London’s Best Festive Menus For 2024
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1 month ago
Where to go for yuletide feasting in the capital
In a couple of months, Christmas fever will have taken over London. The city will be glittering with lights, markets will be popping up everywhere, and restaurants will be buzzing with groups of friends and families out for their annual shindig. Table bookings get snapped up quickly during silly season, so get in there early and reserve your gang a spot for some celebratory feasting. The capital always delivers when it comes to festive menus – whether you’re after a traditional turkey roast or something alternative, from Indian to Italian. Read on for the C&TH pick for 2024.
Festive Menus In London For 2024
Millie’s Lounge at The Ned, Bank
Housed in a grand former banking hall in the heart of the City, The Ned is always extra special come Christmas time. A giant tree pops up in the middle, and there’s live music and carol singing. All its restaurants get involved too, adding festive menus to their offering – but our top pick is Millie’s Lounge, the stylish British eatery. Enjoy starters of Jerusalem artichoke soup, Atlantic prawn cocktail, and Montgomery cheddar souffle, ahead of a classic turkey roast with all the trimmings, or wild mushroom wellington with roast pumpkin. Finish on a sweet note with a seasonal dessert: there’s a dark chocolate orange baked tart, or a clementine and champagne trifle.
Price: £85pp
When? 24 November – 26 December 2024
Where? 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
BOOK: thened.com
The Laundry, Brixton
Cheese lovers should head south of the river to Brixton, where buzzy all-day neighbourhood restaurant The Laundry is introducing a new raclette experience. Throughout November, guests will have the chance to melt raclette cheese at the table with potatoes and cornichons for dipping. Alternatively, there will be a festive menu featuring hearty winter dishes, including pigs in blankets, turkey schnitzel, roast squash and sage tart, and venison ragu with pappardelle. Pair with a chocolate orange espresso martini from the new bar, or cosy up with a blanket on the restaurant’s terrace, which will be adorned with fairy lights for the season.
Price: Raclette is £20pp, festive menu is £49pp
When? Raclette available 1 – 30 November 2024
Where? 374 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8PL
BOOK: thelaundrybrixton.com
Nessa, Soho
Located bang in the middle of Soho, Tom Cenci’s Nessa is the perfect central spot for groups coming from all directions, with tables for up to 14 guests. The modern bistro will offer a special menu for groups of seven or more this season, served family-style. Dishes will include a twist on the signature black pudding brioche, made with sage stuffing and cranberry sauce; and smoked salmon with clementine and pickled cranberries, followed by roast chicken or sea bass pot au feu. Pudding is a sharing ‘Vienessa’, Cenci’s version of the nostalgic classic ice-cream.
Price: £60pp
When? 25 November – 24 December 2024
Where? 86 Brewer St, London W1F 9UB
BOOK: nessasoho.com
The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge
For a glitzy affair, book a table at The Lanesborough. The five-star hotel is up there with London’s finest, and looks particularly magical during the festive season – this year, there will be floral displays from the Wildabout Flowers team (think pine garlands and oversized bows). Head to its modern British restaurant, The Lanesborough Grill, which will be serving a festive menu crafted by executive chef Shay Cooper. Begin with starters such as terrine of duck, and cornfed chicken in a laminated truffle roll, ahead of Shay’s signature Norfolk turkey wellington, with the beloved Lanesborough Christmas pudding to finish.
Price: £56pp, an extra £45pp for wine pairing
When? 20 November 2024 – 8 January 2025
Where? Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA
BOOK: oetkercollection.com
Ambassadors Clubhouse
One of this year’s biggest foodie openings, Ambassadors Clubhouse focuses on Punjab-inspired cuisine. With a lively atmosphere, it’s ideal for those looking for a fun Christmas night out, with a group festive feast menu on offer for parties of six or more. This kicks off with a selection of papads, chicken chaat and Punjabi salad, ahead of seasonal mains such as beetroot raj chaat, suckling lamb raan, and Ajwaini wild prawns with hari chutney. Dessert is chocolate and fig kheer – and party cocktails are blended with regional ingredients, then brought to the table in large pours. Alternatively, diners can opt for the slightly cheaper classic festive feast menu, which includes dishes like lobster curry and lamb biryani.
Price: Group festive feast menu is £125pp, festive feast menu is £100pp
When? 18 November – 31 December 2024
Where? 25 Heddon St, London W1B 4BH
BOOK: ambassadorsclubhouse.com
Pastaio, Soho
There’s nothing like pasta to bring people together. You’ll find some of the city’s best at Pastaio, Stevie Parle’s Soho eatery, which is offering four different festive menus this year – with something for all budgets. For a quick celebratory meal, opt for the Christmas Lunch menu, which includes a selection of antipasti ahead of a bowl of fresh pasta, plus a scoop of ice cream to finish. The Penne Christmas menu, meanwhile, adds the option of Pastaio’s signature tiramisu, while the Deck the Halls offering includes panettone bread and butter pudding, alongside a glass of fizz. For something more decadent, opt for the Pasta & Panettone menu, which includes half a bottle of wine each. Menus are available for groups of between eight and 20 people.
Price: Christmas Lunch (£28), Penne Christmas (£36), Deck the Halls (£44), Pasta & Panettone (£62)
When? From 7 November 2024
Where? 19 Ganton St, Carnaby, London W1F 9BN
BOOK: pastaio.co.uk
Dishoom
Spice up your Christmas dinner at Dishoom, the perennially popular modern Indian restaurant, which has multiple branches across the city. Its Christmas feasting menu includes a selection of Bombay-inspired festive specials: the main event is a turkey raan with all the trimmings, including tenderstem broccoli, chilli sprouts and spiced cranberry chutney. Can’t imagine a trip to Dishoom without tucking into some black daal? Fear not: it features too, alongside a number of other house classics, finishing off with a mince pie kulfi.
Price: £47pp
When? 18 November – 24 December 2024
Where? Multiple locations
BOOK: dishoom.com
OMA
Another of this year’s most talked about openings was OMA, David Carter’s Greek restaurant which arrived in Borough Market in the spring. The festive menu here looks particularly delicious, served family-style in the wine annex, available to book exclusively for groups of nine to 30. It begins with flatbread and dips, followed by dishes like malawach charred octopus and squid salata, Greek salad with carob rusks, and Cornish lamb with green sauce. Enjoy alongside Greek wines, and be sure to try one of the signature cocktails: the clementine gimlet, or the OMA negroni.
Price: £85pp
Where? 3 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
When? 2 – 24 December 2024
BOOK: oma.london
The Surprise
Nestled away in the backstreets of Chelsea, this charming pub is a lovely spot for a group dinner – with a private dining room available to book for up to 35 guests. The 2024 menu includes starters like baked goat’s cheese tartlet, and ham hock and chicken terrine, ahead of a traditional turkey roast complete with pigs in blankets and rosemary roast potatoes, or gnocchi, baked cod or beef. End things in the best way: with a hearty sticky toffee pud, followed by mince pies for the table.
Price: £60pp
When? From 18 November 2024
Where? 6 Christchurch Terrace, London SW3 4AJ
BOOK: thesurprise-chelsea.co.uk
