Match the cuisine and style to your group
Christmas dinner in London runs from traditional British roasts to global menus, and the room sets the mood as much as the food. Here is what to expect from each cuisine, plus options for special diets, chef-led dining and buffets:
|
Cuisine
|
What to expect
|
Top Pick/s
|
From
|
|
Traditional British
|
Classic roast turkey, mince pies,
pigs in blankets and crackers in a warm pub or dining room
|
The Lady Ottoline (Holborn), The Mudlark (London Bridge)
|
£30 per person
|
|
Italian
|
Antipasti, pasta, Italian meats
and desserts in an intimate dining room
|
Bolton’s Venetian Room (Tower Hill)
|
£45 per person
|
|
Spanish
|
Tapas, shared plates and Josper-grilled
dishes in a relaxed, social setting
|
Ember Yard (Soho)
|
£44 per person
|
|
French
|
Three-course menus, elegant presentation
and a refined festive atmosphere
|
Brasserie Blanc Southbank (Waterloo),
Brasserie Blanc Chancery Lane (Holborn)
|
£46.50 per person
|
|
Indian
|
Flavourful spiced dishes, sharing plates
and a lively atmosphere in a grand or themed setting
|
PARO (Covent Garden)
|
£24 per person
|
|
Japanese and Asian fusion
|
Teppanyaki, sushi and theatrical tableside
cooking, ideal for a group experience
|
Benihana (Covent Garden)
|
£20 minimum spend
|
Special diets:
|
Option
|
What to look for
|
How to find it
|
|
Vegan options
|
Ask any restaurant for its vegan set menu or request a
fully plant-based festive menu when you enquire
|
Filter by “vegetarian menu” in the search, then confirm vegan availability with the venue
|
|
Gluten-free
|
Most restaurants can adapt their festive menu;
confirm at enquiry stage and ask for the allergen sheet
|
Ask the venue directly when you send your enquiry
|
|
Chef-led / luxury
|
Multi-course tasting menus, fine wines and attentive tableside service in an upscale private dining room
|
Browse the luxury filter or restaurants for special occasions
|
|
Buffet for large teams
|
Standing or seated buffet with a wide selection, ideal
for 50+ guests where individual plating is impractical
|
Filter by “whole venue” and ask the venue for its festive buffet pricing per head
|
Where to book by London neighbourhood
The strongest areas for a festive meal are the City and Holborn for corporate dinners, Covent Garden and Soho for something central and lively, and Waterloo for riverside dining. Each is close to the season’s lights and markets. A top pick in each:
- City of London: professional restaurants for the office do, near Leadenhall Market’s decorated Victorian arcade.
- Holborn: private dining rooms a step from the West End lights.
- Covent Garden: relaxed, central meals near the Piazza’s tree and the Seven Dials lights.
- Soho: modern restaurants by the Carnaby and Regent Street displays.
- Waterloo: dining by the river.
When should you book your Christmas dinner?
For work dinners and larger parties of 50 or more, book from early autumn to secure the best private dining rooms and prime Friday or Saturday dates. For a meal with friends or family, the best spots go quickly too, so aim to book by early December at the latest to get the restaurant and date you want.
Which night do most people book for Christmas dinner?
Thursday has been the most-requested party night for years, but 2026 data shows a clear shift: Friday is now the most popular night for the first time.
| Day of the Week |
2025
|
2026
|
|
Thursday share
|
33.5%
|
31.3%
|
|
Friday share
|
33.0%
|
43.8%
|
|
Saturday share
|
12.9%
|
13.1%
|
Friday’s share jumped more than ten percentage points year on year, while Thursday dipped. Saturday continues to grow steadily. If your group prefers a Friday, book early.
(2026 is early-season data and may shift as more bookings land. Tagvenue data.)
What about Christmas packages at restaurants?
If you do not have much time to plan, a Christmas package bundles the room, a set menu and often drinks into one booking.
Many London restaurants offer these, typically from £45 to £120 per person, and some include crackers, decorations or a welcome drink. On the dinner venues page you can already see packages from places like The Botanist Broadgate Circle (from £50 per person for two or three courses), Bolton’s Venetian Room (£45 for a three-course silver menu) and Fidelio Vienna Salon (£65 for a classic festive menu with crackers and teas).
Which restaurant suits your Christmas occasion?
Match the spot to the occasion: polished restaurants and private dining rooms for the office do, lively pubs for friends, and intimate rooms for family. A quick guide
(Tagvenue data):
|
Occasion
|
Best type of spot
|
Ideal group
|
Budget guide
|
Top pick
|
|
Work Christmas dinner
|
Private dining room or restaurant in the
City or Holborn
|
20 to 100
|
from £50 per person
|
The Botanist Broadgate Circle (City)
|
|
Work Christmas lunch
|
Pub dining room with a daytime
set menu
|
30 to 75
|
from £30 per person
|
The Mudlark (London Bridge)
|
|
With friends
|
Lively pub or relaxed restaurant in
Covent Garden or Soho
|
24 to 75
|
from £33 per person
|
Nags Head (Covent Garden)
|
|
Family gathering
|
Intimate private dining room
|
18 to 40
|
from £45 per person
|
Bolton’s Venetian Room (Tower Hill)
|
|
Christmas Eve
|
Restaurant or hotel dining room,
booked early
|
varies
|
from £50 per person
|
Fidelio Vienna Salon (Farringdon)
|
|
Christmas tea party
|
Hotel lounge or tearoom with an
afternoon-tea package
|
10 to 30
|
from £35 per person
|
Beaufort House (Chelsea)
|
How do you choose the right Christmas dinner venue?
Run through this checklist before you book. Each point has something concrete to check:
- Cuisine and menu: pick a set festive menu or a cuisine your group will love, from British roasts to Spanish, Italian, French, Japanese or Indian.
- Budget per head: expect £50 to £60 per person on average, with set menus from about £24; confirm what each course and any drinks add.
- Dietary needs: check vegetarian, halal, vegan and gluten-free options up front, as festive menus vary.
- Private or semi-private: a private dining room gives you the space to yourselves; a semi-private area keeps costs down for smaller groups.
- Area and transport: pick somewhere near a tube station your guests can reach easily in December.
- What the package includes: confirm courses, drinks, decorations and any room hire or minimum spend before you commit.
Christmas Day, or a festive meal in the run-up?
Most festive bookings are meals in the weeks before Christmas, when set menus and private rooms are widely available. If you want to dine on Christmas Day itself, confirm the restaurant is open, as many close or run a limited service.
#Supervenue
