Top 10 Best Set Menus in London for December
December rarely offers the luxury of time. Between school concerts, end-of-term chaos and the slow slide into holiday mode, most meals out have to sit neatly between two commitments. A great set menu is the answer: predictable pricing, seasonal cooking and the kind of ease that lets you actually enjoy the people you’re with.
Here are ten of the best set menus in London this December, from pre-theatre suppers with the kids to grown-up lunches worth booking childcare for.
Best for: post Christmas shopping, theatre trips and relaxed glamour
Brasserie Zédel delivers the kind of value you assume no longer exists in central London. The classic French set menu is comforting and speedy, served in a grand dining room that charms children and adults alike. Ideal before a Christmas show or as an early family supper that leaves everyone happy.
• Price: £16.95 for two courses, £19.75 for three
• Where: Piccadilly Circus, W1
Best for: modern Indian at Battersea Power Station, stylish lunch that still works around nap time
Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea’s set lunch is one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Expect vibrant plates like Rajasthani spiced tandoori paneer, tikka chicken thighs with Kashmiri chilli, and baked bream with tamarind sauce and steamed rice. Finish with carrot halwa or ginger toffee pudding before a wander around the Power Station.
• Price: £24 for two courses, £27.50 for three
• Where: 4 Arches Lane, SW11
3. Noble Rot
Best for: long lunches, great wine, seasonal cooking that never misses
Noble Rot’s daily-changing set lunch is one of the city’s most impressive. Goose and pork rillettes, braised chicken leg with pearl barley and green sauce, and buttermilk pudding with PX raisins all make an appearance — backed by thoughtful wine recommendations. A perfect slow December lunch.
• Price: £24 for two courses, £28 for three
• Where: Soho, Mayfair, Holborn
Best for: unfussy Italian, family suppers, weekend shopping trips
Angela Hartnett’s neighbourhood restaurants deliver some of the most reliable Italian cooking in London. Fresh pasta, warm service and a calm, grown-up dining room that still works with children in tow. Ideal for a comforting, consistent meal before or after a show or shopping trip.
• Price: From £25 for two courses
•Where: Marylebone, Covent Garden & Bermondsey
Best for: relaxed lunches, classic comfort, winter-friendly plates
Fire & Wine serves a seasonal, cosy set menu with small plates like Jerusalem artichoke with macadamia or pork belly with pecorino, followed by heartier dishes such as a venison burger with raclette or curried cauliflower with sultanas. Dessert keeps things simple and elegant. Perfect for a slow, grounding winter lunch.
• Price: £25 for two courses, £30 for three
• Where: 23 New Quebec Street, W1
Best for: pre-theatre calm near Victoria, early dinners with children
A new favourite in Victoria, The Idler blends Mediterranean ease with seasonal British cooking. The prix fixe menu offers truffle arancini, pan-fried sea bream and chocolate tonka mousse — exceptional value moments from Wicked and Hamilton.
• Price: £28 for two courses, £38 for three
• Where: Victoria, SW1
Best for: nostalgic British comfort, East London parents, cosy weekday lunches
This chef-led menu brings together British produce and bistro classics in a warm, 45-cover room. Expect thoughtful starters, hearty mains and decadent desserts, with optional wine pairings. A quietly special midweek treat.
• Price: £29 for two courses, £39 for three
• Wine pairing: £35 (two courses), £45 (three)
• Where: 74 Luke Street, EC2A
Best for: a festive lunch before Somerset House skating
Spring’s Set Lunch is one of central London’s loveliest weekday rituals — seasonal, elegant and beautifully balanced. Salt-baked beetroot, grilled poussin and citrus-curd meringue set the tone for a gentle, thoughtful meal.
• Price: £34 for two courses, £39 for three
• Where: Somerset House, WC2
Best for: museum days, low-key festive catch-ups, a calm table in central London
Clipstone remains one of Fitzrovia’s most reliable spots. The seasonal set lunch is comforting without being heavy, perfect for long conversations or a quiet solo moment after a museum trip.
• Price: £34 for two courses, £39 for three
• Where: Fitzrovia, W1
Best for: somewhere different, lively dinners, Southeast Asian flavours
This Borough hotspot specialises in Southern Thai kolae grilling, offering vegan or fish-and-meat sharing menus full of aromatics, flame and drama. Bold, atmospheric and ideal for a rare kid-free evening in December.
• Price: £40 per person (vegan), £45 per person (fish & meat)
• Where: 6 Park Street, SE1