As much as we love buying gifts and letting loose at the office party, we all know that the real winner is that festive spread. And if you're looking for a cosy spot to feast on scrumptious seasonal grub? You've come to the right place. From intimate British pubs with roaring fires to upmarket restaurants for that special touch, we've put together a list of the best London Christmas lunches.
For more seasonal ideas? Check out our Christmas party guide to London.
Last updated on 28th December 2022
Looking for the best restaurants for Christmas lunch in London? Doggett's Coat & Badge is a pub in South Bank slinging out roasted turkey with all the usual sides, ribeye steak and slow-cooked pork belly alongside sumptuous starters (not to mention the lip-smacking desserts).
For Crimbo lunch and a merry woofmas, make way for award-winning pub The Black Dog on Vauxhall Walk. As it serves up your classic Christmas roasts alongside a wild mushroom risotto and a seared cod fillet (with plenty of puds for your extra stomach), you'll be rolling out the door after this one.
When it comes to Christmas lunches, The George on Great Portland Street is sure to tantalise those tastebuds. Think roast bronze turkeys accompanied by pigs in blankets, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and chestnuts, alongside lip-smacking concoctions. Yum.
Visit Victoria-based luxury restaurant The Soak for a Christmas dinner with a difference. Specialising in the art of fermentation, its yuletide tasting menus range from casual three-course affairs to sumptuous six-course celebrations, with the option of private hire.
Not only can this restaurant host over 100 for private dining, but if you're a smaller crew, you can also mingle in a private room and soak up the buzzing atmosphere. Balfour St Bart's is grounded in gastro goods, so you can count on a traditional Christmas set-up here.
Do something a little different for Christmas lunch this year and get stuck into seasonal specials at The Breakfast Club. A haven for American-style delights with a menu of all-day brunch goodies, it's sure to add a little extra cheer with its tasty plates and diverse cocktail selection.
This smashing venue in Clerkenwell embarks on a meticulous turkey sourcing procedure, serving only free-range birds from a specially selected farm in Norfolk. What's more, The Hat and Tun pair its Christmas lunch with friendly service and heady drinks to boot.
Discover one of the best joints for a team Christmas lunch in London over at Abbey Tavern, where you can get stuck into Norfolk turkey or a plant-based Wellington. Enjoy two or three courses and pair them with a wide selection of wine or beer.
Nestled in the heart of the City, yet somehow creating a relaxing escape from the hubbub, The Folly is a charming floral garden lounge. Expect a seasonal menu of classic dishes alongside a few modern extras for the perfect marriage of old and new.
Aldgate's Yuu Kitchen is making sure your three-course Christmas lunch is one to remember for 2022, offering up Asian pickled mackerel, fennel-spiced soy-grilled venison and more. Plus, there's cocktails to wash it all down the hatch with.
Bringing delicious, fresh and seasonal food to north Londoners all year round, this charming Highgate boozer cracks out all the fixings come December. Snuggle up in its cosy yet grand interiors interiors and delve into the menu of slap-up fare.
Promising bright interiors, excellent service and an exclusive winter menu, No 29 Power Station West in Battersea is a top choice this jolly season. Munch on three droolworthy courses, and whatever you do - leave room for its famous chocolatey desserts. You can thank us later.
If you're a sucker for Instagram snapping, head to this pretty restaurant for a Christmas lunch to remember. Boasting amazing views of Southbank, Marsha will have you dining on seasonal British fare with succulent roast chicken at the heart of the menu.
Hailed as one of the best pubs for Christmas dinner in London, this City watering hole has got the merry season down to a tee. Head to The Jugged Hare as it teases you with luscious plates, a lovely British space and international wines to warm you up this winter.
Sitting on the banks of the iconic river in Putney, The Duke's Head is one helluva winter watering hole. Pop by for the warming atmosphere, hearty British grub and an enviable drinks selection, perfect for warming you up after a winter walk along the Thames.
Searching for a Christmas lunch in the city? Heritage Soho has you covered. Located on Rupert Street, this top-notch venue has a festive menu worth trying. Whether you fancy pumpkin burrata or cheesy fondue, this festive hotspot has plenty of yuletide plates to tuck into.
For those mouthwatering Christmas lunches in the heart of the City of London, Lost Property Hotel is a top choice. Head inside this glorious venue for a festive set menu, including roast turkey ballotine, vegan Wellington and ham hock terrine, all for £45 per person.
This chic dining destination is treating holiday revellers to sharing platters, handcrafted cocktails and live entertainment. Situated in the hub of all the action, right by Buckingham Palace, The New York Bar is giving guests a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle.
The Castle Farringdon is bringing the festive joy by the bucketload, offering up delicious three-course Christmas lunches. Go classic with a roast turkey dinner or try out the sirloin steak. Whichever meal you go for, you'll be waddling home after.
Opt for sweet sophistication in the industrial chic setting of The Refinery at Regent's Place this Christmas. When it comes to the menu? It's got fresh turkey, goose breast, steak and a vegan roast for mains, with a wide choice of desserts, including Christmas pudding, to finish off.
For a London Christmas lunch surrounded by gorgeous foliage and swish decor, look no further than 14 Hills on Fenchurch Street. Gulp down a glass of bubbles on arrival, then gobble down three scrumptious courses, whether with family, friends or colleagues.
Chow down on multiple courses of Caribbean-fusion cuisine over at Antillean. This stylish Southwark spot is the fitting venue to enjoy an office Christmas lunch in London, what with its private dining space, delectable food and tip-top cocktails.
Take a break from turkey and instead nab a yuletide feast of charcoal-grilled cuts, surf 'n' turf combos and keylime cheesecake at one of the best Christmas lunch venues in London. Where can you find all of this and more? It has to be Steak & Lobster, which has sites all around the capital.
With a Christmas set menu on offer at Arepa & Co Stockwell, you know you can get your fix of something a little different for your London Christmas lunch. Expect Venezuelan street food and cocktails to wash it all down.
Munch on five courses for £95 per head at Bloomsbury Street Kitchen. This swish Central London spot is slinging out lobster to start, as well as dishes like Dover sole and beef Wellington as mains, all in plush, verdant surrounds.
Vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians can grab a Christmas lunch in East London while in safe hands at Gigi's Hoxton. With fresh, seasonal produce delivered daily, this swish spot for festive feasting is dedicated to affordable fine dining.
This Covent Garden haunt is steeped in low-lit ambience and sensual Spanish flare, thanks to its unique interiors that make for the lively dinner setting. Presenting sangria, tapas and live entertainment, Salvador and Amanda is an ideal plot for a fabulously festive fiesta this Christmas.
Want to book a Christmas lunch in London? Then check out The Market Tavern. Located in Mayfair, this is a pleasant pub to try a diverse range of British fare, such as loch-reared rainbow trout and a root vegetable Wellington, with craft beers, wines and artisan spirits available too.
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Home to one of the best Christmas lunches in Central London, Ayllu will take you on a tasting journey through modern Nikkei cuisine. Experience South American-meets-Asian flavours at this swish find where dishes range from sea bass ceviche to a signature roast turkey.
Looking for lunch in Chelsea this Christmas? Head to Ollie's House for a menu full of festive fun. Dive into dumplings or try the spicy sesame salmon tacos if you're in the mood for tapas. Spice things up with a variety of giant cocktail jewels to keep good vibes going throughout your visit.
With interactive tabletops, kitchen cams and sensational pan-Asian cuisine, Inamo is the high-tech restaurant you never you knew you needed. Make your way to Covent Garden for a modern take on tradition with innovative sushi dishes and grilled goods.
Boasting stuffing balls, turkey, slow roasted pork belly and warm chocolate brownies, The Oak's Christmas menu is one of the best this holiday season. Plus, the venue has delicious bottles of wine and warming Sunday roasts if that's more your speed.
The Drift delivers spectacular chow and masterfully mixed cocktails just a stone's throw from Liverpool Street Station. Something of a retreat from the hubbub of the City, this is a charming restaurant to bring family, friends and co-workers for Christmas lunch.
If you fancy somewhere homely to host your Christmas lunch in South London, you should really check out The Bedford. The Balham institution boasts a casual gastropub dining room, plus multiple private spaces, and is well-known for dishing out hearty comfort food bites.
The Green Room is one of the best places for Christmas lunch in Central London. Nestled in the heart of Southwark, this stylish pavilion offers a menu of elevated dishes (including a good glug of brandy custard, yes please) or canapés for a slinky soirée, paired with beaut decor and lush foliage.
With three different Christmas dinner packages on offer, ranging from £35 to £75, Karma Sanctum Soho is the place to be come your festive celebrations. Expect Japanese-inspired street food, accompanied by the opulent cocktail bar for afters.
Covent Garden's Monmouth Kitchen is cooking up a Christmas Day lunch in London to remember, with baked lobster, mushroom Wellingtons and whole baby chickens featured on the five-course menu. Better yet? There's cinnamon crème brûlée to finish off.
Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai is offering up a mouthwatering Christmas lunch menu in its fabulous space. Expect to delve into a two or three-course festive feast, which includes homestyle chicken curries or Hara kebabs with moreish tamarind chutney. Oh, yes.
If you're after some serious Crimbo comfort food, Dirty Bones has done all the hard work for you. Taking cue from the States, it cooks up New York strip with a bone marrow glaze, chipotle-dipped tater tots and crispy Brussel sprouts pimped up with sweet and sour cranberries.
Whether you fancy a casual meal with pals or an intimate dining experience in a private space, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms is happy to provide. Set yourself up with a scrumptious feast this season, accompanied by bubbles galore.
Chomp away on Barrio Soho's seasonal menu of picking delights and scrumptious sliders that ooze South American flavour. It even has a special Christmas burger of turkey, stuffing, cheese, pigs in blankets and cranberry ketchup. Look out for Barrio Shoreditch or Barrio Angel too.
The Tokenhouse is dedicated to delivering a real British set-up this Christmas; think twinkling fairy lights, glasses of belly-warming ale and all the seasonal chomping you can dream of. Delve into a spread of turkey with all the trimmings and pair it alongside a wide choice of bevvies.
Sat on the banks of the canal, The Union Bar Paddington bar is one of the best places for a work Christmas lunch in London. Rustling up a classic lineup of turkey and plenty of fizz, it's as ideal for big bashes as it is for intimate meals with friends and family.
Sister venue to The Refinery, The Parlour boasts the same classy interiors and selection of winter warmer grub that make it simply perfect for seasonal soirées. Bring your party over and toast to the festive season with a glass of something bubbly to hand.
A chic pub that mixes contemporary and traditional decor, Plough Inn is a fabulous spot for a celebratory Christmas feast. While you can opt for a load of gorgeous buffet options, you can also snap up two or three courses of enticing eats, from pan-seared venison through to a spiced pumpkin tart.
Whether it's an intimate affair with friends or a little daytime debauchery for the whole office, Patch East is always ready to party. Dive into the range of canapés, nibbles or hearty mains with plenty of vegetarian and seafood dishes up for grabs.
If you're on the hunt for Christmas lunches in Mayfair, it doesn't get better than Ginza. For £95, you can tuck into a sashimi selection, hamachi tartare, dry-aged Scottish ribs and so much more while slinging back a holiday-inspired cocktail.
Leading the way in cool interiors, The Sterling is found tucked away at the base of the Gherkin, attracting a City clientele. This iconic location is ideal for a celebratory lunch in the name of Christmas, where you can dig into gastronomic pub food.
If you're after the best restaurants in London for a Christmas lunch, then The Cadogan Arms should be your first port of call. This elegant venue is offering up a six-course lunch, including braised roe deer shoulder, a celeriac and mushroom pie and a sweet tooth-appeasing rhubarb trifle.
Showcasing cool, contemporary interiors, not to mention a couple of private hire options, Burdock is a swish space for your seasonal bash. All the more, the kitchen is killing it with its festive feasting, making sure that both meaty and veggie folk are well provided for.
Christmas-themed Sunday lunches at cool cocktail bar Vits & Kicks are sure to get you in the mood for the festive season. There's spicy baked salmon, vegan Wellington and jerk turkey with chorizo stuffing as choices for mains, while an indulgent amaretto and orange chocolate moose waits for dessert.
The Elgin represents your quintessential pub showcasing cheerful interiors and a menu of homely dishes. If that wasn't enough, it's also armed with a bar of craft beers, as well as a dedicated gin palace, so you won't be short of spirit... Christmas or otherwise.
In the sleek surroundings of Nova, Timmy Green is a paradise of contemporary design, live music and Aussie hospitality. It's also one of the best places in London for Christmas lunch, so pop over to experience delectable dining with exquisite cocktails and a party spirit to match.
Royal Oak in Willesden rustles up what might just be the best Christmas lunch in North London. Cracking out a terrific turkey dinner that'll put your nan's to shame, it's a top pick for yuletide dining with your closest mates in a community setting.
This cosy candlelit pub has views of the Thames and wood-burning fireplaces, creating a traditional British setting for your Christmas lunch. The Mayflower offers fancy fare like slow-roasted short rib, confit halibut and a moreish stuffed aubergine.
In need of Christmas day lunch in London for 2022? Aviary fits the bill with its private rooftop igloos and four festive courses, plus asume bouche and mince pies to end with. Think eight-hour slow-braised ox cheek, lamb Wellington and steaming puds.