Breaking: Here is the plan for Starbucks on Christmas Day. Most company operated stores plan to go dark for the holiday. The lights will stay on at select licensed counters, especially in airports, hotels, hospitals, and grocery stores. If you are plotting your holiday coffee run, here is how to navigate the morning.
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What will be open on Christmas Day
Starbucks treats December 25 as a major holiday. Corporate locations often close to give teams the day with family. That pattern holds again this year. Expect your neighborhood cafe to be closed unless it sits inside a larger venue.
Licensed partners set their own hours. These are the counters at airport terminals, big grocery chains, hotel lobbies, university centers, and some hospitals. Many of those plan slim holiday windows, often morning only. Menus can also be pared back. Think core espresso, drip, and a few holiday syrups, not the full playbook.
Christmas Eve and the days around it typically run on reduced schedules. Opening may start later. Closing may come early. The smart move is to check before you head out.
Holiday hours can change midday because of weather, staffing, or security needs. Do not rely on yesterday’s sign on the door.
How to check your store right now
I confirmed the three fastest ways to verify a location before you put on a coat. Use them in this order if you can.
- Open the Starbucks app, tap Stores, then filter for Open now. Confirm hours and Mobile Order availability.
- Use the online store locator. Enter your zip code, then tap the specific cafe for today’s holiday hours.
- Call the store. Licensed counters sometimes post different hours than the main site.
If Mobile Order is on, send your drink in before you leave the house. Holiday lines move slowly.
Your holiday coffee plan, solved
Treat Christmas morning like a special service. If your usual cafe is closed, pivot to places that tend to run every day of the year. Hotel lobby bars brew for guests early. Airport kiosks push volume at dawn. Grocery store counters keep modest hours for last minute shoppers. Independent bakeries often open for pie pickup and will pour drip.
If you do land at a licensed Starbucks, be ready for small tweaks. Baristas may skip complex custom builds to keep the line moving. That can be a blessing. Holiday flavors shine when they are simple and balanced.
Some licensed locations do not accept Starbucks Rewards redemptions or Mobile Order. Pricing and refills may differ.
Make it festive at home
No Starbucks nearby. No problem. You can build cozy cafe flavor in ten minutes. The trick is a bold base and a punch of holiday aromatics.
For a peppermint mocha, whisk equal parts hot cocoa and strong coffee. Add a shot of espresso if you have it. Stir in a few drops of peppermint extract, not too much, then crown with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.
For a sugar cookie latte, warm milk with a spoon of brown sugar and a splash of vanilla. Pull an espresso or use concentrated moka pot coffee. Stir together, then dust with nutmeg and a pinch of salt to keep it grown up.
Craving a spicy hug. Steep black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, and clove. Combine with hot milk and a touch of maple. It is chai by the tree, and it sings with leftover cookies.
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Small moves that make a big difference
Here are tight, useful tweaks for the smoothest holiday sip.
- Freeze coffee ice cubes tonight to chill iced drinks without dilution.
- Pre grind beans before bed and set your brewer timer.
- Warm mugs with hot water so drinks stay cozy longer.
- Load a Starbucks e gift card for any last minute host gift.
If Starbucks is closed, try this
Coffee culture does not stop for Christmas. It just shifts. Convenience stores keep urns hot at dawn. Some chains, like Dunkin and Tim Hortons in Canada, leave select doors open with abbreviated hours. Local diners pour bottomless cups and serve cinnamon rolls that taste like morning cheer. These are not backups. They are part of the holiday table.
Remember, menus tighten everywhere on a holiday. Fewer syrups, fewer pastries, and sometimes no alternative milks. Go with a classic build and add flavor at home. A twist of citrus over hot espresso is bright and beautiful. A teaspoon of jam in black tea is old school and perfect.
The bottom line
On Christmas Day, count on most corporate Starbucks stores being closed. A patchwork of licensed cafes, especially in travel and hospitality hubs, will open for short windows. Check the app, the locator, or the phone before you head out. If your green siren is dark, celebrate the broader coffee world or lean into a simple, homemade cup. Either way, your holiday mug will be full.
