A list of our favourite places to go for an indulgent, stomach-stretching Christmas banquet! 

The Black Dog

Across the road from the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens sits this unassuming award-winning local pub. With an open kitchen and rustic feel, it’s the perfect cosy haven to nip into after a frosty stroll. A beautiful stained-glass arch marks the bar which offers a rotating selection of Cask-Marque accredited real ales, craft lagers, and a thoughtful wine list. Open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, their festive menu is designed to share, and features mouthwatering dishes with a Spanish influence. Start with a selection of tapas which include queen scallops dripping in garlic and capers and red partridge parfait. The three mains are all served with roasted potatoes, honey roasted root veggies, mulled red cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower cheese. Choose from ex-dairy Prime-Rib, whole Roasted Turbot, or roasted cauliflower before finishing with either an almond cake or churros. 

112 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5ER | Set Menu £39

The Rose Pub

Upstairs at The Rose is a spacious private dining room with a bar that’s the perfect place for a Christmas celebration. Comfortably seating 75 with room for 100 standing, it has breathtaking views across the Thames to the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. There are three Christmas menus which all offer modern twists on traditional dishes. The Set Menu includes mains which range from free-range turkey breast to sea bass with harissa crushed potato, black olives, samphire and cream sauce, and an earthy gnocchi dish with chestnuts, oyster mushroom, crispy kale, and pomegranate. For something sweet, dive into their classic Christmas pudding or eggnog cheesecake. The Canapes Menu is perfect for something light, with all the best festive bites like pigs in blankets priced at £3.45 each. There’s also an A La Carte Menu for a quick but filling Christmas hug. 

35 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TL | Set Menu £40 (3 courses), £32.50 (2 courses, mince pies)

The Riverside

Hidden away on the banks of the Thames is a marble and wood bar cum restaurant with a year-round outdoor garden terrace that makes for the most romantic festive backdrop. Panoramic views look out across the river to the London Eye and Battersea Power Station, offering rare moments of calm amongst the seasonal hustle and bustle. Settle into a dining experience that has all grounds covered, from sharing platters to festive set menus, and a Christmas Day three course meal. Expect cuisine that melds British classics with freshly caught seafood, and hearty dishes. The stylish bar has a comprehensive wine list as well as a large selection of premium gins, cask ales, and craft beers. There’s also a beautiful private Green Room available to book for more intimate celebrations.

5 St George’s Wharf, SW8 2LE | Set Menu £42

Brunswick House

What better way to ring in the Christmas season than to celebrate in the antique-filled rooms of a Grade II listed Georgian mansion? As a Christmas venue, Brunswick House is able to accommodate all manner of events, its rooms being suited to small, intimate, or large receptions, lunches, dinners, or parties. For a fairytale multi-chaptered event, hire the whole house and make it your own. Start with cocktails on the ground floor, before a magical dining experience on the first, and head down to the depths of the cellar to dance the night away. The food itself is reflective of Chef Patron Jackson Boxer’s passion for the highest quality produce. Dishes are presented simply and thoughtfully with skilled creativity and attention to detail. 

30 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2LG | Room Hire from £450

The Fentiman Arms

Warm and intimate, this cushion-strewn pub is the perfect home away from home during the festive season. Throughout the month, expect feasts fit for royalty with all the trimmings, as well as sharing boards, and a special Christmas Day set menu. Why not mix up this year’s traditions and take the family out for Christmas lunch? A dining experience that won’t hold back on any of the best bits but will save you the stress, and more importantly, washing up! Perfect for small intimate celebrations with friends, family, or colleagues, book the tasteful and cosy Refectory Room for more private Christmas feasts. 

64 Fentiman Road, SW8 1LA | Set Menus from £42

Darby’s

For a real Christmas treat, head to the NYC-inspired neighbourhood restaurant and tuck into one of their two indulgent festive menus. The first kicks off with Montgomery gougeres and pickled walnut before descending into an array of flavours from spiced pork terrine, to crispy beef, duck, smoked beetroots, and truffled Barron Bigod. The second makes some exquisite additions in the form of a native lobster cocktail and duck liver and foie gras parfait before introducing highland beef sirloin and a mincemeat tart with Calvados ice cream to finish. There’s also the option to add Gallagher Atlantic oysters for £4 each and an additional course of smoked salmon and Oscietra caviar for £24. Open for Christmas Eve lunch, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, with a backdrop of live music, it’s the perfect sophisticated dining experience. 

3 Viaduct Gardens, SW11 7AY | Set Menus from £65

The Waterfront

A riverside gem offering mulled wine and bubbles receptions to get the season’s parties off to a flying start, The Waterfront is a sleek and stylish location for festive merriment. Their Christmas meal offerings are wide-ranging, from sharing boards that serve 4 to 6 people laden with mouthwatering selections like smoked salmon and caviar, to set menus including their Christmas Day menu. The Christmas Feast on offer throughout the month is a three-course marathon of rich flavours. Starting with either scallops, duck rillettes, curried parsnip soup, or a spiced fregola salad, the mains promise healthy portions of turkey, beef, squash risotto, or seabream, before offering lemon, chocolate, fruit, or cheese finishers. On Christmas Day, the menu includes a wild mushroom and beetroot wellington, a Gressingham duck wellington, and a goats cheese and pear salad. 

Baltimore House, SW18 1TS | Set Menus from £42

Tea House Theatre

A tea house by day and a theatre by night, this tucked-away gem will greet you with a roaring fire, twinkling lights, and a sprawling Christmas tree. Nestle into a quiet corner with the cats, Maggie and Gladstone, and tuck into a traditional four-course meal. Start with a creamy soup, prawn cocktail, or oozy baked camembert before digging into the main dish. If the traditional turkey doesn’t quite tickle your fancy, there’s an offering of braised Scottish venison or a vegan roast complete with a beetroot and fennel nut roast drenched in a wild mushroom gravy. To wrap things up is a fig or Christmas pudding before a mince pie cheeseboard which comes with two glasses of port for an extra £10. What’s more, you can make it a proper family affair, pooch and all! Dogs are more than welcome and will be treated to a bottomless water bowl and a treat or two. 

139 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5HL | Set Menu £42.99

Mc & Sons

This traditional Irish pub has family and community at its core and is built on the memories and lives of the McElhinney’s. The walls are covered with pictures of the family through the generations and give this honest local boozer a tight-knit and relaxed atmosphere. The private room upstairs is perfect for smaller events and dinner parties, seating 28 and fitting 60 standing. For dining options, the menu is a Thai-infused treat serving up some of the most mouthwatering delicacies perfect for sharing platters or buffet-style party food. Keep an eye out for live music announcements, the pub is known to have live Irish trad music perfect for an evening jig. 

355 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY