Thanksgiving Getaways: Where to Celebrate, Relax, and Feast in Southern California

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, more travelers are trading kitchen prep for festive getaways that blend great dining, relaxation, and holiday tradition. From the sun-drenched desert to the Pacific coastline, these standout California hotels and resorts offer memorable ways to gather and give thanks.

Whether you want a glamorous celebration in the city, a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature, or a classic coastal Thanksgiving with ocean views, here are holiday escapes worth considering.

Desert Thanksgiving

La Quinta Resort & Club, La Quinta

Framed by the Santa Rosa Mountains, La Quinta Resort & Club pairs Hollywood legacy with modern luxury for a sun-soaked Thanksgiving retreat. Guests can choose from three special holiday dining experiences.

Adobe Grill adds a Mexican twist with dishes including turkey roulade, lamb stew, apple salad, and bread pudding. Twenty6 offers a festive menu featuring elevated takes on Thanksgiving classics. Morgan’s in the Desert serves a refined holiday dinner with herb-crusted turkey breast, sweet potato cheesecake, and seasonal sides. Signature cocktails make the celebration even more special.

Reservations: Visit the resort online to book.

City Thanksgiving

Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles

In the heart of Century City, Fairmont Century Plaza creates a polished and effortless Thanksgiving celebration. Lumière features a prix-fixe holiday dinner with seasonal soup or garden salad, herb-roasted turkey breast roulade with traditional sides, and a choice of pumpkin crème caramel or Bahibe-spiced shortbread with brown sugar cream. Elegant service and a sophisticated setting make this a standout Los Angeles holiday dining experience.

Reservations: Available through the hotel’s website.

Hideaway Thanksgiving

Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai

For a peaceful getaway, Ojai Valley Inn offers a serene holiday surrounded by rolling hills and golden sunsets. The Farmhouse hosts a Thanksgiving Grand Buffet celebrating local produce, seasonal entrees, desserts, and sparkling beverages. Families can enjoy a classic buffet at The Oak, while Olivella offers a three-course menu inspired by the flavors of the season. Whether dining fireside or outdoors, this is a warm and intimate way to celebrate.

Reservations: Book online.

Coastal Thanksgiving

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach

Celebrate with ocean breezes and endless views at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. The Huntington Ballroom hosts a Thanksgiving buffet from noon to 4 p.m. with roasted turkey, prime rib, honey-glazed ham, pumpkin maple bisque, roasted root vegetables, and fall-inspired salads. Pumpkin pie, apple cobbler, s’mores bars, and other sweet treats complete the feast. Guests can also choose a three-course Thanksgiving menu at Watertable, a traditional turkey special at Pete’s Sunset Grille, or in-room dining.

Reservations: Visit hyattregencyhuntingtonbeach.com.

Oceanfront Thanksgiving

Shore Hotel, Santa Monica

Shore Hotel invites guests to gather at Shoreside Restaurant & Bar for a Thanksgiving feast overlooking the Pacific. Served Thursday, Nov. 27, from noon to 10 p.m., the holiday menu includes roasted turkey with housemade cranberry sauce, aromatic stuffing, whipped potatoes, sautéed green beans, roasted acorn squash soup, and pumpkin pie with vanilla bourbon whipped cream. Thanksgiving specials are offered alongside the full Shoreside menu. It is the restaurant’s first Thanksgiving celebration and a beautiful new beachfront tradition.

Reservations: Book online through the restaurant.

Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, San Diego

Marina Kitchen & Bar hosts a waterfront Thanksgiving dinner buffet on Thursday, Nov. 27, from 4 to 9 p.m. The menu features citrus-brined smoked Diestel turkey breast, slow-roasted prime rib, seafood cioppino, Moroccan lamb chops, and a vegan meatloaf option. Classic sides include Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf, candy yams, and mac and cheese. Dessert highlights include pumpkin cheesecake, sweet potato crème brûlée, pecan pie, and apple cobbler. Pricing begins at $95 per adult and $39 per child, plus tax and service charge.

Reservations: Available on the hotel’s website.

Image Courtesy Fairmont Century Plaza

HAVEN Honors Taco Asylum with New Taco Tuesday Menu

HAVEN craft kitchen+bar has introduced a new Taco Tuesday menu featuring inventive, globally inspired tacos that celebrate a beloved Orange County favorite from more than a decade ago, Taco Asylum.

Taco Asylum opened in 2011 as the sister restaurant to HAVEN and quickly gained a loyal following for its non-traditional, gourmet tacos influenced by flavors from around the world. 

Known for creative ingredients, house-made sauces, sustainable meats and seafood, and support of local farms and vendors, the restaurant made its mark before changing ownership and later closing. It left a noticeable gap in Orange County’s dining scene.

HAVEN is bringing that spirit back every Tuesday with its new à la carte menu available all day. Executive Chef Scott Green has created a lineup that includes:

Braised Pachamama Pork
salsa quemada, smoked pork cracklings

Beer Battered Icelandic Cod
chili-lime slaw, aji crema, pico

Steak Alambre
beef filet, bacon, panela cheese, pickled serrano, bone marrow aioli

Charred Spanish Octopus
smoked shishito chimichurri, charred scallion aioli, crispy bistro potato

Duck Confit
mole, avocado crema, pickled onion, cotija, pico, cilantro

Sofritas
tofu chorizo, avocado, pico

The beverage team has also created agave-based cocktails that pair with the bold flavors. Highlights include the Scorched Earth, a margarita variation with Pueblo Viejo tequila, mezcal habanero honey, mango and lime, and Mexican Morphine with Pueblo Viejo tequila, mezcal, coconut pineapple, orange, lime and aromatic bitters. Guests can also explore an extensive list of craft beer, wine and spirits.

Taco Tuesday is offered from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for in-house dining. For reservations and details, visit HAVENCraftKitchen.com.

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar
190 S. Glassell St.
Orange, CA 92866
714-221-0680

Costa Mesa Welcomes Sweetgreen’s New Sweetlane

Sweetgreen is set to open its latest Orange County location in Costa Mesa at 280 Bristol St. on Tuesday, November 18, featuring the brand’s first Infinite Kitchen “sweetlane.”

On opening day, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can enjoy special treats while supplies last, including:

• Free mini scoops from Stella Jean’s Ice Cream
• A chance to win a 9-foot-4 surfboard courtesy of Daydream Surf Shop
• Vintage VW vans and photo opportunities with A Timeless Day
• Fall candles from Happy Organics
• Sweetgreen swag and more

For every meal purchased on opening day, Sweetgreen will donate a meal to Food Finders to support individuals in Orange County experiencing food insecurity.

The new 2,223-square-foot restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving popular salads, warm bowls, protein plates, and sides. Guests can enjoy favorites such as the Harvest Bowl, Crispy Rice Bowl, Caramelized Garlic Steak, and Miso Glazed Salmon. The Fall Seasonal Menu will also be available for a limited time and features roasted tomatoes, candied pumpkin seeds, and maple-glazed Brussels sprouts.

This location is the first to introduce the Infinite Kitchen sweetlane in Orange County. Guests can place digital orders in advance and pick them up directly through the drive-up lane, combining Sweetgreen’s signature hospitality with the efficiency of its advanced technology.

280 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.