Breaking: Here is how Starbucks is handling Christmas Day this year. Many company operated stores will be dark. Yet the familiar green siren will still glow in a few key spots. If you are flying, working a hospital shift, or posted in a hotel lobby, you may still get that holiday latte. Plan now, and you will not miss your cup. ☕️
What Starbucks is doing on Christmas Day
Starbucks’ pattern holds. Most company operated cafés plan to close on Christmas Day. Licensed locations decide locally. That means some doors stay open, especially where travel and essential work do not stop.
Think of the brand in two parts. Neighborhood cafés usually rest for the holiday. Partner run units inside airports, hospitals, casinos, hotels, and grocery stores often set separate hours. Many of those will pour.
Most company operated Starbucks will close on Christmas Day. Licensed locations set their own hours and may open.
The menu can shift too. Expect a tighter list if you find an open outlet. Seasonal flavors may run out by afternoon. Milk swaps might be limited at smaller kiosks.
Where you can still get a cup
Christmas morning coffee has a rhythm. Airport concourses wake up early. Travelers want peppermint mochas before boarding. Hospital workers need warm cups between rounds. Hotel lobbies hum as families gather, waiting for brunch. In these places, Starbucks often stays on.
- Airports, major hubs and some regional terminals
- Hospitals and medical centers
- Casinos and large hotels
- Select grocery stores with in store cafés
If you lean Dunkin or a local roaster, the same rule applies. Mixed hours. Many independents close for family time. Some keep a skeleton crew for morning service. Call before you bundle up.
Licensed stores may change hours at the last minute. Some limit app features and rewards redemptions.
How to check fast
You have three quick paths to the truth. Use them before you leave the house.
- Open the Starbucks app, tap Stores, and look for the Holiday Hours banner.
- Use the store locator on Starbucks.com and filter by Open Now.
- Call the café. Ask for Christmas Day hours and last drink times.
If you are flying, also check your terminal map. Airport Starbucks can move lines quickly, but security delays eat time. Add a buffer.
Order ahead only if the app shows your location as taking mobile orders. If it is grayed out, walk up.
Make the holiday cup at home
No open café near you. No problem. Bring the ritual into your kitchen. The simplest move is a Peppermint Mocha. Make strong coffee or espresso. Heat milk with cocoa powder and a touch of sugar. Stir until glossy. Add two drops of peppermint extract, not more, it is strong. Pour over the coffee. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. It tastes like a walk past twinkle lights.
If you like warm spice, try gingerbread cold foam over iced coffee. Blend cold milk with a tablespoon of cream, a spoon of brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, and a tiny dash of clove. Whip with a handheld frother until thick and silky. Float it over iced coffee. It is festive, calm, and very sippable.
Set a small coffee bar for guests. Line up syrups, citrus peel, and a jar of nutmeg. Keep hot water on for tea drinkers. Put out panettone, cinnamon rolls, or leftover pie. The spread turns morning into a slow, cozy meal.
The bigger picture
Holiday coffee is culture, not just caffeine. Closing most cafés gives baristas a full day to celebrate. Leaving some licensed units open keeps travel and essential work humane. Both truths can live together. We still get that shared language of cups and steam.
For many, one open Starbucks is a landing pad, a place to gather before family plans or a late shift. For others, the home brew becomes the main event. The food trend that matters here is ritual. Small, simple comforts. Bright flavors like peppermint and ginger. Cozy textures like foam and whipped cream. Warm bread on the side. It fits the season, with or without a green apron nearby.
Here is the bottom line. Expect most neighborhood Starbucks to be closed on Christmas Day. Look to airports, hospitals, casinos, hotels, and some groceries for open doors. Check the app, the locator, or the phone before you go. If nothing is open, you can still pour the holiday into your mug at home. Plan it now, and your Christmas coffee will be smooth, not stressed.
