These London Restaurants Are Open On Christmas Day

There’s nothing like sitting down to a home-cooked roast, but we all know cooking Christmas lunch can be pretty stressful. You’ve got to have the timings nailed, you’re often cooking for a big group, and the stakes are high. So this year, why not leave the hard work to the professionals? There are a whole host of lovely London restaurants open on Christmas Day – here are some of the ones to book this year.

London Restaurants Open On Christmas Day 2023

Whitcomb’s At The Londoner

With its sleek look and stellar food and drink offering, a trip to Leicester Square hotel The Londoner is always a treat. Head to its French-inspired restaurant Whitcomb’s for a six-course meal this Christmas, served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne. Begin with marinated yellow tuna or smoked duck breast ahead of a main course of seared beef with caramelised apple and parsnips, or oven-roasted black cod with tortellini. Dessert is a traditional Christmas pudding drizzled in brandy sauce, or a blackcurrant delice with apple compote, ahead of petit fours.

Price: £195pp

Address: 38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX

BOOK: thelondoner.com

Claridge’s

If you really want to splash out this Christmas, you’ll find one of the capital’s most luxurious festive menus at Claridge’s. The hotel’s recently opened Claridge’s Restaurant is serving a spectacular seven-course feast on Christmas Day, featuring an array of decadent dishes such as buckwheat crumpets topped with truffle, oysters, and a classic turkey roast with all the trimmings. Enjoy amid the chic art deco surroundings: think mosaic flooring, pendant lamps and a glitzy standout bar.

Price: £495pp

Address: Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

BOOK: claridges.co.uk

The Goring

The only hotel to have been granted a Royal Warrant, The Goring is certainly up to the task of hosting Christmas lunch. Located around the corner from Buckingham Palace, and home to a grand dining room, it’s the perfect setting for a special meal, with a distinctly British feel. Begin with a selection of canapes, like duck liver terrine and Orkney scallop with winter squash, ahead of a choice of mains including roast turkey, beef wellington, or glazed Dover sole. For pudding, there’s the hotel’s signature Christmas pudding, served with candied orange and brandy cream, or preserved black cherry Baked Alaska. It doesn’t come cheap, but you can guarantee tip-top quality and service throughout – this is one of London’s top hotels, after all.

Price: £340pp

Address: 15 Beeston Pl, London SW1W 0JW

BOOK: thegoring.com

Bluebird

You can’t go wrong with King’s Road landmark Bluebird, which features cosy interiors and a traditional menu created by head chef Owen Sullivan. Enjoy starters of cured smoked salmon and shrimp cocktail, ahead of mains of turkey ballotine with all the trimmings, hand rolled potato gnocchi, or butter poached halibut. Dessert options include cinnamon rice pudding with poached quince, vanilla crème brûlée, and a Guinness and chocolate steamed pudding. The restaurant always puts on a great festive display too, with a twinkling terrace and seasonal decor aplenty.

Price: £150pp

Address: 350 King’s Rd, London SW3 5UU

BOOK: bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

The Windmill

This long-standing Clapham pub underwent a big refurb recently, giving it a stylish new look. There are various different spaces for dining, including a velvet-bedecked Drawing Room, well suited to big groups and families. Its Christmas lunch is a traditional affair, but with some interesting flavours and additions: starters include Hampshire venison carpaccio, Jerusalem artichoke tart with pickled walnuts, and baked scallops with samphire and garlic butter. For mains, diners have a choice of various roasts – including a feast of turkey, gammon, duck breast and smoked bacon (one for the meat lovers); pan roast turbot; or mushroom and beetroot wellington – all served with Yorkshire puds, Brussel sprouts, veggies and roasties. Be sure to save some space for the pudding: there’s a salted chocolate, hazelnut and cherry mousse; or an apple, fig and chestnut crumble.

Price: £115pp for adults, £58pp for children

Address: Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 9DE

BOOK: windmillclapham.co.uk

The Grill at The Dorchester

Few hotels do Christmas like The Dorchester. The London stalwart transforms into a glittering wonderland during the festive season, with a majestic line of trees lining the lobby and fairy lights aplenty. Tom Booton’s restaurant, The Grill at The Dorchester, is a magical choice for Christmas Day, offering exceptional cooking amid warm and welcoming surroundings. It serves a special six-course menu of dishes like duck liver custard with truffle, roasted lobster with caviar and pumpkin, and Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings. Then, enjoy a buck’s fizz slush before tucking into pudding: choose between a chocolate and clementine tartlet, or Christmas pudding with vanilla and custard. 

Price: £280pp

Address: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA

BOOK: dorchestercollection.com

The Cinnamon Club

Found within the historic Grade II listed former Westminster Library, there’s a grand feel to The Cinnamon Club, Vivek Singh’s flagship Indian restaurant. It’s a great option for Christmas Day, with a special menu offering an array of starters, mains, sides and desserts. Think Indian twists on seasonal classics: starters include green spiced tandoori partridge breast, and carpaccio of home cured salmon with caramel ‘jhal muri’, followed by an interlude of filled padron peppers with spiced chickpeas. Main courses include slow braised lamb leg with nutmeg and peppercorn sauce, clove flavoured goose breast, and root vegetable biryani. Finish on a sweet note with a garam masala-spiced Christmas pudding, or keep it classic with a selection of English cheeses, served here with Peshwari naan. You can also choose to pair these with spice-friendly wines, curated by the sommelier.

Price: £125pp

Address: The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith St, London SW1P 3BU

BOOK: cinnamonclub.com

Theo Randall at the InterContinental

Enjoy a taste of La Dolce Vita this Christmas at Theo Randall at the InterContinental, an Italian fine dining restaurant within the Mayfair hotel. It’s all about top-quality produce inspired by Theo’s regular trips to Italy, alongside an extensive wine list which focuses on Italian varieties. The Christmas Day menu is a five-course feast featuring dishes like Dorset blue lobster, beef fillet wrapped in coppa di parma, a selection of Italian cheeses, and panettone bread pudding – served alongside a glass of champagne.

Price: £145pp

Address: One Hamilton Place, Park Ln, London W1J 7QY

BOOK: theorandall.com

The Cadogan Arms

Decked out with wood panelling, velvet bucket chairs and fireplaces, Chelsea hotspot The Cadogan Arms is the ultimate winter pub. It’s renowned for its roast, which is made even more elite come Christmas time: choose between turkey, wild turbot beef or mushroom wellington, served with all the trimmings (roasties, pigs in blankets, parsnips – the lot). For dessert, there’s sticky toffee pudding, trifle or baked rice pudding, followed by a selection of cheeses, and mince pies to finish. The only problem? You’ll need to be rolled home.

Price: £250pp

Address: 298 King’s Rd, London SW3 5UG

BOOK: thecadoganarms.london

Main image: The Goring