7 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles

The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon serves its Thanksgiving feast creekside on Thursday, November 26, either traditional or vegan, with indoor or outdoor seating. Fairy lights hang over the garden dining room, where white linen tables sit on stone terraces beside the creek. Reservations fill early. It is a date-night favorite that has been welcoming guests for more than 50 years. The canyon roads are winding and poorly lit at night and have had closures, so check conditions before you drive.

At Wolfgang Puck's flagship, Spago Beverly Hills, Thanksgiving arrives as four family-style courses with slow-roasted turkey at the center. Dessert is pie, pastries and gelato, with live music and festive cocktails along the way. Nearly any dish here can anchor a celebration. It is also a good pick for impressing a food-loving date.

Saddle Peak Lodge is a rustic lodge in the Santa Monica Mountains, far enough from the city to feel like an escape without a long holiday drive. The interior is rustic as well. The lodge suits special occasions, Thanksgiving dinner among them, which makes it a fitting pick for a holiday date.

Gwen pairs a European-style butcher shop with an elegant restaurant in Hollywood, and its Thanksgiving dinner is four courses of turkey and ham. The room is subdued and classy, which suits a formal date night. The regular menu is à la carte and cooked over fire, and we'd start with the lamb, which has a pistachio crust and a smoky flavor.

71Above is a fine-dining restaurant on the 71st floor in downtown Los Angeles, with views over the city, the Pacific, Malibu and the mountains. You can take the three-course Thanksgiving dinner at a table or settle in at the bar. The panoramic view sets up a little romance, and the bar has a sunset-facing seat for a more casual date.

Geoffrey's Malibu gives every table a panoramic ocean view, with waterfalls and tropical plants around the dining room. Couples get a romantic setting, and there's a Thanksgiving menu too. The baked Brie in puff pastry with pear chutney is the crowd-favorite starter, and steaks and seafood fill out the menu. A lesser-known public beach is reachable directly from the restaurant, for a walk before dinner.

Same family, same location, since 1922: Tam O'Shanter is the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles with that history. The cozy old-world room is lined with family tartans, a warm setting for dinner for two. Special Table 31 lunch and dinner experiences are offered with limited seatings.