Christmas dining in Nottingham — 7 of the best places to visit for festive fare
Luxe meals, party foods, non-traditional dinners, and more...
Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones and sharing great memories — and one of the best ways to do that is with festive food.
I’ve rounded up a range of places across the city centre that have Christmas food offerings, ranging from traditional meals casual and refined, party food with set plates and nibbles, and even international flavours. I have chosen these based on the uniqueness of the offering, the dietary requirement flexibility, and the value for money they offer.
If you’re looking for restaurants around Nottingham offering Christmas meals, these are all worth checking out. For more guides and articles, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
7 of the best Christmas dining spots in Nottingham
By Eve Smallman
1. Manahatta
Where: Norfolk Place, NG1 2BL
How much: Bottomless brunch £43.95pp, bottomless party £49.95pp, three-course menu £38.95pp, festive feast £26.95pp
NYC-inspired bar Manahatta has a range of dazzling dining options, from set menus to party bites. Say cheers to Christmas with the festive bottomless brunch or party, where you can pick between burgers and salads, as well as enjoy two hours of drinks. Seasonal cocktails include the pineapple and caramel under the Christmas tree, the cherry chocolate espresso martini, and the candy cane including raspberry foam and white chocolate.
Going more for food than drinks? The three-course menu has everything from merry caesars to mistletoe melts. Or, for those visiting with a bigger group (minimum eight people), the festive feast has nibbles like crispy salmon and crab parcels, mac and cheese croquettes, and truffled chicken tenders.
Do if: You’re looking for an Instagrammable spot with food and drink as dazzling as the interior.
2. Passan’s
Where: Carrington Street, NG1 7FF
How much: Two courses £36pp, three courses £42pp
Spice up your festive dining with a trip to Passan’s, which is offering a modern Indian Christmas feast filled with warm, traditional flavours. Begin with small plates such as hariyali tofu and bang bang cauliflower, before going into big mains like veg poriyal and Punjabi meat masala.
Round the whole thing off with Christmas pudding with festive spice or rum chocolate mud cake. All the dishes are gluten-free and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Plus, it’s just down the road from the train station, making it a convenient spot if travelling in.
Do if: A non-traditional Christmas dinner sounds like your idea of a good time.
3. 31K
Where: Goose Gate, NG1 1FE
How much: £7 starters and desserts, £18 mains, from £10pp for parties
This cosy restaurant’s menu is filled with elevated crowd-pleasers. Turkey, beef wellington, venison bangers and mash, and wild mushroom and leek croquettes are all options for mains, which can be paired up with pigs in blankets, chips and gravy, and yorkies and stuffing.
They can be topped and tailed with starters including duck liver pate and breaded goats cheese, and desserts including Christmas sponge and apple and rhubarb crumble. Either walk in, reserve a table for up to 10, or enquire separately for bigger groups (hot dogs, street food, and canapes are options for parties of 20+).
Do if: You’re looking for a relaxed spot with something for everyone.
4. Cleaver and Wake
Where: The Island Quarter, NG2 3JL
How much: Two courses £59pp, three courses £69pp
With riverside views and a sumptuous feel, Cleaver and Wake is a sophisticated dining option. Roast parsnip and chestnut soup, highland venison haunch, and clementine posset are just a few of the options on offer. The restaurant also prides itself on its fish offering, with cured loach duart salmon for starters or Cornish cod or monkfish for mains. For an extra supplement, you can even opt for a dry-aged steak.
We recommend starting with an aperitif in the bar, before heading into the restaurant. A glass or bottle of one of its Veuve Clicquot champagnes would be especially perfect for toasting the occasion.
Do if: You’d love to spoil someone with a luxurious Christmas dinner.
5. The Magic Garden
Where: Low Pavement, NG1 7DL
How much: Two courses £28.49pp, three courses £34.99pp, winter flatbreads £16.49pp, tapas £20.99pp
You might have visited this dreamy bar in summer, but it’s just as enchanting in winter, thanks to its terrace being covered and heated. The set menu is filled with delights, with the likes of creamy vegetable soup and king prawns to start, mains like hand-carved turkey and festive burgers, and desserts from fudge cake to cheeseboards.
Its flatbreads are particularly great, and if you’ve enjoyed these before in the sun, for festive parties, it has toppings such as camembert, chorizo and hot honey, and pepperoni and ranch. Or, simply go for picky tapas bits. All of these will pair wonderfully with the bar’s famed cocktails. It also has winter drink bundles for parties.
Do if: You’re looking for somewhere with plenty of different food and drink options.
6. Skein
Where: Goose Gate, NG1 1FE
How much: From £9 starters and desserts, from £18 mains
Sister restaurant to 31K, Skein offers a more refined interior, with festive food to match. Start with crispy duck egg, scallops with chorizo, and beef and truffle ravioli, before heading for the likes of venison with fondant potatoes, cod and mussels, and squash and walnut pithivier for mains.
Finish with Calvados baba, dark chocolate delice, or Horchata panna cotta — the indulgence is all yours. Oh, and the wine list is also exceptional. Most of its Christmas menu is gluten-free or can be made gluten-free on request, making it an especially great option for coeliacs.
Do if: You’re looking for an intimate yet accessible restaurant for a special Christmas meal.
7. Pho
Where: Carlton Street, NG1 1NN
How much: Two courses £22.95pp, three courses £26.95pp
Warming food is always a must during winter — and if steaming hot broth and noodles speak to you, Pho in Hockley has brilliant meat and vegan menus that are both 98% gluten-free. The restaurant is also accredited by Coeliac UK. Reach for spring rolls, prawn crackers and baby squid to begin with, before making your choice of Vietnamese noodle soup (aka pho!), hot and spicy soups, curry, or rice bowls.
Dessert-wise, luxurious, slow-churned ice cream in honey and ginger or vanilla, sorbet or crispy banana fritters are all light yet delicious options. Pho also has three Christmas cocktails on the menu during the festive season, as well as its usual phojito, spicy lychee margarita, and Cà phê Martini.
Do if: Fresh, zingy, festive food that is nourishing is your favourite.
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