Top 15 Christmas Restaurants in London for 2024

1. Goodman

Goodman is a prestigious steakhouse celebrated for its high-quality cuts of meat and old-fashioned atmosphere. With a commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients, Goodman offers a selection of expertly cooked steaks, including ribeye, fillet, and T-bone, all prepared to perfection over a charcoal grill. 

During Christmas, they unveil a tasty lunch menu consisting of fish cakes for starters, a choice between sirloin and bone in ribeye for your main course and the signature colston basset for dessert.

2. The Portrait

Perched atop the famous National Portrait Gallery, The Portrait has the best of British food with views of Trafalgar Square, which transforms into a winter wonderland with a giant 100 ft Christmas tree and a backdrop of the Christmas market. 

For the festive menu, you can try mains made with some of the best local British ingredients such as their Secret Smokehouse salmon with pomegranate, fennel, horseradish and pineapple tart tatin for dessert.

3. The Northall

Part of the iconic Corinthia Hotel, The Northall is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in London and a classy option for your Christmas Day dinner. With game terrine, cured smoked salmon, foie gras, Cornish turbot and lots of turkey on offer, this place will light you up like a Christmas tree. 

This luxury restaurant is complete with festive afternoon tea and live music. It's a wonderful location for the whole family throughout the festive period—including the big day itself.

4. Humble Grape

Humble Grape is a great choice for a festive Christmas meal in London, offering a cosy and intimate atmosphere that feels just right for the season. 

With multiple locations around the city, each Humble Grape venue combines warm, rustic interiors with a welcoming vibe–and a whole lot of wine–making it a great spot for both small gatherings and larger holiday celebrations. 

The menu features fresh, seasonal dishes with ingredients sourced from sustainable producers, perfectly paired with a selection of over 400 organic and biodynamic wines.

5. Hakkasan Hanway Place

For a truly refined and unforgettable Christmas experience in London, look no further than Hakkasan Hanway Place. This Michelin-starred (a title they’ve held for 20 years!) Cantonese restaurant in Fitzrovia has a fancy underground setting, leather booth seats interiors, and a signature Christmas menu that will take you on a trip to Shanghai. There’s also a private dining room for a luxurious Christmas bash with all your friends and family.

6. OXO Tower

The OXO Tower Bar, nestled atop the OXO Tower in London, offers a great experience for a Christmas dinner with a view. Enjoy panoramic views of the city's skyline, including the iconic London Eye, covered with sparkling Christmas decorations. 

The food is just as good as the views with a festive set menu featuring hot-smoked salmon, marinated lamb rump, and a truly unforgettable Christmas pudding (probably the best you’ll ever have!).

7. Searcys At The Gherkin

Searcy's at The Gherkin is a renowned restaurant located on the 39th and 40th floors of the iconic Gherkin skyscraper in London. During the festive season, the venue is transformed into a glittering gold paradise, complete with a stunning Christmas tree, a bar wrapped in gold and honeycomb-patterned tables. You can toast the season with a sparkling selection of Champagne or festive cocktails like the boozy Santa Claus, featuring white chocolate liqueur, spiced rum, frangelico, amaretto and vanilla. There are also five exclusive private dining rooms to choose from for an intimate gathering with all your family and friends.

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8. The Laundry Brixton

Housed in a beautiful, restored Edwardian building, The Laundry offers a fancy local pub with a chic atmosphere—perfect for cosy festive gatherings. The all-day neighbourhood cafe and wine shop’s menu consists of modern British food made from high-quality, seasonal ingredients, focusing on roast beef, fresh fish and slow-cooked chicken for the winter months.

9. The Cavendish

The Cavendish is a stylish gastropub in the heart of Marylebone that offers tasty Christmas dishes—including sea bream ceviche, mini Yorkshire puddings, turkey bonbons, pigs in blankets, braised ox cheek, and so much more. 

They pride themselves on serving seasonal produce and sustainable, classic British dishes with a selection of beer, wine, and festive cocktails. It's great for a classy yet chilled vibe. They also do a festive afternoon tea with lots of mulled wine.

10. Bancone

Bancone Covent Garden is a Michelin-starred restaurant for pasta lovers. It has booth seating and an open kitchen where you can see the chefs making your pasta fresh from scratch. 

During the festive season, you’ll find signatures like the silky-smooth handkerchief pasta with walnut butter and confit egg yolk on the menu.  It’s one of the more romantic restaurants on our list, making it the perfect Christmas date spot.

11. Hawksmoor

Hawksmoor is a renowned steakhouse chain, celebrated for its high-quality steaks and classic British pub atmosphere. With seven locations across London, Hawksmoor has become a popular destination for meat lovers and those seeking a sophisticated steak night experience. Their menu features expertly aged and cooked steaks, along with a selection of fresh seafood, classic sides, and a wide range of cocktails and wines.

During Christmas, they showcase a festive sharing menu featuring small plates of Old Spot belly ribs, beef carpaccio a selection of steaks served in a cast iron skillet and a signature sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

12. Yauatcha

Renowned for its modern take on Cantonese cuisine and the famous Yauatcha Mooncakes, this Michelin-starred dim sum teahouse in Soho combines a French patisserie and a Chinese restaurant. 

Yauatcha’s menu features freshly made dim sum, wok-fried meats, and petit gâteaux cakes as a dessert option, making it a great place to celebrate a birthday or Christmas meal.

13. Ochre

Ochre is another one of the best London restaurants for a festive feast. At a mere 50m from Nelson's Column, you're spitting distance from the best shopping destinations (Oxford Street and Piccadilly) and Christmas entertainment (West End panto, anyone?) London has to offer.

Under the twinkling lights of the city, you can enjoy lobster bisque, beef wellington, goose fat potatoes, and many more options. There’s also a great veggie menu complete with roast butternut squash and tempura cauliflower. Oh, and don't miss the oyster bar and champagne happy hour!

Christmas opening hours:

🎄 Christmas Eve: Closed
🎅 Christmas Day: Closed
🎁 Boxing Day: Closed

14. TATTU

No London restaurant embraces the festive season quite like Tattu. Celebrating the coming together of cultures with a totally unique culinary experience centred around Asian fusion, Tattu has unveiled its 2024 festive theme: The Great Snow.

You'll find a great variety of festive interiors around London at this time of year, but Tattu tops the list. With themed cocktails (dry ice is the least of it), spiced apple sticky toffee pudding, and chocolate 'dragon eggs', this is a fun immersive experience for everyone. If you're brave enough, you can wrap up in one of their fur throws and sip champagne on their gorgeous roof terrace.

Christmas opening hours:

🎄 Christmas Eve: Open as usual
🎅 Christmas Day: Closed
🎁 Boxing Day: Open as usual

15. Wagtail

Perched on top of a 1920s building not far from Tower Bridge, Wagtail is another quintessentially British restaurant, full of festive cheer. Enjoy some drinks from the toasty Christmas igloos or heated Winter terrace while you gaze at the London skyline and its iconic Christmas lights.

The Christmas menu is a work of art, complete with all the fan favourites and festive desserts—the Christmas pudding served with Cognac, orange butter, and brandy custard is a Christmas delight, and not one you want to miss.

Christmas opening hours:

🎄 Christmas Eve: Open as usual
🎅 Christmas Day: Closed
🎁 Boxing Day: Open as usual