On Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 27, 2025 — many Starbucks stores will be open, but with significantly reduced hours compared to a regular day. Some stand-alone cafés may open early between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM, but many close by early afternoon — often between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

At the same time, other Starbucks locations may remain closed altogether. In many cases, whether a location is open depends on the store type and its surroundings: standalone company-owned cafés tend to reduce hours or close; whereas licensed Starbucks outlets inside big retail stores, grocery chains, airports, malls, or travel hubs often follow the opening hours of their host facility — which means they might stay open, depending on what the main store or location does for the holiday.

For example, imagine there’s a Starbucks inside a busy airport or large shopping mall. Even if many other outlets are closed or shut early, that one might still be serving, matching the schedule of the airport or mall. On the other hand, a small standalone café in a quiet neighbourhood might choose to close for the day or operate only for a short morning shift.

Because the situation varies so much from store to store, the only reliable way to know whether your local Starbucks will be open — and exactly when — is to use the official Starbucks store locator or mobile app. That will show you real-time holiday hours for your nearest branch. 

What This Means for You — Plan Ahead

If you’re planning to grab a holiday coffee or meet a friend at Starbucks on Thanksgiving morning, it’s smart to head out early — between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM is often the safest bet. By mid-afternoon, many cafés might already be closed. If you wait until later, you risk finding the store shut for the day.

If you’re traveling — for example, via an airport or through a mall — you have a better chance of finding an open Starbucks even later in the day. Licensed Starbucks stores in busy locations are more likely to stick to normal or near-normal hours.

And if getting your holiday drink is really important to you, checking the store locator a day or a few hours before helps avoid awkward surprises: nothing’s worse than showing up for your favourite latte and finding the door locked.

Why Starbucks Adjusts Hours on Thanksgiving

There are a few reasons for the reduced or variable hours on Thanksgiving. First, many of the company-owned stores close early to allow their baristas to spend the holiday with family.

Second, with fewer customers expected — especially in smaller towns or residential areas — it often doesn’t make sense to remain open all day. Running at full regular hours may not justify staffing and operational costs.

Third, for Starbucks outlets located inside other establishments (like grocery stores, airports, malls), the holiday hours of the host venue determine the Starbucks hours. So if the main store is closed for Thanksgiving, the Starbucks inside will also remain closed.