Santa’s Dining Guide: India’s Best Restaurants Serving Christmas Cheer On A Plate (Or A Cocktail Glass)

Christmas in India, of late, has become a delicious affair. Across the country, kitchens are glowing with festive energy as chefs put their own thoughtful spin on the season drawing from classic Christmas traditions, local flavours, and a sense of joyful indulgence. From intimate hotel dining rooms to lively standalone restaurants and bars, curated Christmas menus are appearing like little gifts: comforting, celebratory, and meant to be enjoyed with your loved ones. Whether it’s a perfectly roasted centrepiece, a nostalgic dessert, or a surprising new flavour pairing, these menus capture the simple pleasure of coming together and eating well – exactly what the season calls for.

In this round-up, we’re listing restaurants across the country that are offering special Christmas menus, making it easier to plan where to eat, celebrate, and let your hair down this festive season.

1. Vivanta New Delhi (Dwarka)

Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka, ushers in the magic of Christmas with specially designed dining experiences that combine festive flavours with a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. Christmas Eve at Creo, the hotel’s all-day dining venue, unfolds as a spirited evening gathering featuring an abundant spread of seasonal delicacies. Live music, cheerful Santa appearances and festive giveaways add to the merriment.

The festivities carry forward on Christmas Day with the Merry Brunch Carnival – a lively afternoon celebration complete with live grill stations, open-air counters and an exclusive kids’ zone. Santa stockings and festive treats delight younger guests, while a glass of sparkling wine adds a celebratory touch for adults, making it a joyful, inclusive Christmas experience.

Where: Service Rd, Sector 21, Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi – 110077

2. KYMA (Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad)

KYMA ushers in a distinctly London-style Christmas across its locations in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, inviting guests to step into the glow of a winter celebration steeped in old world charm. Drawing from London’s refined festive traditions, the restaurant’s Christmas edit marries classic influences with a sense of warmth and lots of love, setting the tone for an intimate seasonal gathering.

The menu centres on generous, share-worthy offerings such as the North Star Lebanese Seafood Platter and the Noël Grilled Meat Feast. For vegetarians, dishes like the Hearthside Rustic Veg Fatayer deliver comfort-driven flavours that feel tailor-made for the winter season.

Behind the bar, London continues to inspire. Signature cocktails like the Camden Christmas Cloud, Rudolph on Regent Street and the Soho Nightcap lend a playful touch, complemented by soul-soothing serves such as hot chocolate and toddy-style drinks.

Where: Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad

3. Indy By Qla (Delhi)

Indy By Qla offers a distinctly Indian take on Christmas, one that favours familiarity over imitation. Rather than borrowing from Western tropes, the festive menu looks inward, drawing from flavours and formats that already feel at home during the holidays.

True to INDYan’s (Indy By Qla) philosophy of reinterpretation, the menu treats Christmas much like it treats geography: as a starting point, not a template. Classic comfort food is reimagined with playful precision – think edamame gujiya, techa-laced mac and cheese, mock meat toast, crispy tofu, jackfruit masala bao, duck samosa, chingri posto, Naga chilli pork, and an Indy-style tuna chaat – each dish grounded in Indian sensibilities while embracing the spirit of celebration.

Where: Ground Floor, Eldeco Center, Unit No. G-4F, G-5F, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110017

4. Magna (Mumbai)

MAGNA, one of Mumbai’s most loved bars, steps into the holiday season with a thoughtfully put-together festive menu that mirrors its setting – whimsical, warm, and inviting.

Desserts take a comforting turn, with standouts like the Matcha Strawberry Tiramisu and the indulgent Triple Decker Pastry, both created to sit effortlessly alongside MAGNA’s seasonal drinks. The cocktail list brings its own festive rhythm with pours such as Empress of Spring and Berry Bell, while non-alcoholic offerings like Winter Rose, Leaf, and Christmas Star ensure mocktail drinkers aren’t an afterthought.

Where: 2nd Floor, Mohan Koppikar Road, Opposite Raheja Gardens, Teen Haath Naka, Thane West, Maharashtra – 400604

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5. ParTTwo (Bengaluru)

This December, ParTTwo introduces a limited-edition Christmas menu alongside a Winter Tea offering, adding a seasonal layer to its contemporary Asian tapas and cocktail programme. Both menus take cues from European winter traditions, reworked to suit ParTTwo’s small-plates format.

The festive menus are the work of Chef Karan Upmanyu and Chef Shaun Kenworthy, whose approach this season leans into seasonality. The Christmas menu, led by Chef Karan, focuses on festive flavours translated into compact, well-balanced plates. The Winter Tea menu, created jointly by the two chefs, draws from the tradition of European afternoon tea, offering a carefully chosen mix of sweet and savoury bites meant for slower, colder afternoons.

On the Christmas menu, starters range from whipped feta paired with truffle honey and pickled grapes to charcoal-grilled Thai barbecue sweet potatoes and confit duck croquettes served with piccalilli gel. Mains include a Christmas-style chicken ala brassa with spiced coconut cream and cashews, alongside fire-roasted jumbo prawns finished with grilled red pepper jam and crisp prawn heads.

Where: 2nd Floor, 20/2 Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru

6. Guppy (Delhi)

Guppy, the much-loved Japanese kitchen from the Olive Group, marks the festive season with a thoughtfully curated Christmas menu, available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The spread leans into comfort without losing Guppy’s signature balance of flavour and finesse. Guests can begin with dishes like the smoked pumpkin soup, the mizuna, plum and avocado salad, or crisp stuffed mushroom furai, before moving on to heartier plates such as the tender, twice-cooked pork ribs.

Sushi offerings range from the beet and avocado roll and bacon with cream cheese roll to a classic chirashi sushi. For those looking beyond rolls, the menu also features duck breast teriyaki, vegetable curry udon, and baked avocado.

Dessert stays true to Christmas tradition with Guppy’s plum cake, served alongside vanilla ice cream.

The festive drinks menu adds its own cheer, with cocktails like Jingle Pop, made with spiced rum and finished with a cinnamon-sugar rim; Sip The Mistletoe, combining orange juice, cranberry juice, and sparkling wine, to name a few.

Adding to the atmosphere, live singing sets the tone for the celebrations on Christmas Eve from 7 PM to 10 PM, and on Christmas Day from 12:30 PM to 4 PM.

Where: 28, Main Market, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi

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7. The Grammar Room (Delhi)

The Grammar Room brings a Cuban-inspired holiday menu to the table this Christmas, running from December 24 to 30 at its Mehrauli and Khan Market outlets. Designed as a seasonal detour rather than a traditional festive spread, the menu leans into bold island flavours while keeping things comforting.

At the centre are the Cuban Christmas sandwiches, offered with two distinct fillings. One features braised celeriac finished with citrus mojo, while the other highlights a pork leg marinated for 24 hours in sour orange, garlic, and cumin. Both are layered into pressed Cuban bread with mustard, pineapple–jalapeño relish, and cheese. For smaller bites, the para picar section includes yuca con holiday mojo – a cassava salad with cranberry, pickled onions, garlic sofrito, and honey-paprika peanuts, alongside tostón fritters made from double-fried plantains, dusted with mint-lime zest and served with garlic confit aioli.

Dessert stays on theme with Postre’s Cuba Libre Cake, a spiced holiday bake with rum-soaked cherries and toasted pecans, served warm with a rum-cola anglaise.

Where: One Style Mile, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi | 73B, Middle Lane, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi

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8. Taj City Centre (Gurugram)

On Christmas Eve, Culina 44, Taj City Centre Gurugram’s all-day dining restaurant, hosts a festive dinner buffet paired with a three-piece live band. The setting is warm and relaxed, suited to families and smaller groups, with seasonal dishes anchoring the evening.

Christmas Day shifts into a slower rhythm with a long, easy brunch. Guests can enjoy live music, a carefully put-together festive menu, and optional wine pairings.

Where: Plot No. 1, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana

9. Butterfly High (Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad)

Butterfly High approaches Christmas with colour, noise, and a sense of fun, turning the season into what it does best – a lively, social affair. Its festive menu leans into bold flavours and playful combinations, keeping things light-hearted rather than traditional.

At the bar, the Christmas edit features house specials like the Santa’s Spiced Mulled Mule, the Campfire Christmas Martini, and the striking Blue Christmas Martini. Each cocktail is built around warmth, spice, and a bit of theatre, making them as much a part of the celebration as the food itself.

Desserts follow the same mood, with indulgent options such as Honey, I’m Toasted! and Midnight Marquise.

Where: Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad

10. Taj Surajkund Resort & Spa (Delhi-NCR)

Set amid the quiet stretch of the Aravallis, Taj Surajkund Resort & Spa approaches Christmas as a reason to slow down. The festivities unfold as a destination experience rather than a single meal, inviting guests to settle into the rhythm of the resort.

On Christmas Eve, the Gala Dinner at Vista, the resort’s all-day dining space, features an expansive buffet that moves between indoor areas and the open courtyard. The spread includes a traditional turkey carving, a mix of global cuisines, interactive live counters, and a generous grazing table designed for long, unhurried evenings. Seasonal desserts, mulled wine, and live singing bring warmth to the night without tipping into excess.

Christmas Day carries the same relaxed mood with a brunch hosted at Vista and the Courtyard. Guests can expect an easy mix of international favourites, regional chaat, chef-led live stations, and an elaborate dessert selection.

Where: Shooting Range Road, Block C, Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana

11. Shangri-La Eros (New Delhi)

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi continues its long-standing tradition of marking the holiday season through thoughtfully curated dining experiences. Guests can choose between the refined Far Eastern flavours at Shang Palace, the comforting, rustic Italian cooking at Sorrento, or the expansive international spread at Tamra, where traditional Christmas roasts sit alongside handcrafted desserts and global favourites.

Christmas Day brings with it two distinct brunch experiences. On the Garden Lawns, the celebration plays out in the open winter sun, accompanied by live music and children’s activities. The menu draws together signature dishes from Shang Palace, Grappa, and Sorrento, complemented by live cooking stations, an extensive dessert display, and premium beverages.

For those who prefer an indoor setting, Tamra hosts an elaborate Christmas Brunch that brings together international flavours, attentive service, and lively entertainment.

Where: 9, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi

12. Vicoli (Delhi-NCR)

This Christmas, Vicoli, Gurugram’s new European-inspired social dining address, hosts Fête Noël – a Christmas Day brunch shaped around the easy comfort of winter dining. Taking place on 25 December from 12:30 PM onwards, the brunch is designed for slow meals, shared plates, and time spent at the table.

The menu leans into familiar European flavours with a seasonal lens. Starters include a roasted rainbow panzanella salad and baked brie served with citrus fig jam, followed by robust mains such as roasted turkey with cranberry, bacon-wrapped turkey finished with red wine jus, and a classic lamb shepherd’s pie. Vegetarian dishes are given equal attention, ensuring the spread remains balanced and inclusive. Desserts round off the meal with gingerbread paired with rum caramel sauce and stollen served with toffee sauce.

The cocktail list keeps things winter-appropriate, with drinks like Honeymoon Suite, Rosewood Reverie, Winter Garden, Velvet Mirage, and Saffron Amber complementing the festive menu.

Where: 8th Floor, Global Foyer Mall, Sector 43, Gurugram

13. The Love Hotel (Delhi)

A compact, mischievous hideaway, The Love Hotel leans fully into its playful reputation this Christmas. AD Singh’s Japanese-inspired cocktail bar keeps things intimate, irreverent, and deliberately cheeky – suited to couples looking for a night that feels private without taking itself too seriously.

The festive programming centres on a limited-edition cocktail list and holiday-themed details that don’t miss the joke (yes, candy canes make an appearance). Drinks include Jingle Bed Rock, built on peanut butter rum, coffee liqueur, Angostura bitters and saline; Let’s Talk About Eggs, Baby, a rich mix of bourbon, Bacardi Ocho, eggnog premix and nutmeg; Wetter Than a Snowball with Maya Pistola Reposado, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice and egg white; and Mommy Kissed Santa Claus, blending dark rum, apple brandy, sweet vermouth, Creole bitters and sparkling wine.

Adding to the atmosphere are Christmas-themed drag performances, bringing sharp humour, lip-sync sets and plenty of photo-worthy moments to the room. The result is a festive night that’s bold, a little outrageous, and very much on brand.

Where: The Love Hotel, Main Market, 28, Lodhi Road, Block 13, Lodi Colony, New Delhi

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