“Ping! Ping! Ping!” – no, that’s not the sound of a jolly festive jingle, but the incessant buzz of various group chats on your phone, as you and your dearest friends try to work out where you should all go for the annual Christmas catch-up. Yep, organising this gathering with friends is tough so to make it easier, we’ve rounded up some London restaurants offering fab festive menus. Read below to discover where we guarantee yule have a very merry time.
45 Jermyn St, St James’s
What: Head to 45 Jermyn St for a luxurious take on a winter warmer, as the restaurant has added four new dishes to its à la carte menu in celebration of truffle season. The star of the show is the toasted cheese sandwich: the ultimate in comfort food, it sees homemade sourdough oozing with raclette and coated in whipped butter. To complete the dish, white truffle is shaved on the toastie at the table, adding an extra touch of theatre to proceedings.
Where: 45 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6DN
How much: Toasted cheese sandwich, £26.50
All Star Lanes Brick Lane, Shepherd’s Bush and Stratford
What: To liven up your Christmas outing take your friends to compete in a game of bowling, alongside US-style diner food and festive cocktails. A handful of Christmas specials will grace the menu at All Star Lanes, including a pigs-in-blankets hot dog and a Christmas-dinner burger that sees a turkey, sage and onion patty topped with chicken crackling and cranberry sauce.
Where: 95 Brick Lane, E1 6QL; Victoria House, Bloomsbury Place, WC1B 4DA; Westfield London Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, W12 7FU; Second floor, Westfield Stratford City, E20 1ET
How much: Christmas burger, from £14
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Aubaine, various locations
What: This group of chic, French-accented all-dayers is the place to come for indulgent brasserie dishes to help fuel Christmas shopping expeditions. Tempting starters include the likes of duck liver parfait with a gingerbread crumble and port-soaked plum, alongside roast turkey breast with truffle cream. The highlights though are the decadent desserts, including the winter-themed Mont Blanc, and a tarte Tatin.
Where: Various locations
How much: Two/three courses for £22/27
Berners Tavern, Fitzrovia
What: Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern remains one of the hottest tickets in town thanks to its menu of best-of-British dishes, and its Christmas offering looks just as delicious. The feasting menu, available for parties of four guests or more, includes dishes such as pork and pistachio terrine with celeriac and pickled mustard salad, and whole-baked sea bass with fennel and mussel stuffing. Finish up your feast with a chocolate and hazelnut yule log.
Where: 10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP
How much: £95 per person
Bone Daddies Kensington, Old Street, Soho, St Christopher’s Place and Victoria
What: For the first time, high-energy ramen joint Bone Daddies is launching a festive menu. Running until January, the menu features three new dishes and one warming cocktail. Get in the holiday spirit with the three-bird spicy broth with pheasant, duck and turkey, or opt for the turkey katsu curry and cranberry and daikon pickle. Wash it all down with the Mulled Ume Shu: warm plum sake, spiced with cinnamon and star anise.
Where: 63-97 Kensington High Street, W8 5SE; Unit C, 211 Old Street, EC1V 9NV; 31 Peter Street, W1F 0AR; 46-48 James Street, W1U 1HA; Nova Victoria, 9 Sir Simon Milton Square, SW1E 5DJ
How much: Three-bird broth, £11.60
Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone
What: Celeb-magnet Chiltern Firehouse is drawing in guests to its cosy surrounds this winter with a decadent feasting menu – the perfect place for Christmas catch-ups. Designed for groups of eight to 12 diners, the selection kicks off with pre-dinner snacks such as venison rolls with smoked ketchup, before moving on to a black truffle and Champagne risotto, and a choice of mains for the table, such as whole-glazed duck, slow-cooked salmon or grilled whole cauliflower.
Where: 1 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PA
How much: From £125 per person
Coya, Mayfair
What: Glamorous Coya is ready for the party season with its menu of high-class Peruvian fayre. Dishes available on the Christmas menu include Wagyu sirloin with chimichurri, baby squid with quinoa, and slow-cooked pulled pork with chipotle sauce. Indulgent desserts, meanwhile, see dulce de leche with passionfruit ice cream, and a parfait de arabica topped with caramelised banana and a splash of rum.
Where: 118 Piccadilly, W1J 7NW
How much: £75 per person
Fiume, Battersea
What: For an Italian Christmas (complete with cosy atmosphere and a warm welcome), head to Francesco Mazzei’s Fiume, where you’ll find a four-course festive feast. While taking in views of the Thames, you can chow down on plates such as a Marsala broth tortellini, while for the main event, guests can choose between roast sea bass with artichoke romana and smoked mashed potato, or veal chop with sage butter and winter truffle.
Where: Circus West Village, Sopwith Way, SW8 5BN
How much: £65 per person
Craft London, Greenwich
What: At this stylish, three-storey Stevie Parle operation, those looking to spread some Christmas cheer can enjoy a three-course menu of seasonal dishes. Choose from the likes of hot smoked treacle duck with figs and sour cherry, or opt for the parsley-crusted monkfish with a smoked fish broth and fermented vegetables. To finish, there’s eggnog custard poured over stout toffee pudding.
Where: Peninsula Square, SE10 0SQ
How much: Christmas menu, £38
PF Chang’s Asian Table, Covent Garden
What: Christmas is a time for indulging, and it’s all about sweet treats at PF Chang’s this season. Head here to tuck into dreamy desserts such as the ‘Christmas Meltdown’: a white chocolate snowman filled with honeycomb, cocoa nibs, popping candy, chocolate soil, hazelnuts and meringue. If one dessert isn’t enough, there’s also the miniature white chocolate igloo, which is a pistachio sponge built on crunchy shortbread biscuit.
Where: 10 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JA
How much: Three courses for £30
Sagardi, Shoreditch
What: At this Basque steakhouse, you’ll find four different festive menus to choose from. We like the look of the Meat Lover’s Menu, which kicks off with grilled morcilla (black pudding) and salt-cured beef, before turning out a main course of matured beef steak. Sides include potato wedges and piquillo peppers, and dessert features dark chocolate truffles with a hint of apple liquor.
Where: Cordy House, 95 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS
How much: Meat Lover’s Menu, £94
Smith’s Bar & Grill, Paddington
What: Just a few minutes from Paddington station (and kitted out with festive decorations), Smith’s offers up a three-course festive menu, including Christmas crackers and mince pies. Starters see seared scallops with a cauliflower purée, while mains include a wild mushroom risotto or ribeye steak in a red wine jus. To finish, enjoy a traditional Christmas pudding drizzled with brandy sauce, before tucking in to those mince pies.
Where: 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY
How much: Christmas menu, £39