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Zetter Townshouse

Where to Eat and Drink on Christmas Day in London

Save on the washing up and maybe knock back some eggnog, too

by Suze Olbrich and James Hansen Updated
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by Suze Olbrich and James Hansen Updated
Zetter Townshouse

A London Christmas is a miraculous thing. It covers, even encourages, all manner of sins including the mandatory sloth and gluttony (as well as inciting the avarice that Santa might view somewhat less favourably). Come Christmas Day, the city offers an array of dining options to entice even the most Grinch-like relatives off the sofa, as long as the right booking is made. So whether it’s wanton luxury, a long-savoured escape from roast poultry, or a curry that will fill loved ones’ hearts with festive bliss, it’s all here — just don’t leave it till the last minute.

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The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

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For anyone that won’t manage to escape home — or other — dining arrangements, but wants a suitably festive haven to escape to post-feasts, or to have a preprandial cocktail at, the Zetter will be open all day and serving up its famed Eggnogg (off menu, so just ask).

49-50 St John's Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ, UK
020 7324 4444
020 7324 4444

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Holborn Dining Room

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Nokx Majozi’s legendary pies join the menu in Holborn Dining Room’s opulent central London setting, which makes good on the promise of Christmas cheer. An ingenious chicken, sage, and onion paté en croute is the starter highlight, while turkey is naturally the main event alongside a salmon en croute for the turkey agnostics. £195 per person, including snacks and an interstitial thermidor-glazed scallop, as it should be.

252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, UK
020 3747 8633
020 3747 8633

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Tayyabs

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There’s no law that dictates Christmas Day dining. So if all one desires is to leave the house for a couple hours, without booking ahead, or any additional fuss, head over to cult stalwart Tayyabs for a class curry chosen off a menu that is exactly the same as it is every other day of the year. 

83-89 Fieldgate St, Whitechapel, London E1 1JU, UK
020 7247 9543
020 7247 9543

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Bob Bob Ricard

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The ideal choice for smaller child-free parties — or pairs — that envisage Christmas as an excuse to guzzle distinctly adult treats, let’s say: caviar, oysters, steak tartare, followed by lobster macaroni cheese and truffle fries, all washed down with gallons of champagne (ordered by pressing a button, obviously).

1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF, UK
020 3145 1000
020 3145 1000

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La Dame de Pic London

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Anne-Sophie Pic’s glam Four Seasons site is serving up a swish five- or seven-course tasting menu. It includes a fragrant celeriac and lovage dish with caviar; a pasta course that features Pic’s signature dish of Berlingots, here with watercress, ivy oil, and black truffle; and a centrepiece of French chicken with sweet clover.

Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ, UK
020 3297 3799
020 3297 3799
Berlingot “sweets” shaped as 3d triangles with a pool of green sauce on a rustic white plate at La Dame de Pic London
Berlingot “sweets” at La Dame de Pic
Cris Barnett

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Min Jiang Restaurant

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If a slick, modern Chinese banquet is required to refresh the family’s Christmas spirit, nab a table atop the Royal Garden Hotel and gaze out over Hyde Park while sharing a feast that includes dishes like venison puffs and asparagus rolls in barbecue sauce, steamed crab with black truffle and XO sauce fried rice, and stir-fried garlic sprouts, shimeji and enoki mushrooms. Seeing as it’s Christmas, it’s probably worth going all out by pre-ordering a whole or half Beijing (Peking) duck, too.

2-24 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 4PT, UK
020 7361 1988
020 7361 1988

The Pem

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Sally Abé’s newest restaurant is serving up a classic three courses in Westminster, for £150 a head. Guests can opt between smoked trout and crab mousse or a glazed ham for a starter, with beef Wellington or a truffled turkey breast. A Christmas pudding soufflé sounds a majestic culmination.

22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH, UK
020 3301 8080
020 3301 8080

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The Alexandra

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A special case: The Alexandra in Wimbledon offers a free Christmas dinner to anyone spending Christmas Day alone, under whatever circumstances. A place of spirit, refuge, and generosity.

33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 7NE, UK
020 8947 7691
020 8947 7691

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The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

49-50 St John's Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ, UK

For anyone that won’t manage to escape home — or other — dining arrangements, but wants a suitably festive haven to escape to post-feasts, or to have a preprandial cocktail at, the Zetter will be open all day and serving up its famed Eggnogg (off menu, so just ask).

49-50 St John's Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ, UK
020 7324 4444
020 7324 4444

Holborn Dining Room

252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, UK

Nokx Majozi’s legendary pies join the menu in Holborn Dining Room’s opulent central London setting, which makes good on the promise of Christmas cheer. An ingenious chicken, sage, and onion paté en croute is the starter highlight, while turkey is naturally the main event alongside a salmon en croute for the turkey agnostics. £195 per person, including snacks and an interstitial thermidor-glazed scallop, as it should be.

252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, UK
020 3747 8633
020 3747 8633

Tayyabs

83-89 Fieldgate St, Whitechapel, London E1 1JU, UK

There’s no law that dictates Christmas Day dining. So if all one desires is to leave the house for a couple hours, without booking ahead, or any additional fuss, head over to cult stalwart Tayyabs for a class curry chosen off a menu that is exactly the same as it is every other day of the year. 

83-89 Fieldgate St, Whitechapel, London E1 1JU, UK
020 7247 9543
020 7247 9543

Bob Bob Ricard

1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF, UK

The ideal choice for smaller child-free parties — or pairs — that envisage Christmas as an excuse to guzzle distinctly adult treats, let’s say: caviar, oysters, steak tartare, followed by lobster macaroni cheese and truffle fries, all washed down with gallons of champagne (ordered by pressing a button, obviously).

1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF, UK
020 3145 1000
020 3145 1000

La Dame de Pic London

Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ, UK

Anne-Sophie Pic’s glam Four Seasons site is serving up a swish five- or seven-course tasting menu. It includes a fragrant celeriac and lovage dish with caviar; a pasta course that features Pic’s signature dish of Berlingots, here with watercress, ivy oil, and black truffle; and a centrepiece of French chicken with sweet clover.

Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ, UK
020 3297 3799
020 3297 3799
Berlingot “sweets” shaped as 3d triangles with a pool of green sauce on a rustic white plate at La Dame de Pic London
Berlingot “sweets” at La Dame de Pic
Cris Barnett

Min Jiang Restaurant

2-24 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 4PT, UK

If a slick, modern Chinese banquet is required to refresh the family’s Christmas spirit, nab a table atop the Royal Garden Hotel and gaze out over Hyde Park while sharing a feast that includes dishes like venison puffs and asparagus rolls in barbecue sauce, steamed crab with black truffle and XO sauce fried rice, and stir-fried garlic sprouts, shimeji and enoki mushrooms. Seeing as it’s Christmas, it’s probably worth going all out by pre-ordering a whole or half Beijing (Peking) duck, too.

2-24 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 4PT, UK
020 7361 1988
020 7361 1988

The Pem

22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH, UK

Sally Abé’s newest restaurant is serving up a classic three courses in Westminster, for £150 a head. Guests can opt between smoked trout and crab mousse or a glazed ham for a starter, with beef Wellington or a truffled turkey breast. A Christmas pudding soufflé sounds a majestic culmination.

22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH, UK
020 3301 8080
020 3301 8080

The Alexandra

33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 7NE, UK

A special case: The Alexandra in Wimbledon offers a free Christmas dinner to anyone spending Christmas Day alone, under whatever circumstances. A place of spirit, refuge, and generosity.

33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 7NE, UK
020 8947 7691
020 8947 7691

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