25+ Festive Holiday Dining Ideas in Vancouver: Christmas Brunch, Dinners and NYE

Looking for holiday dining ideas in Vancouver during the season? From festive Christmas brunches and elegant holiday dinners to afternoon teas, cozy cocktail pop-ups and chef-prepared meals to take home, December is one of the city’s most food-driven months.

Whether you’re booking a table for Christmas, planning family-friendly outings centred around food, or deciding where to dine through New Year’s Eve, this guide brings together more than 25 of Vancouver’s standout holiday dining experiences, the ones worth reserving, returning to and building traditions around.

Need a gift card for someone special or yourself? Gift certificates to any of these wonderful experiences are always welcome. Some offer a bonus like Glowbal, for every $100 spent, you receive a $20 bonus.

If we have left off your favourite, let us know.

Book a Festive Brunch in Vancouver this Holiday Season

December brunch in Vancouver is less about rushing and more about settling in. From lingering holiday plates to hands-on experiences that work for families and friends, these festive brunches are designed for daytime celebrating done well.

Honey Salt – Gingerbread House Decorating & Festive Brunch

Honey Salt’s gingerbread brunch is less about perfection and more about spending a bit of unhurried time together. Tables fill with icing, candy, and half-finished houses while adults settle into brunch and a holiday drink, and kids happily get absorbed in decorating. You can build one house or a few, stay as long as you like, and leave with something sweet that feels genuinely handmade.

Honey Salt has Christmas holiday buffets, brunch and dinner as well as a New Year’s Eve gala dinner.

Loam Bistro

Loam Bistro on Lower Lonsdale adds seasonal warmth to its new brunch menu with dishes like tiramisu French toast, lobster eggs Benedict and Turkish eggs, alongside its popular weekday morning Happier Hour for easy holiday meet-ups.

New drinks include an avocado latte, blood orange chocolate latte, and Thai chocolate tea.

H2 Kitchen + Bar at the Westin Bayshore

Christmas Day brunch at H2 Kitchen + Bar at the Westin Bayshore becomes a family affair, complete with a generous buffet, kid-friendly stations, festive sweets, and a visit from Santa — all set against harbour views.

Glowbal

Downtown, Glowbal leans into the spirit of the season with a lively Santa Brunch Buffet, pairing classic brunch favourites with festive cocktails and a high-energy holiday atmosphere.

Vancouver Holiday Dinners Worth Dressing Up For

For many, Christmas dinner is the centrepiece of the season and Vancouver’s dining rooms rise to the occasion with many of them Michelin-worthy or Michelin-starred.

Five Sails at the Pan Pacific Hotel

Five Sails offers an elegant Christmas experience with a five-course menu by culinary director Alex Kim, spotlighting Pacific Northwest winter ingredients in one of the city’s most refined settings.

Dahlia at Azur Legacy Collection Hotel

At Dahlia, Christmas dinner unfolds with live jazz, a polished three-course menu, and a glass of Veuve Clicquot, creating a classic, downtown holiday evening.

Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine

Those seeking something truly special will find it at Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine in Steveston. Christmas Day features Chef Nutcha’s acclaimed From Thailand With Love 18-item tasting menu, a curated pairing (wine, mocktail or tea) and a glass of Phantom Creek Sparkling Brut.

Seasons in the Park, Teahouse in Stanley Park, Carderos and The Sandbar

Timeless West Coast favourites include Seasons in the Park and Teahouse in Stanley Park, both offering Christmas Eve and Christmas Day prix-fixe menus in iconic natural settings. At the same time, Cardero’s and The Sandbar serve comforting roast turkey dinners on Christmas Eve by the water.

Published on Main

For those looking to step outside the usual Christmas turkey routine, Published on Main offers its Crown Roast Holiday Duck Feast. The whole roasted duck is served with carefully considered seasonal accompaniments that lean into richness, balance and the restaurant’s Michelin-starred approach to flavour. Priced at $175, it’s an elegant, food-forward option for diners who want their holiday meal to feel distinctive without being overworked.

Burdock & Co

This holiday season, Burdock & Co departs from traditional Christmas menus in favour of something more exploratory. The Michelin-starred restaurant continues its Australian Road Trip Under a Cold Moon menu, a chef-driven journey shaped by travel, seasonality, and winter ingredients rather than holiday convention. It’s a thoughtful choice for diners who want their December meal to feel creative, narrative-led, and unmistakably Burdock.

Find out more about Best Vancouver Dining: Spotlight on Burdock & Co, Bar Gobo and Harvest

Burdock and Co. Chef Andrea Carlson and sous chef Katy Cheung at the Vancouver Michelin awards. Submitted.

Winterlust Dome Dining at H Tasting Lounge (The Westin Bayshore)

At the Westin Bayshore, H Tasting Lounge’s Winterlust Domes are set along the waterfront, offering a private setting for small groups of up to six. The elaborate menu offers small plates, entrees and for the table dishes ranging from seafood platters with lobster to sablefish and Thor’s Hammer, a 24-hour-braised beef shank.

One year, I dined there on Boxing Day as a birthday surprise, and it stands out as one of my most memorable birthday dinners.

Winterlust at the H Tasting Lounge is an elevated dining experience in Vancouver. We went for a special birthday celebration on Boxing Day. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

A Holiday Tradition – Afternoon Tea in Vancouver

Few traditions feel as tied to the holidays as afternoon tea. Across Vancouver, festive teas bring together seasonal pastries, savoury bites and beautifully paced afternoons that feel celebratory without being overwhelming.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Afternoon Tea

At Notch8 inside Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, both the Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea and Holiday Chalet Afternoon Tea embrace cozy alpine inspiration, festive flavours, and elegant presentation, with a to-go option for celebrating at home.

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa Nutcracker Afternoon Tea – on until January 25, 2026

Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa brings back its cherished Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, served with live holiday music in a richly appointed dining room that feels timeless.

Festive Neverland High Tea – on until January 4, 2025

For playful, family-friendly options, Neverland High Tea is one of my favourites.

Little White House & Co Afternoon Tea

Little White House & Co. offer whimsical holiday high teas filled with festive sweets and comforting savouries.

Diptyque Afternoon Tea – on until January 4, 2025

Luxury lovers will gravitate to the Diptyque Afternoon Tea at Holt Renfrew, inspired by the brand’s iconic Sapin candle and winter aesthetic. This sensory-driven experience blends design and indulgence.

Royal Thai Afternoon Tea at Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine

Indulge in one of the most impressive afternoon tea rituals. Baan Lao’s Afternoon Tea Thai Experience in Richmond is an elevated afternoon tea designed to stimulate all five taste senses of sweet, bitter, savoury, salty and sour.

TAC certified tea sommelier. Sommelier Lena Pan presents five carefully selected tea pairings at Baan Lao. The teas are specially prepared to enhance the 12 hand-crafted Thai dishes meticulously created by Chef Nutcha for the high tea.

Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng prepares afternoon tea at Baan Lao in Richmond. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Festive Afternoon Tea at H Tasting Lounge (The Westin Bayshore)

H Tasting Lounge’s Festive Afternoon Tea is absolutely magical. Pastry Chef Martha Ebro has carefully curated a selection of sweet and savoury bites with seasonal teas from O-Five Rare Tea. There is also a variety of impressive Christmas cocktails available. Served Saturdays and Sundays through December.

Fairmont Empress Afternoon Tea

Hop on a BC Ferry over to Victoria, where the Fairmont Empress continues its storied Christmas tradition with Festive Afternoon Tea served in the Lobby Lounge or packaged beautifully to go. Discover more in Victoria.

Best Holiday Cocktail Bars & Festive Pop-Ups in Vancouver

As the city lights up, so do Vancouver’s bars. From cozy winter lodges to full holiday pop-ups, these festive cocktail spots offer a reason to linger, toast the season, and meet friends between meals.

Kringle’s Pop-up at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Kringle’s at Hotel Vancouver returns with its cozy holiday pop-up, transforming the lower lobby into a twinkling hideaway for festive cocktails and seasonal bites.

Winter Wonderland at Glowbal

At Glowbal’s Winter Wonderland Xmas Pop-Up Bar, wreaths, lights, Christmas trees, and a heated patio set the stage for gingerbread eggnogs, brandy Alexanders, and spirited gatherings.

Jingle Bar at The Alibi Room

The Jingle Bar at The Alibi Room brings full pop-up energy with holiday games, themed cocktails, prizes for best-dressed guests, and nonstop festive music.

The Winter Lodge at Stanley’s – until February 1, 2026

In Stanley Park, The Winter Lodge at Stanley’s transforms Stanley’s Bar & Grill into a mountain-inspired retreat with fireside flavours, DIY s’mores, twinkle-lit décor, and winter cocktails, all without leaving the city.

Fairmont Pacific Rim Sip into the Season

Cocktail enthusiasts can also explore the inaugural Sip Into The Season cocktail crawl, featuring Botanist Bar, The Keefer Bar, Laowai, Meo, and June / LaLa, each offering a signature holiday cocktail and a chance to win a Fairmont Pacific Rim suite stay.

12 Cocktails of Christmas Toys at H Tasting Lounge

H Tasting Lounge has created a playful, nostalgic 12 Cocktails of Christmas Toys inspired by the Sears Toy Catalogue.

Showcase Restaurant Noel Cocktail Tree

A festive dessert board pairs indulgently with an Espresso Martini Tree at Showcase Restaurant. This shareable selection of mini desserts, including cheesecake bites, chocolate peppermint macarons, a matcha berry tart, and a Nanaimo bar, is served alongside a festive espresso martini tree featuring four holiday cocktails.

Copperpenny Distillery

Fresh off multiple gold medal wins at the Global Gin Masters 2025, North Vancouver’s Copperpenny Distillery heads into the holidays with confidence. Its limited-edition Figgy Puddin’ liqueur, built on preserved stone fruits and warming spices, is made for seasonal cocktails, gifting, or a simple pour at home.

Where to Order Christmas Dinner To-Go in Vancouver

For hosts who want to focus on the gathering, not the prep, Vancouver chefs have you covered.

Vancouver Christmas Turkey dinner to go. Courtesy Photo.

Hotel Vancouver Turkey-To-Go – SOLD OUT

Festive Turkey To-Go at the Castle lets you stay home while the chefs handle the cooking. The meal centres on slow-roasted Fraser Valley turkey with all the comforts you’d hope for: brioche stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, seasonal vegetables, rich gravy, cranberry compote, and a cranberry-orange cheesecake to finish. Available for pickup on December 24 and 25.

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts – Blue Hat Bakery-Café

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts offers a chef-prepared Holiday Dinner To-Go featuring turkey with all the trimmings, dessert and an optional add-on. Sommelier-curated wines are available as well.

Provence Marinaside – Turkey To-Go

Their Turkey To-Go sticks to the classics: carved turkey, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, done properly and without shortcuts. It’s the kind of order you place knowing dinner will simply work, with pre-orders closing December 22.

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market

Not every holiday table needs a turkey. At Fanny Bay’s Shellfish Market, Christmas can easily revolve around oysters, lobster, and seafood that’s ready to serve the moment you get home. Oyster packs, live or cooked lobster and thoughtful extras, like Joie Sparkling Rosé paired with oysters, make this an easy win for hosts who want something festive but unfussy.

H Tasting Lounge at The Westin Bayshore – Festive Turkey Takeout

H Tasting Lounge’s Festive Turkey Takeout strikes the right balance. The centrepiece is Fraser Valley turkey, slow-roasted and paired with a full spread of seasonal sides prepared with the same care found in the restaurant’s dining room.

Fanny Bay Oyster Bay and Market knows how to celebrate the season. Submitted.

Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Vancouver

When Christmas fades and the city exhales, Vancouver turns its attention to one final night and New Year’s Eve deserves its own kind of attention. Whether the plan is an unhurried tasting menu, a celebratory steakhouse dinner, or a late-night room filled with music and champagne, the city offers no shortage of ways to mark the moment.

Burdock & Co New Year’s Eve

Burdock & Co. offers a six-course New Year’s tasting menu rooted in its hyper-seasonal philosophy. It’s a quiet, food-first way to cross into the year ahead, priced at $200 per guest and designed for those who value precision over spectacle.

Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine New Year’s Celebration

In Steveston, Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine offers a more intimate but equally memorable approach. New Year’s Eve service starts with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine upon arrival. The evening is shaped by Chef Nutcha’s refined Royal Thai cooking.

New Year’s at Black + Blue

For classic glamour, Black + Blue leans fully into the occasion with its annual New Year’s Eve gala. A multi-course gourmet dinner, Vegas-style dancers, dance to live music, enjoy party favours and a celebratory toast help ring in 2026.

From elegant to electric, the tone shifts. Glowbal, The Victor, and Riley’s host high-energy gala dinners where curated menus give way to DJs, live performances, and packed dance floors as the countdown begins.

D6 Bar & Lounge transforms into a roaring 1920s-inspired playground for its Guys & Dolls Club.

For diners who want their New Year’s Eve anchored in food, restaurants like Lavantine, Dahlia and Social Corner keep the focus on well-crafted menus paired with just enough entertainment to carry the night forward.

Waterfront favourites and hotel dining rooms round out the options, many offering champagne pairings, live music, and midnight moments without tipping into full-scale party mode.

However the night unfolds, quietly across a tasting menu or loud beneath a disco ball, New Year’s Eve in Vancouver offers space to choose your own rhythm.

A Final Toast to the Season

Whether you’re booking brunch with family, planning an elegant Christmas dinner, sipping cocktails under twinkling lights, or ordering a beautifully prepared meal to enjoy at home, Vancouver’s holiday season offers countless ways to celebrate thoughtfully, joyfully and together.

Follow along for curated travel, food, and festive inspiration throughout the year from Vancouver and across Canada to destinations around the world.

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