’Tis the season to indulge in seasonal fare and unexpected regional delicacies with a Christmas twist in SW1
Words: Joanna Taylor
Festive feasting in Knightsbridge
When Brompton Road shimmers and its shopfronts glow, there’s nowhere better to indulge in a festive feast than Knightsbridge. From regional Italian decadence to comforting British classics, whether you’re seeking a celebratory dinner, a team outing or a pre-party bite, these exclusive menus promise the utmost cheer – and, of course, a touch of sparkle.
The Mayfair Chippy
Nowhere does delicious, hearty nostalgia quite like The Mayfair Chippy. For a casual get-together that’s no less of a treat, make haste to the beloved neighbourhood favourite for its seasonal specials from 24 November to 24 December. Here, you’ll find a festive scotch egg with confit turkey, sage and onion stuffing, and cranberry and bacon relish; a steaming Norfolk turkey and chestnut pie with all the trimmings; and a crisp, deep-fried mince pie – all designed to be washed down with mulled wine or cider with warming orange, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon.
138 Brompton Road, SW3 1HY; mayfairchippy.com
Abc Kitchens at The Emory
This season, Abc Kitchens leads with pure nostalgia: enjoy velvety hot chocolate and fluffy cruller pastries in pistachio, black forest and mont blanc (better known as chestnut), perfect for dunking. Served inside or on the restaurant’s festive terrace, further highlights echo lauded chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s playful, produce-driven style with signatures such as brussels sprout-topped pizza and crispy cabbage with citrus and spice guaranteed to convert even the fussiest of eaters.
The Emory, Old Barrack Yard, SW1X 7NP; the-emory.co.uk
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Never one to be outdone, Mandarin Oriental offers not one, but three different festive menus. For a lesson in ancient cookery, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal’s five-course menu showcases the chef’s take on a 500-year-old mince pie recipe and near-millennia-old venison dish that was once, quite literally, fit for a king. The Aubrey, meanwhile, is serving the season’s ingredients treated with the team’s signature Japanese flare, including robata-grilled turkey with truffle teriyaki sauce, tender wagyu oxtail and bone marrow fried rice, and luxurious lobster caviar maki. And for long, lingering daytime celebrations, there’s The Rosebery’s elegant afternoon tea, starring smoked salmon and rooibos mackerel pâté, Clarence Court egg and Wiltshire black truffle sandwiches, and warm, indulgent Christmas malva pudding.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge; mandarinoriental.com
Alba London
Crafted in partnership with Acqua di Parma, this year, Alba’s A Dolce Natale menu channels the warmth and generosity of an Italian Christmas with a string of elegant, produce-led dishes. Highlights include delicate prawns and tuna rolls topped with black caviar, earthy truffle beef carpaccio with pickled oyster mushrooms, and rich bowls of lamb ragù pappardelle or seafood risotto brimming with langoustine and clams. For mains, succulent venison fillet with truffled mushrooms and baccalà alla Livornese (a Tuscan-style salt cod stew) sit alongside a show-stopping lamb shank for two, while panettone with mascarpone cream and Raffaello-inspired gelato offer a fittingly opulent finale.
70 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER; alba-ldn.co.uk
Cantinetta Antinori
Showcasing an unmistakable blend of Tuscan comfort and Italian warmth, Cantinetta Antinori sidesteps Christmas clichés in favour of refined, elegant fare. Designed to pair with a glass (or two) from the famed Antinori cellar, the festive menu opens with a trio of truffle pizzetta, beef tartare and burrata, followed by a silken risotto al muffato laced with blue cheese, hazelnuts and red-wine-poached pear. For mains, black cod glazed in nutty, honeyed vin santo and slow-braised pork cheek with veal jus arrive with rosemary potatoes and buttery mash to follow, while classic desserts of apricot panettone and the restaurant’s famed pistachio tiramisu indicate that you may as well go ahead and make that glass a bottle.
4 Harriet Street, SW1X 9JR; cantinetta-antinori.uk
Joanna Taylor is a food, drink and lifestyle journalist and was named Fortnum & Mason Restaurant Writer of the year 2023
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