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 2022

Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal

Another West End stalwart, Hotel Café Royal is one of the city’s most polished hotels, complete with a restaurant from renowned chef Alex Dilling. It offers a modern take on French cuisine, with a suitably lavish menu being served this Christmas. Guests will be treated to a five-course feast, kicking off with oak smoked salmon with capers and mascarpone, followed by manuka honey glazed duck and a blue lobster macaroni gratin. The main event is a Lake District farm beef wellington, with a trifle for dessert. 

Price: £350pp

Address: 68 Regent St., London W1B 4DY

BOOK: hotelcaferoyal.com

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 five-course meal this Christmas, served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne. Think traditional classics with a Mediterranean twist, like a burrata starter with green harissa, hazelnuts and sorrel, followed by roasted duck breast with pommes mousseline (fancy mash). For dessert, tuck into an indulgent bûche de noël (chocolate yule log).

Price: £175pp

Address: 38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX

BOOK: thelondoner.com

Benares Mayfair

Mix it up this Christmas with an Indian feast at renowned Mayfair restaurant Benares. You’ll be treated to Executive Chef Sameer Taneja’s specially crafted Christmas Tasting Menu, with the option of adding paired wines. Begin with a selection of Indian street food snacks, and a citrus-marinated Scottish scallop tartlet starter, before moving onto mains like mutton momo with winter vegetables, and tandoori muntjac with garlic yoghurt. Finish things off with a classic Indian dessert called Rasmalai, alongside petit fours. A vegetarian menu is also available.

Price: £132pp

Address: 12a Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BS

BOOK: benaresrestaurant.com

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 glazed native lobster with quail egg, and duck liver and pistachio terrine, followed by a choice of four mains, including a classic roast Norfolk farm turkey, and venison wellington. For pudding, there’s the hotel’s signature Christmas pudding, served with candied orange and brandy cream, or warm gingerbread with spiced plum sorbet. 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 new head chef Owen Sullivan. Enjoy starters of Dorset crab with crème fraîche, and baked vacherin with Perigord truffle, followed by a classic Norfolk Bronze roast turkey with all the trimmings. Next, choose between a Christmas pudding with brandy custard, a custard and nutmeg tart, or a vanilla crème brûlée. The restaurant always puts on a sparkling festive display too – this year’s theme is ‘A Fairytale of New York’. 

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 smoked goose breast with port pickled plums, and venison carpaccio with a celeriac remoulade. For mains, diners can tuck into a slap-up roast, with a choice of turkey or beetroot wellington, served with all the trimmings and then some (truffled cauliflower cheese, pigs in blankets, ox cheek croquettes, you name it). Next up there’s Christmas pudding, or a salted chocolate, hazelnut and cherry mousse, followed by a cheese course. Not one for those with small appetites. 

Price: £110 per adult, £55 per child

Address: Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 9DE

BOOK: youngs.co.uk

Galvin Bar & Grill

Kimpton Fitzroy London’s dining room Galvin Bar & Grill, spearheaded by brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, is an opulent affair – think banquette seating, marble lighting and antique mirrors. There’s a suitably luxurious menu to match, offering a modern approach to the classic British grill, which is kicked up a notch on Christmas Day. Begin with a glass of Hattingley Valley followed by starters of paté en croute with homemade piccalilli, and salt-baked celeriac soup with winter truffle cream. The main event is Holly Farm bronze turkey with traditional sides, or a wild mushroom risotto. And for the final courses, guests will be treated to Christmas pudding with warm brandy custard, apple tarte tatin with clotted cream ice cream, or a selection of British and Irish cheeses. 

Price: £125pp

Address: 1-8 Russell Square Corner of Guilford Street and, Russel Square, London WC1B 5BE

BOOK: galvinrestaurants.com

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 five-course menu with wine pairing, with exact dishes yet to be revealed – though you can guarantee traditional Christmas dishes cooked to perfection. Easily one of the best restaurants open on Christmas Day.

Price: £350pp

Address: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA

BOOK: dorchestercollection.com

Berners Tavern

If you’re looking for somewhere with that extra pizzazz this Christmas, Berners Tavern will fit the bill. Part of the Jason Atherton empire, the restaurant is housed inside a beautiful baroque dining room within the London Edition Hotel, serving a contemporary British menu. The Christmas Day offering is a family-style feast featuring turkey and pork neck ham, plus a showstopping baked alaska dessert. 

Price: £160pp

Address: 10 Berners St, London W1T 3NP

BOOK: bernerstavern.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. Begin with green spiced tandoori partridge breast and chargrilled king oyster mushrooms before tucking into root vegetable biriyani, clove flavoured goose breast, or crusted halibut with tamarind sauce. For dessert, choose from dishes like warm chocolate mousse with coffee ice cream, and garam masala Christmas pudding. Pair with festive cocktails, or wines specifically chosen to go well with spice. 

Price: £125pp

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

BOOK: thecinnamoncollection.com

Main image: Galvin Bar & Grill