Restaurants open in London on Christmas Day 2024? Though many are closed, a handful are open — and serving up festive feasts to boot. Whether you're visiting London over Christmas, or are a Londoner looking to dodge the cooking (or washing up), we've put together a guide to eating out in the capital on 25 December.
It tends to be the high-end (read: pricey) restaurants which do open for Christmas dinner, usually with set menus. You'll need to book in advance for 25 December, as lots of people will be looking to do the same thing.
And remember: there's no public transport in London on Christmas Day (other than cycle hire).
DALLOWAY TERRACE, SOHO: Serving a six-course feast spanning amuse bouches (salmon pinwheels, beef croquettes), through starters and mains (roast turkey/beef/halibut or a veggie pithivier), a pre-dessert pistachio ice cream sandwich, followed by warm chocolate soup, homemade Guinness Christmas pudding, or Vacherin Mont d'Or with crackers. More details and booking. £110 per person.
108 BRASSERIE: MARYLEBONE: A four-course Christmas meal spanning a selection of chef's canapés and starters such as cured Scottish salmon or smoked venison carpaccio. The main course is a choice between fillet of beef wellington, turkey with all the trimmings, herb-crusted halibut with lobster risotto, or a butternut squash pithivier. Wrap up your meal with traditional plum pudding and brandy custard, Baileys and pistachio tiramisu, or blood orange and ginger cheesecake. For an extra £15, add on a British cheese selection from La Fromagerie. Book your table. £145 per person.
TOWN HOUSE AT THE KENSINGTON: Catering for couples and smaller families through to much larger groups, hotel restaurant Town House at the Kensington has a Christmas Day menu with festive options spanning shallot tarte tatin, turkey with all the trimmings, horseradish-crusted beef fillet, lime parfait, mulled wine poached pears, Christmas pudding, and Bûche de Noël served with chocolate ganache. Book your table. £125 per person
DECIMO AT THE STANDARD, KING'S CROSS: Enjoy Christmas with a Latin twist at Spanish-Mexican restaurant Decimo within the Standard London hotel. Swap the traditional turkey for truffle nachos, oysters with chilli, and a chocolate & vanilla yule log with burnt orange ice cream, all served with a glass of Ruinart NV. More details and booking. £120 per person
JOIA, BATTERSEA POWER STATION: Tuck into a festive repast with a view, on the 15th floor of art'otel Battersea, where tradition meets Iberian. The menu begins with sharing plates of petiscos and tapas including pan con tomate, and beef pica pau, followed by a choice of main course including grilled turbot with vinho verde sauce and caviar, Norfolk turkey with cabbage and madeira sauce, and venison loin with oporto sauce, fried brussels sprouts and king oyster mushrooms. Pudding takes the form of a Pudim abade de priscos (a Portuguese take on a crème caramel), with mandarin sorbet, and torrija (caramelised brioche) with salted caramel ice cream, and an Iberian cheese selection with red pepper jam. Enjoy a pre- or post-dinner drink at the JOIA Bar on the 14th floor. More details and booking. £135 per person.
RAFFLES LONDON AT THE OWO: The eponymous fine-dining restaurant from chef Mauro Colagreco offers a six-course Christmas Day tasting menu, with dishes including citrus and Scottish langoustine with mooli noodles and green cardamom; pigeon ravioli, apple consommé and chamomile, followed by mains of pumpkin and wagyu short rib; and chestnut and Rhug Estate deer, with date and brandy sauce. To finish, there's a dessert course of pear and panettone with panettone ice cream, speculoos and pear terrine. More details and booking. From £295 per person. Also at Raffles London at The OWO, brasserie Saison by Mauro Colagreco serves a set three-course Christmas Day menu. More info and booking. £190 per person.
ART'OTEL HOXTON: The Brush Grand Café at art'otel Hoxton serves a Christmas Day menu featuring dishes such as smoked duck carpaccio with fig, pomegranate and satsuma. To follow is roast turkey hen with all the trimmings and Gressingham duck with roast endives and mulled wine jus. To finish, enjoy a traditional Christmas pudding with brandy anglaise and vanilla ice cream. More details and booking. £85 per person.
BOKAN, CANARY WHARF: Celebrate Christmas with a view, 37 floors up at Bōkan. The Christmas Day menu keeps things simple, with a single main of roast turkey, chestnuts & berries, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding served with gravy and a single dessert: Bōkan Snow Tree. More information and booking.
SKYLON, SOUTH BANK: Christmas dinner in a sleek, modern restaurant overlooking the Thames? Don't mind if we do. The Christmas Day menu at Skylon comprises four courses plus tea or coffee (mains choices are turkey, beef wellington or celeriac wellington), and we'd put money on the food being both classy and delicious. The children's Christmas Day menu has options including fish and chips or mac and cheese, as well as the traditional turkey. More information and booking. £125 per adult/£75 per child.
HOLBORN DINING ROOM: The Christmas Day menu at Holborn Dining Room sounds altogether luxurious, and has plenty of options — anyone for confit duck rillette or Dorset white crab tart, followed by traditional roast turkey or roast rib of beef? For dessert, we're eyeing up the Valrhona chocolate marquise, but other options include traditional Christmas pudding, or boozy raspberry sherry trifle. Tea, coffee and mince pies round off the festivities, and a glass of Ruinart Brut is included. More information and booking. £250 per person.
CLARIDGE'S: Eating out on Christmas Day is never cheap, but if you've just won the lottery/a movie deal, there's always Christmas lunch at Claridge's. The Claridge's Restaurant serves up a six-course festive menu, whistling through choices including roast turkey breast with all the trimmings, beef wellington, and a selection of cheeses — finishing with either a chocolate yule log, or Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. More information and booking. £525 (!) per adult/£260 per child.
HAM YARD HOTEL, SOHO: Start your meal at Ham Yard Hotel (built on the site of the "greatest Christmas dinner ever served") with a selection of appetisers and a glass of champagne, followed by seasonal special starters, mains and desserts — think chicken and duck liver parfait, beef wellington, and whole baked Dover sole. Or, opt for the traditional turkey followed by Christmas pud. Alas, their famous gingerbread cheesecake isn't making a return this year, but console yourself with profiteroles served with ginger cream and chocolate sauce instead. More information and booking. £165 per person.
NICHOLSON'S PUBS: Most Nicholson's pubs open on Christmas Day, and many serve a three- or four-course traditional Christmas dinner, with a separate kids' menu available. Nicholson's pubs, various locations. Prices vary between locations, starting at £69 per adult.
If you're looking to eat out in central London on Christmas Day, but aren't fussed about turkey and trimmings, you can always try Chinatown, where some restaurants will be open (though we highly recommend calling ahead).
