Don your finest glad rags and prepare for some seasonal indulgence. These are the festive set menus you need to try this season at some of London’s most exclusive venues.
As the buzzy ambience of Christmas rolls around, we’re ready to embrace the season’s most indulgent offerings – drinks, food and plenty of festive cheer.
But you’d be remiss to think festive dining always has to revolve around the classic Christmas spread or a roast at your local pub (though, let’s be honest, that’s pretty tempting). Sometimes, you want to do something a little extra and celebrate in style.
Whether you’re hoping to put a fresh spin on your Christmas Day lunch or dinner plans, planning a special outing for the family or simply booking a festive meal with friends, this could be the year to try something new.
We’ve rounded up a list of the best venues in London offering delightful festive set menus to help you eat, drink and be merry in style this season.
Have a merry Mayfair Christmas at the five-star Claridge’s hotel
Until the end of December, one of London’s most famous hotels will be offering an assortment of festive menus – depending on which of the season’s occasions you’d like to celebrate. On top of drop-in afternoon tea you can choose to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day lunch, Christmas Day dinner or New Year’s Eve at Claridge’s Restaurant, The Foyer & Reading Room or the French Salon.
The menus feature classic dishes with a refined twist, including hearty but elegant mains like roast Norfolk turkey, roast halibut, and duck, cranberry and pistachio terrine. For dessert, expect decadent delights like coconut snowballs with orange and ginger, Mont Blanc with chestnut ice cream and, of course, a selection of British cheeses and chutney.
Price: Prices depend on dining room menu, see Claridge’s website for further information.
Enjoy an elegant Christmas spread at The Landmark London
Would you like to celebrate the festive season at one of London’s most elegant hotels? The Landmark London invites guests to spoil themselves with a delicious three-course festive lunch or dinner. And of course – because it wouldn’t be Christmas without bubbles – this includes a glass of Champagne.
From 28 November until 23 December at the hotel’s stunning Winter Garden Restaurant you’ll be serenaded by live piano performances while enjoying a festive feast. Start with delights such as juniper-cured Scottish salmon and a Christmas scotch egg. For the main event, choose from slow-cooked short rib of beef, pan-roasted gnocchi or a traditional roast turkey. Finish the meal with a vegan baked Alaska or a Winter Garden Christmas pudding.
Price: Lunch £69 per person, dinner £77 per person. landmarklondon.co.uk
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Plan a festive family outing at OXBO Bankside
If you’re looking for a more family-friendly atmosphere, Hilton London Bankside is celebrating Christmas with an enchanting brunch experience at its vibrant OXBO Bankside restaurant. Every Sunday from 17 November to 22 December, enjoy a festive feast from just £20 per child*.
The four-course brunch includes unlimited starters and desserts, a brunch item from the open kitchen, a traditional roast dinner and unlimited fruit slushies for kids – plus something sparkling for the adults. The festive fun continues at Santa’s Brunch, where little ones can meet and greet the icon himself, receive a Polaroid photo and take home a special gift.
Guests can also make the most of this experience with an enchanting winter stay at the hotel, ideally located for exploring all the Christmas highlights London has to offer, including Southbank’s Winter Market, the London Eye and Tate Modern.
Price: *Kids (2-12 years) £20 per person, adults £42 per person (food only). Add two hours of bottomless cava or wine for £16 per adult. oxobankside.co.uk
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Make Christmas a classy affair at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
For those wanting Christmas to feel extra special this year, treat yourself to a festive dinner at a five-star London hotel in Marylebone. The Montagu Kitchen at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, the hotel’s premier restaurant, will be offering a limited-edition festive menu available for both lunch and dinner from 25 November to 5 January.
The three-course feast includes a selection of nibbles, a choice of starters such as smoked salmon roulade, classic mains like roast turkey breast and delectable desserts. hyattrestaurants.com
Price: £65 per person, £90 with drinks included
Gather round for a festive meal with a twist at Nobu Restaurant London Shoreditch
In an exclusive event this year, Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch is offering a special festive package for extravagant diners on 25 December. Located in the heart of vibrant Shoreditch in east London, Nobu is mixing its renowned brunch with holiday-inspired eats and signature dishes to elevate Christmas Day dining.
Guests can savour unlimited servings of sushi, sashimi and oysters, with unique Christmas-inspired starters of cinnamon-miso butternut squash or mint-miso brussels sprouts, followed by a choice of main including the signature miso black cod or yuzu butter king crab with caviar, finishing with a selection of festive desserts.
Add some sparkle to the day with one of three types of beverage add-ons.
Price: £150 per person. nobuhotels.com
Read more: 10 best UK Christmas events — from light trails to concerts
Experience Christmas in the city at Feels Like June
The go-to Canary Wharf restaurant for a festive spread, Feels Like June returns with a bank-balance-friendly Christmas menu, including all-day Christmas Day dining – back by popular demand. From 13 November to 25 December, indulge in a warming, inviting three-course festive menu.
Start with artisanal sourdough bread, followed by a choice of tantalising starters such as cod croquettes with nduja mayo, spiced pumpkin soup with coconut cream or bresaola paired with charred pear and gorgonzola. For the main course, there’s pumpkin and sage ravioli, stuffed turkey breast with roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce or succulent slow-cooked beef rib served with creamy mashed potatoes.
The feast concludes with moreish desserts, including spiced blackberry and apple crumble with vegan custard, and a rich pecan and walnut pie topped with maple whipped cream.
Price: £52 per person. feelslikejune.com
Ring in the festivities in the heart of the city at Heliot Steak House
Or maybe you’d prefer to celebrate the season in the thick of the action? Ideally located just off Leicester Square, a stone’s throw from the famous Christmas markets and dazzling winter lights, this legendary West End restaurant is the perfect spot this December.
From 24 November onwards, diners at Heliot Steak House can choose from three tiers of festive menus – silver, gold or diamond. Start with dishes like log-cut salmon with baby rocket or sea bass ceviche with tiger’s milk, followed by a choice of mains, such as USDA prime fillet with red wine sauce or a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings. Finish off with chocolate gateau with caramelized hazelnuts or go classic with a Christmas pudding.
Guests can also opt for a special drinks package at just £20* per person, which includes two drinks selected from wine, prosecco, beer, soft drinks or the spirit of the day.
Price: Silver menu £50 per person, gold menu £60 per person, diamond menu £70 per person. hippodromecasino.com
