There’s something that feels a touch enchanted about London in December. The streets twinkle beneath constellations of Christmas lights, the cafés steam with mulled wine and a festive scent drifts through the air. That means the season when the city tilts toward long sit-down dinners, sparkling dining rooms, and menus dedicated to winter’s most decadent flavours.
This guide aims to take in just a few of the most festive food destinations around the city, whether you’re here for a romantic winter break or a family Christmas getaway. London’s holiday food scene and a Veeve home are ready to add some lustre to your season.
London’s Festive Dining Scene
Christmas dining in London buzzes year after year, always feeling fresh yet full of nostalgia. Restaurants craft seasonal menus that honour the here and now: truffle-laced pasta, slow-braised meats, spiced puddings, towering cheeseboards. Dining rooms change as well, some with full-blown theatrics of finials and garland, others more subdued, lit only by candles.
There’s a dish for every kind of diner. Cosy pubs lay on heritage-rich Christmas lunches by crackling fires, while fine-dining spots compile elegant tasting menus designed for long evenings and celebrating. And as each neighbourhood raises a glass in its own way, festive eating, too, involves a voyage from the small, candlelit Notting Hill gems to the bigger, grand dining rooms of Covent Garden.
What follows is a curated list of restaurants worth securing now, each with its own interpretation of London’s winter magic.
6 Festive Restaurants to Book Now
Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden
Location: 33 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JD
Opening hours: Lunch 12:00–14:30; Dinner Mon–Sat 17:00–22:30, Sun 17:00–22:00
Clos Maggiore is always one of London’s most romantic restaurants, but at Christmas it turns into something akin to a fairy tale. The conservatory, heated by a cosy, roaring fire, is the perfect backdrop for a long, dreamy dinner. Their celebratory tasting menu takes them back to classic winter cooking with a splash of refined French, and it’s perfect for couples looking to keep it special and cosy.
It’s the sort of place where conversations slow down, and courses stretch just so. Afterwards, take a wander round Covent Garden’s famous Christmas light displays, as they’re just a few steps away and look especially pretty after dessert.
Bluebird Chelsea, Chelsea
Location: 350 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UU
Opening hours: Hours vary during the festive season; check when booking
Fun, fashionable and full of personality, Bluebird Chelsea makes perfect sense for anyone looking for something celebratory without the stuffy formality. The brasserie is always extra in December, with dramatic decor on a grand scale, glittering trees, and a menu that includes festive staples, topped with modern-day panache.
It works well for families, office parties, and anyone else who enjoys a bustling backdrop to their Christmas meal. King’s Road is just around the corner as well, so this is one for post-winter window-browsing or quick-fire last-minute shopping.
The Ivy Café Wimbledon, Wimbledon
Location: 75 High Street, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5EG
Opening hours: Typically Mon–Sat 08:00–23:30, Sun 09:00–23:30
Cosy, sleek and utterly Ivy-esque, The Ivy Café Wimbledon boasts a welcoming neighbourhood vibe, the type of place where seasonal dining feels really laidback but super friendly. Their Christmas set menu covers all the bases, offering turkey dishes, indulgent desserts, and a dining room filled with that instantly recognisable golden lighting the Ivy does so well.
It is a beautiful option for both families and anyone visiting South West London, and favours warmth over formality. Because it is near Wimbledon Village, the restaurant is also perfect for a quiet walk after dinner on a winter’s night.
The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea / South Kensington
Location: 298 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UG
Opening hours: Festive and Christmas Day menus available; opening hours vary depending on service
A beautifully renovated historic pub, The Cadogan Arms is the perfect blend of classic Christmas nostalgia and feel-good, comfort-driven cuisine. Inside, dark wood, soft lamplight, and open fires contribute to that warm rural-meets-London feeling, a real refuge on those cold evenings. They put a lot of thought into their Christmas Day menu, which focuses on solid British fare with a bit of TLC.
A great family/group pick for when you want something substantial and familiar without compromising on quality. The pub’s neighbourhood is also great for getting lost in Chelsea’s boisterous streets before or after your meal.
Dalloway Terrace, Bloomsbury / Fitzrovia
Location: 16–22 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3NN
Opening hours: Hours adjust seasonally; check festive service times when booking
There are a few spots in London that do Christmas quite like Dalloway Terrace. Each year, the terrace blossoms into a fully immersive seasonal installation complete with foliage, twinkling lights and that distinctly fairy-tale feeling for which the space is the stuff of legend. It’s dreamy, yes, but also intimate and perfect for a celebratory lunch with friends or a winter date night.
Their Christmas menus highlight soothing dishes with sumptuous flourishes, all plated up in an atmosphere that’s the equivalent of a snug, hunkered away from the city. It’s also a delightful end to an evening after a show in the West End and an afternoon spent wandering around Fitzrovia.
The Delaunay, Aldwych / Holborn
Location: 55 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BB
Opening hours: Standard restaurant hours apply; festive menus run throughout the season
Walking into The Delaunay at Christmas is like stepping back in time a little. From the dark woods and gleaming brass of its grand cafés worthy of Vienna and Budapest to its impeccable service amid tiny tables at which you can imagine Francophile writers taking meetings in all seasons, it feels perfectly suited to the season. The festive menus, meanwhile, are abundant and reassuring, think schnitzels, decadent pastries and hearty winter warmers with a touch of European splendour.
It’s ideal for couples, die-hard theatre-lovers, and anyone who adores tradition done beautifully. With the West End just moments away, it’s easy to make dinner here a night out.
Beyond the Table: Make an Evening of It
A festive dinner in London is seldom a solitary affair: The city drapes you in atmosphere from the moment you leave your front door. If you’ve eaten at Clos Maggiore, the magical Covent Garden lights are an unavoidable part of your experience here, hanging over the throngs and making the whole area look like it’s come straight out of a storybook. And Chelsea’s King’s Road is ideal to stroll down after dinner at the likes of Bluebird or The Cadogan Arms, its lavishly bedecked shop fronts and multitude of late-night cafés perfect for a post-dinner treat.
If you’re in for a date or a family day out, combine dinner with ice skating at Somerset House or the Natural History Museum; both are iconic and wonderfully festive. For something more laid back, investigate the Christmas markets that pop up in Southbank or Seven Dials. And if you’ve got reservations at Dalloway Terrace or The Delaunay, the West End is practically next door for making a night of things.
A Home for the Holidays
Celebratory days in London have a way of filling themselves, long strolls through winter streets, indulgent meals and late nights exploring corners of the city that seem even more magical at this time of year. Arriving at a peaceful, tastefully designed home completes the experience. It’s reassuring to know you can shrug off your jacket, warm your hands, and make yourself at home in a space that feels like home (even if only for a few nights).
It’s moments like this, the contented stillness after a big night out, that, for many visitors, best capture the essence of staying in a lived-in neighbourhood instead of a hotel district. A flat in a neighbourhood lets you keep the rhythm of real London life: bakeries that open early, gentle little parks for morning strolls, and coffee shops whose barista recognises you by day three.
Veeve’s collection of hand-picked homes blends this everyday authenticity with style and ease, places designed for gathering, unwinding, and simply enjoying the city at your own pace.
Wherever you choose to dine, and whichever neighbourhood calls your name, London is ready to make your Christmas unforgettable.
