Boulevard the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so confirm the 2026 date on official listings. Our Los Angeles parade guide covers it in detail.
Where to Stay for Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
Pick your base by your dinner plans. Santa Monica puts you near Lunetta, Marelle, and Sugar Palm, with the beach as your Thanksgiving-weekend backyard — ideal for visitors who want the holiday to feel like a vacation. Beverly Hills and West Hollywood cluster you near Merois, Catch LA, and Circa 55, with easy access to the Strip’s holiday energy. Downtown is the most central option for anyone splitting time between the east and west sides, and it tends to offer the best hotel values over the holiday weekend. Wherever you stay, remember that LA’s Thanksgiving Day traffic is lighter than usual but the city is still enormous — a 20-minute drive on paper can be 45 in practice, so keep your restaurant within a reasonable radius of your hotel.
Thanksgiving Takeout, Catering & To-Go in LA
Hosting at your Airbnb or a relative’s place? LA’s takeout game is strong. Gelson’s markets across the city offer complete Thanksgiving dinners, a la carte sides, desserts, and floral arrangements for pickup — order ahead, since pickup windows in recent years ran the week of the holiday. Whole Foods and Bristol Farms run similar holiday programs. Many restaurants also offer full Thanksgiving catering: places known for holiday to-go service in past seasons include Santa Monica bistros and hotel restaurants, so call your favorites in early November. For something different, LA’s legendary taco trucks, Korean BBQ spots, and dim sum houses keep their regular hours on Thanksgiving — a reminder that in this city, the holiday meal can be whatever you want it to be. And if you are doing the cooking yourself, the Original Farmers Market at The Grove is open on Thanksgiving for last-minute ingredients and a festive stroll.
Thanksgiving Weather in Los Angeles: What to Pack
Late November in LA is one of the city’s best-kept secrets: daytime highs typically in the upper 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, cool evenings in the 50s, and low rain risk. That means Thanksgiving dinner on a patio or rooftop is not just possible — it is the norm at places like Sugar Palm and Merois. Pack layers: a light jacket or sweater for the evening, comfortable walking shoes for beach and boardwalk time, and sunglasses you will actually use in November. The only real weather risk is the occasional Santa Ana wind event, which brings warm, gusty conditions — check the forecast the week of the holiday, but leave the heavy coat at home.
Two Sample Thanksgiving Day Timelines in LA
The Classic (Westside): 10:00 a.m. — brunch at Marelle in Santa Monica, with pumpkin-spiced pancakes to start the day. 12:30 p.m. — walk it off on the Santa Monica Pier and the beach. 3:30 p.m. — rest at the hotel. 6:00 p.m. — Thanksgiving dinner at Dear John’s in Culver City or Sugar Palm back in Santa Monica. 9:00 p.m. — nightcap with ocean air. The Adventurer (East to West): 9:00 a.m. — morning hike at Griffith Park with city views. 12:00 p.m. — lunch at the Original Farmers Market at The Grove amid the holiday decor. 3:00 p.m. — drive the coast to Malibu. 5:30 p.m. — Thanksgiving dinner at Geoffrey’s as the sun sets over the Pacific. 8:00 p.m. — the drive back down the Pacific Coast Highway, holiday lights twinkling. Either way, the through-line is the same: in Los Angeles, Thanksgiving is an outdoor holiday, so build your day around the light.
FAQ
What restaurants are open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles in 2026?
Many LA restaurants stay open on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, including Geoffrey’s Malibu, Castaway, Merois, Lunetta, Dear John’s, Marelle, Sugar Palm, Catch LA, Buca di Beppo at Universal CityWalk, and Circa 55 at the Beverly Hilton. Confirm 2026 holiday hours on each restaurant’s official site or by phone.
Is Geoffrey’s Malibu open for Thanksgiving 2026?
Geoffrey’s has reopened after its extended closure following the January 2025 Palisades Fire and mudslide damage, rejoining Malibu’s dining scene for the 2026 holiday season. It has historically run a sought-after Thanksgiving prix fixe; confirm the 2026 plan and book early.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost in Los Angeles?
Based on recent seasons, expect roughly $90–$130 per person for three-course prix-fixe dinners at upscale restaurants, with brunch and family-style options sometimes lower. Prices and formats change yearly — verify the 2026 menu before booking.
Do I need reservations for Thanksgiving dinner in LA?
Yes. Restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day typically require reservations, and prime seatings at popular spots sell out. Book at least two to three weeks ahead; for oceanfront and rooftop rooms, even earlier.
Are there non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner options in LA?
Absolutely — that is LA’s specialty. Options include seafood-centric Catch LA, family-style Italian at Buca di Beppo, dinner cruises from Marina Del Rey, and the Hard Rock Cafe’s music-filled holiday service.
What is open on Thanksgiving besides restaurants in LA?
The Grove stays open with holiday decor, movie theaters run a full holiday slate, and beaches and hiking trails like Runyon Canyon are free and open. It is one of the best cities in the country for a non-traditional Thanksgiving day.
Is traffic bad in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day?
It is noticeably lighter than a normal weekday — many Angelenos leave town or stay home — but LA is still LA. Freeways move well in the morning, build around midday as people head to meals, and the corridors near popular destinations (the Grove, Santa Monica, Malibu) can clog in the afternoon. Plan your restaurant drive with a buffer, and favor a restaurant near your hotel over a cross-town trek.
Can you really eat Thanksgiving dinner outdoors in LA?
Yes — and you should at least once. Late-November highs in the upper 60s to low 70s make patio and rooftop dining the norm, not the exception. Restaurants like Sugar Palm (poolside) and Merois (rooftop) are designed for it, and even traditional dining rooms often have heated patios. Bring a light layer for after sunset, when temperatures drop into the 50s.
Which Los Angeles Thanksgiving restaurant has the best view?
It depends on what view you want. For ocean views, Geoffrey’s Malibu is unbeatable — the dining room hangs over the Pacific, and a sunset Thanksgiving seating there is a core memory. For city views, Merois on the Sunset Strip pairs the skyline with Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen, while Castaway’s hilltop perch overlooks the entire San Fernando Valley. For a beach-town vibe without leaving the table, the Santa Monica patios at Marelle and Sugar Palm put you steps from the sand. Book the view you want early: window and patio tables are always the first to go, so request them specifically when you reserve and confirm the seating time aligns with sunset.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving restaurants open in Los Angeles in 2026 span oceanfront icons, hilltop steakhouses, Sunset Strip rooftops, and beachside patios — plus cruises, theme-park-adjacent feasts, and open-air shopping districts. Pick the vibe that fits your crew, confirm the 2026 holiday menu in the fall, and book early. In a city where you can eat Thanksgiving dinner outdoors in November, the hardest part is choosing.
