Looking for last-minute Christmas dining options in the UK? Whether you’re in London or exploring festive restaurants beyond the capital, we’ve curated the best Christmas Day dining experiences still available. From Michelin-starred menus to cozy countryside retreats, these UK Christmas restaurants offer exceptional festive dining for 2025
by Leigh Maynard
’Tis the countdown to Christmas, and all through the house(es) there’ll be those who want to take it outside of the kitchen. For all of those who celebrate Christmas, this time of year offers a long-awaited chance to slow down, come together, and enjoy time with friends, family, and loved ones. So, for festive friends and families who would rather skip the cooking this year, or simply take a break from home at some point during the holiday period, here Flanelle offers a selection of last-minute UK festive dining options in London and beyond. From high-end luxury dinners to lighter bites, and from traditional British menus to international cuisines, these picks offer something to suit every taste.
Caractère
Set in the heart of Notting Hill in London’s west, Michelin-starred Caractère is a restaurant that uses character traits to divide its modern European menu into categories like delicate and intense. It’s a family-run business creating food that is not only incredibly delicious, but each dish is a work of art. This season the renowned restaurant invites guests to celebrate the festive season with Emily Roux and her father, Michel Roux, as they collaborate on a menu for a very special Roux family Christmas. Father and daughter will present diners with a four-course festive menu that combines Le Gavroche classics with Caractère’s signature style. Expect plates such as Stuffed bronze turkey breast with black winter truffle and Madeira jus. And, as with all Roux experiences, expect that extra flair as guests will be welcomed with canapés and bubbles, and the evening will conclude with petit fours, coffee, and a festive Roux goodie bag to take home. Available on select dates across December and January, priced at £195 per person.
Address: 209 Westbourne Park Rd, London W11 1EA
Find out more here.
The Silver Birch
Nestled in pretty Chiswick in west London, The Silver Birch is an intimate restaurant with a beautiful Nordic feel, led by talented Head Chef Nathan Cornwell. Set over two floors and an outdoor terrace, with a downstairs private dining room and upstairs restaurant, The Silver Birch serves modern British dishes with Nordic touches that echo its stunning yet pared-back interiors. Nathan has honed his craft in some of the world’s finest restaurants. With his menu at The Silver Birch taking cues from the seasons, working with small-scale British farmers, fishermen and foragers, he shapes dishes from the best produce the British Isles has to offer. And with a team of chefs and front-of-house staff from two- and three-Michelin-starred backgrounds, you are guaranteed a menu created with talent and a collaborative spirit with a shared ethos of excellence without ego. For Christmas, the restaurant offers a festive escape filled with Michelin-starred comfort and finesse. Their festive lunch (£65 per person) and dinner menu (£120 per person) celebrate the season’s finest ingredients, featuring dishes such as kuri squash anolini, chanterelles, and consommé. The festive affair is held in the tranquil setting of the fine-dining restaurant, inspired by Scandinavian design with low lighting, earthy colours, and warm hues.
Address: 142 Chiswick High Road W4 1PU
Find out more here.
Yasmin Soho
High above the rooftops of London’s Soho, take your Christmas dining experience in a new direction as you step into a Middle Eastern oasis high above this pocket of London renowned for great restaurants, bars and nightlife. Above the rooftops, you can taste the bold flavours of the Middle East, brought to you by executive chef Tom Cenci, shaped by his personal experiences in Istanbul. Try sharing plates like roasted beet and walnut salad with pomegranate molasses or vine-leaf-wrapped salmon, and finish with a sweet treat like Turkish coffee cheesecake. Pair your dishes with expertly crafted cocktails while taking in the rooftop views. It’s a perfect place to come together for the festive period. Christmas feasting menu served until 22nd December £65 pp.
Address: 1 Warwick St London, W1B 5LR
Find out more here.
Dorchester
The Dorchester, a luxury London hotel frequented by many a famous musician or cultural icon, is an icon itself and the perfect choice for a festive luxury dining option. For those who wish to make full use of the hotel’s amenities, book the festive overnight stay with complimentary welcome cocktails, a festive treat on arrival and the bonus of £10 credit to spend as you wish in the hotel’s many restaurants or for a pamper session in the spa. Guests are invited to celebrate Christmas Day with either lunch or dinner at CUT, where executive chef Elliott Grover presents a festive four-course menu featuring Norfolk Bronze turkey with all the festive trimmings, Japanese A5 Kagoshima Prefecture, Cornish Dover sole, and house-made spaghetti with Native Blue Lobster. A selection of bold flavoured desserts is also on offer, from dark chocolate soufflé and Basque cheesecake to Wolfgang Puck’s Dubai-style chocolate bar and a sticky toffee Christmas pudding. Alternatively, support a good cause as you indulge in The Dorchester’s festive afternoon tea available until the 4th January 2026. This is an afternoon tea like no other, with the hotel awarded a certificate at the Afternoon Tea Awards in 2018 in recognition of its exacting standards for this most British of traditions. Served in The Promenade restaurant on the ground floor, daily from 12 pm-5 pm, it is priced from £125 (weekdays) to £135 (weekends). Find out more here.
Address: The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA
Ukai
For Christmas with a Japanese twist, head over to another Notting Hill favourite, Ukai on the famed Portobello Road. Ukai artfully blends modern Robata-style cuisine with Mediterranean and South American techniques and influences. This season’s exclusive festive menu is priced at £60 per person (minimum of two guests). The menu combines sophisticated Japanese flavours with European elegance, featuring premium seasonal ingredients. Enjoy Truffle Edamame, Salmon Tataki with citrus sauce, and a selection of mixed tempura, followed by the chef’s choice of sashimi, nigiri, and maki to share. Main course options include Flat Iron Steak with rosti potato, Teriyaki-glazed Salmon and Chicken Breast with gravy. Black Cod Miso is available for a £25 supplement. Sides of mixed leaf salad and grilled asparagus with sesame and miso complete the meal. For dessert, guests can enjoy a chocolate fondant with raspberry ice cream. Enjoy signature cocktails and lively music, along with the striking Japanese whisky cabinet. Ukai is one of West London’s most dynamic destinations, the perfect place to celebrate Christmas Day.
Address: Ukai, 240 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LL
Find out more here.
Ardfern
Not many dining places are multitaskers, but Adfern in Scotland does it with aplomb. Set in Edinburgh’s beautiful Leith district, Adfern describes itself as a café, bar and bottle shop. The third venue from Chef Roberta Hall-McCarron and the team behind The Little Chartroom and eleanore. Adfren offers brunch, snacks, cocktails, and a selection of 100 carefully curated wines available to drink or take home. From the 1st to the 24th of December, Roberta and her team will be serving up festive lunches and dinners at Ardfern, with menus featuring a playful take on Scottish comfort food with a festive twist. Priced at £45 per person, the three-course set menu includes dishes such as a Partridge and black pudding sausage roll, Turkey flatbread with cranberry hot sauce, Castelfranco, and gravy mayo, and Basque cheesecake. They also have a gorgeous cookbook, wines, sauces and totes available so you can even get those last-minute Christmas gifts while you are there.
Address: 10 – 12 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh EH6 5JD
Find out more here.
The Woodcote
For a Christmas escape away from the crowds, book yourself into The Woodcote, a beautiful retreat in the South Downs National Park. Located in the peaceful yet picturesque village of Graffham, The Woodcote offers a festive menu and the option to stay and relax with 6 beautifully decorated rooms set in a tranquil courtyard overlooking the surrounding countryside.
This Christmas, The Woodcote will serve a five-course tasting menu on Christmas Eve (£85pp), inspired by and prepared with the finest winter produce from the South Downs, including Crab Tortellini, Roast Turbot, and an optional wine pairing (£140pp). Christmas Day will feature a more traditional offering of Roast Turkey Crown and Christmas Pudding(£170pp), followed by a late checkout on December 25th for those wishing to stay overnight—with a complete experience (£960 for two guests).
Address: The Woodcote, Graffham, West Sussex GU28 0NT
Find out more here.
