Where to Eat on Christmas Day in London: Restaurants Worth Booking

This Christmas, leave the cooking to someone else and settle in for a festive meal at one of these nine restaurants in London opening their doors on 25th December. From traditional pub lunches and much-loved seasonal favourites to alternative Indian and Italian feasts and even a Michelin-starred experience, there are plenty of ways to make Christmas Day dining something to look forward to.

Classic Christmas lunch spots

The Prince Albert | Notting Hill 

Opening its doors on Christmas Day for the first time this year, Notting Hill pub, The Prince Albert, is serving up a five-course feast. Fresh from a top-to-toe refurbishment, expect traditional favourites including chicken liver and brandy parfait; and prawn cocktail, whilst the main event includes a choice of hand-carved turkey breast; blade of beef; or root vegetable Wellington, along with pan-roasted duck breast and Scottish sea trout. Desserts steal the show with choices like a decadent dessert trio, with mini mince pies to end. 

Menu: Five-courses for £90pp, open from 12pm with sittings available between 12-1pm and 3-4pm. 

Address: 11 Pembridge Rd, London W11 3HQ. Book here: www.the-prince-albert.co.uk.

RAILS Restaurant | King’s Cross 

Enjoy Christmas Day at RAILS in the heart of King’s Cross and toast to the occasion with a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine alongside starters of crab ravioli; and confit duck & pistachio terrine. For the main event, enjoy traditional turkey with pigs in blankets; roast sirloin of beef; or for something a little different, beautifully cooked black cod. Finish with festive treats such as the signature Kaya Great Northern Hotel Christmas pudding; dark chocolate delice and a selection of seasonal cheeses, followed by mince pies and tea.

Menu: Three courses for £115pp incudes a welcome glass of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, chef’s amuse bouche, mince pies, and tea or coffee. Two sittings at 12pm or 3pm.

Address: Pancras Rd, London N1C 4TB. Book here: www.railslondon.com.

The Windmill | Mayfair 

Recently refurbished, The Windmill in Mayfair is the place to be for a festive feast. Expect traditional favourites with an elevated twist, from starters of caramelised onion and ale soup with rarebit sourdough toast; brisket croquettes with a mustard emulsion to mains of West Country rump beef or Turbot with salmon caviar; all served with an abundance of seasonal sides. End with a sticky fig pudding or British cheese plate. 

Menu: Three-courses for £110pp, available from 12pm – 4pm. 

Address: 6-8 Mill Street, Mayfair, W1S 2AZ. Book here: www.windmillmayfair.co.uk.

The Guinea Grill | Mayfair

A Mayfair institution, it doesn’t get more traditional than Christmas lunch at London’s oldest steakhouse and pub, The Guinea. Arrive to an amuse bouche and champagne before the meal begins with starters of Highland smoked salmon; and game paté en croute, whilst mains include a butter-poached ballotine of Norfolk turkey with maple and chestnut stuffing; dry-aged rib of beef with lamb cutlet; and wild mushroom Wellington. Finish with a Guinness Christmas pudding; or classic sticky toffee, followed by mince pies.

Menu: Three-courses plus amuse bouche, mince pies and glass of Champagne for £175pp, available from 12pm – 4pm. 

Address: 30 Bruton Pl, London W1J 6NL. Book here: www.theguinea.co.uk.

Bōkan | Canary Wharf

Pair panoramic views of London’s skyline with festive dining and enjoy a memorable Christmas Day at Bōkan. Available for both lunch and dinner, the feast begins with a choice of starters including British charcuterie and local cheeses; smoked salmon with crème fraîche; goat’s cheese, fig and caramelised onion tar;  roasted chestnut soup; or heirloom beetroot salad. For mains, there’s traditional sage and cranberry-stuffed roast turkey; roasted beef sirloin or Josper-grilled salmon, all served alongside marinated tofu, crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and red wine gravy. Don’t skip dessert – opt for sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble with vanilla custard, or a fruit salad.

Menu: Christmas Day Roast Lunch Buffet at Bōkan 37 is available from 12pm – 5pm for £59pp, £35 for under 12s. Christmas Day Roast Dinner at Bōkan 38 is available from 5pm – 9pm for £35pp.

Address: 40 Marsh Wall, London E14 9TP. Book here: www.bokanlondon.co.uk/.

The Brush | Hoxton

Ready for the big day, The Brush in Hoxton will be serving up a three-course festive menu inspired by the dishes and flavours of Europe’s timeless grand cafés. Set under striking artwork by D*face, expect a feast with a sprinkle of East London flair, with dishes running from the traditional classics to the likes of smoked duck carpaccio with fig, pomegranate and satsuma; charred fillet of beef with king oyster mushrooms, Jerusalem artichoke and a thyme jus; and a show-stopping Mont Blanc. 

Menu: Three courses for £85pp, available from 12pm – 4pm.

Address: 84-86 Great Eastern Street London, EC2A 3JL. Book here: www.thebrushhoxton.co.uk.

Unique Christmas dinner menus

TOZI Restaurant & Bar | Victoria

Named after the Venetian slang for ‘a close-knit group of friends’, Christmas is about authentic Italian food made for sharing at TOZI. Start with burrata and fritto misto as well as a buffalo ricotta ravioli with winter black truffle, followed by roasted duck breast or grilled red mullet, and warm panettone to finish. Across the river, sister restaurant TOZI Pizzeria and Cicchetti Bar in Battersea will also be open on Christmas Day, serving its much-loved Italian cicchetti, pizzas and larger plates from the à la carte menu.

Menu: Four courses for £95pp, with optional wine pairings for £69pp, available from 12.30 – 5.30pm.

Address: 8 Gillingham St, Pimlico, London SW1V 1HJ. Book here: www.tozirestaurant.co.uk.

The Cinnamon Club | Westminster

Spice up Christmas Day at The Cinnamon Club, where Executive Chef Vivek Singh brings a vibrant Indian twist to festive feasting in the historic Grade II listed former Westminster Library. Expect a special four-course celebration from one of the UK’s leading Indian chefs, Vivek Singh, combining bold Indian flavours and aromatic spices with the finest seasonal British ingredients, finishing with Vivek’s famous garam masala spiced Christmas pudding.

Menu: Four courses for £150pp, available 12-4pm. 

Address: The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, SW1 3BU. Book here: www.cinnamonclub.com/festive-feasting/.

Michelin Star festive lunch locations

Pavyllon London (Four Seasons Park Lane) | Mayfair 

Bring a taste of France to Christmas Day at Michelin-starred Pavyllon London, where the world’s most decorated chef Yannick Alléno and Executive Chef Benjamin Ferra y Castell have created an indulgent six-course menu for lunch and dinner. Begin with a Niçoise-style chirachi tartlet, followed by steamed Comté cheese soufflé with celeriac, yellow wine and black truffle, and pan-fried langoustines ‘au grand bain’ with curry mayonnaise and herb salad. The main event is beef Rossini, pairing aged beef fillet with seared foie gras and winter truffle, before pear and yuzu sorbet and a decadent Montblanc bring the feast to a close.

Menu: Six courses for £360pp with a wine pairing for £175pp, available 12pm-3:30pm & 6pm-10pm.

Address: Pavyllon London, Hamilton Pl, Park Lane, London, W1J 7DR. Book here: www.pavyllonlondon.com/.

Top image: Pavyllon London