In foodie-friendly California, Thanksgiving is a great chance for local and celebrity chefs to strut their stuff—and it’s also a lovely opportunity for anyone to enjoy a feast against the backdrop of Golden State scenery, from the beaches to the mountains.
Taking well-sourced gobblers (many from Tuolumne County’s acclaimed Diestel Family Ranch or Mary’s Turkey from Fresno County), chefs add bells and whistles from their choices of brine to veggie sides and miles of pies, tarts, and more. There are quirky surprises too, such as dinner inside an aquarium, atop a tramway, or even a Thanksgiving dinner in Disneyland. No need to diss the in-laws, either—invite them to tag along.
Here are 20-plus feasts you’d be thankful you decided to attend in Southern, Central, and Northern California.
Southern California
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
This landmark hotel on Coronado Island has a rich history, having hosted presidents, celebrities, and a classic Marilyn Monroe film. Its buffet spreads across a few stately rooms—the Crown Room, the Coronet Room, and the Ocean Ballroom (fun fact: the Crown Room’s chandeliers were designed by Wizard of Oz author Frank L. Baum). Afterward, get your exercise by taking a few loops around the seasonal beachside rink, which opens before Thanksgiving.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar, San Diego
This luxury resort in north San Diego County offers a full (and plush) Thanksgiving weekend. Choose from the three-course menu at Amaya or the buffet in the ballroom: Feasts include turkey and options like local Carlsbad oysters on the raw bar, sweet and savory baked brie, and desserts ranging from pumpkin cheesecake to chai madeleines to chocolate-caramel tarts. Stick around for the long weekend to skate the resort’s own outdoor seasonal ice rink.
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe
The North County San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe, with fruit orchards and ocean views, offers a plush version of home-for-the-holidays. Its Inn at Rancho Santa Fe—which first opened as a guest house in 1924—is holding a classic four-course prix fixe Thanksgiving Dinner at its onsite Lilian’s; the restaurant is named after Lilian J. Rice, the architect who designed many of Rancho Santa Fe’s Spanish-style buildings in the 1920s. Earlier in the day, families can book spots at the Gobbles & Giggles Kids Thanksgiving Brunch, a family- friendly buffet with arts and crafts activities for the kids.
The Gambling Cowboy Chophouse & Saloon, Temecula
Experience an Old West–style feast in Southern California’s Old Town Temecula, with a four-course Thanksgiving feast at the colorful Gambling Cowboy Chophouse and Saloon. Enjoy the rustic, cowboy-chic atmosphere, take in the Temecula Valley views from its third-floor deck, then dive into roast turkey with sourdough-sausage stuffing—or prime rib or maple-glazed ham—complemented with options including cowboy mac ’n’ cheese and Temecula wines.
Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach
Pair your Turkey Day feast with a beach walk or boat ride at this resort in Newport Beach. The buffet at the waterfront resort’s Lighthouse restaurant starts with a complimentary wine tasting and includes a chilled seafood display and carving stations of turkey, prime rib, and salmon, as well as classic holiday sides and plenty of desserts.
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
On Thanksgiving, the Anaheim parks are fully open and decked out for the holiday season. For a Turkey Day feast, choose from brunch or dinner buffets at Goofy’s Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel and Storytellers Café inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner, Buena Park
You can think outside the turkey at this restaurant just outside the gates at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant offers both brunch and dinner buffets for Thanksgiving: along with the turkey and classics, you’ll get their famous fried chicken, bubbly, and pumpkin cider, finished with both their signature boysenberry pie and classic pumpkin. The park is open all day, too, celebrating the holidays with the decorations and shows of Knott’s Merry Farm. You can also order a full feast to go, complete with pie.
Or, tuck in at the classic buffet at the Knott’s Hotel restaurant Thirty Acres Kitchen, which also neighbors the theme park. Make it a full holiday weekend by booking one of the hotel packages that includes park admission, daily breakfast, and parking.
Purple Room, Palm Springs
First opened in 1960, this classic supper club on Palm Springs’ Palm Canyon Drive used to be a prime Rat Pack hangout. Today it offers a retro lounge-style Thanksgiving that also features live music from Pam Phillips’ Jazz Quartet. The menu includes throwback delicacies such as shrimp cocktail and Scottish salmon, along with turkey, butternut squash risotto, and the restaurant’s beloved pumpkin spice cheesecake.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Restaurants, Palm Springs
Celebrate the day with the unique Thanksgiving Ride & Dine combination, set at the cool 8,500-foot peak of Mountain Station. A 10-minute, 2.5-mile ride up the mountain on Palm Springs’ famous tramway is a feast for the eyes overlooking both the area and the wilds of the Mount San Jacinto State Park. Choose from two different dining options, with prix fixe options that include your tram ride, at the Pines Cafe or the cliffside Peaks Restaurant.
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Marine life is on display but not on the menu at this unique feast at Long Beach’s don’t-miss aquarium, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving (the meal itself runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on its rooftop veranda, overlooking the aquarium’s Rainbow Harbor). The traditional turkey buffet typically also includes vegetarian items like a mac ‘n’ cheese casserole, as well as a cash bar with seasonal cocktails.
Terranea, Rancho Palos Verdes
This oceanfront resort in Los Angeles County provides a serene perch for a day of gratitude—the week’s activities include a hike, a movie night, kids crafts, and the lighting of the resort tree.
Choose from several options for your meal that offer carving stations, seafood, charcuterie, and creative desserts: There’s a sumptuous buffet with live music and special cocktails in the Palos Verdes Grand Ballroom; another buffet with ocean views at the resort’s Catalina Kitchen; and the curated three-course menu at the award-winning, farm-to-table Mar’sel. You can also go low-key with the creative Thanksgiving-themed offerings at other onsite eateries Nelson’s (like the piled-high turkey sandwich paired with a sweet-potato crème brulée) and Bashi (try the turkey shoyu ramen).
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
This storied hotel in Pasadena offers Thanksgiving brunch and dinner across their gorgeous property. Brunch is served in the Viennese Ballroom from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.—a buffet-style spread with multiple serving stations, a kids corner, and an option to add on bottomless mimosas. Meanwhile the dinner reservations are available at both the Royce Steakhouse and the Terrace restaurant. Both meals are prix fixe with variations on the holiday staples such as sweet corn Nantucket gnocchi, and an oven-roasted turkey with cranberry lime chutney.
Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica
While the view of palm trees, sand, and blue ocean may not be traditional scenery, you’ll still feel thankful dining at the 1 Pico Restaurant at Santa Monica’s stylish Shutters on the Beach hotel. The hotel's three-course beachfront feast offers heritage turkey as well as options such as a burrata-and-bresaola appetizer, grilled branzino, and pumpkin pie, a maple pecan tart, or a coconut panna cotta for dessert.
Central California
Finch & Fork, Santa Barbara
Embrace a cornucopia of local produce at this acclaimed Turkey Day buffet at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in downtown Santa Barbara. The restaurant prides itself on using a wide range of produce from regional family farms in its “harvest buffet.” The feast also includes carving stations, a raw bar, classic sides, and a big dessert display.
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito
This delightful brunch buffet at the plush resort in Montecito offers traditional Thanksgiving fare along with activities for your littles, served in the Chandelier Ballroom. Or, sit down for a traditional, four-course dinner served family style in the hotel’s Revere Room.
Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo
There’s nothing traditional about this quirky hotel in San Luis Obispo County, but its exuberant spirit makes a great setting for the feast of turkey, ham, or roast duck with trimmings. Save room for the famous desserts—a dozen-plus pies and cakes, including the famous Pink Champagne Cake.
The Padre Hotel, Bakersfield
“Be sure to bring your stretchy pants,” advise the folks at this charming boutique hotel in downtown Bakersfield. The prix fixe menu includes turkey, ham, or prime rib paired with creative takes on green bean casserole and yams with candied pecans. Come to town early the day before: It’s a local tradition to enjoy the city’s acclaimed Basque restaurants the night before Thanksgiving.
Elderberry House, Oakhurst
Indulge in a dinner as sumptuous as the setting at this famed restaurant that is part of Château du Sureau inn in Madera County, located between Fresno and Yosemite. The tasting menu of classics—with additions such as turkey consommé and seared scallops—comes with a choice of reserve wine pairings.
Northern California
Fairmont San Francisco, San Francisco
Enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet in the grand Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar—with domed ceilings and Italian frescoes—at this stately Nob Hill hotel. Check out the life-sized gingerbread house that will already be on display for the holiday season—during the season you can even book a spot to dine inside it.
Claremont Resort & Club, Berkeley
This classic 100-year-old hotel in Berkeley, now part of the Fairmont brand, offers up a decadent Thanksgiving dinner at its Limewood restaurant with turkey plus sides like lobster mac ’n’ cheese and a veggie cornucopia. The resort also offers a to-go Thanksgiving feast featuring a rosemary-focaccia stuffing, sour-cream-and-chive Parker House rolls, and a pumpkin tart with maple bourbon Chantilly.
Carneros Resort and Spa, Napa
Enjoy a farm-to-your-table Thanksgiving dinner created by this Napa resort. Sit down for a multicourse feast with optional wine pairings at Farm or a three-course menu (with à la carte options for kids) at the more casual Boon Fly Café. The luxury resort has other holiday-week festivities, too, such as daily complimentary wine tastings, two Thanksgiving morning yoga classes and a Black Friday event at the resort’s shop.
La Toque, Napa
For nearly 30 years, this Michelin-starred restaurant in the Westin Verasa Napa has made its Thanksgiving an annual tradition: The four-course menu is known for delights like their slow-roasted turkey—sourced from the high-end Bay Area turkey purveyor Willie Bird—and sides like chestnut-herbed stuffing and steamed broccoli hollandaise. At the end, you’ll take away one of the chef’s famous “leftover” sandwiches.
Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa
Set your Thanksgiving against Napa Valley’s lovely fall landscape on this 3.5-hour train-ride-meets-dinner with a menu that typically includes Diestel Farms turkey, carrot ginger soup, and pumpkin crème brûlée—and plenty of local wine.
Montage Healdsburg, Healdsburg
Feast with a view of the vineyards and the river at this Montage resort in Sonoma County. The three-course menu includes options such as turkey with chestnut stuffing, lobster thermidor, sweet potato gratin, and a pumpkin cheesecake with huckleberries for dessert. During Thanksgiving week, kids can make crafts in the resort’s Paintbox club.
Delta King, Sacramento
Enjoy the holiday from this 1929 paddlewheel riverboat that calls the Old Sacramento Waterfront home. The buffet-style dinner includes turkey and prime rib carving stations as well as picturesque views of the Sacramento River.
National Exchange Hotel, Nevada City
Soak up the historic vibes at this charming reborn hotel in Gold Country’s Nevada City. The afternoon seatings promise a five-course, prix fixe feast including “modern spins on classic dishes.” The hotel doesn’t go back quite as far as the pilgrims, but it did open in 1856 as an upscale version of a Gold Rush mining camp.
Jimmy's at The Landing, South Lake Tahoe
Dine lakeside at this longtime favorite restaurant that overlooks Lake Tahoe and has both a firepit-lined patio and a 1,500-bottle wine vault. The prix fixe menu promises seasonal flavors and the hotel also offers a variety of lodging packages to extend your holiday.
Granlibakken, Tahoe City
This classic lodge on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe makes a picture-perfect setting for a family feast, with your turkey carved tableside (along with vegetarian options, including a savory vegan roast) and creative appetizers including pickled-beet deviled eggs and salami trumpets with farmer’s cheese. Best of all, they will help you pack up some leftovers. If there’s snow, don’t miss out on the Tahoe City resort’s famed sledding hill.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee
There’s nothing like cool mountain air to build up your appetite, so the setting at Manzanita restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, is a perfect one, with its lodge-like ambience in Truckee, in the Sierra Nevada. The Thanksgiving prix fixe meal features colorful starters such as Dungeness crab agnolotti and savory main courses such as a Diestel turkey with sage-infused gravy.
Trillium Café, Mendocino
Local flavors abound at this inn and restaurant with ocean views, set in the heart of Mendocino. Along with the Mary’s turkey, the menu includes Point Reyes blue cheese salad, and fall vegetable gnocchi, finished with a range of creative pies and cakes.
Feather Falls Casino, Oroville
Enjoy a traditional feast at the Butte County casino resort owned by the Concow-Maidu of Mooretown Rancheria Tribe. Beyond turkey and the staples, the Dreamcatcher Buffet typically features salmon, roasted chicken, cranberry-glazed pork chops, and dozens of sides, pies, and bread pudding. The casino resort is also home to the Feather Falls Brewing Co.
McCloud Hotel, McCloud
Soak up the scenery of Mt. Shasta at this charming hotel in McCloud, with easy access to the ski park. The menu for dinner at the hotel includes orange sage–roasted turkey, butternut squash ravioli, corn soufflé, and chocolate cake with hazelnuts as well as pumpkin pie with whipped cream.