13 of the best Christmas dinners in Manchester for 2025

Christmas is a time for being with loved ones, watching festive films, and cocooning up in a pile of fluffy blankets. It’s also a time for eating great food. Succulent turkey, crispy pigs in blankets, and silky potato dauphinoise. Our mouths are watering at the very thought...

If you’re anything like us, festive family meals at home can become more than a little stressful. Planning what you’ll be serving up, juggling a thousand pans, and a vast mountain of washing up to deal with once you’re finished eating, when all you really want to do is flop down on the sofa in a food coma. Ringing any bells?

If you’ve hosted a chaotic festive family dinner one too many times then it might be time to look elsewhere. Enter: our Manchester Christmas dinner restaurant guide. Take yourself and your loved ones out for a meal at one of the many restaurants in Manchester this Christmas and let the experts do all of the planning and cooking for you.

Whether you’re visiting home or are based here full time you’re in luck, because we’ve rounded up the best Christmas dinners Manchester has to offer. Manchester is full to the brim with great food offerings, and that continues right into the festive season. From work events to dinner with the grandparents and fun Christmas nights out with friends, we’ve got something for every occasion.

While some are festive riffs on Manchester’s best Sunday roasts, (think classic roast turkeys, slow-cooked beef, and glazed hams), you’ll also find some more unusual options - festive pizza, anyone? Whatever you’re in the mood for this Christmas, there’s more than likely something out there for you. So have a little scroll through our guide, find your favourite festive menu, and make your Manchester Christmas party dreams come true by booking a spot nice and early.

Mowgli Street Food

What: Mowgli offers a home-from-home atmosphere and the perfect food for sharing at Christmas. Yes, it's not your traditional roast dinner or beef Welly, but it is a haven of warming spices, colourful plates, twinkling lights and a comforting industrial-chic vibe. Coming with a big group? You'll find various group and private dining areas for all party sizes. As for the menu, a Christmas feasting menu beginning with bubbles or a mocktail seals the deal. We're talking signature yoghurt cat bombs, followed by fenugreek fries, gunpowder chicken and Himalayan cheese toast with a choice of tiffin boxes and ice cream to finish. 
Where: Corn Exchange Manchester, Exchange Square, M4 3TR
Book now: Mowgli Street Food Manchester

Hawksmoor Manchester

What: What started as one of London’s best steak restaurants has now branched out to other cities across the UK, and we couldn’t be happier about it. If you’re looking for a restaurant that knows its way around a piece of meat, then you’ll struggle to find somewhere better than Hawksmoor. Choose from several sharing set menu or go for one of the tempting cuts of steak with a side of beef dripping chips and creamed spinach - whatever you decide, you won’t be disappointed.
Where: 184 - 186 Deansgate, Deansgate, M3 3WB
Book now: Hawksmoor Manchester

Gaucho Manchester

What: Gaucho Manchester comes alive at Christmas time - the restaurant is situated in a transformed historic church, decorated with dark, moody furnishings, twinkling lights, and glamorous chandeliers. Gather your loved ones around a cosy circular booth, or hire a private space for an evening to remember. Blending classic Christmas dishes with Gaucho's signature style, the festive set menu features Gaucho-cured smoked salmon, rump steak with chips and truffle butter, and the signature sticky toffee pudding. 
Where: 2a St Mary's Street, M3 2LB
Book now: Gaucho Manchester

Dishoom Manchester

What: If you’re after a more unique Christmas dinner, you can never go far wrong with Dishoom's generous, comforting festive set menus. As you’d expect, Dishoom has fun, festive food for all times of day, starting with bacon and brie naan rolls, best eaten alongside a cup of hot chai eggnog. The star of the show on the all-day menu is a Christmas turkey raan - a whole turkey leg, slow-cooked over the course of a day and served with winter vegetables, roasted with honey, chilli and hazelnuts. What better way to end all that than with a mince pie kulfi?
Where: 32 Bridge Street, M3 3BT
Book now: Dishoom Manchester

Treehouse Manchester

What: Treehouse Manchester goes all out at Christmas and at the heart of its festive offering is Pip, the hotel's spectacular main restaurant. Led by chef Mary-Ellen McTague, the festive menu features roast Norfolk Bronze turkey wrapped in a Yorkshire Christmas Pie, and Mrs Beeton's Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and spiced quince for dessert. Vegetarians are well looked after too - there's a hearty veggie roast with shiitake mushrooms and red wine gravy. From twinkling fairy lights, to tables decorated with pine cones and holly, Treehouse Manchester is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit. 
Where: Blackfriars Street, M3 2EQ
Book now: Treehouse Manchester

Bruco

What: Set in the heart of Manchester city centre, Bruco is a stylish Italian restaurant perfect for those looking to add a Mediterranean twist to their festive feasting. Groups of eight or more can tuck into a Christmas set menu, starting with the likes of festive arancini with cranberry, taleggio and honey, or spicy ‘nduja and mozzarella pizzette. Mains continue with hearty plates, ranging from roast Italian porchetta or butternut squash with seasonal sides including balsamic carrots, broccolini, and cavolo nero. Finish on a sweet note with Italian classics - think tiramisu, panettone bread pudding or amaretto panna cotta.
Where: 5 Murray Street, M4 6HS
Book now: Bruco

Tattu

What: Tattu always lays on a show for Christmas. Last year we saw the glamorous restaurant turn into a wintery blue haven, inspired by Azure - a mythical spirit from Far Eastern folklore and tradition. Christmas menus at Tattu are just as magical, promising indulgence and comfort. Dishes last year included the signature lobster and prawn toast, chicken truffle shumai starters, black pepper beef fillet, Shanghai black cod, and an ice dragon dessert made up of cashew butter fudge, dragon fruit and marshmallows. Whatever surprises 2025 holds, you can guarantee Tattu will make Christmas memorable.
Where: 3 Hardman Square, Gartside Street, M3 3EB
Book Now: Tattu

The Oast House

What: The Oast House is beautifully decorated, especially at Christmas time, making it a great venue for your Christmas meal. Last year guests had a choice between a two-course lunch or a three-course meal. Kick things off with a Christmas sharing platter, pigs in blankets, and Korean fried chicken, but save room for fried sea bass, festive pie, or the signature turkey hanging kebab with turkey, ham, stuffing, pigs in blankets, and an orange cranberry glaze. Just remember to book in advance!
Where: The Avenue Courtyard, M3 3AY
Book now: The Oast House

Albert's Schloss

What: Alpine-inspired bar Albert’s Schloss is an ideal setting for a Christmas meal, so it’s no surprise that this Bavarian restaurant pulls out all the stops with comforting food, live entertainment and festive tipples. Available as two or three-course set menus, last year's Christmas menu kicked off with a choice of Alpine croquettes, chicken liver pate, or bier onion soup. Mains were in keeping with Albert’s Schloss’ Bavarian theme, including Schweinshaxe (crispy roasted pork knuckle), mushroom and celeriac roast, and sauerbraten beef. Top it all off with Albert’s signature apple strudel, chocolate roulade or Northern Bloc ice cream.
Where: 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR
Book now: Albert's Schloss Manchester

Grand Pacific

What: Inspired by the golden age of high society, Christmas dinner at Grand Pacific is a classy luxe occasion. It promises a festive dining hall, decorated with wreaths and twinkling lights, and some extravagant dishes to boot. Last year's menu included sweet potato and coconut soup, chicken and herb terrine, and chicken gyoza to start with generous mains of glazed confit duck leg, pan-roasted sea bream, and traditional roast turkey with sage stuffing and creamed leeks. There was also a winter vegetable and chestnut pastry parcel for the vegans, with three enviable desserts to choose from.
Where: 50 Spring Gardens, M2 1EN
Book now: Grand Pacific

Higher Ground

What: One of Manchester's star restaurants, Higher Ground takes Christmas to new heights with seasonal feasting menus for lunch and dinner. The lunch menu is brilliantly priced, but you’ll also have the chance to order from the a la carte menu. Christmas dishes here last year included yellow pea fritters with Isle of Mull Cheddar, celeriac and heritage apple soup, and coal-roasted venison with cavolo nero and parsnip with smoked butter. It ends with a classic: a sticky malt pudding with milk ice cream. Throw in exceptional service, a superb drinks list and the mesmerising theatre of a busy open kitchen, and this is one of our favourites.
Where: Falkner House, New York Street, M1 4DY
Book now: Higher Ground

The Black Friar

What: The Black Friar is a gastropub on the edge of Salford with warm cosy interiors that blend traditional pub decor and modern comfort. and Christmas dining follows the same theme. Festive set menus offer two to three courses for a surprisingly reasonable price. Think salmon gravadlax and roasted celeriac truffle soup to start, followed by turkey ballotine, chestnut and mushroom lattice, or parmesan-crusted cod loin for mains. Meanwhile, desserts include favourites like Baileys and salted caramel yule logs, toffee puddings, and caramelised gingerbread cake.
Where: 41 Blackfriars Road, Salford, M3 7DB
Book now: The Black Friar

Australasia

What: Australasia is well known for being a boujee dinner setting, and this eye-catching restaurant delivers unique Christmas vibes every year. Last year, Christmas dining at Australasia celebrated the Australian territory Christmas Island with a four-course set menu, of Padron peppers, beef bon bons, seabass crudo, and sushi with Wagyu beef nigiri. As for the main, options include beef rib eye, roast cod, salt and pepper pork, and muscade pumpkin curry. For dessert, we’ve got our eye on a caramelised dark rum pineapple tart. You can always head over to Sunset by Australasia too, and enjoy a drink on the heated terrace.
Where: 1 The Avenue, M3 3AP
Book now: Australasia

If you’re planning a large Christmas dinner or a group dinner at any time of year, you’d better take a glance at some of the best private dining rooms in Manchester. That way you can be properly taken care of and be treated like kings and queens in your exclusive room.

Alternatively, if luxury and indulgence are what you’re after, you’ll find plenty of that on our top picks for the best afternoon tea in Manchester.