The holiday season is upon the UK, and across the country, shops, streets and restaurants are already starting to gear up for the festivities. Sparkling decor, special menus and innovative holiday cocktails are gearing up as the country enters one of the biggest party seasons of the year. If you’re planning your work Christmas party, looking for somewhere to catch up with friends or booking a festive family get-together, there are plenty of fabulous restaurants across the country that can accommodate you in style.
Experience Christmas Bridgerton-style at a Knightsbridge hotspot that’s packed with glamour and boasts a Christmas tree in every room. Celebrate Hogmanay in an opulent Edinburgh restaurant offering a special festive feast to ring in the new year. Learn to build gingerbread houses at workshops hosted by a quirky Newcastle venue, or book a private dining room for your Christmas party at one of the cosiest places in Dublin.
Start planning your Christmas celebrations at one of the best festive restaurants in the UK by booking on OpenTable today.
Start your Christmas celebrations with a visit to the most festive restaurants in the UK
For a luxury Christmas Bridgerton-style – book a table at The Lanesborough in Knightsbridge, London
The Lanesborough Grill, The Library Bar at The Lanesborough, The Withdrawing Room at The Lanesborough, Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough and The Garden Room at The Lanesborough –five unique rooms festively decorated just waiting to get you in the holiday spirit. The celebrated Bridgerton afternoon tea gets a festive makeover in the holiday season, with seasonal treats and recipes from mid-November until early January. For something more filling, a three-course festive set menu has been prepared by executive chef Shay Cooper, featuring dishes such as duck and corn-fed chicken terrine with laminated truffle roll, Norfolk turkey wellington with sprout leaves and cranberry, and a honeycomb and caramel yule log with honey ice-cream.
On New Year’s Eve, you can ring in the changes with a celebratory evening featuring a four-piece band and singer, a dance floor under chandelier lighting, and six festive courses with champagne.
📍 The Lanesborough Grill — Check availability
📍 The Library Bar at The Lanesborough — Check availability
📍 The Withdrawing Room at The Lanesborough — Check availability
📍 Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough — Check availability
📍 The Garden Room at The Lanesborough — Check availability
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For Christmas dinner and a New Year’s Hogmanay to remember – dine in style at No. 35 at The Bonham in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the world’s most enchanting cities at Christmas time, and No. 35 at The Bonham plays its part in making this happen. Gorgeously decorated for the festive period and with a selection of seasonal menus for all occasions, including a five-course lunch on Christmas Day. The regular festive menu runs Thursdays through Sundays from the 22nd of November, with half a bottle of wine per person included and dishes such as tempura nori-wrapped Shetland salmon, slow-cooked Scottish borders beef, and butternut squash risotto. Christmas afternoon tea, afternoon cheese or Edinburgh gin afternoon teas are also a delight.
However, the highlight of the calendar at No. 35 at The Bonham is the Hogmanay celebration. Start with a complimentary glass of prosecco and then enjoy a four-course meal crafted from the best of Scottish produce. Eat early and then relax in the lounge or bar before heading out to watch the New Year fireworks display.
For Parisian glamour and a festive afternoon tea – book your spot at Madeleine Bar at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham
Inspired by the grand salons of Paris, the Madeleine Bar at The Grand Hotel is an exclusive venue for everyone. Luxurious surroundings packed with soft, rich furnishings, double-height windows and sparkling chandeliers make every visit memorable. For the festive season, enjoy everything from seasonal cocktails to a full banquet menu and more casual feasts with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. The Grand Ballroom can be booked for private parties with live bands, DJs or any other form of entertainment for up to 60 guests, perfect for your work or family Christmas parties. From Wednesday to Sunday, indulge yourself with afternoon tea, featuring French patisserie delights with a seasonal flair.
For an extra-special dinner, the festive dining menu includes dishes such as roast celeriac and truffle soup with hazelnuts, turkey ballotine with apricot stuffing, and traditional Christmas pudding with brandy Anglaise.
For dazzling views at one of the most festive restaurants in the UK – celebrate in style at 20 Stories Restaurant in Manchester
Spinningfields in Manchester is home to 20 Stories Restaurant, where you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking panoramic views across the cityscape from the rooftop terrace. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite during the holiday shopping frenzy or a special group event with VIP treatment, 20 Stories has you covered with everything from bar snacks to three-course meals and cocktail and canape receptions. The rooftop garden is decorated for the season as beautifully as the restaurant interior, with wooden reindeer, twinkling lights and pine trees as far as the eye can see. Cosy on up under a fluffy blanket and gaze at the night sky as you dine.
The chefs have created two festive set menus for group bookings, featuring dishes such as ham hock and chicken terrine with sourdough, confit duck leg with honey roast parsnips, braised pork cheek with apple and celeriac, and turkey escalope with pork, sage and onion stuffing.
For dinner around an open fire at one of the most festive restaurants in the UK – take the family to The Thomas Cubitt Pub in Belgravia, London
Ring in the New Year at The Thomas Cubitt Pub with a specially curated festive menu, sparkling wine and live music until one am. Dance the night away in the ground floor bar after feasting on dishes such as steak tartare, braised Wiltshire lamb shank and spaghetti squash risotto in the first-floor dining room. Or, see out 2024 in style with a private dining room for your Christmas party – seating anywhere from 10 to 120 guests. You’ll dine on delights such as Cubitt House smoked salmon with dill crème fraiche, halibut with Dorset clams in parsley butter, and Amedei chocolate mousse with honeycomb and hazelnuts.
Sister venues The Coach Makers Arms, The Alfred Tennyson Pub, The Barley Mow Pub, The Builders Arms Pub, The Grazing Goat Pub & Boutique Hotel and The Princess Royal Pub & Boutique Hotel are all also offering great New Year’s Eve celebrations and experiences.
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For beautiful Christmas decorations and festive feasts – get into the holiday spirit at Gaucho Liverpool in Liverpool
Celebrate Christmas Argentinian-style at Gaucho Liverpool in Liverpool, one of the most festive restaurants in the UK. The decor style can best be described as “big” – no holds are barred when it comes to creating a festive space. Enjoy special festive menus any time in the build-up to the big day, or book for Christmas Day itself and take the stress out of the holidays. With two private dining rooms, an event bar with a raised stage for late-night entertainment, and counter dining experiences with top chefs, you can celebrate any occasion at Gaucho.
The Christmas Day menu starts with fried pumpkin, sage and Provolone empanadas in a pepper sauce, followed by a selection of festive starters, main courses and desserts. The salmon and beetroot gravadlax with dill crème fraiche and the grilled seabass with black truffle and vermouth cream are particular highlights.
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For a private party at one of the best festive restaurants in the UK – book your event at Cibo Manchester in Manchester
The breathtaking architecture of the Grade II listed building that houses Cibo Manchester in Manchester is worth a visit all by itself. When you also factor in fancy fine dining menus in luxurious surroundings, you’re set for a memorable night. The opulent private dining room is the perfect hotspot for an intimate Christmas party, seating up to 24 guests in an exclusive wood-panelled space with a long marble table and elegant chandeliers. Relax in the plush velvet seats and have your every need catered for with personalised service.
The festive menus can be booked for large groups for either lunch or dinner throughout the Christmas period. Highlights include sweet and sour pumpkin slices with marinated anchovies or smoked salmon roulade with peanuts, honey and dill to start, followed by turkey escalope pan-fried with pancetta, peas and cream or potato-crusted fresh fillet of seabass with seasonal vegetables for the main course.
For an intimate hotspot for a festive date night – choose Clos Maggiore in London
Multiple AA-rosette awards stand testament to the quality of the ingredients and the cooking at Clos Maggiore. Celebrate this Christmas with seasonal, local fare prepared to perfection in the modern European style. Whether you’re trying to wow a new partner or rekindle the romance, Clos Maggiore is the perfect hotspot for date night and one of the most festive restaurants in the UK.
A special five-course menu has been created by the chefs, which will be served from noon until 8:30 pm on Christmas Eve exclusively. Start with a glass of bubbles and some light snacks, then choose from three starters, three mains and three desserts, before finishing with petit fours. Highlights include grilled Isle of Orkney scallops with a warm sea herb salad, wild mushroom and truffle agnolotti with grilled onion bouillon, and a mandarin and chocolate Bûche de Noël.
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For an Instagrammable Christmas party across the UK – visit The Ivy Brasserie in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and Bath
The Ivy Brasserie has venues in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and Bath, each offering festive menus and Christmas party bookings in exquisite surroundings. The interiors are decorated for the season in Alpine winter wonderland style, with festive blooms, live music and the occasional appearance from the big guy himself, Santa Claus. The menus focus on classic British fare with a few Asian flavours sprinkled in. For the festive season, a few new showstopping dishes have been added to The Ivy’s classic menu – think shepherd’s pie with goose, turkey and duck, lobster linguine with chilli and garlic, and stilton and walnut souffle with a rich and creamy sauce.
A special three-course menu has been created for New Year’s Eve, followed by a New Year’s Day brunch starting with a Bloody Mary and followed by three courses plus sides for the table.
📍 London — Check availability
📍 Birmingham — Check availability
📍 Leeds — Check availability
📍 Glasgow — Check availability
📍 Liverpool — Check availability
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📍 Bath — Check availability
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For festive fun and games – join a Christmas workshop at Blackfriars Restaurant in Newcastle
Blackfriars Restaurant is offering far more than just festive feasts this Christmas. Fun for the whole family can be found at a series of seasonal workshops, where you can learn how to do things like make your own gingerbread house, bake bread or weave a Christmas wreath. Other holiday events include festive wine tastings, canape evenings and the Blackfriars Christmas market, all designed to get you into the festive spirit. The Christmas market will take place in the Cloister Garden on the 30th of November and the 1st of December, with a range of vendors selling unique gifts. Grab a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate as you browse, and then fill up from the a la carte menu or seasonal barbecue.
The Blackfriars Christmas menu starts with a glass of fizz, followed by three seasonal courses, mince pies and tea or coffee.
For themed afternoon teas with a backdrop of stunning festive decor – head on over to The Savoy Lounge at The Savoy in London
Known for being one of the most beautiful hotels in the UK year-round, The Savoy Lounge at The Savoy goes one step further at Christmas. Expect stunning decorations throughout the lobby and restaurant, based on a fairy light theme. Fairy lights are so named for their first appearance in 1882 at The Savoy Theatre, as part of the costumes of fairies in a production of Iolanthe and were first used on Christmas trees just a year later, starting a tradition that has lasted to this day. Add some magical sparkle to your festivities with afternoon tea or dinner.
As one of the best restaurants for Christmas dinner, expect delicacies such as poached Cornish lobster, Devon crab and Keltic langoustine in champagne sauce to start. For the main, you’ll have a choice of Wellington with root vegetables, Chalkstream trout, Ayrshire aged beef or Rhug Estate organic turkey ballotine.
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For a warm welcome at one of the best festive restaurants in the UK – get cosy this Christmas at Suesey Street in Dublin
Warm, cosy and always inviting, Suesey Street is the perfect place for a winter warmer. From a creamy coffee as you relax after a hard day’s shopping, to a three-course meal with wine to while away the evening, you’ll always feel welcome. Christmas is a great time to visit, with cosy nooks for intimate dinners or a choice of three private dining areas to host a festive event for anywhere from 15 to 140 people.
The Christmas group menu is served all day every day throughout the holiday season, with discounts for Monday and Tuesday bookings. Highlights include pressed belly of suckling pig with sprout and leek quiche, pan-roast hake with garlic pimentón potato, and a herb-crusted turkey leg and ham roulade with cranberry compote.
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The Christmas party season is almost upon us and many of us are seeking the most festive restaurants in the UK to get the party started. Fortunately, there are many fabulous venues across the country that go all out for Christmas, with stunning decor, festive menus and group and party booking menus that will help ensure you and everyone you know can get into the spirit with ease.
Complete your festive experience by checking out one of the UK’s best Christmas markets, selected by KAYAK.
Make your Christmas celebrations special at one of the most festive restaurants in the UK when you book with OpenTable.
If you’re looking for great restaurants in the UK at any time of year, these great guides highlight some of the best to add to your list.
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