London is the historic home of some of the best Christmas traditions: the pantomime, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the ice rink at Somerset House and the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. The capital draws in crowds from afar – and has in fact been named the most desirable place in the world to travel to for the holiday season. Many of the best restaurants in London are opening their doors on Christmas Day, and many more are offering unique festive menus to help you celebrate in style in the run-up to the big day. From fine dining gems to large group bookings, fun celebratory hotspots and family-friendly destinations, the best restaurants for Christmas in London promise unforgettable memories.
Expect live music and cocktails in French New Orleans-style in Covent Garden. Head to Chelsea for a Christmas Eve or Boxing Day gastropub lunch at a hidden gem just a stone’s throw from the Thames. Take your Christmas Day lunch Mediterranean-style at a hotspot in Bloomsbury, or grab a festive afternoon tea after a day of shopping at a delightful venue in Waterloo.
Guarantee your spot at one of the best restaurants for Christmas in London by booking early on OpenTable today.
The best restaurants for Christmas in London for 2024 – read on for a guide
For a Parisian festive dining experience at one of the best Christmas restaurants in London – take the family to The Midland Grand Dining Room in King’s Cross
One of the most beautiful brasseries and best restaurants for Christmas in London, The Midland Grand Dining Room set adjacent to St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in King’s Cross will delight any festive experience. Set in a space adorned with elegant gold cornices and timeless charm, each meal is more than just dining—it’s a tribute to the past. From private dining for group bookings to a fabulous feast on the big day itself, The Midland Grand is the place to be this 2024 holiday season. Group booking options for Christmas parties and nights out range from pre-booked larger tables in the main dining room to the chef’s table for eight people and a completely private dining room for up to 16 guests. Menu options include canapes and bowl foods, a set menu or a tasting menu – roast scallops with pancetta and grass-fed rib of beef with red wine are just a couple of highlights. Christmas lunch runs from noon until 4 pm, with dishes including spiced game terrine with damson jam, and fillet of beef wellington with pigs in blankets.
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For a contemporary Italian feast at an award-winning hotspot – celebrate Christmas Day at Bocconcino Soho in Soho
As the big day approaches, Bocconcino Soho transforms into a beautifully decorated winter wonderland. Celebrate the magic in style with Christmas party bookings, private dining, festive group menus and a Christmas Day lunch banquet with champagne. Or pop in any night for some uniquely designed themed cocktails from expert bartenders, ranging from spiced winter warmers to celebratory sparkling concoctions. The festive menus bring the flavours of Italy to the heart of Soho and add a touch of festive luxury. Think homemade ravioli stuffed with fresh crab in butter with caviar, saffron risotto with slow-cooked, melt-in-the-mouth osso buco, and tender lamb cutlets with braised cabbage and mixed berries in a raspberry sauce. Book an exclusive Christmas party for up to 30 people with a private bar and DJ deck so you can dance the night away, or host a festive sit-down meal for as many as 80 people in the warm-toned, marble-accented main restaurant.
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For enchanting winter displays at one of the best Christmas restaurants in London – book at Indigo at One Aldwych in Covent Garden
With one of the most famous hotel facades in London, Indigo at One Aldwych is always a joy to behold. In the build-up to Christmas, things get even more stunning with magical winter wonderland-themed decor in the lobby and throughout the restaurant and bar. The Christmas offering here includes two- or three-course meal packages designed specifically for pre-theatre, allowing you to take in a Christmas show and dine beforehand. On Christmas Day, sample delights such as cured Loch Duart salmon with fried crab and lime, langoustine bisque with sea purslane, and Holly Farm turkey with chestnut and sage stuffing. Pop in any time for a festive tipple in the Lobby Bar at One Aldwych, or indulge your inner child with a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych on selected afternoons throughout the festive period.
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For one of London’s best gastropubs serving Christmas Eve and Boxing Day lunch – get the party started at The Surprise in Chelsea
One of the capital’s cosiest pubs, The Surprise in Chelsea is also developing a reputation as one of the best restaurants for Christmas in London. Executive chef Ondrej Hula has crafted a festive menu for 2024 packed with savoury and sweet festive treats. Showstopping dishes include the Wiltshire ham hock and chicken terrine with pistachio and cranberry sauce, the Ashdale rump of beef with cavolo nero, truffle oil and a red wine jus, and of course Creedy Carver turkey with all the trimmings. Book private dining for your Christmas party in the Hamilton Room for up to 30 guests and enjoy award-winning wines with your exclusive experience. For larger events, the entire venue can be booked, so you can organise your work Christmas bash or a family get-together with cocktails and canapes.
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For award-winning British cuisine in one of London’s most historic districts – pay a visit to The Pem in Westminster
Chef Sally Abe has led The Pem in the heart of Westminster to high acclaim, with accolades including rankings in Square Meal’s Top 100 and the National Restaurant Awards. This Christmas, you can discover why for yourself, with festive menus throughout the holidays and on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Highlights from the Christmas Day lunch menu include Devon crab royale with winter leaves and pomegranate, Sladesdown goose breast and leg ballotine with cranberry, and a parsnip, black truffle and hazelnut roast. Finish with a Christmas pudding soufflé or Mont Blanc with port jam and cassis ice cream. For New Year, opt for a five or seven-course tasting menu with special wine pairings, starting with sliced scallops and kohlrabi and finishing with a macerated prune and Armagnac custard tart.
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For one of the best restaurants in London open on Christmas Day – book at The NoMad London in Covent Garden
Part of The NoMad Hotel in Covent Garden – listed in the World’s Best 50 hotels – The NoMad London offers some exceptional Christmas menus in stunning surroundings that are perfect to wow friends and family, or a special someone. A variety of festive packages are available, including meal-only or dine-and-stay. Celebrate Christmas with a four-course prix-fixe menu showcasing Christmas staples, or ring in the New Year with a holiday package including four courses of favourites from The NoMad menu, alongside celebratory supplements. Outside the main big days, you can still celebrate in style, with Christmas Eve lunch, or with a festive afternoon tea. Or book yourself tickets for a holiday show and grab a special pre-theatre dinner. Sample dishes from the menu include lobster tail with citrus beurre blanc, fresh oysters with vermouth vinaigrette, and guinea fowl with a foie gras and offal tart.
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For Alpine vibes at one of the best restaurants for Christmas in London – secure a table at Albert’s Schloss in Mayfair
Inspired by the Alps, Albert’s Schloss combines the excitement of après-ski with the raucousness of a Bavarian beer hall, promising high energy and entertainment the whole evening long. This festive season, you can experience a Wunderbar Christmas between the 11th of November and the 24th of December, with music and much more. The curated entertainment includes a Bavarian brass band, choir, marching band and cabaret shows, while the dining experiences feature an Alpine-inspired winter menu plus party menus and festive smorgasbords for group bookings. Highlights for the menu include the glazed beetroot and tahini with pomegranate molasses, roast pork knuckle with apple sauce, and seafood Mornay with scallops, prawns and haddock in a parmesan sauce. Private and semi-private hire areas are also available for your own party.
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For dazzling views from cosy rooftop winter igloos – do something different at Mercer Roof Terrace Igloos in Bank
Mercer Roof Terrace Igloos ensure you can enjoy dazzling views across the cityscape without having to cope with the cold. Wrap yourself in a blanket and head for one of the private, insulated igloos on the roof, where you can gaze over the illuminated night through clear panels and have food and drinks served at your table so you can stay cosy all night long. The roof terrace is open for a special Christmas Day feast. Perhaps start with spiced butternut squash soup or a Yorkshire ham terrine with mulled fig chutney. Move on to roasted Peterhead cod with dressed crab and shellfish velouté, or roast cauliflower with wild mushrooms, stilton and mushroom duxelles. Finish with a chocolate and cranberry slice, followed by mince pies and cream.
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For MICHELIN-starred dining at one of the best restaurants for Christmas in London – book now at ST. JOHN in Smithfield
Experience MICHELIN-starred dining at ST. JOHN in Smithfield, where pioneering “nose-to-tail” is the order of the day. Here the chefs prepare dishes using as much of the animal as possible, so alongside steaks and chops, you might find bone marrow salad or rolled pig spleen. The ST. JOHN bakery is also a highlight, with freshly baked goods served daily. Christmas in Smithfield wouldn’t be the same without the advent of the much-anticipated ST. JOHN mince pies, which go on sale from the first of December. Three-course Christmas feasting menus will be available from the 19th November. Diners will have five menus to choose from, each centred around a different meat, fish or fowl – whole suckling pig, game, pie, fish or goose. Separate vegetarian menus will also be available on request.
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For live music and a New Orleans vibe – hit up Louie in Covent Garden
For festive parties, work bashes and group nights out in the run-up to the holiday season, Louie offers live jazz bands and a sensual atmosphere day and night. Grab some cocktails and dance the night away New Orleans style – perhaps a Pineapple Picker with Remy Martin, spiced pineapple and grapefruit soda, or an exotic Madame Laveau with Casamigos silver, blue pea flower, black salt and liquorice. Christmas parties at Louie can be booked in one of two unique private event spaces. The Cabana on the top floor can seat 18 or accommodate 35 for cocktails and canapes. The Terrace is attached to the Alligator Bar and can be booked for an exclusive event for up to 35 people, with a retractable glass roof and its own private entrance. Tartar of beef with honey-cured egg yolk, shrimp creole macaroni, and New Orleans-style BBQ lobster are just a few highlights from the group sharing menus.
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For a MICHELIN-starred Indian feast – try something different this Christmas at Jamavar in Mayfair
Located on Mayfair’s iconic Mount Street, MICHELIN-starred Jamavar is renowned for its stunning interiors inspired by New Delhi’s Viceroy’s House, and for a luxurious Indian dining experience. To commemorate the festive season, the chefs have crafted a six-course menu featuring an array of decadent dishes, from the house’s signature classics to innovative creations. This menu will be available for lunch and dinner for groups of up to 10 from the 4th November to the 31st December, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Most definitely one of the best restaurants in London for a festive Indian feast – choose the meat and fish or vegetarian menu for the table. Sample dishes from the menus include Karwari soft shell crab with roasted coconut and plum chutney, Achari turkey tikka with sprouts and cranberry mayonnaise, kale and root vegetable dumplings with cashew nuts and saffron, and the chef’s selection of chakna featuring mirchi pakora and mathri with pappad and chutney.
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For an elegant festive afternoon tea from an award-winning chef – book your table at The Library at County Hall in Waterloo
From the 15th November until the 5th of January, The Library at County Hall will be offering a special festive variation on its celebrated afternoon tea. Served daily from noon until 5 pm, step into Christmas with platters of holiday-inspired treats and perhaps a glass or two of fizz to get into the party spirit. With the celebration package, you can enjoy unlimited English sparkling wine alongside your finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries for 90 minutes. All festive afternoon teas include classic Christmas desserts such as homemade mince pies and gingerbread. For festive events, there are three private dining rooms available, ranging from one large table for 12 to room for 54 guests for a canape reception. You can also book the chef’s seasonal carvery to be served at your table, featuring a winter warmer cocktail, individual choice of starter, joint of meat for the table with all the trimmings, and a selection of English desserts, plus half a bottle of wine per person.
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For a feast of global cuisines at one of the best London restaurants open on Christmas day – try something new at Bloomsbury Street Kitchen in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury Street Kitchen uniquely combines Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines, served small plate style for sharing. The surroundings also blend these two cultures, with a Mediterranean garden vibe tempered by Japanese minimalism. Over the holidays, a variety of special festive menus have been created. Join the team on Christmas Day and menu highlights will include baked scallops and king prawns, marinated crispy duck salad, aged beef wellington with a red wine reduction, and corn-fed chicken supreme with wild mushroom and leek ragu. Ring in the New Year with a four-course menu including a glass of champagne – think beef tataki and truffle ponzu, gnocchi with San Marzano tomatoes and garlic, and smoked paprika lamb cutlets with lime. Outside these two main celebrations, enjoy the festive dining experience for £80 pp – starting with a cooling cocktail and then your choice of four entrees, plus four starters, two sides and two desserts for the table to share.
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The British capital is without a doubt a fabulous place to spend the festive season. With great restaurants and bars on every corner and in between, there’s always somewhere ready to help you party the night away. From fine dining extravaganzas to casual hotspots with live music, there’s something for everyone in the heart of London.
Complete your festive experience by checking out London’s best Christmas markets, selected by KAYAK.
Still hungry? Explore more of the best restaurants for Christmas in London on OpenTable.
It doesn’t have to be Christmas to enjoy a night out at one of the best restaurants in London. Let these guides help you plan your next evening out for any time of year:
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