This Thanksgiving calls for something a little extra special, and we think whipped potatoes with foie gras gravy or a three-course feast in your own resort suite will do the trick. Here are 20-plus ways to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in California. Be sure to make reservations and be mindful of deadlines for to-go orders and pickup dates, as well as dine-in guidelines in California counties.
Located in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Pendry San Diego hosts Chefsgiving at Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Inspired by the spirit of Thanksgiving, join six of San Diego’s most renowned chefs including Provisional’s very own Chef de Cuisine Brandon Sloan as they prepare a family-style feast with a cause. The Chefsgiving meal will feature creative holiday dishes prepared by each of the chefs, with wine pairings. Tickets are priced at $150 per person and include a $30 donation to the San Diego Food Bank. For reservations, visit chefsgiving.eventbrite.com.
Pendry West Hollywood rings in its first holiday season with French-inspired holiday desserts by Pastry Chef François Behuet. Freshly baked holiday pies will be available for pick-up at Ospero starting on Nov. 19. From classic pumpkin pie to pumpkin cheesecake, pecan pie and more, all pies are available in 9-in. sizes. Pre-orders are available through Nov. 23 via phone at 323.433.1410.
Urban Plates is open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to dine-in. Enjoy a turkey plate–with herb-roasted turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, bread and one side–on one of the expansive outdoor patios (which have space heaters if it’s chilly). It is served hot and ready to eat from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25. Seeking a feast to go? Urban Plates’ Thanksgiving catering packages feature antibiotic-free, non-GMO, free-range turkey and organic produce, with all dishes made from scratch, in-house. All orders can be reserved online and include everything from scratch-made desserts to full-on holiday spreads to serve six to eight diners.
Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in Rancho Santa Fe will dish up an array of delicious buffet offerings and live music in the resort’s beautiful outdoor setting. The main course of the menu is a slow-roasted traditional turkey breast and confit thigh, paired with elevated holiday side dishes. For those celebrating at home, pick up a Thanksgiving Feast to-go. Reservations can be made by calling 858.759.6246.
Give thanks this turkey season at The Mayor’s Table at Lido House, an Autograph Collection in Newport Beach. With the Fallen Orchard Thanksgiving, guests can enjoy a four-course, prix-fixe menu with standouts like roasted Heritage turkey breast with decadent sides (including whipped potatoes with foie gras gravy!) and a “Not Your Grandma’s Ambrosia” salad, which has been kicked up a notch with pecan vinaigrette and goat cheese.
Heirloom Farmhouse Kitchen at Marriott Irvine Spectrum hosts a special three-course, prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu, which includes a classic spread of herb-roasted turkey breast and thigh, cornbread, stuffing, gravy, cranberry-orange relish, mashed potatoes and green beans with almonds
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto combines modern Japanese design with West Coast luxury, and you’re invited to spend this Thanksgiving indulging in exceptional cuisine Nobu-style. Special menu highlights include black pepper New Zealand lamb chops, endive salad with lemon vin, Japanese Amberjack with assorted mushroom purée, and bell pepper miso salsa with micro arugula and sliced truffle. Reservations are required and can be booked on OpenTable.
Rancho Bernardo Inn, located in North County San Diego, is home to a variety of Thanksgiving happenings. From 2 to 7 p.m., reserve your spot for a four-course, prix-fixe dinner at AVANT; dig into Thanksgiving specials, like a traditional turkey special, at Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant, during breakfast, lunch or dinner on the holiday; enjoy a four-course, prix-fixe menu and music by Kevin James O’Brien at Aragon Ballroom (seating times are 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.); or get in the Thanksgiving spirit with the hotel’s holiday cocktail, Blackberry Nostalgia, made with Benedictine, brown sugar syrup, blackberry-peppercorn shrub, aquafaba, bourbon and whiskey barrel-aged bitters.
Indulge in a fresh and seasonal four-course Thanksgiving menu at Laguna Beach-based Surf & Sand Resort‘s signature restaurant Splashes, featuring menu highlights like Diestel Farms turkey with chorizo and chestnut stuffing, whipped potatoes, cranberry sauce and more.
Dine inside or on the patio at The Front Yard, the signature dining destination at North Hollywood’s The Garland, where you can enjoy a four-course a la carte Thanksgiving menu. Steps away, go back to your Family Suite after dinner, which has two separate areas, a nook with bunk beds for the kids and the main room with a king-size bed and living area for the parents for a Turkey Day escape.
Newly opened VAGA Restaurant & Bar at Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas celebrates locally inspired cuisine and seasonal fare. This Thanksgiving, VAGA Restaurant & Bar will be offering a five-course dinner from 2 to 9 p.m., featuring root vegetable croquettes, winter squash bisque, turkey roulade with corn and chorizo stuffing or corn stuffed butternut squash, sweet pumpkin pie and more.
Join Sonoma’s iconic MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa for a three-course festive Thanksgiving feast at the hotel’s Mediterranean farm-kitchen Layla. Offered from noon to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, menu highlights include braised boneless short rib and classic desserts like pumpkin pie and apple galette, with the option to add wine pairings.
This Thanksgiving, ARLO, San Diego’s newest destination eatery, will be serving up a prix-fixe menu, stuffed with traditional, yet inventive, dishes. Try smoked turkey meatball with gruyere cheese, carrot caper slaw and naan bread; turkey breast and prosciutto with smoked potato, cornbread stuffing ravioli and cranberry heart of palm puree; and much more during this creative holiday feast.
The Thanksgiving Soiree Suite at Town and Country in San Diego includes a three-course Thanksgiving feast, 54-in. flat-screen television for game viewing, a soft seating area and access to resort amenities including heated pools and waterslide. It’s the perfect no-hassle holiday celebration for groups from eight to 25. Hours for the Thanksgiving Soiree Suite are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Prices are $149 for adults, $59 for children under 12, and complimentary for children 3 and under. Price does not include tax or gratuity, and a minimum of eight paying adults are required. The Town and Country Resort is also offering special room rates for Thanksgiving Soiree Suite guests starting at $129 with waived parking and resort fees.
This Thanksgiving, gather at the elegant Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club where fall meets the sea for a coastal holiday celebration. Three of the resort’s dining venues will host special feasts with indulgent menus at AVEO Table + Bar, Bourbon Steak Orange County and Monarch Bay Beach Club. Feast on traditional holiday dishes like roasted turkey and even custom-order a holiday dessert, like pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie or spiced pumpkin loaf, available for pick-up at Part + Parcel.
Enjoy a traditional holiday buffet at Carmel Valley Ranch‘s Valley Kitchen from noon to 4 p.m. featuring Thanksgiving classics made with locally grown and sustainably raised ingredients like apple-cider-brined turkey, thyme-and-sage stuffing, cinnamon-citrus cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie made with fresh pumpkins from the organic garden, and much more. Crafts, face painting and a balloon artist will dish out extra fun for the kids.
The recently opened Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano is the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving getaway in an authentic Californian escape. An incredible, carefully-crafted Thanksgiving brunch spread from Executive Chef Aaron Obregon awaits at Ysidora Restaurant and Lounge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25. Enjoy an all-encompassing Spanish-inspired meal complete with fresh salads, beef carpaccio, wood-fired local fish, herb-roasted turkey and more.
Fiore at Harrah’s Resort Southern California has a prix-fixe menu that is sure to satisfy all — from the Thanksgiving lovers to the difficult-to-please picky eaters. The prix-fixe feast will feature a Diestel turkey breast, cranberry mousseline, pumpkin chiffon pie and more.
Give thanks this Thanksgiving at San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado. An elegant Thanksgiving dinner will be offered this Nov. 25 in the historic Crown Room, with an elegant buffet of all the favorite trimmings. Following dinner, feast your eyes on the debut of Home for the Holidays, which will include the return of Skating by the Sea, thousands of holiday lights and stunning holiday décor.
Gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving holiday with views of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Cavallo Point. This year, the property will be offering guests two experiences in celebration of Thanksgiving, one which will be a family-style dinner in Murray Circle, the property’s signature dining destination from Chef Michael Garcia, and the second will be a special Thanksgiving Buffet in the lodge’s elegant ballroom complete with everyone’s favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Gather with loved ones and indulge in an upscale, sustainable, sea-to-table culinary experience on Serẽa‘s expansive, two-tiered patio. On Thanksgiving Day, from 2 to 8 p.m., delight in a three-course, prix-fixe menu featuring a white truffle lobster bisque, slow-roasted and lightly smoked turkey, bruleed pumpkin pie and more. Choose from a variety of fall-inspired cocktails and take advantage of family-style options, which include a roasted two-pound lobster, smoked tri tip roast and a butternut squash lasagna.
Located in the Pendry San Diego in the Gaslamp Quarter, Lionfish will dish up fried turkey and waffles, in addition to a pumpkin roll, filled with pumpkin cream cheese whip and topped with abuelita chocolate sauce and spiced pepitas. Savor the evening with a fall-inspired hand-crafted cocktail in hand.
Enjoy a warm holiday season at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, the West Coast’s tallest waterfront hotel. Travelers and locals alike are invited to Sally’s Fish House & Bar to indulge in a plated Thanksgiving dinner including slow-roasted cider-brined turkey with pan gravy, garlic whipped potatoes, herb bread stuffing and much more. Dinner is available from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25. For those celebrating Thanksgiving on-the-go, stop by Market | One from 5 to 11 p.m. for seasonal specials including brown sugar-glazed ham with cranberry-orange chutney and more, served in to-go containers with indoor and outdoor self-seating available.
Tangerine Room at Westin Anaheim Resort hosts a Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Diners can look forward to a seafood display, a Sweet Station with individual pies, a carving station with herb-roasted turkey, prime rib eye, honey-roasted ham and much, much more.
Fig & Olive in Newport Beach is dishing up a Cote d’Azur-inspired Thanksgiving feast, including unique appetizer, entree and dessert options with a twist on everyone’s favorite holiday classics. The three-course meal offers the likes of free-range turkey, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin bundt cake and much more. This one-of-a-kind menu is available exclusively on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 8 p.m.
Dekkadance at InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown invites guests to indulge in a menu filled with elevated twists on Thanksgiving favorites, paired with views of L.A. The Thanksgiving brunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes Cajun fried chicken, brown sugar-glazed bone-in ham, crab claws, pumpkin pie, cranberry swirl cheesecake and much more.
This Thanksgiving, Taverna Tony at Malibu Country Mart hosts a traditional feast complete with turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a vegetable medley, cranberry sauce and gravy. Seatings are from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Don’t feel like cooking? Book Thanksgiving Day catering with all the fixings.