For many people, cooking Christmas lunch at home is a long-standing tradition – primarily because the distance between table and sofa is blissfully short. However, there’s something to be said about donning your finery and heading out to eat after a festive morning at home – or even eschewing the typical turkey and trimmings for something a bit more exciting. And that’s where our list of London’s best Christmas Day dining comes in.
There are now so many restaurants open on Christmas Day that cater to all tastes, whether you fancy a traditional meal or something a little lighter. So, here are our picks around London – act fast, though, because these tables are in high demand.
Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair
Claridge’s and Christmas are practically synonymous – not least because of its annual, designer-led Christmas tree (this year’s is yet to be unveiled, but it’s sure to be exceptional). On Christmas Day, its restaurant usually serves an extravagant seven-course menu – last year’s went from truffle-laden crumpets to Claridge’s famous Christmas pudding via foie gras and smoked salmon. On Christmas Day, its restaurant will serve an extravagant five-course lunch menu, which goes from smoked salmon and caviar to Claridge’s famous Christmas pudding via lobster raviolo and roasted turkey, as well as a decadent three-course dinner.
Brook St, W1K 4HR
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA
The Aubrey, Knightsbridge
It’s an award-winning Japanese izakaya, so – naturally – The Aubrey’s Christmas lunch will feature sashimi by the (small) plateful. However, you’ll also taste a couple of traditional flavours with a Japanese twist – like, robata turkey with Shukopan milk bread sauce and wok-tossed baby potatoes with miso garlic butter. And, being in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, you’re just a short stroll from Harrods’ all-out window display.
Canton Blue at The Peninsula London
If your ideal Christmas dinner involves Peking duck wraps, hand-carved furniture, and a post-meal stroll around Hyde Park, Canton Blue is the one for you. The showstopping Cantonese restaurant at the Peninsula London usually serves an eight-course menu on 25th December; last year’s included long bao, Wagyu in black bean sauce, and chocolate mille-feuille with five spice crémeux.
The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Pl, SW1X 7HJ
15 Beeston Pl, SW1W 0JW
The Goring, Belgravia
A favourite of the late Queen, this Royal Warranted hotel is a treat at Christmas. It’s always beautifully decorated and its Christmas Day menu is a mix of traditional dishes with a couple more creative ones thrown in there as well. Think along the lines of duck liver terrine, Anjou pigeon, and a native lobster omelette served alongside roast turkey and The Goring’s famous Christmas pudding.
The Ritz, Mayfair
The Ritz is always a delight at Christmas, and this year is no exception. Its Christmas lunch, served in the glittering Ritz Restaurant, is a four-course, black-tie affair cooked up by Executive Chef John Williams MBE and augmented by entertainment from a five-piece live band.
150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR
110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Duck & Waffle, Bishopsgate
Christmas lunch whilst not looking at your wrapping paper-scattered front room already sounds enticing. Then you think about the panoramic view of London from Duck & Waffle, and suddenly you find yourself with a table for six on December 25th… Its menu is more on the fun sides of things, including ‘fancy’ hash browns, foie gras crème brûlée, roast turkey (of course), and marmalade sticky roll – as well as a cocktail inspired by Edmund’s Turkish delight.
Kahani London, Chelsea
If the idea of traditional turkey fills you with horror, you might do better with a booking at Indian fine dining restaurant Kahani. The menu is just about recognisable as Christmas lunch: Andhra chilli turkey and Kerala-glazed baby sprouts join Peshwari lamb and lobster tandoori, and the traditional flaming pud for chocolate and orange mousse.
1 Wilbraham Pl, Sw1X 9AE
16 Carlos Pl, W1K 2AL
The Connaught, Mayfair
All three restaurants at The Connaught are open on Christmas Day. Tableside-carved turkey is available at The Grill and Jean-Georges (plus truffle-crusted salmon at the latter), but we’re setting our sights on the lavish six-course Hélène Darroze experience. There’s no turkey in sight here, but there is turbot, scallops, and caviar – plus an optional wine pairing.
Decimo at The Standard, Kings Cross
Spend Christmas Day merrily on high at Decimo, which sits on the 10th floor of The Standard London. Its Mexican-Spanish menu is far from standard: think jamon croquetas followed by wood-grilled black cos or beef fillet with mole, with piles of properly crispy potatoes and garlic aioli. And for dessert? Chocolate pave or lime sorbet – the latter of which goes wonderfully with a house margarita.
10 Argyle St, WC1H 8EG
298 King's Rd, SW3 5UG
The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea
A luxury pub (yes, they exist!) on King’s Road, The Cadogan Arms is at the top of its game at Christmas. Quite literally so with the game pie served on its feasting menu. The rest of its festive dishes also stray from tradition, with the likes of Christmas stuffing scotch eggs, confit goose leg, and The Cadogan’s take on Christmas trifle. Reservations for Christmas parties have already gone live, so move fast – a lunch like this is worth booking in advance.
