Panera Bread Menu
Independent guide to Panera menu prices and calories Not affiliated with Panera Bread
Independent guide Not affiliated with Panera Bread
Closure Alert
Panera Bread Christmas Day 2026
Hours, Closure Alert & The Survival Hack
Panera cafes commonly close on Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve hours are set cafe by cafe. This guide covers what to check, how to plan food for the 25th, and how to order ahead before the rush.
DEC 25
Often Closed
DEC 24
Check Hours
DEC 23
Order Ahead
APP
Your Cafe's Hours
Plan Ahead for Dec 25
Your complete Christmas Day plan starts with Christmas Eve prep
2026 Guide
The Christmas Eve Survival Guide
Here's the Christmas Eve shortcut most people miss
Christmas Day is the one day to plan on being without your local Panera, since cafes commonly close for it. That makes Christmas Eve the day that matters. Its hours are set by each cafe and are often shorter than usual, so look your cafe up in the Panera app. If you want catering trays, bakery boxes or soup for the 25th, order a few days ahead: the lead time your cafe needs is shown when you order.
Dec 23
Order Ahead
Dec 24
Collect Early
Dec 25
Often Closed
2026 Holiday Schedule: Dec 24 vs. Dec 25
One day you eat well. The other day, you plan ahead.
| Detail | Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) | Dec 25 (Christmas Day) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | OPEN | CLOSED |
| Hours | Set by cafe, often shorter | Commonly closed |
| Dine-In | ||
| Rapid Pick-Up | ||
| Delivery | ||
| Catering Pickup | Yes (order ahead) | |
| Sip Club | Active until close | N/A (closed) |
Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) OPEN
Hours: Set by cafe, often shorter
Dine-In: Available
Rapid Pick-Up: Available
Delivery: Available
Catering: Yes (order ahead)
Sip Club: Active until close
Dec 25 (Christmas Day) CLOSED
Cafes commonly close, so plan on no dine-in, delivery or pickup.
Airport and travel plaza cafes can differ. Check the app.
Panera publishes no national holiday timetable. Check your cafe in the Panera app or on our hours page before you go.
Stock Up Dec 24th
Fresh baguettes, lattes and pastries for Christmas Eve
The Christmas Day Survival Kit
How to have Panera food on a day your cafe is closed
Collect on Christmas Eve, Reheat on the Day
If your cafe is closed on the 25th, a group soup and a whole loaf are the easiest things to buy on Christmas Eve and serve the next day. Keep the soup refrigerated and reheat it until piping hot, following any storage guidance that comes with the order. Soup prices from our menu snapshot are on the Panera soups page, and the loaves are on the bakery page.
Check Christmas Eve Hours Early
Christmas Eve hours are set locally and are often shorter than usual. Look your cafe up in the Panera app a few days before, then again on the morning of the 24th, so an afternoon plan does not end at a locked door.
What to Do When Your Panera Is Closed
Four practical options for December 25
Panera does not publish a national reason or rule for Christmas Day, and closing is decided cafe by cafe, but Christmas is one of the days many restaurant chains close so staff can have the day off. If your cafe is shut, these are the ways around it.
Go on Dec 24
Shift the tradition by one day. Check your cafe's Christmas Eve hours first, since they are often shorter.
Stock Up Dec 23
Extra loaves, cream cheese spreads and pastries, bought ahead and stored at home for the holiday.
Dec 26 Brunch
Cafes generally reopen on the 26th, with hours set locally. A good day for a meal when nobody wants to cook again.
Other Open Spots
Some restaurants and diners open on Christmas Day. Check their own sites or ring ahead, because holiday hours vary.
A Gift Card Still Works on the Day
If you forgot a present, an e-Gift Card can be sent through Panera's website or app on Christmas Day itself. Any holiday gift card offer Panera runs appears on its own gift card page, and we do not list offers we cannot confirm. For a regular coffee drinker, our Sip Club guide explains how the drinks membership works.
How to Check Your Local Hours
Three ways to confirm before you drive
Panera App
Choose your cafe to see the hours it has filed. Our mobile app guide covers the rest of what the app does.
Call the Store
Most reliable for franchise locations. Staff can confirm exact close time and whether catering pickup is still available.
Our Hours Page
Our Panera hours page lists the 2026 holiday dates and a phone number for every US cafe.
Your 4-Day Christmas Panera Plan
Day-by-day, so nothing slips through the cracks
Dec 23
Order Day
- Place catering order on app
- Reserve Group Soup tub
- Check Christmas Eve hours in the app
Dec 24
Pickup Day
- Pick up catering early in the day
- Grab sourdough loaf + pastries
- Allow for a shorter day at the cafe
Dec 25
Closed Day
- Plan for your cafe to be closed
- Reheat the soup until piping hot
- Slice sourdough + serve pastries
Dec 26
Back to Normal
- Cafes reopen, hours set locally
- Post-holiday brunch with family
- Check hours before you go
The Christmas Eve Panera Shopping List
Walk in with this list on Dec 24th. Walk out with two days of food handled.
For Christmas Morning Breakfast
- A Baker's Dozen of bagels
- Cream cheese spreads
- A selection of pastries
- Coffee to brew at home
For Christmas Day Lunch/Dinner
- A group-size soup
- A whole sourdough loaf
- A sandwich tray
- A box of cookies
Prices vary from cafe to cafe, so check them in the app or on our pages before you go: the bakery page covers bagels, loaves and pastries, and the catering page covers trays and group soups, both from our latest menu snapshot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Panera on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Is Panera Bread open on Christmas Day 2026?
Plan for it to be closed. Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026, and Panera cafes commonly close for the day. Panera publishes no national holiday timetable, and cafes in airports or travel plazas can differ, so check the Panera app before you drive.
What are Panera's hours on Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve hours are set by each cafe and are often shorter than usual. Check your cafe in the Panera app a day or two before, and place any catering order early, since the lead time your cafe needs is shown when you order.
Does Panera do catering for Christmas Eve parties?
Yes. Panera's catering menu of sandwich trays, salads, soups and bakery boxes is available for gatherings. Book early for Christmas Eve, and check the notice your cafe needs, which is shown when you order.
How can I have Panera food on Christmas Day if my cafe is closed?
Collect it on Christmas Eve. A group soup and a whole loaf are the easiest to hold over: keep the soup refrigerated and reheat it until piping hot on the day, following any storage guidance given with the order.
Does the Unlimited Sip Club work on Christmas Eve?
Yes, on any day your cafe is open. The drink allowance follows the program's normal rules, which our Sip Club guide explains. If your cafe shortens its Christmas Eve hours, plan around the earlier close.
When does Panera reopen after Christmas?
Cafes generally reopen on Saturday, December 26, with hours set by each cafe. Cafes inside malls may follow the shopping center's schedule.
Can I buy Panera gift cards on Christmas Eve?
Yes. Physical gift cards are sold in cafes while they are open, and e-Gift Cards can be bought through the Panera website or app at any time, including on Christmas Day.
Is Panera open on New Year's Day?
New Year's Day hours are set cafe by cafe, and some cafes open with shorter hours. Check the Panera app for yours, and see our New Year guide for what to plan.
Does Panera have special Christmas bakery items?
Seasonal bakery items change each year and are announced by Panera, so check the app for what your cafe has in December. If your cafe closes on the 25th, buy anything you want for the day on Christmas Eve.
How do I check my local Panera's Christmas Eve hours?
Open the Panera app, choose your cafe and check the hours shown, or ring the cafe. Check a day or two before, because holiday hours are set locally and can change.
MC
Marcus Cole
Site Owner
Marcus runs this independent guide. Panera publishes no national holiday timetable, so this page gives the dates and what to check rather than opening times. Menu prices elsewhere on the site come from a snapshot of Panera's own menu records.
Plan Your Holiday Panera Run
Plan for the 25th to be closed. Check your cafe's Christmas Eve and December 26 hours in the app, stock up on the 24th, and the holiday is covered.
Visit our menu page for the latest prices and nutritional info.
