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 2023.

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 four- and five-course Christmas Day banquet begins with an aperitif of Christmas punch or a Cinnamon Bellini before rich dishes of Keralan-style lobster soup flamed with cognac, Indo-Chinese chilli paneer, Kokum-crusted halibut and Singh’s famous garam masala Christmas pudding.

From £65 per person, visit thecinnamoncollection.com

Bōkan, Canary Wharf 

Celebrate the festivities high in the sky at Bōkan, where executive chef Robert Manea and his team have created a stunning festive menu inspired by rich European cultural cuisines. Located in the heart of Canary Wharf, Bōkan boasts panoramic views across the city – a breathtaking setting fit for a Christmas celebration. The restaurant’s exclusive festive five-course dinner is inspired by rich European cultural cuisines, including dishes of chestnut soup with Alsace bacon, ora king salmon sushi with dashi broth, venison queen pear and ginger spice, and the signature Bōkan snowman.

From £99 per person, visit bokanlondon.co.uk

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 pasta filled with Dorset blue lobster, beef fillet wrapped in coppa di parma with roast heritage carrots and Amarone sauce, followed by a selection of native cheeses and panettone bread pudding with vin santo ice cream. 

From £145 per person, visit theorandall.com

Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair

Images: Justin De Souza

A Mayfair must-visit, Claridge’s Restaurant is the place to celebrate the festive season with groups small or large. The team have curated indulgent menus for both Christmas Eve (£240 per person) and Christmas Day (£495 per person), crafted 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. The former menu starts with Jerusalem artichoke bathed in truffle velouté or a foie gras terrine before roasted duck with sauce Bigarade, venison Wellington or the signature whole grilled lobster with sauce Américaine, all served with sides for the table. Save room for desserts of Mont Blanc or a chocolate and gingerbread soufflé tart. 

The main event on Christmas Day is seven courses of festive fare, beginning with buckwheat crumpets laden with slices of truffle and wild sea trout, preluding seared Orkney scallops. Main highlights include roasted Herefordshire beef fillet with Bordelaise and roasted bronze Norfolk turkey leg alongside a selection of festive sides for those seeking a more traditional Christmas meal, before rounding off with Claridge’s Christmas pudding paired with brandy ice cream or a decadent chocolate Bûche de Noël. 

From £240 per person, visit claridges.co.uk

The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge

This Christmas, The Aubrey – Knightsbridge’s luxury Japanese restaurant hidden beneath the Mandarin Oriental hotel – is fusing the very best Christmas feasting with its award-winning Edomae sushi. The set menu, available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, seamlessly transitions from a selection of nigiri and sashimi favourites to a festive robata turkey served with Asian-inspired bread sauce using Shokupan milk bread and wok baby potatoes with an umami-rich miso butter. Finish with the chocolate Christmas crepe log – the perfect ending to a Japanese festive feast. 

From £95 per person, visit mandarinoriental.com

Bébé Bob and Bob Bob Ricard, Soho

Images: Paul Winch Furness

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 Amurski Sturgeon caviar and Jersey rock oysters to start, followed by beef Wellington or lobster macaroni and cheese thermidor for main, paired with delicious sides such as the truffled french fries or sautéed spinach. Choose between the much-loved chocolate eclair or flaming crème brûlée, perfectly accompanied by glasses of bubbles available, quite literally, on tap. 

Bob Bob’s little sister, Bébé Bob, opened in Soho in September and will make its first foray into the festive world on Christmas Eve. 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 24 December with a dégustation of three caviars or the anchovy-egg mayonnaise, before opting either for the Vendée or Landes chicken, along with truffled cauliflower cheese and sautéed kale. Finish off with the much-loved apple tarte fine and calvados ice cream with a glass or two of champagne… obviously. 

From £125 per person, visit bobbobricard.com

The Peninsula London, Mayfair

One of the newest hotels on the block, The Peninsula is pulling out all the stops for Christmas Day. Head to The Lobby for a traditional four-course festive feast featuring cod brandade with tapioca crisp, roasted turkey ballotine with citrus sauce and turbot en croûte with pickled ceps and lobster jus. Those with a sweet tooth will certainly enjoy the trio of desserts including an indulgent hazelnut, chocolate and clementine yule log, rum baba with mango and pineapple, before ending with a classic Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. 

For those looking for a less traditional Christmas, Canton Blue is offering an eight-course Cantonese menu, carefully curated by executive chef Dicky To. Begin with a selection of dim sum and appetisers including xiao long bao and steamed phoenix eye dumplings with Oscietra caviar, before indulging in roast Peking duck wraps, succulent wok-fried British Wagyu tenderloin with black bean sauce, and steamed Scottish razor clams with chilli sauce and snow peas. To finish, it’s a decadent constellation chocolate mille-feuille with five spice crémeux and mandarin confit.  

From £265 per person, visit peninsula.com

Yaatra, Westminster

Dine within the historic walls of Old Westminster Fire Station at Yaatra on Christmas Day, perfect for those who crave a blend of tradition and spice. Curated by executive chef Amit Bagyal, the four-course set menu starts with a Christmas bellini and a glass of champagne before an indulgent pre-starter of warming truffled mushroom soup, followed by a choice of starters including clove-smoked game liver pate, aubergine and winter vegetable steak, and salmon gravlax with chilli focaccia.  

The choice is yours for the main event: pick from the classic roast turkey with all the trimmings, a squash, kale and feta pie with masala gravy, seared turbot with crispy samphire or roast Herdwick lamb rump. Don’t miss the spiced chocolate and orange mousse or the assortment of British cheeses, too. 

From £85 per person, visit yaatrarestaurant.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 unique Christmas menus to embrace the festive season within every dish. Highlights include wild boar consommé, duck foie gras terrine, Scottish langoustine with confit celeriac and a signature yule log the Ducasse way crafted by executive pastry chef Valentin Jollivet. 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. Cocooned by a luminescent graduated oval curtain designed in homage to the world-leading fashion houses of Mayfair, make Christmas even more special as you’re surrounded by 4,500 shimmering optical fibres and dine from Hermès china sets, Puiforcat silverware and Saint-Louis crystal. 

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

Babur, Forest Hill

Celebrate Christmas Day in style at Babur, best known for its innovative modern Indian cuisine, with a spicy three-course set menu starting with a Christmas Bourbon Punch: a festive concoction made with fresh ginger, cinnamon and apple. Explore an array of main courses that redefine tradition, such as wild mushroom stuffed turkey breast with tikka masala sauce, kokum-crusted stone bass fillet with malabari sauce, or clove-smoked organic chicken breast with chettinad sauce and parsnip puree. Each dish is accompanied by generous servings of masala brussels sprouts, dhaba tarka lentils, and straight-out-of-the-tandoor naan. 

Your festive feast finale comes courtesy of the Royal Punjabi kulfi and raspberry crumble, Garam masala Christmas pudding with nutmeg custard and cranberry sauce, or the red wine-poached pear and apple crisp before coffee, chocolates and petit fours.

From £64.95 per person, visit babur.info

Read more: The best winter bars and terraces in London