London Restaurants To Book In December 2025

December sees London’s dining scene at its most sparkling, with an abundance of festive terraces, seasonal specials and winter hideaways, alongside a handful of joyful rituals returning for another year. These are the London restaurants to book this December.

This month also sees a final flurry of exciting openings. Amongst them a Hong Kong favourite lands in Covent Garden, a special Turkish arrival in Mayfair, and some standout neighbourhood gems popping up across the city. These are December’s top tables, wrapped and ready.

Opening, very intentionally, on the 8 of December (the number eight being a symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture), Hong Kong’s acclaimed Dim Sum Library makes its UK debut. Part of Aqua Restaurant Group, whose London portfolio includes Aqua Kyoto, Aqua Nueva and Hutong at The Shard, this Covent Garden location marks the first international outpost of their celebrated Hong Kong concept. Designed as an all-day dining destination, chef Jian Jia works alongside Aqua Restaurant Group’s Dim Sum Master, chef Leung Kwok Wah, combining classic Hong Kong technique with a contemporary, inventive edge. The menu reimagines dim sum and Cantonese dishes through a modern lens. Signatures include the Wagyu Beef Puff with Black Pepper; the Dan Dan Xiao Long Bao, which infuses Sichuan’s nutty heat into a soup dumpling; and the Black Garlic Siu Mai with pork and shrimp. Dim sum isn’t the only thing on the menu; expect refined dishes like the Black Truffle Crispy Chicken and Steamed Alaskan Black Cod. A Chinoiserie-inspired bar serves both classic cocktails and tea-infused creations, while interiors nod to Hong Kong’s vibrant street-food culture.

Chargal is the latest venture from Serdar Demir, the restaurateur behind acclaimed Turkish fine-dining venue The Mantl. Spread across three distinct floors, it blends oak-charcoal cooking, refined craftsmanship and the warmth of Turkish hospitality into a modern, fire-led take on regional cuisine. On the ground floor, the dining room sets the tone with elevated interpretations of classics: wagyu İskender; red bream ceviche nodding to Turkey’s coastal traditions; lamb tartare; and pulled-lamb hummus. Each dish is rooted in heritage but shaped with a contemporary twist. Upstairs, the Mezze Bar serves generous small plates and a vivid spread of all the favourites such as cacık, muhammara, hummus, cranberry kısır and seasonal crudités, while other offerings include halloumi doughnuts with pomegranate jam and mantı lamb dumplings. Downstairs, the low-lit Lounge offers a final stop for cocktails and elevated sharing plates. Designed with elemental materials, wood, smoke, stone, Chargal feels both grounded and glamorous.

The team behind Mayfair’s Sparrow Italia have opened their latest venture on Hanover Square: Mazarine, a modern and refined French restaurant inspired by the spirit of the sea. Led by celebrated chef Thierry Laborde – whose career spans LPM, Le Louis XV under Alain Ducasse, Le Gavroche, and a Michelin star at L’Oranger, Mazarine brings his wealth of experience to one of London’s most iconic addresses, bringing decades of classical French expertise and modern innovation to the Mazarine kitchen. With fish and seafood as the focal point, expect an extensive selection of starters, small bites, salads, entrées and sharing mains, alongside a raw bar and decadent desserts. With a promise to serve only the freshest ingredients, signature dishes include smoked eel croquettes (Croque Mazarine), octopus béarnaise and raviole of Cornish crab – all paired with a curated list of standout French wines. This is a winter opening with all the hallmarks of a future Mayfair classic.

More relaxed French dining arrives in Islington with Bistro Sablé, the latest opening from the Noble Inns family, also behind The Pig & Butcher. Charming but laid-back, this is classic bistro cooking done with comfort. The front bar is a small, convivial space with stools and a handful of tables perfect for an apéritif; beyond it lies the main dining room with an open kitchen running along the back, creating a sense of intimacy. Multiple trips to the flea markets of Paris mean the place looks as French as its menu tastes – unashamedly bistro-chic. The menu keeps things simple and seasonal, beginning with moules marinière or a generous pâté en croûte, followed by confit duck leg, pan-fried cod and all the classics you’d hope to see. Desserts stay faithful to the classics too, with vanilla crème brûlée and the ever-popular chocolate mousse with cherries. Sundays are given over to roasts or Les Rosbifs as they have dubbed it. The wine list, curated by former Mere head sommelier Alex Corvez, is reassuringly French, with 95% of the bottles available in multiple pour sizes so you can drink exactly as you please. Designed as the neighbourhood bistro everyone wishes was on their doorstep, Bistro Sablé is the sort of place that works for a quick bite, a long lunch or an indulgent evening. Bon appétit.

After a two-year closure following an electrical fire, Kensington’s much-loved Maggie Jones’s has reopened, welcoming diners back to its cosy, rustic interiors and timeless British comfort cooking. Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac between Kensington High Street and Kensington Church Street, it remains one of the area’s most atmospheric dining rooms, dog-friendly and quietly romantic. Sister restaurant to Belgravia favourite La Poule au Pot, it carries the same sense of intimacy and lived-in charm. The history only adds to its appeal. First opened in 1964 as Nan’s Kitchen, it soon became a favourite of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, who would slip into a discreet back booth and order the chicken and artichoke pie. In the early seventies, it was renamed in her honour, adopting the alias she used when booking: Maggie Jones. Today, the appeal endures. The kitchen serves hearty British fare, with daily set menus, an à la carte of traditional pies and an excellent Sunday roast line-up, with every customer treated like royalty.

One of London’s most charismatic wine figures, Luca Dusi, founder of Shoreditch’s cult favourite Passione Vino, has marked more than two decades in the city with a new opening on Exmouth Market. Taking over a former tattoo parlour, the space honours its previous life while channelling Luca’s signature mix of Italian generosity, personality and unfiltered passion for great wine. As with the original, there’s no wine list. Instead, Luca and his team guide guests bottle by bottle, championing Italian producers (with the odd surprise from beyond) who share his reverence for craft, story and terroir. Chef Pascal Lazzarotto has created a sandwich menu that complements the drinks selection, and it begins with the best of Italian bread; altamura, schiacciata and more are layered with smoked trout, oxtail, sardines or cotechino to create bold and indulgent mouthfuls. Also promising tastings, supper clubs and collaborations for 2026, Passione Vino Clerkenwell is an exciting new premise for Luca’s spirited world.

The Notting Hill pub formerly known as The Oak now has a new name, an inviting redesign, and an unexpected LA-inspired Italian menu. Led by Steven Shamoon, The Good Oak balances a nostalgic local feel with a fresh, contemporary spirit. Executive chef Alex Craciun brings a West Coast lightness to Italian cooking, with playful bar snacks such as Chicken Parm Bites, a Scotch Meatball twist on the British classic and The Good Oak’s signature hot dog. Larger dishes include grilled baby chicken, ribeye steak and pizzas. A new central bar restores a classic pub vibe, while upstairs, Above at The Good Oak offers a more eclectic mood, with cocktails, DJs and live music nights planned.

This December and January, Michelin-starred Caractère in Notting Hill hosts one of the season’s most special foodie traditions: the Roux Family Christmas. Now in its third year, the event brings Emily Roux and her father, Michel Roux, together for a rare father–daughter collaboration, blending Caractère’s modern French-Italian style with beloved Le Gavroche classics. Guests are welcomed with canapés and bubbles before settling in for a four-course festive menu featuring dishes such as stuffed turkey breast with black winter truffle and Madeira jus. The meal ends with petit fours, coffee and a Roux festive goodie bag to take home. Available on select dates across December and January for both lunch and dinner, this annual collaboration is a celebratory reminder of why the Roux dynasty remains so influential in modern dining.

This season, one-Michelin-starred Ormer Mayfair is opening its doors for a limited run of special four-course lunches, a rare chance to experience Sofian Msetfi’s acclaimed cooking outside of the usual tasting-menu format – and the menu offers a snapshot of why Ormer remains one of London’s top fine-dining destinations. Msetfi’s Irish-Moroccan heritage threads through his cooking, with seasonal ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s dedicated two-acre farm in Essex, home to more than 10,000 bees whose honey features throughout the menu. Highlights from his menus include seared Orkney scallop with Jerusalem artichoke and lobster Albufera, warm Iberico ham jelly with Bramley apple, and delicate beetroot foam with Riesling vinegar. One to book for anyone seeking a refined escape from the December rush.

Brown’s Hotel has welcomed Los Angeles-born cook, photographer and social media star Jesse Jenkins to The Donovan Bar for a three-month residency, bringing his “fresh, fast and filthy” West Coast style to Mayfair. His cinematic, vegetable-forward recipe videos enjoy millions of views on social media, and now fans can enjoy his dishes right here in London. His residency menu is contemporary Americana with Mexican and West Coast influences. Dishes include fish tacos, prawn-toast tostada and zesty pineapple tacos with a favourite from his social channels – tuna ceviche with tostadas, served to diners for the very first time. Dishes are designed to pair with The Donovan Bar’s cocktails, created by maestro Salvatore Calabrese and director of mixology Federico Pavan. Expect smoky, citrus and spicy combinations that echo Jenkins’ style, all within the bar’s intimate, low-lit glamour.

On 20 December, Spring marks its final service of the year with a festive edition of its much-loved Scratch menu — the restaurant’s ode to low-waste, ingredient-led cooking. Served from 12pm to 6pm, the rolling menu uses the last of the season’s produce from Spring’s fridges and larders, staying true to its sustainability ethos. Scratch has long been synonymous with Spring and with the ethos of its founder, the late Skye Gyngell: simple, thoughtful dishes built from ingredients that deserve to shine rather than be discarded. Plates are served until they run out, adding to the convivial, end-of-term vibes. Previous years have featured everything from salt cod croquettes and roast winter tomatoes on yesterday’s sourdough, to pasta rags with slow-cooked sprouts, braised lamb shanks and shellfish-and-potato cake with bisque. Desserts, created by head pastry chef Giovanni Segantini, are served family-style. With produce sourced from biodynamic Fern Verrow and other like-minded growers, this is one of the few menus in the UK where root-to-stem cooking is fully transparent and is a quietly joyful way to celebrate Christmas.

Winter calls for melted cheese, and the super cosy The Cheese Barge, moored in Paddington Basin just off Regent’s Canal is answering, with the return of its popular Fondue Thursdays. The weekly series centres on two house fondues: rich, British-made cheeses blended for maximum melt and flavour, served with all the comforting essentials for dipping and sharing. There are optional seasonal add-ons, and each month brings a new special that showcases a different artisan producer. Indulgent puddings to finish and an intimate riverside setting make this the perfect midweek spot for catching up with a fellow cheese lover. Seats get snapped up here, so it’s one to book in advance.

We never pass up a martini moment, and this one is irresistible. This year, the Four Seasons Hotel London has transformed its Rotunda Bar & Lounge into a shimmering Frozen Enchanted Forest in partnership with Beluga Vodka, crowned by a spectacular twelve-foot martini tree. The unique tree was inspired by the legendary Tao Tree Martinis, flasks of which were said to be hidden in the snow or hanging from trees to fortify skiers before their descent down the mountain. The star attraction is the new tableside Martini Tree experience. Guests are served their own miniature ‘tree’, from which they can pluck a chilled glass, choose their preferred Beluga-to-vermouth ratio, and finish their drink with garnishes and tinctures. Instead of a star, it’s topped with Beluga caviar, naturally. There’s even a festive martini menu. For something sweeter, Festive by Lily Vanilli offers a seasonal afternoon tea with cakes, pastries and savouries from the popular East End baker, and it too can be paired with a flight of miniature martinis.

While festive terraces are popping up across London, few are on as iconic a rooftop as Coq d’Argent’s, which is better known for sun-soaked summer lunches than faux-fur throws. This year, however, the City venue has transformed its roof terrace into Lodge d’Argent, a chic French ski chalet themed venue overlooking the Square Mile, complete with blankets, wood-toned chalets and winter cocktails. The Alpine takeover also runs into February, with the private chalets available to book for up to eight guests. Sundays bring something extra: Snowed-In Sundays, a cosy roast lunch served either inside the restaurant or out on the terrace, wrapped up against the winter chill. From now until 21 December, you can settle in from 12pm to 4pm for a two- or three-course roast with all the trimmings, proving that the City’s famous rooftop can do winter delights just as well as summer fun.

This month’s second terrace recommendation comes with a twist: Kitchen at Holmes has brought alpine magic to Marylebone… and added its own rooftop cinema into the mix. Think après-ski energy: retro ski details, flickering lights, and enough seasonal foliage to transport you straight to the Alps. The terrace menu leans into mountain comfort: porcini mushroom vol-au-vents, smoked salmon blinis and a Welsh Dragon Hot Dog topped with cheddar and paprika allumettes. At the bar, limited-edition Jameson Black Barrel cocktails set the tone, from a winter Old Fashioned to an alpine-style Bombardino. Friday nights bring après beats courtesy of a live DJ. Hidden above the hotel, the newly refurbished rooftop cinema offers a more intimate escape. With just eight plush seats, twinkling lights and blankets, it is hosting festive screenings of Christmas classics including Love Actually, Elf and The Holiday. Whether it’s winter cocktails after Christmas shopping or a romantic cinema date under the stars, Kitchen at Holmes delivers a charming alpine getaway without having to leave the city.

In a month dominated by turkey dinners, Nipotina, Mayfair’s neighbourhood Italian, offers a welcome change of pace. This is Sunday lunch reimagined through an Italian lens: slower, convivial and made for lingering. The meal centres on a classic Italian steak dish; a 1.2 kilogram bistecca alla Fiorentina is carved to share, joined by crispy Sicilian panelle, rosemary roast potatoes, cauliflower gratin and borlotti beans. Guests can add burrata, handmade pasta and then finish with Nonna Lina’s Torta di Nonna for a true feast.

Another welcome break from the December run of Christmas lunches, Kanishka’s new winter menu offers a different kind of feast, all the richness and comfort of modern Indian cooking, done Atul Kochhar’s way. The menu opens with elegant, flavour-packed plates such as hand-dived Orkney scallops with Nilgiri herbs, curry leaf and caviar, or Cornish Kern paneer tikka made in-house and paired with quince murabba. Mains lean into winter indulgence: samudri khazana brings together Scottish half lobster, red mullet, scallops and cockles in a coastal bisque, while favourites like Purani Dilli butter chicken keep things anchored in familiar comfort. It’s a menu full of colour, craft and seasonal warmth, and a reminder of why Kochhar remains one of the defining voices in contemporary Indian dining.

SACHI has transformed its rooftop at the Pantechnicon into one of winter’s more enticing hideaways, unveiling the Hibiki Winter Rooftop in partnership with Japan’s iconic House of Suntory. Wrapped in herringbone throws and lit by soft lantern light, the terrace blends contemporary Japanese design with the charm of a whisky-warm alpine nook, complete with sweeping views over Belgravia. The new cocktail menu spotlights a range of Suntory’s celebrated spirits, for example, the Three Peaks Highball featuring Toki, honey and ginger, and a Japanese Hot Toddy made with Haku vodka and coffee liqueur. Each drink is designed to pair with SACHI’s seasonal dishes, including matcha soba with creamy bottarga, miso-mustard salmon, and a standout chocolate cheesecake with black sesame ice cream. The result is a rooftop haven that distils the magic of a Japanese winter right into the heart of London.

Sarah Jackson is a dining contributor at Citizen Femme. A Londonophile, she has previously lived in Dubai and Copenhagen, building her career in international communications. When not discovering the capital’s hottest new restaurants and bars, she loves to jet off for a European city break, always with the next meal in mind.

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Lead image: Ormer by Niall Clutton