London's best casual restaurants for Christmas parties

Housed in a former garment factory in London Fields, Lardo's private Bastardo wine bar space fits 28 seated or 45 standing.

Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta and natural wines suit everything from low-key team lunches to DJ-fuelled dinner parties. A relaxed, industrial-chic pick that's well worth the trip to Hackney.

This Clapham Junction restaurant and bar offers full exclusive hire for up to 400 standing, plus smaller semi-private spaces like The Snug and The Olive Tree.

Its group festive menu includes roast turkey with all the trimmings and confit duck leg, served in a striking industrial-meets-velvet interior. 

A Southern-inspired East London hotspot with a basement venue, Louie's, for up to 180 standing, plus full-venue hire for up to 300.

The festive menu includes hickory-smoked turkey and prime rib served family style, with guests able to bring their own DJ. A strong pick for groups wanting a late-night, party-club atmosphere.

Moments from Oxford Circus, this Eastern Mediterranean restaurant offers a subterranean private dining room for up to 18 or full restaurant hire for up to 120 standing - perfect for large team or small friend gatherings. 

Sharing menus run through meze, sea bream and slow-roasted lamb shoulder, with dogs and children both welcome.

Ditch standard turkey for a Japanese feast at Shoryu Ramen Soho. Perfect for low-key festive gatherings, this energetic Denman Street spot serves up steaming bowls of 12-hour tonkotsu broth, pork gyoza, and steamed buns.

Pair rich ramen with seasonal gingerbread hot sake or inventive yuzu cocktails for a lively celebration.

This beloved Spitalfields restaurant specialises in regional Thai cooking, with private dining for up to 30 or standing receptions across the wider space.

Thai family-style dishes go from comforting curries to a stunning whole deep-fried seabass, with cocktails drawing on Thai ingredients. If you want more than standard turkey, Som Saa is a fantastic choice.

This all-day Clapham restaurant offers full exclusive hire for up to 400 standing or 200 seated, plus smaller spaces like the fairy-lit Tree Room.

Its festive menu covers buttermilk fried chicken, turkey, lamb kofta and halloumi skewers, finished with mulled wine and mince pies. Ideal for offices wanting a lively, no-hire-fee takeover.

A relaxed Malaysian restaurant on Artillery Lane with full-venue hire for up to 100 or a private dining room for 30. Sharing menus include roti canai, nasi lemak and Malaysian-inflected cocktails like Milo Ice.

Its long communal tables and informal set-up suit larger office parties without rigid seating plans.

Masala Zone has long been a mainstay of high quality Indian dining in the capital, and offers a private room seating up to 42 for dinner or 70 at lunch, with sole use available for groups of 27-plus.

The West Coast Indian menu spans everything from pani puri to celebratory lamb biryani and lots of vegan options.

Set in a converted warehouse near Borough Market, this Portuguese restaurant offers everything from the intimate 14-seat Boa Vida room to full exclusive hire for 300 standing.

Big plates include Frango Piri Piri and slow-cooked pork shoulder with crackling crumb, with flexible spaces that suit both cosy team dinners and larger celebrations.

The UK's largest urban winery, in Surrey Quays, offers full-venue hire for up to 200 alongside a self-pour wine station with over 100 wines.

Festive sharing menus include brioche buns with smoked turkey and cheese fondue with Champagne, but the self-pour station is the real attraction - perfect for social drinks celebrations.

Megan's Kensington site hosts everything from intimate dinners to cocktail receptions for up to 180. Feasting, set and canape menus all draw on the same accessible festive spread as its sister sites, including a giant half-baked festive cookie dough.

Equally great for intimate friend and family groups, as well as offices wanting flexible food options. 

Perched beside Regent’s Canal at the foot of Broadway Market, Hackney neighbourhood favourite Sune offers an effortlessly cool setting for a festive gathering.

Founded by hospitality duo Honey Spencer and Charlie Sims, the intimate restaurant pairs seasonal European small plates with warm, convivial service and a world-class natural wine list.

This intimate Argentinian parrilla on Broadway Market boasts a private dining room for up to 30, perfect for cosy little Christmas get-togethers in East London.

Menus are steak-focused, with cuts sourced from Argentina alongside chorizo and burrata starters - top class cooking at very reasonable prices.

ISSO - Prawn Crazy swaps turkey for Sri Lankan coastal cuisine, with a private dining room seating up to 12.

The build-your-own seafood experience pairs wild prawns with sauces like Jaffna Curry, alongside mutton rolls and coconut prawns to start, all served in a striking, neon-lit setting that's ideal for smaller office parties and client entertaining.

Add a burst of regional spice to your festive plans at Chook Chook Indian Railway Kitchen in Putney.

Styled like an atmospheric vintage train carriage with plush emerald booths, this cosy neighbourhood spot serves vibrant chaats and hearty railway curries, offering a relaxed, flavourful alternative to traditional Christmas dining.

For a relaxed, retro Bombay-inspired festive bash, Portobello’s Permit Room is a crowd-pleasing choice. You can hire the whole of the first floor for up to fifty guests, easily accommodating lively group celebrations.

Indulge in their Festive Feast set menu, complete with spiced Turkey Raan, aromatic chaats, and inventive cocktails that keep the party flowing.

This Covent Garden restaurant, inspired by a traditional Indian bazaar, offers the private Khari Baoli floor for up to 30 and space for smaller groups of 4–10 in the main restaurant.

The chaat-led menu includes rogan josh shepherd's pie and Indo-Chinese chicken wings, and is well regarded for excellent cooking at very reasonable prices. 

Dishoom’s flagship Covent Garden cafe delivers buzzing atmosphere in spades for casual Christmas dos. Ordinarily queues snake out from the door of this phenomenally popular restaurant, but larger Christmas groups can book in advance for a table in the main dining space.

Expect festive feasts packed with slow-cooked Turkey Raan, legendary black daal, and flowing punch bowls.

This colourful Nepalese restaurant in Hackney is available for exclusive hire for up to 80 guests. Family-style menus include momos, butter chicken and 10-hour braised lamb curry, with tasting menus that include a glass of Prosecco.

A vibrant, flavour-forward option for offices and friend groups alike.

Perched right opposite Camden station, this snug Italian shopfront hides two private dining spaces fitting 18 and 25 guests.

Ditch the predictable festive roast for generous sharing platters of golden arancini, silky fresh pasta, and indulgent tiramisu. It’s an effortlessly low-key pick perfect for cosy 'Friendsmas' suppers, family catch-ups, and intimate team dinners.

This Latin American restaurant near Elephant and Castle offers four distinct spaces, from the theatrical Chef's Table in front of the open kitchen to full-room hire for up to 40.

Its festive menus bring Latin American flair to the table with tuna tostadas, Venezuelan empanadas, and a celebratory tres leches tiramisu with rum. 

A Brittany-inspired French restaurant by the Thames in Richmond, with an exclusive-use first-floor room for 12 to 40 guests.

Sample dishes include foie gras terrine, duck leg confit cassoulet and Crêpe Suzette, offering classic French comfort food for a wintery celebration. Well suited to end-of-year dinners with colleagues, friends or family.

An independent Mexican restaurant and bar with whole-venue takeover for up to 80, a late licence and a guest-controlled dance floor.

Sharing menus run through quesabirria, ribeye tacos and churros, alongside Agave Masterclasses for a more interactive festive twist. 1910 Cantina's cheerful, buzzy atmosphere makes it fantastic for groups after high energy over traditional trimmings.