It may seem indulgent to think about Christmas while we continue to navigate through these challenging times – but while the festive season may turn out to be more low-key this year, we hope it will still give you the opportunity to reunite with your closest family and to celebrate together. To make the most of these precious moments, forget spending hours in the kitchen and let yourself be spoilt with a joyous Christmas Day dining experience at London’s finest establishments instead. Some of our favourite restaurants are busy planning their festive menus – read on for top choices that impress our members every year.
Please note, in line with recent localised government restrictions, we will only make these restaurant reservations in accordance with government guidelines.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
A suitably elegant setting within the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, one of the country’s top chefs, and a menu that comes with every conceivable trimming – Heston Blumenthal’s annual six-course Christmas Day extravaganza (£280 per person) ticks all the festive-season boxes. Make sure to leave room for the Christmas tipsy cake with spit-roast pineapple, vanilla, and sherry.
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
53 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA
The Dorchester does festive with aplomb, as anyone who’s visited the hotel during December can attest to. At Alain Ducasse, executive chef Jean-Philippe Blondet’s six-course Christmas Day lunch (£360 per person including wine pairing) embraces the festive season in every three-Michelin-starred dish – his “jaune des landes” capon with truffled caillettes and cranberries is sure to be a standout.
Smith & Wollensky
The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT
Located in the art deco Adelphi building, Smith & Wollensky‘s 1920s interior provides a fittingly glamorous background for a festive celebration. As this is a steakhouse, the Christmas Day menu (£160 per person, £80 for children aged 12 and under) focuses heavily on meat dishes – think ham hock and foie gras terrine, roast turkey, braised lamb shank, and, of course, various steak options.
Marcus
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL
Marcus Wareing needs little introduction, having been part of The Berkeley’s plush DNA for many years. If you are looking for haute Christmas cuisine within a relaxed contemporary setting, this is the place. Exact details of this year’s six-course Christmas Day menu (£375 per person including wine pairing) are still under wraps, but it’s safe to say that it will be a memorable culinary event.
Union Street Café by Gordon Ramsay
47-51 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BS
For an Italian Christmas à la Gordon Ramsay, head to his urban Italian ristorante in Southwark. Ramsay’s four-course menu of traditional Italian festive dishes costs £75 per person and features the likes of whipped salted cod, tortellini with guinea fowl and chestnut consommé, and pizza-crusted beef Wellington. For dessert, try the traditional Italian panettone.
Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay
Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2R 0EU
Decked with shimmering chandeliers, polished wood, burnished mirrors and white-cloth tables, the legendary Savoy Grill is always ready for a special occasion. While Gordon Ramsay has yet to unveil his Christmas Day menu (£250 per person for six courses), we can assume that he’ll whip up a sophisticated feast – and his signature beef Wellington is bound to make an appearance.
CUT at 45 Park Lane
45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1PN
45 Park Lane is planning stylish festivities this year, with twinkling Christmas decorations, and musicians and singers to entertain throughout the season. Get into the swing of things before settling in for a three-course feast (£195 per person) at A-list chef Wolfgang Puck’s CUT – the renowned steakhouse is the perfect Christmas Day spot for carnivores.
The Foyer & Reading Room at Claridge’s
Claridge’s, Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
From its iconic Christmas tree to spectacular decorations, Claridge’s knows how to pull out all the festive-season stops. Once Claridge’s library, The Foyer & Reading Room presents a gorgeous setting in which to while away a few hours on Christmas Day. The six-course menu (£276 per person) features a selection of traditional dishes and includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut.
Jean-Georges at The Connaught
The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL
Fusing classic French and Asian flavours to perfection, Jean-Georges Vongerichten knows how to indulge his diners’ palates. Come Christmas Day, this means enjoying festive dishes from his four-course lunch and dinner menu (£210 per person), such as foie gras marzipan, “prince de dombes” duck, and truffle-crusted salmon. The conservatory-style restaurant and stained-glass windows make for a refined background.
Sea Containers
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
Offering a contemporary setting with glorious river views, Sea Containers makes for a joyful Christmas Day lunch or dinner. Start off with a complimentary glass of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée before taking your pick from the three-course menu (£115 per person). Make sure you don’t skip dessert – the Christmas pudding and mulled-wine-poached pears promise to be real Yuletide treats.
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