Christmas is a time to get together with your nearest and dearest, retreat to somewhere warm and cosy and share some mouth-watering food and drink. Whether you enjoy a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings or would rather nibble on something less traditional (but equally as delicious) there are some top restaurants out there serving dishes that will amaze and delight (and not just because you don’t have to wash up afterwards…)
IBIZA, Spain
Ibiza may be best known for its bars and clubs but it also has some top restaurants on offer too. Café Sidney is open on Christmas Day where you can treat yourself to a Christmas Brunch which includes a buffet starter and dessert and an à la carte main in their bistro. If you fancy a Christmas Eve feast, Casa Colonial has a five course festive dinner with Chef Wolfgang preparing a top secret menu. This same mystery menu will be on offer on Christmas and Boxing Day and offers a choice of two main courses, booking in advance is advisable.
For a mouth-watering meal with a twist why not try Cardamom Club? This Indian restaurant does an array of delicious dishes which will leave you feeling satisfied including their braised beef sabji with curried parsnip puree, masal and coriander carrots. Not only that but the annex will be home to an arts and crafts fair – perfect for bagging some last minute gifts!
NAMIBIA, Africa
If you are heading to Namibia over the festive period and want some traditional English fare, The Bistro in Windhoek is one option for your Christmas dinner. The menu offers a selection of starters, mains and deserts including a selection of salads, roast beef, smoked game, mincemeat parcels, trifle and fresh fruit platters.
Other restaurants worth checking out during your stay include Joes Beer House and Am Weinberg. The former serves generous portions of German infused Namibian cuisine while the latter is one of the area’s most fashion forward eateries, making it a great place to dine if you’re looking for something special – oh, and the views are pretty good too…
BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada
If you’re lucky enough to be in British Columbia over Christmas, our top recommendation is the Araxi Restaurant and Bar in Whistler. This great restaurant is not only headed up by James Walt (one of Canada’s leading chefs) the wine list includes over 1,500 labels from all around the globe. Dishes on the menu include fresh herb ricotta gnocchi, line caught halibut, Canadian prime beef tenderloin and slow cooked slopping hills pork belly. Lunch is served right through Christmas from the 15th of December to January 2nd and reservations are definitely recommended.
O’Douls Restaurant and Bar in Vancouver is another choice worth looking into. Also serving mouth-watering food and boasting an impressive wine list it has live jazz in the evenings to entertain you while you dine.
MALTA, Europe
For a Christmas to remember Malta has some truly memorable festive treats up its sleeve. Those needing a place to stay might want to consider the Corinthia Hotel St Georges Bay with its Christmas and New Year packages incorporating room stay, buffet breakfast and either a Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner or New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. The restaurant also offers Christmas Day Lunch where you can dine on smoked salmon, turkey and Christmas pud or opt for a curry, pasta dish or veggie lasagne.
The Palace and The Victoria also offer special Christmas and New Year packages including party menus taking in buffet options or sit down champagne dinners. Both make a great choice for office parties or family get-togethers especially since entertainment can also be booked – what better way to digest all that food than with a spin around the dance floor?
Other restaurants well worth looking into if you’re after a traditional Christmas feast include 1743 Razzett I-Antik (click here for menu), Ta’Marija (see menu here) and Giannini (menu available here).
CHAMONIX, France
If you want to up the chances of a white Christmas while sitting down to your turkey this year Chamonix could be the venue for your Christmas feast. With an array of restaurants and bars to choose from you shouldn’t find it too hard to find one that fits the bill. If you are staying in a ski chalet you can sit back and enjoy as staff usually prepare a Christmas meal for you all on December 25th. For those of you who aren’t so lucky here are a couple of options to get your juices flowing…
Hotel Le Vert, located in the centre of Chamonix is not only a stylish and popular but it’s offering a three course Christmas roast with sparkling wine and all the trimmings. The Jekyll is another well-loved hot spot in Chamonix Centre and is putting on a three course traditional dinner with half a bottle of wine per person and canapés. They’re also putting on live music in the bar for some after dinner bopping.
Other options include Les Vieilles Luges – a 250 year old farm house accessible only by skies or snow shoe through the forest, where the owners prepare traditional home-made dishes to those who make the effort to seek them out. Another family run option is Hotel les Lanchers near the Flegere ski area who’s restaurant Rendez-Vous will be serving a gourmet Christmas dinner on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (and promised to satisfy the palates of both French and English Christmas dinner demands…)
MUNICH, Germany
When it comes to Christmas meals with a difference check out Munich’s offering. After a tour of the Allianz Arena (home to Bavarian football club Bayern Munich) and the chance to try your hand at some shooting practice you’ll then be led into the festively decorated dining room where you’ll quaff champagne while taking in the view of the stadium interior before digging into a Christmas buffet. Definitely a Christmas meal to remember for footie fans!
Alternately, you could join your nearest and dearest in Restaurant 181, 181 metres above Munich in the Olympic Tower set in Munich’s Olympic Park. With amazing views of the city you’ll be fed tartar of marinated salmon with prawn and salad, crispy duck with red cabbage and roasted dumplings and chocolate mousse with Cassis sherbet. Dinner of Christmas Day and Boxing Day also includes white halibut with black risotto and champagne sauce.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic
Visitors to Prague this Christmas time can experience a range of Christmas treats from smoked salmon, duck and carrot cake at Cowboys Restaurant in Mala Strana to snails, turkey and crème caramel at Hergetova Cihelna Restaurant. For those wanting something a little different Kampa Park Restaurant even has reindeer on the menu.
Back to the Christmas turkey and Nebozizek Restaurant does a special festive menu serving turkey with a twist as the turkey breast is braised and filled with dried plums and accompanied with vanilla potato puree and grilled vegetables. Alternatively, you could have perch with an almond crust and potato salad.
Coda Restaurant is offering a choice of two festive menus – traditional Czech (with potato salad and plum jam ravioli) or an international option (with lobster ravioli and roast veal).
ROME, Italy
Italy is famed for many things and food is certainly one of them. So if you’re fortunate enough to be spending the festive period in Rome they’ll certainly be some culinary treats in store. Gaetano Costa Restaurant & Afternoon Tea, found right in the centre of the city is known for its heavenly food. The chef Gaetano Costa has cooked for the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Bill Gates and Liza Minnelli and knows how to blend flavours to make you keep wanting to come back for more.
Opt for a Christmas Eve Dinner and you’ll be met with a glass of champagne before being served such delights as scallop rolls with parmesan cheese, sea bass flan, stuffed potato with white truffle and gold prawns and a selection of Christmas desserts and coffee. Christmas lunch and dinner & New Year’s Eve Gala Dinners are also available.
While my Christmas dinner is going to be a home cooked affair this year (mum, not me) all this just goes to prove one thing: no matter how far away from home you might be this Christmas if you want turkey with all the trimmings, roast duck with delicately boiled red cabbage or a slice of succulent goose you shouldn’t have too far to look. Cheers!
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