Most businesses shut down on December 25th, but a few essentials stay open for last-minute needs. In the US, pharmacies and convenience stores remain some of the most reliable stops. For example, CVS and Walgreens keep many locations open (with reduced hours) on Christmas Day. Likewise, 24/7 chains like 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, Speedway, and Sheetz continue operating around the clock. Gas stations and highway travel centers (e.g. Pilot Flying J, Love’s) also stay open to fuel travelers.

• Pharmacies & Convenience: Most CVS and Walgreens stores will be open (though pharmacies may close early). Nearly all 24-hour locations (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc.) operate as usual, and locally owned drugstores in urban areas may stay open. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Cumberland Farms and Circle K typically run 24/7, stocking snacks, drinks and basic groceries.

• Gas Stations & Travel Stops: Major gas station chains (Shell, Exxon, BP, etc.) and truck-stop chains remain staffed on Christmas Day. Large travel plazas (Pilot, Flying J, Love’s, etc.) provide fuel, restrooms and fast-food outlets for road-trippers.

• Restaurants & Fast Food: Certain restaurants are open on Christmas, often with limited menus or hours. Denny’s, IHOP and similar diners serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Waffle House – famous for its “always open” policy – keeps all locations open 24/7 on Christmas. Many fast-food chains (McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc.) allow franchisees to open; in practice, large metro areas have at least a few branches (especially drive-thru) operating. Chinese takeout and pizza delivery are also common options (Chinese restaurants often report Christmas as their busiest day).

• Hotels & Hospitality: Hotels and resorts always remain open year-round. Hotel restaurants and bars often serve Christmas meals or allow room service. Airports, train stations and cruise terminals continue to function; their food courts and cafes (often Starbucks or fast-food kiosks) may stay open to serve travelers.

• Entertainment & Other Services: Movie theaters in major cities often run holiday showings of new releases. While local-mall cinemas are usually closed, some downtown or destination theaters (especially those owned by national chains) hold Christmas movie screenings. Similarly, tourist attractions (museums, tours) are mostly closed on Dec. 25, but city parks, trails and outdoor markets remain accessible.

Major Chains Open on Christmas Day

Many national or regional chains make sure to have some outlets open on Christmas, though hours vary by location. For example:

• Coffee Shops: Most standalone Starbucks stores close on Christmas Day, but a handful in airports, hotels or busy transit hubs stay open for limited hours. Starbucks itself advises checking its app or website for holiday hours. Dunkin’ follows a similar pattern: many Dunkin’ locations (especially big-city or highway ones) will be open, often with a limited menu. Local coffee shops and small bakeries in urban areas may also open – for instance, in London some bakery chains (Gail’s) even give away free treats.

• Diners & Family Restaurants: Chains like Denny’s, IHOP, Applebee’s, Perkins and Waffle House deliberately staff for Christmas. Denny’s and IHOP traditionally serve breakfast and dinner on Christmas. Waffle House (present in many US cities) is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Other casual chains – Golden Corral, Huddle House, Cracker Barrel and Red Lobster – often operate select locations or offer special holiday menus.

• Fast-Food Chains: Franchise fast-food outlets vary by owner, but McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell (some urban branches), and similar have many locations open (mostly for drive-thru). Krispy Kreme donut shops usually sell out early as well. (Notably, chains like Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell typically close entirely.)

• Pharmacies & Drugstores: CVS and Walgreens are open Christmas Day, though exact hours differ by store. In large cities, you can find open drugstores late at night or with limited 10am–5pm service. 7-Eleven, Wawa, Cumberland Farms and other c-stores are reliable spots for last-minute items.

• Convenience/Gas: All major 7-Eleven and Circle K stores (nearly all open 24/7) remain staffed. This includes even small-town locations. Pilot Flying J and Love’s Travel Stops (on highways) stay open round-the-clock to serve travel needs. If you’re in a city like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, you can usually find a 24-hour deli, bodega or drugstore that’s open.

• International & Specialty: In major metro areas with diverse communities, ethnic businesses keep Christmas hours. For example, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants and grocery stores in Chinatowns or Koreatowns often open their doors. In London’s Chinatown, many Chinese restaurants (China Modern, Lotus Garden, etc.) announce they’ll serve on Dec. 25. Similarly in Toronto and New York, Asian supermarkets and kosher diners may operate normally.

Regional and Local Variations

There’s a big difference between cities and small towns on Christmas. In rural areas or small suburbs, options dwindle to basically gas stations and maybe one local store – often shut early or run on skeleton staff. By contrast, large tourist cities (New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, etc.) have many of the open chains and hotel restaurants available due to high demand.

Local laws can also affect what’s open. For instance, many U.S. states have “blue laws” that restrict sales of alcohol (and sometimes large retail) on Sundays and holidays; liquor stores are almost universally closed on Christmas. In Canada, retail in cities like Toronto is generally closed by law, except in tourist zones. In the UK, Christmas Day is a statutory holiday requiring most shops to stay closed – even London’s famous Oxford Street shops must shut down. However, London pubs (Young’s, Greene King, Wetherspoon’s, etc.) often open for a few hours at lunchtime, and several bakery chains (like Gail’s) stay open to combat loneliness. In Australia’s big cities (Sydney, Melbourne), many cafes, restaurants and beachside venues open for Christmas lunch,

whereas rural Outback towns have virtually nothing running.

In Sydney (Australia), a variety of restaurants and cafes – from upscale hotels to beachside eateries – stay open on Christmas Day. For example, Bennelong at the Opera House and Chiosco by Ormeggio (Mosman) serve festive meals, and local pubs run holiday hours.

In Toronto, most malls and grocery chains close, but upscale hotel restaurants (Ritz-Carlton’s TOCA, Shangri-La’s Bosk) take Christmas reservations. Neighborhood spots – especially Asian and multicultural eateries in Koreatown or Little Italy – often open, as well as Middle Eastern bakeries and delis in diverse areas. In all international cities, use local online guides or OpenTable to find the few restaurants with service that day.

Tips for Travelers and Residents

• Check online tools. Use Google Maps or your favorite maps app with filters like “Open now” or search “restaurants (or pharmacy) open on Christmas”. Google often flags holiday hours for chains. Delivery apps (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub) also indicate which restaurants are taking orders.

• Call ahead. Always verify hours by calling the specific location. Chain store locators and websites (like Starbucks, CVS, etc.) sometimes list holiday schedules, but franchise owners can vary opening times. A quick phone call can save a wasted trip.

• Use hotel/concierge help. If you’re staying in a hotel, the concierge usually knows which nearby places (cafés, pharmacies) are open on Christmas. Hotel front desks have lists of 24-hour pharmacies, gas stations and emergency services.

• Plan food and supplies early. Virtually all grocery stores are closed, so pick up perishables (milk, bread, meat) by Dec. 24. In a pinch, convenience stores or corner delis (if open) will be your only source for food and basic supplies on Dec. 25.

• Prepare for emergencies. If you or someone is sick, know your nearest 24/7 hospital or urgent care. Pharmacies inside hospitals remain open. And remember: public transit often halts on Christmas Day (no trains/subway, limited buses), so plan your trip using rideshares or taxis if needed.

By keeping these tips in mind and relying on the chains and services known to stay open, travelers and locals can avoid being stranded on Christmas Day. When in doubt, double-check with locals or official sources before heading out, and remember that afterdark stores (gas stations, some pharmacies) will be your last refuge on this holiday.