Glasgow’s best Christmas set menus: 10 top spots for festive celebrations

As Christmas slowly weaves its way back into our everyday lives, our thoughts turn to food, and specifically - where can I get delicious, affordable Christmas food in Glasgow? Fortunately for you, this is a city that loves a bargain, and some of the best value cooking in the city lies in the festive set menus put together by restaurants for the Christmas period.

We’ve seen a trend in recent years of restaurants starting to offer set menus over the Christmas period. Not only does a set menu take the business of choosing dishes somewhat out of your hands, giving you more time to socialise and celebrate with your friends, colleagues or loved ones, it also helps to keep costs down, as restaurants can offer a selection of dishes at friendly prices. If you’re not someone who feels staunchly attached to the idea of ordering from an a la carte, a festive set menu is perfect for you.

Indeed, it seems many of us feel exactly that, as we’re seeing more and more set menus appearing, as people prioritise quality and value over autonomy of choice. Set menus also make group dining far easier, especially for larger groups - pre-ordering means less hassle on the day.

We’ve picked out a handful of restaurants below that we think do the best - or certainly most interesting - festive set menus in Glasgow. Some of those keep things classic with a proper Christmas roast, roasties galore, Christmas pud and a nice bottle of something to match, whilst others venture further afield with globetrotting menus.

We’d recommend getting your booking in ASAP, as the best Christmas party venues in Glasgow tend to get booked up quickly, especially when it comes to those weekend December dates.

Gaucho Glasgow

What: When it comes to reliable places to treat friends, family, colleagues or clients to a special meal, Gaucho never fails to impress. At £55 the festive set menu is pretty fantastic value for the quality of cooking and ingredients, as well as the chance to hang out in one of Glasgow’s most impressive dining rooms. Good luck choosing between cheese and truffle empanadas, rump steak with chips and truffle butter, pan-fried haddock, and the famous Gaucho sticky toffee pudding.
How much: £55 for three courses
Where: 7 West Nile Street, G1 2PR
Book now: Gaucho Glasgow

Ralph & Finns

What: Elegant, family-run bar and restaurant Ralph & Finns has quickly built a reputation for excellent cooking, as well as some of the best signature cocktails in the city. As celebratory, central-Glasgow spots go, this is right at the top of our list. Christmas dinner includes some classic cooking: duck liver parfait and prawn cocktail in the starters, followed by a turkey roast, or a lovely cod fillet with fregola and lobster sauce. Save room for indulgent desserts, like a pavlova trifle, or a sticky date and walnut pudding, and treat yourself to a cocktail too.
How much: £49 for three courses
Where: 23-25 St Vincent Place, G1 2DT
Book now: Ralph & Finns

Mowgli Glasgow

What: Mowgli’s legendary sharing menus always usher in the Christmas crowds, especially those in search of something a bit different to the usual turkey and roasties. The £40 festive menu is still one of the best deals you’ll find anywhere - not only do you get crispy yogurt chat bombs, fenugreek fries and gunpowder chicken poppers to snack on, you then get a two-tier tiffin box packed with curry, veg and sundries,
How much: £40 for festive sharing menu
Where: 78 St Vincent Street, G2 5UB
Book now: Mowgli Glasgow

Dishoom Glasgow

What: When in doubt, head for Dishoom - the Bombay cafe-stylings of Dishoom Glasgow offer a rather warm, cosy spot for a Christmas dinner, and Dishoom’s set menus are always reliable and delicious. The classic feast menu is still available, but there’s also a Christmas menu that features a turkey raan roast, as well as chilli sprouts, and a mulled wine pudding, alongside classics like the chicken ruby and black daal. Dishoom is also great for groups with dietaries, offering vegetarian and vegan set menus.
How much: £49 for a sharing menu
Where: 6–11 Nelson Mandela Place, G2 1QY
Book now: Dishoom Glasgow

Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar

What: Set within the stylish Malmaison Hotel on West George Street, Chez Mal specialises in classic, easy-going cooking at very reasonable prices. That said, there’s room to push the boat out a little bit if you like, with the restaurant’s signature buffalo chicken thighs, or fresh crab tacos with guacamole and lemon. There’s a ballotine of free-range turkey with all the trimmings if you just want a proper Christmas dinner, and you can finish things off with a sticky toffee pudding or a chocolate cremeux.
How much: £24.95 for two courses, £29.95 for three courses
Where: Malmaison Hotel, 278 West George Street, G2 4LL
Book now: Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar

Ka Pao

What: If you’re in the market for Christmas dinner with a difference, Ka Pao has you covered with an enormous feasting menu, and not a bit of turkey in sight. The sharing menu includes everything from spiced lamb sausage with Thai basil, to beef tartare and chilli jam, grilled squid nam jim, soy-braised pork belly, stir-fried ox tongue, and loads more. There’s even room for some fried brussels sprouts, for the traditionalists. Bear in mind, though, that you need a minimum of four people.
How much: £35 for sharing menu, for four or more diners
Where: Botanic Gardens Garage, 26 Vinicombe Street, G12 8BE
Book now: Ka Pao

Epicures

What: Epicures is a more casual spin-off from Michelin-starred Glasgow fine dining outpost Cail Bruich, but though the prices are more palatable, the food might be just as good. The festive set menu includes some absolutely cracking dishes: venison carpaccio with truffle oil; featherblade of beef with roast carrot puree and potato gratin; and a clootie dumpling with custard and ice cream. There’s still room for an excellent Christmas roast if that’s your vibe, and at less than £40 for three courses, the value is phenomenal.
How much: £32.50 for two courses, £39.50 for three courses
Where: 159 Hyndland Road, G12 9JA
Book now: Epicures

Six By Nico

What: Six By Nico is famous for affordable, high-theatre set menus, so is it running a special Christmas set menu? You bet it is. This year’s Hollywood Christmas menu features ten courses inspired by festive movies, reimagining the nostalgia of films like The Polar Express, Home Alone and Elf. At just £39 a head, Six By Nico remains as good a value proposition as you’ll find anywhere for food this imaginative and interesting. We’d recommend getting booked up quickly, as it’s always popular at Christmas.
How much: £39 for ten courses
Where: 86 Albion Street, G1 1NY; 358 Byres Road, G12 8AW
Book now: Six by Nico Merchant City; Six by Nico Byres Road

Cafe Gandolfi

What: Cafe Gandolfi has been through many evolutions since it first opened in 1979, but it remains a stalwart of Glasgow’s dining scene - a reliable spot where you can always go for good food at any time of day. The festive menu is just as appealing as ever, delivering a Scottish take on Christmas celebrations with cullen skink, haggis with neeps and tatties, and Shetland cod with Arbroath smokies, alongside the likes of braised leeks with miso, and a pork and sage scotch egg with pickled cranberries.
How much: £37 for two courses, £45 for three courses
Where: 64 Albion Street, G1 1NY
Book now: Cafe Gandolfi

Stravaigin

What: Stravaigin always manages to turn out interesting, delicious food, without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard. The festive menu is similarly placed, with globetrotting influences sitting on top of Scottish foundations: think char siu celeriac with confit garlic tahini, miso caramel pig cheeks, haggis with neeps, tatties and whisky cream, and a rather delightful pineapple and lime creme caramel with mango sorbet to finish things off.
How much: £45 for three courses
Where: 28 Gibson Street, G12 8NX
Book now: Stravaigin

Those looking for larger, private hire spaces for a Christmas party should check out these Christmas party venues in Glasgow, but if you're just booking a table in a restaurant for a small group of friends, there are lots of brilliant restaurants in Glasgow ready to host you. Check out our round up of the best restaurants in Glasgow, and don't forget that a celebratory afternoon tea is also an option - you can find the best afternoon teas in Glasgow right here.