Christmas dinner with friends in Lucca: a table for your group in the old town
In short. If you’re looking for a restaurant for a holiday get-together or a Christmas dinner with friends in Lucca, Tomkat is a wine bar with a kitchen at Via Calderia 12, in the old town, 70 meters from the Christmas forest in Piazza San Michele. We’re open Monday to Saturday from 6 to 11 pm, including Tuesday, December 8, plus Sunday, December 20; on December 24 we close at 10 pm, and on December 25 and 26 we’re closed. For the whole table there’s our shared tasting menu, currently 40 euros per person, with a pairing of 3, 5 or 7 wines from 20 euros; for the toast, there’s Champagne.
December evenings
In December, before Christmas, there are six Fridays and Saturdays: if you have your eye on one of them, it’s worth booking early. We’re closed on Sundays, with one exception: on Sunday, December 20, we’re open from 6 to 11 pm.
- Fridays and Saturdays: December 4 and 5, 11 and 12, 18 and 19, from 6 to 11 pm.
- Tuesday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: open from 6 to 11 pm.
- Monday, December 21, to Wednesday, December 23: open from 6 to 11 pm.
- Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve: open from 6 to 10 pm.
- Friday, December 25, and Saturday, December 26: closed.
- Monday, December 28, to Wednesday, December 30: open from 6 to 11 pm, for anyone getting together after Christmas.
What’s on the table
Our dishes go in the middle of the table, for everyone to share. The menu has two parts, Kitchen and Pantry, and changes with the seasons; our June, September and October menus all included lasagna, meatballs and salt cod with chickpea purée. There are always a few vegetarian options. The current menu is on the Menu page.
If you’d rather not order dish by dish, there’s our shared tasting menu: it’s ordered for the whole table and is currently 40 euros per person. The pairing, with 3, 5 or 7 wines, starts at 20 euros.
The toast
We only serve wine: no cocktails, Prosecco or beer. For your holiday toast, there’s Champagne. Our list has almost 200 labels from Italy and France, from Tuscany to Piedmont and from Burgundy to Bordeaux, and has earned Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence.
If you’d like to start at 6 pm with a tasting, our themed tastings, such as Champagne or Tuscan reds, can be booked for groups of 4 or more on the Tastings page.
How to book for your group
- Online: on OpenTable, from the Book page.
- On WhatsApp or by phone: at +39 376 203 5395, if you can’t find the night or time you want.
- Card as a guarantee: for groups of 4 or more, we’ll ask for one when you book.
- Allergies and intolerances: please tell us when you book. We accommodate them as far as our kitchen allows, although we can’t completely rule out cross-contamination.
For more tips on choosing a place, see our guide to choosing a restaurant for small groups in Lucca.
If you’re a big group
For a bigger Christmas get-together, we can reserve the whole venue for you: the dining room, the mezzanine and the wine cellar on display, for up to 60 seated guests. For exclusive events, we can also consider other days and times. You’ll find the details on the Private parties and events page. If it’s a company dinner, see our article on the company Christmas dinner in Lucca.
Before or after dinner: Christmas in the old town
From late November to January 6, it’s Lucca Magico Natale, the city’s Christmas season. In Piazza San Michele, 70 meters from us, there’s a big illuminated tree and a Christmas forest: a good place to meet, including for friends coming in from the Lucca plain, Pisa or the Versilia coast. The Christmas market is in Piazza Napoleone, 300 meters away, from November 22 to January 6. The program is on the City of Lucca’s tourism website; markets, lights and our holiday hours are also in our Christmas in Lucca guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where can we have Christmas dinner with friends in central Lucca?
Tomkat is at Via Calderia 12, 70 meters from Piazza San Michele, and is open Monday to Saturday from 6 to 11 pm, with dishes for sharing and almost 200 wines from Italy and France.
How much does a holiday dinner with friends at Tomkat cost?
The shared tasting menu is currently 40 euros per person, and the pairing of 3, 5 or 7 wines starts at 20 euros. If you order à la carte, the total depends on the dishes and bottles you choose.
Can you host a big group for Christmas dinner?
Yes: for big groups we can reserve the whole venue, for up to 60 seated guests. You’ll find the details on the Private parties and events page.
What do we need to book a Christmas dinner for a group of friends?
Book on OpenTable from the Book page, or on WhatsApp or by phone at +39 376 203 5395. For groups of 4 or more, we ask for a card as a guarantee.
Are you open on Christmas Day and December 26?
No: we’re closed on December 25 and 26. On Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, we’re open from 6 to 10 pm.
Where can we park?
We’re in the old town, at Via Calderia 12: for tips on the most convenient parking, call us or message us on WhatsApp at +39 376 203 5395.
The Tomkat team