Christmas is a time for being with loved ones, watching festive films, and cocooning up in a pile of fluffy blankets. It’s also a time for eating great food. Succulent turkey, crispy pigs in blankets, and silky potato dauphinoise. Our mouths are watering at the very thought…
If you’re anything like us, festive family meals at home can become more than a little stressful. Planning what you’ll be serving up, juggling a thousand pans, and a vast mountain of washing up to deal with once you’re finished eating, when all you really want to do is flop down on the sofa in a food coma. Ringing any bells?
If you’ve hosted a chaotic festive family dinner one too many times then it might be time to look elsewhere. Enter: our Manchester Christmas dinner restaurant guide. Take yourself and your loved ones out for a meal this Christmas and let the experts do all of the planning and cooking for you – all you have to do is place your orders and then munch away until your heart’s content.
If you’re Manchester based then you’re in luck, because we’ve rounded up some of our favourite festive menus on offer across the city. Manchester is full to the brim with great food offerings, and that continues right on into the festive season. Whether it’s for a work event, a dinner with the grandparents, or a fun Christmas night out with friends, we’ve got something for every occasion.
There are classic roast turkeys with all the trimmings, slow-cooked beef, glazed hams, and also some more unusual options (festive pizza, anyone?). Whatever you’re in the mood for this Christmas, there’s more than likely something out there for you. So have a little scroll through our guide, find your favourite festive menu, and make your Christmas dinner dreams come true by booking a table nice and early to secure your spot.
The Oast House, Spinningfields
The Oast House is beautifully decorated, especially at Christmas time, making it a great venue for your Christmas meal. Choose between a two-course lunch (available until 4pm), or a 3 course-meal (available all day, every day), and tuck into a veritable feast. The Christmas set menu is small but dishes are abundant. Chicken liver and brandy pate, sweet potato and goats cheese tart, and roast butternut squash soup to start with, with the real jewel in the crown being the Oast House turkey hanging kebab: turkey, ham, stuffing, pigs in blankets, and an orange cranberry glaze, with all the trimmings. Worth knowing: food has to be pre-ordered 14 days in advance of your reservation, so make sure you plan well if you’re hoping to dine at The Oast House this Christmas.
Where: Crown Square, M3 3AY
Book now: The Oast House
Albert’s Schloss, Central Manchester
Alpine-inspired bar Albert’s Schloss is an ideal setting for a Christmas meal, and so it’s no surprise that it’s got a significant Christmas menu to choose from. Upon arrival, you’ll be served a selection of pretzels, sweet mustard, and pickles, after which you might opt for a starter (depending on the set menu option you’ve chosen) like prawn cocktail, bier and onion soup, or chicken liver pate. Mains are in-keeping with Albert’s Schloss’ Bavarian theme, including Schweinshaxe (crispy roasted pork knuckle), mushroom and celeriac roast, and sauerbraten beef – there’s also the option for turkey if you want something more traditional. To finish, there’s the likes of northern bloc ice cream, or exciting desserts like chocolate roulade or Albert’s apple strudel. Christmas at Albert’s Schloss is a festive and certainly on theme affair.
Where: 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR
Book now: Albert’s Schloss Manchester
Dishoom Manchester, Spinningfields
If you’re after a more unique Christmas dinner, Dishoom will probably be of interest. Served for groups of six or more from 20 November to 24 December at £42 per person, the Dishoom festive feast is an impressive one. Grounded in Bombay’s traditions of sharing food amongst loved ones, Christmas at Dishoom looks like tasting a little bit of everything from a communal large plate, or thaal, as it’s officially named. Dishoom’s Christmas menu features some of its classics, like the chicken ruby, house black daal, and gunpowder potatoes. There’s also a turkey raan with trimmings (and veggie and vegan versions), if you’re veering towards more traditional festive cravings.
Where: 32 Bridge Street, M3 3BT
Book now: Dishoom Manchester
Masons Restaurant and Bar, Spinningfields
Masons’ festive party menu is ideal if you’re trying to find somewhere for a larger group meal or getting out just the two of you this Christmas. Starters include the likes of dill gravadalax, and Christmas winter vegetable soup, while mains are dishes like 12hour slow braised short rib, and lentil wellington – no turkey in sight here! For three festive courses at Masons, you’re looking at £48 per person, with a festive clementime bellini and amuse-bouche on arrival, which is pretty tempting if you ask us.
Where: 36 Bridge Street, M3 3BT
Book now: Masons Restaurant and Bar
Gusto Manchester, Deansgate
Gusto is always on hand for a trusty Italian meal, but have you considered trying it out for a Christmas plate? Serving up three courses at lunchtime for £35.00, and at dinner for £40.00, Gusto’s Christmas offerings are hard to ignore. Both lunch and dinner offer the chance for a full turkey roast, and other options like slow cooked beef and potato gratin, or mushroom and red wine pudding, if you’re after something a little less traditionally festive. For dessert, there’s a classic Christmas pudding, alongside other favourites like sorbet and warm chocolate brownies. For a classy and refined Christmas meal, Gusto might be for you.
Where: 4 Lloyd Street, M2 5AB
Book now: Gusto Manchester
Slug and Lettuce, Deansgate
Slug and Lettuce Deansgate is pulling through for all our festive needs this Christmas. The Christmas menu (you can choose between two course or three course) gives you lots of choice, with main courses ranging from a turkey escalope or festive steak frites, to a vegan Christmas ‘mac n cheeze’. from classic turkey with all the trimmings or a fillet of salmon, to an ‘Xmas Plant-Based Burger’. Depending on the size of your party, you can opt for one of the Christmas feasts for groups of 2-5, or 6 or more, or the Christmas buffet for groups of 10 plus. If you’re after a lively (and maybe quite boozy) festive meal this year, consider heading to Slug and Lettuce Deansgate.
Where: 64-66 Deansgate, M3 2EN
Book now: Slug and Lettuce Deansgate
Greens, Didsbury
For another unique – and green – Christmas dinner, you might like to look into Greens Didsbury’s Christmas menu. For just £29 per person, this menu will be available from 28 November to 24 December, with organizers of parties of 9 or more being treated to a £20 gift voucher to spend in January 2024. At Green’s, you can choose from a selection of all-vegetarian small and large plates, and desserts. Small plates include pesto arancini, houmous with flatbread, and deep-fried oyster mushrooms, while large plates are a little closer to festive classics, featuring truffled mushroom Wellington with dauphinoise potatoes, gravy, and squash pureé, as well as spinach, pistachio, and feta filo pie with kale. As you’d expect, there’s also some vegan options, including sticky toffee pudding and chocolate mousse for dessert. If you’re after a vegetarian Christmas, Greens might just be for you.
Where: 43 Lapwing Lane, M20 2NT
Book now: Greens Didsbury
Foundry Project, Northern Quarter
Foundry Project’s Christmas offerings are a fascinating fusion of tradition with something new. Its Christmas set menu is only available Sunday to Wednesday, 12-3pm, so there’s a limited window in which you can try it out. Nevertheless, it seems worth the organisational effort if you’re looking for something a little different. Starters include plates like crispy salt and pepper squid, and orasted beetroot and Greek cheese bruschetta (we told you it wasn’t necessarily traditional!). Your main course is a choice between burgers, steak or some slightly more festive options such as roast turkey with all the trimmings and a veggie alternative with spinach, butternut and cranberry tart.
Where: Smithfield Market Buildings, M4 1BD
Book now: Foundry Project
Australasia, Spinningfields
Australasia is well known for being a boujee dinner setting, and things are no different at Christmas time. This year, it’s welcoming small and large groups for either the enchantment experience or the enchantment menu (£75 and £55 respectively), with the experience available from 27 November to 31 December, and the latter on 30 November, 1, 7, 8 and Wednesday to Friday 14 – 23 December. The options are made up of starter, mains and desserts, and there’s plenty of dishes to choose from, meaning you might move from the likes of wagyu beef nigiri, and kimchi tuna with tempura nori crisp, to duck breast with mandarin puree, to passion fruit mousse. In short, Australasia’s Christmas menu sticks to its culinary roots, and it’s guaranteed to impress. There’s also a designated vegan menu, which is good to know if your group has a mixed bag of dietary requirements.
Where: 1 The Avenue, M3 3AP
Book now: Australasia
Via Manchester, Canal Street
Via, an LGBT+ bar, restaurant, and nightclub, has a fun Christmas menu to choose from (presumably before you dance the night away on Canal Street). You can opt for a two or three course set menu (it’s a couple of pounds cheaper on Sunday to Tuesday), and tuck into some indulgent dishes with a festive twist. Whilst you wont find the classic turkey and all the trimmings on the menu, you will find some Christmas crackers such as the fat Santa burger with beef patties or fried chicken, cheese, and lots of delicious things including cranberry, pork and fig stuffing and pigs in blankets on the side. There’s also options such as merry mac n cheese and a crustmas pizza, along with a number of sweet treats like mistletoe mess flavours of brandy, christmus pudding, gingerbread and mince pie.
Where: 28/30 Canal Street, M1 3EZ
Book now: Via
Podium, Deansgate
Festive dinners at Podium are a luxurious and indeed splendidly traditional affair. Coming in at a reasonable £45 for three courses, and £35 for two, you’ll get to choose between the tasty dishes for each course. Think confit duck leg tart to start with, perhaps, followed by a turkey schnitzel with sage and pancetta, as well as a number of delicious sides, and a Gingerbread latte cheesecake to finish off. Perfect.
Where: 303 Deansgate, M3 4LQ
Book now: Podium Restaurant
Grand Pacific, Central Manchester
Let’s finish off with Grand Pacific. Christmas dinner here is a classy and luxe occasion, in keeping with its service all year round. It promises a festive dining hall, decorated with wreaths and twinkling lights, and some extravagant dishes. There’s a small Christmas menu, but what’s on there is sure to impress. Parsnip and chestnut soup, or less traditional chicken gyoza to start. Moving on to mains, there is the option of traditional roast turkey, roast sea bream, glazed confit duck leg, or mushroom and butternut squash Wellington for non-meat eaters. Dessert is, once more, as we’d expect: Christmas pudding, chocolate and cherry mousse, or roasted peach and pineapple. This menu is one which promises tradition, as well as the occasional unusual choice for those craving something new.
Where: 50 Spring Gardens, M2 1EN
Book now: Grand Pacific
If you want to widen your restaurant search a little, check out our guide to the best restaurants in Manchester.
