Christmas 2026: 19 Must-Try Festive Menus in Newcastle
Our round-up of some of the most tempting festive menus in the city
Every now and again, the papers will run a story about some loveable eccentric who has eaten nothing but Christmas dinners every day for 35 years or something. They’ll normally include the total sum of sprouts eaten for some perspective.
We don’t recommend that, but in the run-up to Christmas plenty of Newcastle’s finest restaurants offer excellent seasonal menus so there’s no reason why you couldn’t eat quite a lot of festive food this December.
And it’s not just the standard turkey and stuffing either - there are some appealing and inventive international spins on Christmas dinner too. Here’s our round-up of some of the best Christmas menus in NE1.
City Tavern, Northumberland Road
Much loved Newcastle institution The City Tavern is well known for lots of reasons - including its love of dogs - but we can add a love of Christmas food to the list too. They’ll be offering three Christmas menu options – a main course for £19.95, two courses for £27.95 or the whole three courses for £34.95. From truffled parsnip soup, to millionaire’s brownie via some splendid main options – turkey of course but also six-hour beef featherblade and roasted salmon - there's plenty of festive treats to get your taste buds tingling.
The Vermont Hotel, Castle Garth
The Vermont has got so much going on this Christmas, they’ve even produced a shiny brochure! Available every day in December there’s a special festive afternoon tea, served from 12:30pm till 4pm. This seasonal spin on their popular afternoon teas can be taken in the Vermont Lounge, and you can add a glass of prosecco for a fiver if you’re feeling fancy. £25.95 per person gets you all the sandwiches, baked goods and hot drinks you could want, with ‘gentleman's’ and children’s options available as well. On Thursday 17th December, you can even enjoy it with entertainment from the incredibly talented Westoe Brass Band ensemble too!
Maldron Hotel, Newgate Street
Get into the Christmas spirit with a spot of festive dining at the Maldron Hotel. Served in their Grain & Grill restaurant, and welcoming parties big and small, their Christmas menu starts from just £25.95 per person, with the option to add dessert for an extra £7.
21, Trinity Gardens
Keeping it simple but refined as you’d expect, 21’s Christmas menu (available from Tuesday 24th November for lunch and early evening) offers two courses for £48, or three for £55. From whipped butternut squash to cheddar cheese and spinach souffle, through main courses like butter-roast turkey and pot-roasted pheasant to desserts such as Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, this is a classy Christmas feast.
The Alchemist, Eldon Square
The Alchemist brings its potions and wizardry to the festive season with a Christmas menu available from Monday 16th November. Offering three courses for £42.50 per person, guests can enjoy some appealing and unusual dishes like beef bon bons, drunken dumplings or teriyaki king oyster mushroom - although there is a traditional turkey option available too.
Blackfriars, Friars Street
There can’t be many more evocative places to enjoy a seasonal feast than the decidedly olde world environment of Blackfriars. From Friday 27th November, their Christmas menu costs £49.50 per person and includes a glass of fizz, three courses, mince pie and tea or coffee. It’s a pretty special menu too – options like black pudding bon bon, home-made black pudding, potato & truffle pan haggerty, butter-roasted breast of turkey and some actual figgy pudding.
Banyan, Monument Mall
Banyan has several Christmas options available and its festive bottomless brunch is certainly tempting. Prices start from £44.95 per person and offers a classic brunch dish (a few with a festive twist too!) plus 90 minutes of unlimited drinks. Enjoy a selection of Christmas cocktails while eating breakfast hash or poached eggs in various ways or for a small supplement, try dishes like the "All the Trimmings Burger" and rustic ciabatta steak melt. There’s a seasonal three-course set menu from just £39.95 per person too though, if you fancy something a little more traditional.
Pleased To Meet You, High Bridge
Available from Tuesday 24th November to Thursday 24th December (excluding Sundays), Pleased To Meet You is offering a delicious festive menu, with two courses starting from £29.95, and three courses from £34.95. It includes starters like crispy shredded duck spring rolls, mains such as the traditional butter roast turkey, while there’s winter spiced sticky toffee pudding to finish. Fancy something a little lighter? Enjoy a festive afternoon tea for £25 per person, and indulge in some sandwiches, savoury snacks and seasonal sweet treats – all washed down with a glass of prosecco, mulled wine, or your choice of tea or coffee.
St. Vincent, Broad Chare
As ever, St. Vincent are big on flavour and low on fuss this Christmas, with their fantastic fixed price festive menu. Feast on the likes of treacle-cured salmon, Calabrian Christmas pork roast, and amarena cherry sorbet, with two courses from £36.50, or three from £42.50. And while you’re there, why not take a look at their incredible wine list? It is Christmas after all!
My Delhi, Clayton Street
Indian street food specialist My Delhi is offering a tasty-looking 'Christmasala' menu this year, from Wednesday 25th November to Christmas Eve. Priced from £30 per person for lunch or £35 per person for dinner, they’re offering some sub-continental spins on Christmas traditions like Pondicherry croquettes, as well as the usual dishes like railway station lamb curry and butter chicken 1950s.
Cote Brasserie, Grainger Street
Old school French brasserie Cote has a delicious-looking Menu de Noël, which manages to capture the best of both Christmas and France. For £34.95 per person, you can dine on three courses that bring a Gallic twist to seasonal dishes: baked goat’s cheese, roast turkey ballotine and salted caramel pain perdu, for example. The perfect way to enjoy rustic French festivities without leaving the city!
Dakwala, Grainger Street
Beloved by many foodies in the Toon – and for good reason! – Dakwala’s Christmas feast is definitely worth checking out if you fancy spicing things up. Available from Thursday 19th November to Christmas Eve, their offering includes a delicious array of sharing dishes (plus Christmas crackers and a welcome drink!) from just £34.95 per person.
Chaophraya, Greys Quarter, Eldon Square
Chaophraya has gone all-out with their Christmas menu this year. There’s mouth-watering set menus to feast on, and of course, their legendary white chocolate bombe is make a welcome return this Christmas too. Delicious!
Fat Hippo, Shakespeare Street
After a festive feast with a difference? Head to Fat Hippo for their legendary Christmas burgers! Even better, if you’re booking for a group of nine or more people, you can make the most of their special 2 courses for £20 offer – including a starter, main and side of your guests choice.
Miller & Carter, Mosley Street
Even though Miller & Carter is a shrine to steak, their festive menu – available from Tuesday 17th November up to Christmas Eve – does include a hand-carved turkey in its options. For £38.50 per person for two courses, and £42.50 for three courses, you can enjoy starters like duck liver, port and brandy parfait, mains such as some fine cuts of steak, but also butternut squash and chestnut roast, and of course the aforementioned turkey, and desserts like caramel biscuit torte – plus all the trimmings and sides.
Mowgli, Nelson Street
Since Mowgli opened its doors on Nelson Street last year, the Indian street food sensation has taken Newcastle’s food scene by storm. So, if you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting yet, why not take a trip to enjoy their Christmas menu? Available from £40 per person, it includes everything from yoghurt chat bombs and Himalayan cheese toast, to the office worker’s tiffin and the Mowgli chocolate brownie.
Pizza Punks, Grey Street
You’ll want to get a slice of Pizza Punks’ festive menu! Join them throughout December for Punkmas, where you can enjoy 90 minutes of unlimited drinks (wine, prosecco, beer and choice of cocktails) and any pizza for £39.95 per person.
DOOD, Quayside
Book a table at DOOD on Newcastle’s gorgeous Quayside for a festive meal with a Levantine twist. Priced at £65 per person, their four-course Christmas menu offers a welcome glass of fizz on arrival, Christmas crackers and one glass of house wine each – alongside delicious dishes like blistered padron peppers, chicken dolma and baklava with pistachio ice cream.
The Botanist, Monument Mall
The Botanist’s legendary hanging kebab gets a seasonal spin between Monday 16th November and Sunday 27th December. You’ll be able to enjoy a Christmas dinner hanging kebab (yes, you read that right!) as part of their impressive Christmas menu – alongside starters like fried camembert bites and desserts like vegan festive cheesecake. Starting from £28.95, it’s worth getting that table booked to celebrate with friends and family.
So there you have it: nineteen recommendations for great Christmas menus, from the traditional to the exotic, the rock’n’roll to the Gallic. A perfect way to celebrate Christmas with friends and family in Newcastle during the season without having to wash up.
Main image: The Botanist
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