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Restaurants over Christmas

Greetings!

We will be traveling to Key West 12/24 - 12/28 due to schedule constraints. Realizing it will be very busy, will most restaurants be open? I was hoping to make a few dinner reservations ahead of time. I appreciate your kind input. Thank you.

Great question — yes, many restaurants in Key West stay open over Christmas (Dec 24–28), though holiday hours and special menus are very common, so making reservations well in advance is absolutely recommended.

Here’s what you should know about dining over that period, plus some standout restaurant suggestions:

What to Expect for Holiday Dining in Key West

  • Several Key West restaurants offer special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus, often with prix-fix or holiday-themed dishes.
  • Resorts and hotel restaurants are a safe bet: for example, One Duval (at Pier House Resort) has a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner menu from ~5–9 pm.
  • At the Oceans Edge Resort, Yellowfin Bar & Kitchen serves a holiday dinner both on Dec 24 and Dec 25.
  • The Key Wester dining guide recommends calling early to lock in your reservation — these spots fill up quickly around Christmas.
  • Some more casual and mid-range restaurants are also open; locals on Reddit note that “almost every single restaurant on the island will be open” during Christmas, though it's still wise to check.

Recommended Restaurants to Consider for Christmas Dining

  • One Duval — Upscale, ocean-front, seasonal Christmas Eve/Day menu with seafood, lobster bisque, and other elegant dishes.
  • Grand Café — Known to offer a Christmas Day menu (traditional mains + holiday sides) according to Key West holiday guides.
  • Café Marquesa — Intimate, fine dining; they typically serve a special holiday menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
  • Seven Fish — Seafood-focused and offering a three-course Christmas Eve menu in past years.
  • A&B Lobster House — A Key West classic, with festive holiday offerings in a waterfront setting.
  • Tavern N’ Town (Marriott Beachside) — Casual-upscale, with a special Christmas dinner menu.

Tips for Booking and Enjoying Holiday Meals

  • Call early — many of the best places take Christmas reservations well in advance (weeks or even months).
  • Ask for a *holiday-special menu* when you make the reservation; some places may only serve the special menu and not their regular offerings.
  • Be flexible on timing — dining times may be more limited, and seatings may be fixed (especially for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).
  • Consider lunch or brunch — if dinner reservations are difficult, midday meals may be more available and still festive.

Bottom Line

Yes — most of the well-known restaurants in Key West are likely to be open over Christmas, especially around Dec 24–26, but demand is very high. To secure a memorable holiday dinner, book as soon as you can, target resorts or waterfront dining for that special feel, and be ready for holiday-priced fixed menus.

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