Celebrate National Sangria Day

Sangria lovers are in luck today, Dec. 20, at Bacari West Third, the Mediterranean-inspired, Italian-style tapas restaurant by executive chef Lior Hillel. Enjoy the spot’s famous sangrias for just one penny during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. When happy hour is over, sangrias are at normal happy hour prices at $8 a glass for the rest of the evening. 8030 W. Third St., Los Angeles, (323)452-9149.

Holiday gift drive at Border Grill

Today is the last day at Border Grill to bring in a new, unwrapped item for the Los Angeles LGBT Center and receive a 15 percent discount off the restaurant’s modern Mexican cuisine. Each night, 6,000 youth sleep on the streets of the greater Los Angeles area, and 40 percent of these young people identify as LGBT. To bring some holiday cheer, Border Grill is collecting gift cards, portable chargers, twin comforters, headphones, backpacks, journals and more for homeless youth. 445 S. Figueroa St., #100, Los Angeles, (213)486-5171.

Christmas Eve at Toscana

Chef Hugo Vasquez prepares elegant Italian holiday dishes for Christmas Eve including white truffle risotto and asparagus. Other delectables include a braised duck leg, turbot puttanesca al cartoccio, Diver scallops, and fresh ricotta ravioli with tomato concassé and brown butter. Wine director Roberto Facciolla pairs each dish with a choice of premium wines. Next door, Bar Toscana celebrates the holidays with a more casual dinner featuring Kumomoto oysters, poached lobster Catalana with sweet onion mousse and an Italian cheese platter. 11633 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (310)820-2448 and (310)826-0028.

Enjoy a Tiki-style Christmas Eve

Stop by plant-based Beelman’s on Dec. 24 for a Tiki Christmas celebration from 4 p.m. to midnight with all Tiki drinks at $8. Beelman’s will be closed on Christmas Day. 600 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, (213)622-1022.

Patina’s Christmas Eve dinner

Toast to the holidays on Monday, Dec. 24, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with a four- or six-course dinner. Start off with either the wild Japanese Madai fish or chestnut cavatelli or black truffle acquerello risotto. The second course includes foie gras or Dover sole with fennel, grapes and Brussels sprouts. Main course entrées include Mary’s duck with braised red cabbage, Millbrook Farms venison with root vegetables and binchotan-grilled American wagyu beef. Finish with a choice of three bûche de Noël. The options include chicory, Black Forest and passion fruit white chocolate. The four-course menu is $110 and the six-course is $160. The restaurant will be closed Dec. 25-27. 141 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213)972-3331.

The Peninsula Beverly Hills’ holiday dinner

Enjoy the magic of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at The Belvedere with a three-course meal served family-style. During Christmas Eve, the menu includes lobster bisque, seared scallops, 28-day dry-aged prime rib and a yule log. This menu is $148 per person and is available from 5 to 10:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, enjoy free-flowing Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne with parsnip and pear soup, beet carpaccio, turkey with sage stuffing, and a selection of contemporary and classic desserts for $140 per person from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., (310)551-2888.

Café Pinot’s festive specials

Revel in the downtown Los Angeles skyline and culinary delights curated by executive chef Phillip Martin this Christmas Eve at Café Pinot. Enjoy chestnut agnolotti, salmon, duck breast and carved beef rib-eye. A full à la carte menu and curated wine pairings are available too. The restaurant is taking reservations starting at 5 p.m. Café Pinot will be closed Dec. 25-26. 700 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles, (213)239-6500.

Mr. C Beverly Hills Christmas Eve special dinner

Celebrate the night before Christmas with a decadent Italian four-course dinner starting at 6 p.m. Executive chef Giuseppe Manco will prepare an array of dishes including a trio of marinated Norwegian smoked salmon, shrimp and tuna tartare, and beef tenderloin with porcini sauce. This festive dinner is $95 for four-courses and $35 for wine pairings. There are also still a few tables available for a special Christmas Day feast starting at noon. 1224 Beverwil Drive, Los Angeles, (310)277-2800.

Christmas Eve at Nick + Stef’s

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a luxurious steakhouse meal. Executive chef Megan Logan will prepare a celebratory holiday menu featuring an interactive tableside Caesar salad, dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, Snake River Farms wagyu rib-eye, grass-fed filet mignon, jumbo Maryland lump crab cakes and signature sides. Start with a festive drink and end with one of the beautifully presented desserts. 330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, (213)680-0330.

The Hollywood Roosevelt

Step inside The Hollywood Roosevelt for an eclectic yet relaxed dining experience. The American brasserie Public Kitchen & Bar celebrates Dec. 24 with a four-course dinner. Start with savory squash soup or seared Diver scallops. The second course includes roasted moulard duck breast with Japanese sweet potato or einkorn tagliatelle with chanterelle mushrooms and leeks. For a sweet finish, try the deconstructed pumpkin pie or heirloom apple cranberry tart tatin. Children have their own special menu that includes chicken noodle soup, honey-glazed ham, macaroni and cheese, and crunchy praline mousse for $19. 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, (323)769-8888.

Christmas Eve at Hotel Casa del Mar

Dine near the sand on Christmas Eve with a multicourse dinner at Hotel Casa del Mar that includes a starter of Iberian ham and manchego cheese foam with crusted tomato and warm bread. Entrées include roasted duck with blueberry sauce and passion fruit glaze, or wagyu beef filet mignon with shaved black truffle. Finish with a warm apple tart and bambucha éclair with hazelnut ice cream. This elegant dinner is $110 per person and is also available on Christmas Day. 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, (310)581-7714.

Posada at Antonio’s

Now through Dec. 24, Antonio’s Restaurant on Melrose celebrates posada, the biblical story of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, with a special menu. Try the chicken sweet tamales, pozole featuring pork borth and hominy, or the crunchy cinnamon buñuelos. 7470 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323)658-9060.

Christmas Day brunch and dinner

Circa 55 offers a Beverly Hills-style Christmas brunch buffet with an omelet station, assorted breakfast pastries, prime rib, roasted turkey and roasted kabocha salad. Chef Thomas Henzi’s special holiday meal includes bottomless mimosas for adults for $95. Brunch for children is $38. For $55, the Christmas dinner includes wild-caught salmon, fresh oysters, prime rib and hand-crafted Christmas pies. Brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner is from 5 to 10 p.m. 9876 Wilshire Blvd., (310)274-7777.

Hot dog! Spring St. Bar’s Christmas

Step into the downtown Los Angeles’ friendly neighborhood bar and sandwich shop for a whimsical Christmas hot dog bar. Enjoy a hot dog with one of the 26 constantly rotating taps of craft beer and refreshing classic cocktails. The bar is open on Christmas Day from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. 626 S. Spring St., (213)622-5859.

Hotel Figueroa’s Christmas feast

Head to Veranda on Christmas Day and indulge in roast beef, whole roasted duck, roasted root vegetables with caramelized onions, whole roasted red snapper, bluenose bass with red and green mojos, chicories, potato purée and a special Christmas pie. This special menu is $55 per person and reservations are from 3 to 8 p.m. 939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, (866)734-6018.

NoMad Holiday Spectacular

Now through the end of December, NoMad Hotels hosts a cocktail pop-up with guest bartender Julian Cox every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Sip on custom cocktails from bar director Leo Robitschek and guest bartenders. The whimsical menu of festive drinks can be found at the hotel’s Coffee Bar at the corner of Seventh and Olive. 649 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, (213)358-0000.

Decadent lobster pies for New Years

Order one of chef Michael Cimarusti’s one-dish meal lobster pot pies to ring in 2019. Cape Seafood & Provisions prepares beautiful pastry-topped casseroles filled with fresh Maine lobster, black truffles, winter vegetables and fine herbs. Just pop it in the oven to brown the top pastry. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to benefit the charity No Kid Hungry. These pies are available in two sizes and start at $185 to feed up to four guests. The large pie feeds six to eight. All lobster and black truffle pot pies are prepared in a ceramic casserole dish to bring home and keep. Holiday pre-orders for New Year’s Eve must be made before Dec. 26 by calling Cape Seafood for in-store pickup. 801 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323)556-2525.

Ray’s and Stark Bar seasonal menu

This holiday season, entertain family and friends at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and make sure to stop by Ray’s for a seasonal meal prepared by executive chef Fernando Darin. Highlights on the menu include Mary’s duck confit with black truffle polenta, whole fried snapper for two and a dark chocolate pot de crème. For every $100 gift card purchased, Patina Restaurant Group, the owners of Ray’s, issues a bonus $20 gift card, now through Dec. 31. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323)857-6180.

Win a prize at Comoncy

Diners who purchase any item in December at Comoncy, including a coffee or one of chef Joseph Gillard’s dishes, will have the chance to win a range of prizes, including a 10 percent discount, free coffee, a 50 percent discount for an entrée, or a $25 or $50 gift card. Diners will be given their prize in a sealed envelope, but must return sometime between January through March with the envelope unopened to claim their reward. 10900 Wilshire Blvd., #170A, Los Angeles, (310)888-3620. 413 N. Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, (424)285-8874.

Golden tickets at Alexander’s Steakhouse

‘Tis the season for giving, and at Alexander’s Steakhouse, each table celebrating a special occasion in December will be given a golden ticket with their check. Inside one of these golden tickets one lucky winner will find a $250 Alexander’s gift certificate. 111 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, (626)486-1111.

Giveaway at Coral Tree Café

Throughout December, guests dining at the Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Encino Coral Tree Café will be given an envelope filled with a surprise giveaway to keep until 2019. Guests can come back between January through March to open the envelope in front of the cashier to claim their prize. 11645 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (310)979-8733. 225 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310)553-8733. 17499 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818)789-8733.

Holiday drinks at Rise-N-Grind Coffee & Juice Bar

Hollywood’s Rise-N-Grind gets into the holiday spirit with festive beverages such as a classic hot chocolate made with dark chocolate syrup, a toasted marshmallow latte with a double shot of espresso, a gingerbread latte topped with whipped cream and a gingerbread cookie, and a peppermint double shot latte with peppermint syrup and choice of milk. 6501 Hollywood Blvd., (323)553-8901.

Holiday vegan doughnuts

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken makes vegan doughnuts in three festive flavors that include vanilla, Nutella, and cinnamon sugar and gingerbread for the holidays. The vanilla is topped with a hot Madagascar vanilla glaze. The gingerbread doughnut is available only in December. A second Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken will be opening in Santa Monica in early 2019. 516 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles, (213)622-7876.