Best Christmas menus in Belgravia
by Cally SquiresThe halls are decked, and whether you’re after a Michelin-starred tasting masterpiece, cosy pub meal, jolly lunch or even a warming mulled wine and hot mince pie on the hoof, there are plenty of dedicated Christmas menus at Belgravia’s buzzing restaurants, cafés and bars to bring tidings of comfort and joy this festive season.
The Lanesborough
You’ll find the lovebirds talking a selfie underneath the mistletoe and ribbon-adorned pine archway in The Lanesborough hotel’s gilded lobby, thanks to the ‘Regency revelry’ decorative theme created by florist Wildabout Flowers. From 20 November, guests can enjoy a festive set menu (from £56 per person) in the hotel’s glass-domed Grill restaurant. And on Christmas Day, lucky diners can tuck into a very British Christmas Day lunch (from £420 per person), a five-course culinary delight, including a Scottish lobster and langoustine cocktail, Hereford beef fillet, Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and a celebratory glass of champagne.
Wild by Tart
Wild by Tart is launching its festive feasting menu on Monday 18 November. Designed to be enjoyed with friends to celebrate the best of the season’s produce, the menu will be available for groups of nine or more. The three-course menu features in-house favourites (such as the whipped feta, honey and crunchy chilli oil), alongside seasonal classics made with a twist, and an indulgent sticky date pudding with black cardamom, and gingerbread ice cream. Keeping with Wild by Tart's ethos, all ingredients are sourced sustainably, and where possible, locally - including directly from founders Lucy Carr-Ellison and Jemima Jones’s family-run farms, Hedgeley and Cannwood.
The Orange
Expect a knee’s up at The Orange, and sister pubs The Thomas Cubitt on Elizabeth Street and The Alfred Tennyson on Motcomb Street. The Cubitt House trio have Christmas covered with cosy corners, roaring fires and festive menus galore. Choose between two set three-course feasting menus (from £70 per person) or a standing canapé menu, with the option to customise by adding a tasty Neal’s Yard cheeseboard and seasonal petits fours. Drinks packages this party season cover wine, champagne, beer, mulled wine and even cheeky Amaretto or Bailey’s tiramisu shots.
Jones Family Kitchen
Much-loved neighbourhood restaurant The Jones Family Kitchen, known for its sizeable outdoor dining terrace, has a great value three-course festive menu from £44.50 per person. Starters of mulled wine cured salmon or pork and black pudding terrine with a truffled Brussels sprout salad are giving peak Christmas, and whilst it’s the season for turkey, we’d be tempted by the Ginger Pig sirloin with spiced red cabbage. Luckily for pudding it’s a trio of mini desserts, so no food envy necessary.
COMO The Halkin
Spread the love this December with COMO The Halkin’s dedicated festive dining packages, which can be booked in any of the property’s private event spaces. The hotel has a range of options, including three and five-course set Christmas menus, with even more choice when it comes to accompanying drinks (with standard, premium and alcohol-free pairings, alongside a bottomless cocktail and champagne supplement). For those looking to nibble and mingle with friends, the hotel’s standing canapé menu includes tasty bites like mini truffle brie cheesecakes and steak tartare potato cakes.
Muse by Tom Aikens
Christmas but make it subtle, is the vibe at Muse, the Michelin-starred restaurant by Tom Aikens. There will be nods to the season on the menu, which changes with the seasons, but no tinsel and multi-coloured lights. Instead expect the restaurant’s florist to have alluded to Yuletide with arrangements of seasonal blooms like poinsettias or fresh holly.
Mosimann’s
Private dining club Mosimann’s always puts on a good show, and Christmas is no exception with a series of special foodie events to delight members and their guests. Kicking off on 30 November is the annual family-friendly Christmas luncheon, where parents can relax while children are entrained by party entertainers Tarka London. Fun for adults continues with the Christmas magic gala dinner on 6 December, with magician Matt Daniel Baker, followed by two black tie gala dinners (December 7 and 14) - both five-course affairs beginning with a champagne reception and beautiful live music from the London Choir.
Pétrus
If you’ve been extra nice this year, treat yourself or loved ones to the tasting menu at Pétrus on Christmas Day. Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin-starred restaurant has a festive menu for guests on 25 December (from £320 per person) with wine pairings from £220. There’s no turkey or goose here, instead think chicken waffles with caviar, lobster ravioli, Aynho Park deer and tarte tatin.
Ole & Steen
Take a break from Christmas shopping with a refuelling pitstop at Danish café Ole & Steen. The bakery has lots of special treats on the menu to tempt hungry shoppers. From the more traditional mince pies, a warm gingerbread latte and a totally moreish turkey and cheese toastie, to a sticky toffee muffin for those Grinches with a sweet tooth.
The Berkeley
Be transported to the slopes, with The Berkeley’s winter ski gondola dining experience. The Alpine al fresco concept is a takeover by immersive pop-up dining company Feast, and runs from November 14 until New Year’s Day. Après skiers will be greeted on the hotel’s rooftop with a glass of mulled wine, before being served a hearty sharing menu of raclette, tartiflette with freshly shaved truffle, chocolate fondue (complete with edible candles to dip in the molten chocolate) and gingerbread s’mores. To wash it all down, each gondola will come with a ‘press for champagne’ button to top-up on cocktails like Aperol negroni sours and Black Forest espresso martinis.