Baltimore restaurants are feeling festive this week, hosting holiday parties, curating seafood towers, and making merry all over the place. Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
Cane Collective holiday party at Stem & Vine
On Friday, Dec. 19, the Cane Collective crew will pop up at Stem & Vine for a fun holiday party featuring cocktails from Cane Collective, music, and food from the one and only Black Sauce Kitchen.
Red Sweater Crawl
On Saturday, Dec. 20, Hamilton-Lauraville businesses are getting very festive, offering treats and fun prizes for patrons wearing red sweaters.
Some highlights include discounts and specials at Silver Queen Café, which will also be donating 50% of sales of Founder’s Red Sweater Beer to offset the damages incurred by last week’s fire at Mickey’s Joint, prizes and a Red Sweater IPA at Animal Boy, Specials Red Sweater beer and $2 off tots and flatbreads at Alexander’s Tavern, and buy-one-get-one Red Sweater IPAs at Zeke’s Coffee for anyone wearing festive attire.
Ugly sweaters at Nepenthe
It’s an ugly sweater weekend at Nepenthe Brewing Co. On Saturday, the brewery is hosting a gift-wrapping party (they provide the paper, tape and scissors) and on Sunday, drop in for an afternoon of Christmas music trivia.
Pancakes & Pajamas in Fells
On Sunday morning, Pendry Baltimore hosts its annual holiday Pancakes & Pajamas Brunch at Rec Pier Chop House. The event includes a traditional brunch menu with a hot cocoa bar for the kids and bottomless brunch drinks for everyone else.
BSC holiday party
On Sunday, Dec. 21, Baltimore Spirits Company hosts its annual holiday party – Christmas in the Caribbean – starting at 3 p.m. The party includes island cocktails and music, a raffle, free bottle engraving, and food from Bmore Taqueria.
Pop-up lunch at Petit Louis
On Monday, Dec. 22, Petit Louis hosts a special pop-up lunch service including a few fun extras, including wine tastings and the opportunity to win a gift card and a bottle of champagne.
Feasts of the Seven Fishes
The Feast of the Seven Fishes – the traditional Italian Christmas Eve meal – has taken hold across Baltimore restaurants over the past few years. This year, multiple locations are offering their takes on the dinner – and not just on Christmas Eve.
Costiera is starting early, with offerings on Dec. 22 and 23, and a menu with dishes like stuffed calamari and saffron malloreddus featuring sea urchin cream and lobster. Plus, there are wine pairings and suggestions available.
Benny’s will host their feast, including crab, shrimp, clams, baccala, calamari, smeltz, and stockfish – plus wine pairings – on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Sally O’s offering is also on the 23rd, and includes courses like crispy octopus, crab spaghetti with uni cream and trout roe, and lobster pot pie.
Little Donna’s is also celebrating their Feast of the Seven Fishes on Dec. 23 – this year, it’s the restaurant’s fourth annual offering of the seafood menu.
Love, Pomelo’s meal will be on Christmas Eve itself. The seven-course dinner also has an option to pair wines with each course.
Limoncello’s Christmas Eve specials go heavy on seafood – including a seven fishes seafood tower featuring crab, shrimp, oysters, calamari and scallops.
Cinghiale also has a Feast of the Seven Fishes special on Christmas Eve, along with an alternate four-course menu.
Cosima’s prix fixe Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner, also on Christmas Eve, includes tons of options, like grilled black bass with local mushroom risotto and blood orange, plus carnivore and vegetarian choices for those who don’t prefer seafood.
Ampersea also has a prix-fixe Feast of the Seven Fishes menu on Christmas Eve, offered alongside its regular menu.
Christmas carry out
There’s still time to order oysters from True Chesapeake to pick up on Dec. 23 or 24 – but not much. Preorders must be placed by midnight on Dec. 21. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1472914101505105&set=a.530882445708280
Liberatore’s take home family dinner packages are still available to preorder and pick up on Christmas Eve. Choices include a steak option, an Italian package, and add-on Christmas cookies. https://libscatering.ticketspice.com/christmas-2025
Christmas Eve
Johnny’s is open for dinner on Christmas Eve – and then again for brunch on Boxing Day.
Citron is also open on Christmas Eve, offering it’s a la carte menu, specials, and happy hour all night.
Rusty Scupper is also open on Christmas Eve, offering its full menu from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cece’s is offering a three-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings on Christmas Eve.
La Cuchara’s bar and dining room open at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Towson Tavern’s Christmas Eve menu includes specials like filet mignon and a green and red “Grinch” salad.
Christmas Day
Many restaurants are closed on Christmas Day – though a handful of great spots are welcoming guests.
Mama’s on the Half Shell is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day during lunch and dinner hours.
Peerce’s is also open on Christmas Day, if you prefer Indian cuisine for your holiday.
Finally, Nine-Tailed Fox in Cross Keys is open for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas both for dining in and for takeout – a great way to celebrate the time-honored tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas.
For more holiday dining and take home options, check out last week’s column.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
Jan. 23: Après Ski Wine Supper
Feb. 6: Carnevale at Cinghiale
