Not every restaurant closes down for the holiday in Gatlinburg. If you’re staying in a cabin without a full kitchen, traveling through on December 25th, or just don’t feel like cooking, a handful of local favorites keep their doors open — from breakfast spots to breweries to steakhouses.
This guide rounds up the Gatlinburg restaurants that have reliably stayed open on Christmas Day in recent years, along with their typical hours, whether they take reservations, and a few tips so you’re not the family standing outside a locked door on the one day you really need dinner.
Quick Answer
In recent years, Gatlinburg restaurants that have stayed open on Christmas Day include Calhoun’s, Cherokee Grill, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Smoky Mountain Brewery, Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, No Way Jose’s Cantina, Loco Burro, and Smith & Son Corner Kitchen. Most run shortened holiday hours, and a few — especially the sit-down steakhouses — recommend calling ahead for a reservation.
Gatlinburg Restaurants Typically Open on Christmas Day
Crockett’s Breakfast Camp has been a Christmas-morning go-to on the Parkway, usually serving breakfast in the early morning through early afternoon (roughly 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — a solid option if you want pancakes and biscuits before opening presents wraps up your day.
For a full holiday dinner, Calhoun’s and Cherokee Grill are the two sit-down options most likely to be open, typically from late morning into the evening (around 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.), with prime rib and other holiday specials sometimes added to the menu. Both accept reservations, which is worth doing since seating fills up fast on a day when most other kitchens are closed.
Casual and family-friendly spots like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Smoky Mountain Brewery, No Way Jose’s Cantina, Loco Burro, and Smith & Son Corner Kitchen have also stayed open in past years, generally with shorter hours than a normal day — No Way Jose’s, for example, has closed as early as 6 p.m., so plan an earlier dinner rather than a late one.
Chain and quick-service options such as Tropical Smoothie Cafe and pizza spots like CiCi’s Pizza and Pizza Rio have also opened on Christmas in previous seasons, which can be a fallback if the sit-down places are full.
Reservations, Hours, and Getting a Table
Holiday hours shift from year to year and restaurants sometimes decide their Christmas Day schedule only a few weeks out, so treat any specific hours you find online — including this list — as a starting point, not a guarantee. Call the restaurant directly the week of Christmas, or check their website or social media, before you drive over.
If a restaurant takes reservations, book one as early as you can; walk-in waits on Christmas Day can run long since there are fewer open kitchens serving the whole area. If a place doesn’t take reservations, arrive right at opening or plan for an early dinner around 4-5 p.m. rather than showing up at 7 p.m. and finding they’ve already closed for the night.
It’s also worth checking restaurants just outside Gatlinburg in Pigeon Forge — Calhoun’s Pigeon Forge location and Camp Margaritaville have both offered Christmas Day service, with Camp Margaritaville typically running a reservation-only holiday buffet in the afternoon. Not everything in Pigeon Forge stays open, though: The Old Mill Restaurant, for one, closes for Christmas Day, so don’t count on it as a backup without checking first.
Tips / Common Mistakes
Don’t assume a restaurant’s normal hours apply on Christmas Day — most that stay open run reduced hours, and a good number close entirely, including many spots that are open every other day of the year.
Don’t skip the phone call. Websites and third-party listings aren’t always updated for the current year, and a quick call confirms both the hours and whether a Christmas Day menu or reservation requirement is in place.
Don’t wait until you’re already hungry to start looking. Decide on your top two or three choices the day before, book what you can, and have a backup plan (grocery store deli, gas station, or a restaurant a short drive away in Pigeon Forge) in case your first pick is unexpectedly closed or full.
Explore more: more Gatlinburg food and drink guides.
Restaurants open in Gatlinburg on Christmas Day FAQs
Are any restaurants open in Gatlinburg on Christmas Day?
Yes. A number of restaurants have stayed open in recent years, including Calhoun’s, Cherokee Grill, Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Smoky Mountain Brewery, No Way Jose’s Cantina, Loco Burro, and Smith & Son Corner Kitchen, usually with shortened hours.
Do I need a reservation for Christmas Day dinner in Gatlinburg?
It’s strongly recommended for sit-down restaurants like Calhoun’s and Cherokee Grill, since seating is limited and many other kitchens are closed for the holiday. Casual spots that don’t take reservations are best visited right at opening or for an early dinner.
What time do Gatlinburg restaurants close on Christmas Day?
Hours vary by restaurant, but many run shortened schedules compared to a normal day — some close by early evening (around 6-8 p.m.) rather than staying open into the night. Call ahead to confirm the specific hours before you go.
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