As the festive season takes over just about every corner of the city, London’s food and drink scene can become difficult to navigate, presenting a somewhat delightful dilemma for discerning palates. As always, Londoners are spoiled for choice.
Whether you’re a local looking for a new hotspot or a visitor eager to explore the city’s many culinary wonders, we’ve hand-picked a few favorites to December dining bliss.
Let the feasting begin.
Nobu London Shoreditch
Nobu London Shoreditch’s brunches are iconic but rare, including oysters, caviar, and more
While I’d consider Nobu’s Shoreditch outpost a year-round destination (both the Nobu Bar and Nobu Restaurant have never shown me a bad evening), the stunning hotel is going all-out for the festive season.
On Christmas Day itself, under the expert guidance of executive chef Sandi Richmond, Nobu Restaurant will be welcoming guests to enjoy its famed Nobu Brunch–where guests can treat themselves to limitless portions of sushi, sashimi, ceviche and many other timeless Nobu dishes. With a complimentary glass of Champagne on arrival and dishes like King Crab Yuzu Butter with Caviar included, the £150 ($189) brunch-cum-lunch is an absolute steal.
10-50 Willow Street London, London, EC2A 4BH
Eline
Eline’s new menu
This Hoxton hotspot has built a dedicated fanbase thanks to sophisticated, seasonal menus, and its latest iteration is no exception. Eline’s new starters include XL diver scallops with Jerusalem artichoke; smoked pork terrine with dashi pickles, and burnt pumpkin with ginger and hollandaise, as well as a new hero dish of venison wellington with celeriac and juniper served alongside roast hispi cabbage with tarragon aioli and a herbed potato rosti.
As both a restaurant and wine shop, the menu can also be paired with a thoughtful selection of natural and low-intervention wines from a 100-strong list (I’d splash on the exceptional Robinot Nocturne 2018 as a Christmas treat).
1C Rosewood Building, Cremer St, London, E2 8GX
Finch Brixton
Wine and cheese at Finch Brixton
If you didn’t have enough reasons to visit Brixton Village already (see: excellent vintage shops, brilliant street food and more), the tiniest little wine bar in town, Finch, is sure to seal the deal.
As part of Grays & Feather’s wider expansion plans (starting with Plume, the company hopes to open its third avian-themed wine bar, Peregrine, later this year), the new opening boasts unusual vintages from small and unknown experimental winemakers exclusive to the venue. The wine barrel-aged negroni can’t be overlooked, either.
89 Granville Arcade, London, SW9 8PS
Hacha
The Mirror Margarita at Hacha
The agave specialists at Hacha have not only created my favorite margarita this side of the Atlantic, the crystal-clear Mirror Margarita, but included it in a new menu of immersive—and most importantly, delicious—cocktails.
After a year of taste-testing and experimentation, Hacha’s calling said menu Cymatics; twelve innovative cocktails inspired by music from some of the industry’s most iconic names, past and present. The Glory is especially noteworthy (ft. El Tequileño or The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadín, yellow bell pepper, apricot, elderflower, Hacha Vermouth, and a habanero chilli tincture), but I’d recommend prepping with a few small plates and tacos, and trying as many as you can.
12 Market Row, London, SW9 8LD
Tattu
The winter terrace at Tattu London
Award-winning Chinese fusion restaurant Tattu London has transformed their terrace into the ultimate Winter destination, lasting all the way through New Year’s Eve.
Now decked out as a frozen cherry blossom wonderland, the restaurant has kicked things up a notch with fresh menus and immersive dining experiences, too. From snow-scaped small plates to its Frozen Cherry Blossom dessert (a festive fusion of cherry, spiced apple and chocolate, pictured below), everything has been curated for perfection.
The Now Building Rooftop, Outernet, Denmark St, London, WC2H 0LA
The Cherry Blossom dessert at Tattu London
Caravan Covent Garden
Caravan Covent Garden, open from morning ’til late
The coffee pioneers at Caravan recently opened a sexy new Covent Garden flagship, in a Grade II-listed Victorian granary, making it the perfect spot to grab a bite mid- or post-Christmas shopping.
Serving breakfast, dinner, cocktails—and everything in between—the hand-picked single origin coffees locally roasted at Caravan’s North London roastery are the obvious pull, but signature dishes like jalapeno cornbread shouldn’t be missed. Might as well treat yourself to a holiday-inspired cocktails, like the cranberry and tarragon negroni or white chocolate and coconut milk punch, while you’re at it.
30-35 Drury Ln, London, WC2B 5RH