Christmas Dining in London
© Kalen Armstrong
Christmas sandwiches, turkey burgers and sprout specials, we've compiled a roundup of our best festive menu offerings, from traditional Valencian paella at Arros QD to pumpkin and amoretto ravioli at Covent Garden's Margot. Read on to find out the best London restaurants serving a Christmas feast.
Main courses £19.50-£42
34 Mayfair
34 Mayfair,
34 Grosvenor Square London, W1K 2HD
American Cuisine
34 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, W1K 2HD
Tube: Bond Street Station
Immerse yourself in a roomful of baubles at 34 Mayfair where its stunning Christmas installation sees the restaurant covered with 8,400 colourful, shiny orbs. At London's most luxurious winter grotto every inch of the ceiling and walls of the restaurant's Emin Room - the first floor private dining space featuring Tracey Emin artworks - has been embellished by luxurious decorations. Settle in for brunch, lunch or dinner at the Caprice Group restaurant and enjoy Moet & Chandon Champagne cocktails with your food. Everyone who comes for weekend brunch - big or small - can visit Father Christmas who'll be on hand to greet guests and add a sackful of festive cheer.
Seasonal five course tasting menu £65
Clos Maggiore
Clos Maggiore,
33 King Street, Covent Garden London, WC2E 8JD
French Cuisine
33 King Street, Covent Garden, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JD
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Leicester Square Station, Charing Cross Station
This independent culinary gem in the vicinity of Covent Garden provides an endearing glimpse of rural southern France. Clos Maggiore is centred on a cosy, indoor courtyard festooned with decorative branches which come into full bloom when the glass roofs slide open in summer. In cooler months, discretely placed mirrors reflect the crackling light of a log fire, illuminating a lush, leaf-covered archway. The modern European menu is inspired by the tastes and traditions of France, with a focus on quality ingredients and an award-winning, international wine list that features over 30 bottles by the glass.
Festive menus start at £55
Balthazar
Balthazar,
4-7 Russell Street London, WC2B 5HZ
Brasseries
4-7 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5HZ
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Leicester Square Station
Keith McNally's Parisian-style brasserie Balthazar brings candy canes and the gingerbread man to Covent Garden - and that's before you've even walked through the door. The all-day brasserie in Covent Garden creates a very Christmass-y welcome with its entrance. Once through the doors you'll be treated to a selection of three festive set menus. Choices include burrata with blistered vine tomatoes and basil olive oil, steak tartare with baked croutons, filet de boeuf with bone marrow, pont-neuf potatoes and sauce Bordelaise or sauce au poivre and vegetarian cottage pie. Balthazar Christmas pudding with cognac creme anglaise and profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce give you something sweet to finish with.
Festive set menu £27 (two courses), £32 (3 courses)
Bluebird Chelsea
Bluebird Chelsea,
350 Kings Road, Chelsea London, SW3 5UU
British Cuisine
350 Kings Road, Chelsea, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UU
Tube: South Kensington Station
Chelsea favourite Bluebird brings the magic of Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake to the King's Road. The magical theme is brought to life with charming wooden chalets in which you can get warm and toasty with faux-fur blankets, while enjoying the winter menu and CIROC vodka cocktails - who are partners for the winter pop-up. The drinks menu includes a White Spritz, made with white grape vodka, sauvignon blanc and chandon; Swandive, a combination of vodka, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, ginger bread syrup and egg white; as well as Spellbound, featuring vodka, homemade pine syrup, mint leaves, cranberry and lime. The festive cocktails are available to those dining in the chalets as well as upstairs in the bar.
£75 per person
Wilton Place, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7RL
Tube: Hyde Park Corner Station
, Knightsbridge Station
A different industry tastemaker creates a standout cake for afternoon tea at The Berkeley each month and for Christmas 2019 Simon Miller's 'Bonsai' bag is added to the main Pret-a-Portea collection. Co-created by FLOWERBX founder Whitney Bromberg Hawkings and The Berkeley, this Victoria sponge recreates this season's It bag with a wreath as its handles. Afternoon tea at The Berkeley is for those who like to mix tradition with innovation. While the traditional elements of the meal still remain, the Berkeley has added its own creative twists to the ritual, bringing this century's old institution into the 21st century by producing cakes and pastries inspired by each fashion season's catwalk designs. Eclairs, cupcakes and shortbread biscuits are all set for a makeover every month in the styles of top fashion designers such as Christian Dior, Emanuel Ungaro and Diane von Furstenburg. Pret-a-Portea - the Fashionista's Afternoon Tea - consists of a choice selection of loose leaf teas and herbal infusions together with a delectable selection of cakes, pastries and savouries all presented in a cutting-edge style to match the current catwalk.
Two night stay 24th to 26th December from £1379 per room
The Betterment
The Betterment,
44 Grosvenor Square London, W1K 2HP
British Cuisine
44 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 2HP
Tube: Bond Street Station
If you really want to go for gold, book in for Christmas Day at The Betterment, Jason Atherton's classy restaurant within The Biltmore, one of London's hottest hotel openings of 2019. On Mayfair's Grosvenor Square, the restaurant's Christmas Day celebrations begin with a menu of indulgent dishes like fois gras and truffle parfait, Laurel Farm bronze turkey or Buccleuch beef fillet with traditional garnishes. Entertainers including a four-piece live band, a close-up magician and a caricaturist are laid on to make the occasion truly special. The fine good continues on into Boxing Day when a four-course brunch is served with Scottish lobster scrambled egg with truffle as well as vanilla waffle with maple syrup and quince. For the full package, stay at the hotel - forget the washing up, you won't even have to make your bed - and get a gift from Santa.
Group dining menus: from £70
Arros QD
Arros QD,
64 Eastcastle Street, The Plaza London, W1W 8NQ
Spanish Cuisine
64 Eastcastle Street, The Plaza, London, W1W 8NQ
Tube: Oxford Circus Station
, Tottenham Court Road Station, Goodge Street Station
Multi-Michelin starred Quique Dacosta traditionally eats paella at Christmas with his family in Valencia - the perfect sharing dish, it's placed in the middle of the table and everyone tucks in with their own wooden spoon. Revellers looking to follow suit this festive season should head to Arros QD, Quique's London restaurant that focuses on rice. Choose to go traditional and opt for Paella Valenciana with rabbit, chicken, garrafo bean, rosemary, traditional aioli, or go luxe with a paella of Canadian lobster, cuttlefish, %u0144oras aioli. Group dining menus are also available with all dishes designed to share.
From £35 (2 courses) to £65 per person for sharing Sicilian feast
Norma
Norma,
8 Charlotte Street London, W1T 2LS
Italian Cuisine
8 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LS
Tube: Goodge Street Station
, Tottenham Court Road Station
Mayfair hotel The Stafford London and its culinary director Ben Tish are behind this three-floor Fitzrovia restaurant which is inspired by the food and culture of Sicily. Since opening its doors in a converted townhouse on Charlotte Street in September 2019, Norma has been getting rave reviews for its modern-Sicilian small plates and sharing dishes. Accommodating small or large parties, Norma is a great alternative to the usual turkey dinner and Christmas pudding, instead serving up dishes such as arancini with burrata, truffle, wild mushroom and parmesan sauce; crispy squid and mussels, sage, capers and saffron alioli; roasted old spot pork, spiced quince, black cabbage and roasted Roosevelt potatoes; warm saffron poached pear, hot chocolate sauce and hazelnut ice cream.
Beef Wellington for Two £39 per person
Bob Bob Ricard
Bob Bob Ricard,
1 Upper James Street, Soho London, W1F 9DF
British Cuisine
1 Upper James Street, Soho, Soho, London, W1F 9DF
Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station
, Oxford Circus Station
Open Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, this renowned Soho restaurant boasts a wonderfully OTT design - all booth seating, leather banquettes, marble table tops, limed oak panelling and hand-printed Japanese wallpaper - by the late David Collins. For Christmas, Bob Bob Ricard's signature Beef Wellington for Two is the ideal choice but there are other comfort food options like lobster macaroni and cheese and monogrammed chicken, mushroom and Champagne pie as well as a selection of Russian flavours. Petrossian Caviar, traditional dumplings and fine vodka served at -18C are accompanied by a wine list which includes vintage bottles for those who really want to celebrate in style. For group parties, there's the private room inspired by the Royal Dining Carriage, designed to accommodate between 10 and 16 guests.
Set menus: £55, £75 or £95 per person
Margot
Margot,
45 Great Queen Street London, WC2B 5AA
Italian Cuisine
45 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AA
Tube: Holborn Station
, Covent Garden Station
Enjoy a very Italian Christmas at Margot in Covent Garden. Do away with the pressures of entertaining, and head to Paulo de Tarso and Nicolas Jaouen's restaurant famed for its impeccable service. Serving a simple but excellent three course feast, start with burrata and winter tomatoes or chicken liver terrine and Carasau bread before pumpkin and Amaretto ravioli in sage butter or braised lamb with mash and oyster mushroom. Sweets including a decadent Italian chocolate cake and vanilla custard, cheeses and a special quince apple and cinnamon tart and almond ice cream. Italian aperitivi, wines and Americani to boot.
Set Menus: £95 or £110 | Christmas Day: £110 (4 courses)
Berners Tavern
Berners Tavern,
10 Berners Street London, W1T 3NP
British Cuisine
10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3NP
Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station
, Goodge Street Station, Oxford Circus Station
From 4th November 2019, Jason Atherton's Berners Tavern is serving a menu designed to be shared, feasting style. This Christmas you're invited to eat, drink and be merry with choices including whole baked sea bass, Roscoff onion tart, slow-cooked Herdwick lamb pie, classic flaming Christmas pudding and nostalgic clementine trifle. On Christmas Day itself, let the Berners team do the cooking. Book in for lunchtime or dinner and enjoy a 4-course menu which includes Dingley Dell pork, truffle and pistachio pie, pickled carrot and fennel salad, brown sauce, Norfolk quail, chopped liver and onion on toast, pickled pear, pear and saffron purée, potato crumble, Norfolk Bronze turkey, cranberry and pork stuffing, chipolatas, roasted turkey sauce but leave room for chocolate and orange tart with Bailey's ice cream.
Christmas Menus: £55 to £90 per person
Les Platanes
Les Platanes,
26-28 Bruton Place London, W1J 6NG
French Cuisine
26-28 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NG
Tube: Bond Street Station
, Oxford Circus Station
The plane trees that line the lanes of Provence, as well as nearby Berkeley Square, give Les Platanes its name. Heading up the kitchen is Thierry Laborde who has worked at Le Gavroche. For winter, the French bistrot deluxe gives you a choice of three, utterly indulgent Christmas menus. Available from the 18th November and throughout the Christmas period, each menu offers elegant and seasonal delights, presenting dishes including Cauliflower and truffle veloute, Game and foie gras terrine with spiced pear chutney, and finishing with Frozen Christmas nougatine, perfect for festive celebrations.
Christmas menu £40 per head
Kricket White City
Kricket White City,
Television Centre, 89 Wood Lane London, W12 8FA
Indian/South Asian Cuisine
Television Centre, 89 Wood Lane, London, W12 8FA
Tube: Wood Lane Station
, White City Station, Latimer Road Station
Enjoy Indian inspired festive dishes and drinks at all three Kricket restaurants in London where they're celebrating the best Christmas classics with a signature Indian twist. Designed to be shared, the seasonal menus vary across White City and Brixton sites, with each restaurant offering its bespoke Christmas group set menu At. Kricket Soho you'll be served winter dishes a la carte. Dishes created by chef and co-founder Will Bowlby include venison kebabs with pomegranate molasses to start. Goose vindaloo with all the trimmings and vegetarian options of tandoori hispi cabbage are among the mains.
Set Menu: from £35
Volta do Mar
Volta do Mar,
13-15 Tavistock Street London, WC2E 7PS
Central European Cuisine
13-15 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PS
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Temple Station
From husband and wife team Simon Mullins (co-founder of the Salt Yard Group) and Isabel Almeida Da Silva comes Portuguese restaurant Volta do Mar. Sitting within a Georgian townhouse in Covent Garden, the restaurant sees Head Chef George Tannock - formerly of The Dorchester, The Fat Duck, Treves & Hyde and Sexy Fish - serve a menu that explores the regional cuisine of Portugal. For the festive season the set menu starts with sardine pate with sourdough, fried cornmeal masala, and cheese and charcuterie from one of Portugal's oldest family run businesses, Manteigaria Silva. A choice of mains includes the likes of Iberico pork vindaloo, charred celeriac feijoada (black bean stew), and a whole rotisserie chicken. Bolo Rei, a traditional Portuguese Christmas made with sweet bread, nuts and crystallised fruit is the perfect way to finish.
£35 per person (12 tapas dishes to share)
Bar Douro
Bar Douro,
Arch 35B Flat Iron Square, Union Street London, SE1 1TD
Central European Cuisine
Arch 35B Flat Iron Square, Union Street, London, SE1 1TD
Tube: Borough Station
Christmas set menus shouldn't mean forking out more. Offering a very affordable feast, Bar Douro is a lovely rustic restaurant from Max Graham, whose family's business Churchill's Port has been making wine in the Douro Valley for two centuries. The Portuguese favourite at Flat Iron Square has introduced a Christmas sharing menu that lists 12 of its most popular tapas dishes for between six and 14 people to share, available exclusively in the restaurant's wine cellar and available for lunch or dinner. Dishes include some of Bar Douro's famous petiscos (snacks): bacalhau a bras (salt cod hash) and octopus with sweet potato plus some seasonal additions like pork cheeks with chestnuts.