Christmas Day doesn’t have to be punctuated by rows over who’s peeled the most parsnips or whose turn it is to load the dishwasher. While it’s dubbed the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the most stressful. Take the hassle out of hosting and avoid chaos in the kitchen and, instead, be waited on hand and foot at London’s most luxurious restaurants. 

Indulge in a gorgeous traditional feast with all the trimmings, joy and conviviality while letting someone else do the hard work. Or better yet, if you’ve never understood the point of turkey in the first place, go off-piste with an Indian-inspired fine dining feast, an Asian take on festive classics, or a European-inspired restaurant boasting panoramic views of the capital. Here’s our guide to the best restaurants in London open on Christmas Day 2024.

The Waldorf Hilton, Covent Garden

On 25 December, The Waldorf Hilton will host a Timeless Christmas celebration, combining seamless hospitality and delectable dishes at The Palm Court to deliver a quintessentially festive five-course menu with all the trimmings. Starters include Dorset crab with pickled watermelon or roasted carrot tartare, while the delectable intermediate course of spiced lobster and salmon ravioli is followed by a classic bronze turkey or mushroom and chestnut Wellington. Guests will also be greeted with sparkling champagne and be treated to live music performances throughout the day to create a Christmas Day you won’t forget in a hurry.

From £129 per person, visit tasteofwaldorf.co.uk

The Kensington, South Kensington

Catering for families big and small, join The Kensington for a spectacularly festive feast on Christmas Day. Whet your appetite with a delicious amuse bouche of Cerney Ash goat’s cheese mousse, before shallot tarte tatin served with Somerset brie, and beetroot and Belvedere vodka gravlax. For the main event, enjoy organic Norfolk bronze turkey served with all the Christmas trimmings, or horseradish-crusted beef fillet with fluffy fondant potatoes and rich port jus. If you’re looking to do things a bit differently this year, black cod served with an umami miso purée and peppery bok choi is the perfect choice.

Pre-dessert, indulge in a light and citrusy lime parfait with meringue, then round things off with a delightful selection of festive treats including mulled wine poached pears, Christmas pudding with brandy cream, buttery Panettone pudding served with custard, or a beautiful Bûche de Noël served with lashings of chocolate ganache.

From £125 per person, visit townhousekensington.com

Ekstedt at The Yard, Westminster

Experience a Scandinavian festive feast from Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt and his talented team at Ekstedt at The Yard with dishes cooked exclusively over an open fire using ancient Nordic cooking techniques. The four-course meal begins with a trio of aged beef tartare and smoked mayonnaise, followed by ember-baked scallops and the restaurant’s signature Flambadou oyster. Main courses include juniper-smoked sirloin beef and birch-cooked trout, rounding off with Niklas’ famed cep mushroom souffle and woodruff ice cream for dessert.

From £105 per person, visit ekstedtattheyard.com

Straits Kitchen at Pan Pacific London, Liverpool Street

Celebrate Christmas Day with all the trimmings at Pan Pacific London. Begin with vibrant starters such as smoked salmon with horseradish, or chicken liver parfait on toasted brioche, followed by a choice of dry-aged duck with roasted plums, curried monkfish, Hereford rib-eye, mushroom Wellington, or the traditional turkey. Round off your meal with a selection of British cheeses or indulgent festive desserts and raise a glass of champagne to toast the holiday season in style.

From £135 per person, visit panpacific.com

Rails at Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross

For a festive feast bound to impress family and friends, head to modern brasserie, Rails, in King’s Cross. Kick off the celebrations with a glass of Nyetimber and an amuse bouche, before starters of game terrine or freshly seared scallops with cauliflower purée. Next, roast turkey is served with seasonal sides plus stuffing, pigs in blankets, and cranberry sauce, or opt for roast beef sirloin with a fluffy Yorkshire pudding. while vegans will enjoy a sweet potato and mushroom tart. Finish with a freshly-baked Christmas pudding, gingerbread pannacotta or a generous selection of artisanal cheeses accompanied by chutneys, crackers, and bread. 

From £109 per person, visit gnhlondon.com

Dalloway Terrace, Bloomsbury

This Christmas Day, step into a dazzling winter wonderland at Dalloway Terrace in the heart of Bloomsbury and indulge in a magical six-course feast. Kick off celebrations with delightful amuse bouches to set the scene, including salmon pinwheels, beef croquettes, and roasted squash with cranberry and whipped feta. To follow, starters include Orkney seared scallops with winter citrus, hand-cut rigatoni with a rich venison ragout, or duck and foie gras terrine with apricot and brioche.

Traditionalists can delight in bronze feathered turkey with all the trimmings, and for those looking for something a little different, choose between the Hertfordshire grass-fed beef, roasted Gigha halibut, or a pithivier filled with black truffle – all complemented by winter roots, Brussels sprouts, and more. Finish on a high with a pre-dessert pistachio ice cream sandwich, followed by warm chocolate soup, homemade Guinness Christmas pudding, or Vacherin Mont d’Or with crackers.

From £110 per person, visit dallowayterrace.com

Joia, Battersea

For a Christmas Day setting with a view, Joia – situated on the 15^th floor of Art’otel Battersea – will serve a Portuguese-inspired set menu, offering festive dining with an Iberian flair. Kicking off with petiscos and tapas, enjoy sharing plates including pan con tomate, beef pica pau, and glazed aubergine with romesco miso before a choice of grilled turbot with vinho verde sauce and caviar, Norfolk black turkey with cabbage and Madeira sauce, and venison loin with oporto sauce – all accompanied by sides of traditional Christmas greens, as well as roast potatoes and carrots. 

To round things off, dessert takes the form of a pudim abade priscos – a Portuguese take on a crème caramel – indulgent torrija (caramelised brioche), or an Iberian cheese selection with red pepper jam. For drinks pre- and post-lunch, Joia Bar on the 14^th floor will be open from 11am-7pm, where guests can enjoy indulgent serves like the Moon Stone, made with rum, tentura, puff pastry and vanilla custard, and the Jasper featuring rye whiskey, fig leaf honey and mandarin leaves.

From £135 per person, visit joiabattersea.co.uk

108 Brasserie, Marylebone

One of Marylebone’s best-kept secrets, the charming 108 Brasserie will serve a festive four-course celebration, complete with a glass of champagne and canapés. After strolling around quaint Marylebone Village, be greeted with a glass of fizz on arrival before taking your seat to enjoy creamy roasted celeriac velouté with winter truffle, 108 Gin and beetroot cured Scottish salmon, or smoked venison carpaccio. Mains include tender fillet of Surrey beef with short rib Wellington, turkey with all the trimmings, herb-crusted halibut with lobster risotto, or a warming butternut squash pithivier. Wrap up your meal with traditional plum pudding and brandy custard, Baileys and pistachio tiramisu, or blood orange and ginger cheesecake. 

From £145 per person, visit 108brasserie.com

Saison by Mauro Colagreco at The OWO, Whitehall

Inside the five-star Raffles London at The OWO hotel, Mauro Colagreco’s European brasserie, Saison, will be serving an elegant three-course Christmas lunch in a relaxed environment under the restored glass arcade. To start, enjoy an amuse bouche of chicken liver parfait tartlet, before a choice of starters, ranging from Chalkstream trout with beetroot and horseradish, to Jerusalem artichoke veloute with roast chestnuts. For mains, pick from Devon turkey, served with festive trimmings and cranberry sauce, or opt for a European favourite: Crown Prince ravioli with brown butter, hazelnut and winter black truffle. End the meal with bûche de noël (yule log), flavoured with chestnut and orange.

From £190 per person, visit raffles.com

The Goring, Belgravia

The Goring’s gorgeous Russell Sage-designed Dining Room is the perfect setting to celebrate Christmas this year. Curated by chef Graham Squire, the Christmas Day menu begins with canapes of spiced duck liver terrine, pickled walnut, Orkney scallop with salt baked celeriac, and, the Queen Mother’s favourite drumkilbo: native lobster, roast tomato and aged caviar. Move on to Roast Norfolk farm turkey with traditional garnishes, beef Wellington with horseradish, or, for something lighter, The Goring’s native lobster omelette with crisp heritage potato. Round things off with classic flambe served tableside or peruse a selection of British cheeses from the trolley. 

From £340 per person, visit thegoring.com

The Hari, Belgravia

For an Italian take on traditional British festivities, The Hari’s flagship restaurant, Il Pampero, will serve a Christmas day menu centred around pasta. Pick from wild boar pappardelle, artichoke tortellini with a red prawn ragu, and a garlic and chilli orecchiette, before main courses of line-caught sea bass, pumpkin and rainbow chard timbale, and, for those craving a classic: tacchino natalizo, a flavourful turkey roulade with Italian sausage stuffing. Plus, Christmas puddings have been replaced with traditional pandoro and mandarin tiramisu. Bellisimo!

From £125 per person, visit thehari.com

Beaverbrook Town House, Chelsea

Putting an Asian spin on classic Christmas Day fare, The Fuji Grill – the decadent Japanese restaurant at Beaverbrook’s London outpost – will offer up a prawn cocktail served with yuzu kosho, mushroom harumaki with truffle ponzu, and a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings. Post-lunch, step into the heart of Chelsea and admire one of London’s most opulent neighbourhoods bathed in Christmas lights. 

From £120 per person, visit beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk

Pavyllon London, Mayfair

Situated within Four Seasons Park Lane, French chef Yannick Alleno has curated a decadent Christmas Day menu blending Gallic flavours with his signature Michelin-starred flair. The five or six-course menu starts with the restaurant’s signature cheese souffle or prawn cocktail before tender beef fillet with confit pears or langoustine tail with curry mayonnaise. Continue the celebrations over at Bar Antoine, which will be serving a selection of festive cocktails, including a classic mulled wine, a Fluffy Dreams gin-based creation, and a gingerbread Old Fashioned.

From £280 per person, visit fourseasons.com

The Athenaeum, Mayfair

This Christmas, enjoy a sumptuous four-course dinner at The Athenaeum hotel, blending seasonally-inspired British cuisine with contemporary elegance. Available from 12pm on 25 December, enjoy a stress-free meal while the restaurant takes care of everything, and tuck into an array of delicious dishes such as duck rillettes, potted Dalston hen’s egg with smoked potato, roast bronze Norfolk turkey with giblet gravy, and North Sea cod served with Exmoor caviar – all served with duck fat roasties and winter vegetables. Ending on a sweet note with classic homemade Christmas treats, expect caramel mousse, a white chocolate and orange yule log, mince pie parfait and chocolate and hazelnut mousse. 

From £125 per person, visit athenaeumhotel.com

Fallow, St James

Celebrated chefs Will Murray and Jack Croft know a thing or two about feasting and festivities – and that’s why they’re opening Fallow’s doors to Christmas Day diners this year. Set among the glistening Christmas lights of Piccadilly, the team has designed a brilliant four-course menu, spotlighting deliciously modern British cooking with a focus on sustainability.

To start, expect pigs in blankets with Devil sauce, hash browns with Exmoor caviar, and mushroom parfait with Wiltshire truffles, before a salmon belly terrine and mains of turkey ballotine or venison Wellington. As ever at Fallow, sides are no afterthought, and form plates of glazed parsnips with caraway carrots, chestnut and morel stuffing, herb roast potatoes, and smoked cauliflower cheese. Save room for the yule log with chestnuts and candied mandarins to end the meal on a sweet note. 

From £195 per person, visit fallowrestaurant.com

Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, Regent Street

Alex Dilling’s two Michelin-starred restaurant at Hotel Café Royal will be hosting all manner of festive feasts from Christmas Eve through to New Year’s Day. For the big day itself, step into the intimate 34-cover dining room and dine on canapés such as aged kaluga caviar, brown crab and smoked eel cream, before small plates of white truffle and chestnut gnocchi. Duck and foie gras pithivier, served with celeriac remoulade and juniper jus, takes centre stage, swiftly followed by a winter citrus pavlova. 

From £350 per person, visit alexdilling.com

The Ned, Bank

Cecconi’s Feast at The Ned is a weekly occasion which invites Londoners to indulge in the very best British produce – and this Christmas is no exception. Arrive at the former bank at 1 Poultry to enjoy a relaxing afternoon as The Ned’s culinary team takes care of everything, starting with champagne before tucking into an unlimited roast featuring fresh lobsters, oysters, salads and more, all accompanied by live music on the Nickel Stage.

From £225 per person, visit thened.com

Midland Grand, King’s Cross

Celebrate the big day beneath Midland Grand’s soaring ceilings and gold accents in the heart of King’s Cross. Start the festivities with spiced mulled wine on the Gothic Bar's heated terrace, before moving into the main dining room to savour dishes that celebrate the best of British, enhanced by head chef Charlie Crote's signature French flair. Expect spiced game terrine with damson jam, Dover sole with caviar and champagne, or a main course of beef Wellington with pigs in blankets. For dessert, indulge in a suitably boozy rum baba with chantilly cream and clementine. 

From £225 per person, visit midlandgranddiningroom.com 

Abc Kitchens at The Emory, Knightsbridge

The latest restaurant by acclaimed French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Abc Kitchens at The Emory will be open on Christmas Day offering a selection of plant-focused and Latin-inspired creations with a festive twist. Highlights from the Christmas menu include chestnut yaki onigiri black truffle, glazed honeynut squash housemade ricotta, winter truffle and roast Norfolk bronze turkey with traditional garnishes. Light and fresh, this reimagined Christmas dinner won’t leave you rolling out of the dining room, but ready to embrace a winter walk in Hyde Park across the road. 

From £300 per person, visit the-emory.co.uk

The Connaught Grill, Mayfair

Mayfair’s renowned historic grill room, The Connaught Grill, will mark Christmas with a four-course festive feast curated by executive chef Ramiro Martinez Lafuente. Expect Christmas classics with a modern twist, using high-quality seasonal produce cooked over a wood-fired grill, including foie gras terrine with blood orange marmalade madeleines, glazed buckwheat crepe with comté cheese, cabbage, and black truffle, Norfolk turkey crown with confit leg, stuffing, traditional gravy, and smoked celeriac Wellington in black truffle jus. To finish, indulge in Christmas pudding with brandy crème anglaise. 

From £315 per person, visit the-connaught.co.uk

The Wolseley, Piccadilly

Staying true to tradition, The Wolseley will once again be open on Christmas Day with a special menu of festive classics, including the finest smoked salmon to start and turkey with all the trimmings. Open from 11.30am until 4.30pm, dine on a series of delicious dishes including roasted pumpkin soup to start, Norfolk bronze turkey with all the trimmings for main, and a Wolseley Christmas pudding with brandy butter to finish. For non-traditionalists, other festive dishes available on Christmas Day include beef Wellington, baked cauliflower gratin, and a fig and apple sticky toffee pudding.

From £38.50 per person, visit thewolseley.com

Langan’s Brasserie, Mayfair

Having impressed even the most discerning of diners since 1976, Langan’s will be open on Christmas Day this year to offer a festive feast like no other. Available from 1pm, start with a selection of canapés, including aged comté and truffle gougères, ham hock croquettes, and smoked salmon and caviar blinis. To follow, there are a range of exquisite starters to choose from, such as foie gras terrine with toasted brioche, pan-fried scallops with cep purée, or a delicate beetroot salad with sheep’s labneh and hazelnuts. 

Mains include the traditional festive roast, including roasted Norfolk bronze turkey or rib of beef, both accompanied by pigs in blankets, honey-roast parsnips, chestnuts, brussels sprouts, and Yorkshire pudding. Seafood lovers can opt for the roast turbot with celeriac or crab and lobster pie for a rich and decadent alternative. To finish, the dessert selection includes classic Christmas pudding with brandy custard, a black forest yule log with white chocolate mousse, or an indulgent chocolate and Baileys fondant. 

From £180 per person, visit langansbrasserie.com

The Savoy Grill, Strand

A timeless destination for Christmas, The Savoy hotel will be pulling out all the stops on 25 December. Mark the occasion with a suitably decadent five-course menu at The Savoy Grill, where highlights include caviar blinis, teriyaki-glazed ham hock, butter-poached turkey and beef Wellington with all the trimmings, and Christmas pudding made in-house on 2 September, and 24-month aged comte cheese with crackers. 

From £320 per person, visit savoychristmas.com

Akira Back, Mayfair

Fancy sushi on Christmas Day? This year, globally-acclaimed chef Akira Back invites guests to enjoy a memorable festive feast at his debut London restaurant. Featuring an array of Back’s signature dishes – such as the famed tuna pizza with umami aioli, and rock shrimp with crispy mushroom and chives – the menu also features a selection of sushi, including the Perfect Storm with spicy tuna, prawn tempura, salmon belly aburi, chipotle mayo, and Cow Wow, with marinated bulgogi beef and coleslaw. The set menu’s main courses include miso black cod with padron peppers, and beef rossini with wagyu short rib and foie gras.

From £145 per person, visit mandarinoriental.com

The Cinnamon Collection, across London

Inject some spice into the big day with a trip to Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Collection, with outposts spanning Battersea to Covent Garden. Menus vary depending on each restaurant but the five-course Christmas Day banquet features rich dishes of slow braised lamb leg, with masala braised potato, roast goose breast with mappas sauce, and seared cod fillet with Colombo curry sauce and lemon rice.

From £65 per person, visit thecinnamoncollection.com

Theo Randall at InterContinental Park Lane, Mayfair

Fancy pasta on Christmas Day? Gather all the family to enjoy a five-course Italian feast with a glass of champagne or a negroni this year. The menu, created by acclaimed Italian chef Theo Randall, includes plates of fresh burrata with grilled marinated red peppers, fresh ravioli pasta filled with Dorset blue lobster in a shellfish broth, and filetto di manzo – a beef fillet wrapped in coppa di parma with roast heritage carrots and amarone sauce verde. A selection of Italian cheeses and panettone bread pudding with vin santo ice cream conclude the meal. 

From £149 per person, visit theorandall.com

Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair

A Mayfair must-visit, Claridge’s Restaurant is the place to celebrate the festive season with groups small or large. The team has curated indulgent menus for both Christmas Day lunch (£525 per person) and evening (£300 per person), using the finest locally-sourced ingredients. The dining experiences will also be available in the private dining room, which seats up to eight guests and is perfect for those looking for a more intimate soiree. Highlights include roasted Orkney scallop or ham and duck terrine, followed by roast Norfolk bronze turkey or fillet of Herefordshire beef, accompanied with traditional sides for the table. For dessert, expect Claridge’s Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, chocolate profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce, and apple crumble with Christmas spice and vanilla custard.

From £300 per person, visit claridges.co.uk

Bébé Bob and Bob Bob Ricard, Soho

Bob Bob Ricard – the opulent Soho mainstay that launched a thousand Instagram posts with its ‘press for champagne’ buttons – will open on Christmas Day for a decadent menu you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. Indulge in its beef Wellington, lobster mac and cheese, and caviar, perfectly accompanied by glasses of bubbles available, quite literally, on tap. 

Bob Bob’s little sister, Bébé Bob, opened in Soho last September and will open again on Christmas Day this year after a successful sell-out in 2023. One of the most glamorous spots for rotisserie chicken in the capital, alongside fine wine and champagne, Bébé boasts a Gatsby-esque decor reminiscent of the 1920s. Kick off the big day with a dégustation of three caviars before crispy chicken schnitzel and expertly-crafted cocktails.

From £125 per person, visit bobbobricard.com

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair

Chef patron Jean-Philippe Blondet at the three Michelin-starred restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester has crafted a unique Christmas menu to embrace the festive season with every dish. Highlights include guinea fowl with roasted salsify, pot-au-feu broth with pickled walnuts and black truffle ravioli, Jaune des Landes capon with cranberries, and the ‘Yule Log Our Way’, flavoured with chestnut, blackcurrant and vanilla. Enjoy in the opulent restaurant facing Hyde Park or book the exclusive private dining room, La Table Lumíere, located in the heart of the restaurant for up to seven guests.

From £450 per person, visit alainducasse-dorchester.com

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