December in Hong Kong is a season shaped by ritual, anticipation and the promise of long meals shared with the people who matter. This year’s festive menus span French elegance, Tuscan warmth and Michelin-starred precision, each restaurant offering its own interpretation of celebration.
Mandarin Grill + Bar
Mandarin Grill + Bar captures the mood of the season under newly appointed Chef de Cuisine Junior Nadje, who is already shaping the restaurant’s next chapter. Trained in some of Europe’s most respected MICHELIN-starred kitchens, Chef Nadje brings a refined, fire-driven style that lends a modern edge to the Grill’s festive offering. Guests can experience his touch through a polished line-up of seasonal menus, from the Saturday Festive Brunch (HKD 888 per adult) and Sunday Festive Roast (HKD 1,088 per adult) to a Champagne-laced, seven-course Christmas Eve Dinner (HKD 2,288 per person) and a decadent Christmas Day Roast (HKD 2,888 per adult). Each menu hints at the direction the Grill will take when it reopens in early Q2 2026 after its renovation, a blend of heritage, creativity and contemporary elegance that makes this festive season an intriguing glimpse of what lies ahead.
Mandarin Grill + Bar, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central
Jean-Pierre
The new kid on the block with unmistakable Parisian swagger, Jean-Pierre brings a dose of Left Bank revelry to Bridges Street this season. Black Sheep’s spirited bistro leans into its French roots with a pair of celebratory menus: the Black Board Christmas Specials, a decadent line-up of oysters, foie gras and showpiece dishes such as Loup de Mer en Croûte and Côte de Boeuf, available from 24 to 26 December with a minimum spend of HKD 1,200 per guest; and Le Grand Réveillon, a single-seating New Year’s Eve celebration (HKD 2,588 early bird | HKD 3,088 regular) complete with canapés, Champagne and live music that carries diners through to midnight. We love this interpretation of festive dining through a French lens, confident and unmistakably Parisian.
Jean-Pierre, 1 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan
Clipper Lounge
Long regarded as the heart of the hotel’s festive traditions, Clipper Lounge captures the season with a series of generous buffets and quietly polished holiday rituals. The Festive Semi-buffet Lunch (HKD 658 per adult) and Festive Afternoon Tea (HKD 468 per person | HKD 888 for two persons) run from 1 to 23 December, each offering a refined spread that blends signature favourites with seasonal accents. Evenings take on a more sumptuous tone with lavish dinner buffets on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve (from HKD 1,488 per adult), where chilled seafood, premium roasts and an elegant sweep of desserts create a setting that feels both celebratory and unmistakably indulgent.
Clipper Lounge, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central
Chalet des Alpes
If Christmas in the Alps isn’t on the cards this year, Chalet des Alpes brings the après-ski mood to SoHo instead. Black Sheep’s cult winter pop-up returns in its most exuberant incarnation yet, transforming a new two-storey space on Shelley Street into a full-throttle Alpine hideaway where Euro-disco sets the tempo, mulled wine flows freely and the scent of raclette drifts through a timber chalet designed for long festive lunches and lively evenings. Running until 15 January, Chalet des Alpes serves both lunch and dinner, with lunch available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 12pm to 3pm. Guests arriving in mountain gear are rewarded with a shot of kirsch, while upstairs the Alpine Lounge and games room set the tone for spirited group celebrations fuelled by Nageln, foosball, giant Jenga and the infamous shotski. Menus start from HKD 1,088 per person, opening with charcuterie and Salade de Mâche Mimosa before moving into molten raclette and classic Fondue Moitié-Moitié, followed by a neat tarte au chocolat noir. Drinks packages range from the easy-going Piste Verte at HKD 1,088 to the Champagne-led Piste Noire at HKD 1,688.
Chalet des Alpes, 18 Shelley Street, Soho
The Langham, Hong Kong
Marking its 160th anniversary year, The Langham, Hong Kong serves up a programme of classic hotel rituals and generous festive dining. At The Food Gallery, festive brunch and dinner buffets run across Christmas and New Year, featuring chilled seafood, turkey roulade with chestnut stuffing, beef Wellington and a dedicated Christmas dessert station, with prices from HKD 608 for brunch and HKD 908 for dinner per adult. Palm Court offers a more intimate setting with a four-course Festive Set Dinner from 24 to 26 December (HKD 798 per person), alongside a limited-edition collection of mini Christmas cakes (HKD 88 each) and the Deluxe Turkey-To-Go (HKD 1,888) for those celebrating at home. On New Year’s Eve, a Champagne free-flow and caviar canapé set (HKD 888 per person) sets the tone for a refined countdown in the lobby lounge.
The Langham, Hong Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Restaurant Petrus
At Restaurant Petrus, Christmas unfolds through the precision and artistry of its Michelin-starred kitchen. Chef Uwe’s eight-course Christmas Eve dinner (HKD 3,688 per person) brings together black truffle, line-caught turbot and A5 Olive Wagyu, ending with his much-loved Winter Wonderland dessert, created tableside with fire, sugarwork and a quiet touch of theatre. Christmas Day lunch (HKD 1,688 per person) follows with family-style starters of caviar, smoked salmon and pâté en croute, before guests choose from classics such as Dover sole, Butterball turkey Wellington or a Mayura M9 tomahawk. The five-course Christmas Day dinner (HKD 2,688 per person) keeps the momentum with dishes including Beef Rossini and a delicate Bûche de Noël to finish. Wine pairings, from sommelier-selected to iconic, are thoughtfully matched across each menu.
Restaurant Petrus, Level 56, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central
Zuma Hong Kong
Christmas and New Year at Zuma Hong Kong unfold through a series of menus designed for repeat visits rather than a single occasion. From 22 December to 2 January, the Festive Daikoku Tasting Menu (HK$1,380 per person) is served at lunch and dinner, showcasing Zuma’s winter cooking through dishes such as Japanese wagyu tataki with black truffle, Gillardeau oysters, premium sushi and sashimi, miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf and langoustine kataifi tempura with truffle soy butter, before finishing with a warm gingerbread cake paired with roasted fig and whisky butterscotch ice cream. From Christmas Day to 28 December, and again on New Year’s Day, the Christmas Shūmatsu Brunch returns with free-flow packages rising from Ruinart to Dom Pérignon, accompanied by live music and a discreet visit from Santa that adds atmosphere without distraction. Evenings shift gear with the Yashoku Night Brunch from 25 to 27 December, where shared plates, champagne and a DJ-led soundtrack lean into the celebratory side of the season.
Zuma Hong Kong, Landmark Level 5 and 6, 15 Queen’s Road Central
Carna by Dario Cecchini
Carna by Dario Cecchini brings the season in with Tuscan warmth, generous portions and an unmistakable sense of Italian hospitality. Christmas Dinner on 24 and 25 December (HKD 1,688 per person) and Christmas Brunch on 25 and 26 December (HKD 988 per person) are designed for sharing; the room buzzes and the plates keep arriving in true festive spirit. Highlights include Polpette Cacio e Uova, Scampi alla Griglia and the showpiece Bistecca di Brontosaur, charred over charcoal and presented whole for a moment of tableside theatre. New Year’s Eve continues the occasion with an early four-course menu (HKD 1,288) and a later five-course feast (HKD 2,488) set against Victoria Harbour, Champagne poured as the fireworks take the stage. Running through the season is a dedicated white Alba truffle menu, a luxurious nod to winter, with dishes such as Pici Cacio e Pepe and smoked Italian eggs finished with shaved truffle at the table.
Carna, 33/F Mondrian Hong Kong, 9 Izumi Street, Tsim Sha Tsui
Intervals Sky Bar and Restaurant
Airports are rarely associated with lingering, but Intervals Sky Bar and Restaurant at Hong Kong International Airport makes a convincing case this festive season. Its new Four-Hands Wanderlust Menu, created with Disciples Escoffier Hong Kong, brings together Chef Florian Muller of The Park Lane Hong Kong and Chef Jerry Poon of Plaza Premium Group in an unusually elegant terminal collaboration. Served on the Sky Bridge with expansive runway views, the menu treats the pre-flight window as an occasion rather than an afterthought. French classics are handled with restraint and confidence, from pâté en croûte and bouillabaisse rigatoni to Australian beef tenderloin with foie gras, balanced by lighter plates such as grilled mackerel or chanterelle tortellini. Desserts are refined and seasonal, avoiding excess. Priced at HKD 258 for three courses or HKD 278 for four, the menu is available from 8 December through to the end of January, offering travellers a composed moment before departure and, for those heading off for Christmas, a quietly celebratory way to begin the journey.
Intervals Sky Bar and Restaurant, Level 9, Sky Bridge, Hong Kong International Airport
(Access via escalators between Gates 12 and 24)
Salon Lanson
Lanson Place Causeway Bay marks its second Christmas since reopening with a festive programme centred on Salon Lanson’s polished, contemporary cooking. The Holiday Set lunch (HKD 450 per person) runs throughout December with winter dishes such as sous vide turkey breast, pan-fried French pollock and beetroot gnocchi with butternut squash and hazelnuts. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day introduce the Jazzy Christmas Dinner (HKD 1,180 per person), a five-course evening set to live jazz, featuring plates from Balik salmon and caviar to A4 Japanese wagyu ribeye. The semi-buffet Holiday Brunch returns from 25 to 28 December and on New Year’s Day (HKD 560 per person), while New Year’s Eve is marked by a five-course dinner (HKD 1,450 per person) with dishes including otoro tartare and classic bouillabaisse. Campari-led cocktails run through the month, and whole roast turkeys and celebration cakes are available for takeaway.
Salon Lanson, Lanson Place Causeway Bay, 133 Leighton Road
Emmer Pizzeria
Christmas at Emmer Pizzeria is for those who want something festive without committing to silver service. Throughout December, the kitchen turns out a small run of seasonal specials that dress its emmer-grain pizzas in winter finery. The Festive Crown (HK$188) is the obvious centrepiece: pepperoni, aged parmesan and caciocavallo arranged beneath a wreath of crisp kale that manages to be playful without tipping into novelty. A burrata and Brussels sprouts dish (HK$138), sharpened with cranberries and hazelnuts, provides balance, while dessert takes an Italian turn with a pandoro soaked in Negroni, layered with mascarpone and candied orange. Available at both the Landmark Atrium and Pacific Place this is indulgent pizza for Christmas, best enjoyed with a glass in hand and no expectations of formality.
Emmer Pizzeria, Shop 217A, 2/F, The Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central; Emmer Pizzeria & Café, Level 4, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
LALA Hong Kong
LALA leans into the season with a modern French style defined by Chef Franckelie Laloum (previously of one-MICHELIN-starred Louise) and co-founder Michael Larkin. The festive lunch menu (HKD 358 per person) brings technique-driven dishes and daily-changing specials, with optional favourites such as Pâté en Croute, Beef Tenderloin Tartare and Red Wine Braised Wagyu Cheek. Weekend brunch (HKD 528 per person), also served on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, showcases LALA’s signature touch through plates like Citrus Marinated Hamachi, Smoked Trout with Scrambled Eggs and the much-loved Poulet Jaune with Koshihikari Rice. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day introduce a curated five-course menu (HKD 1,488 per person), beginning with Cadoret oysters before moving to dishes such as French black truffle with lettuce and beans, warm potato blinis with smoked trout and caviar and the restaurant’s signature shared Poulet Jaune. This year also marks the debut of LALA’s takeaway celebration cakes, including whole versions of Paris Brest, St Honore and Calamansi Cake.
LALA Hong Kong, 29 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
