Please note that bookings are essential and all establishments can be contacted for more info.
Cape Town
Cavalli Restaurant, Somerset West
For the first time ever, Cavalli Restaurant will open its doors for a festive six-course dinner on Christmas Eve. Set on the Cavalli wine estate in Somerset West, the restaurant offers magnificent views of the Helderberg mountain range and overlooks their picturesque waterside. Menu highlights include gin cured Franschhoek trout, grass-fed beef fillet with lentil and oxtail ragout, variations of carrot and bone marrow crumble and a taste of Christmas in the form of dessert.
Price: R850 pp
Time: 12:00 – 15:00
(Image: Cavalli website)
Reubens, V&A Waterfront
If you’re looking to splurge on an all-you-can-eat buffet, Reuben’s at the One&Only is the place to be. They’re offering both a Christmas day lunch and Christmas eve dinner buffet which will be accompanied by live music. Thai coconut calamari curry, roast leg of Karoo lamb, a salad bar and desserts like Christmas macaroons, mince pies and white chocolate cake are some of the culinary delights you can expect at lunch. The dinner options are slightly similar to the lunch with some welcome additions like Sri Lankan red chicken curry, Siu Yuk pork belly, brandied chocolate-cherry cake, candied fruit cupcakes and more. Both offers include a glass of welcome bubbly and Christmas crackers.
Price: R1450 pp lunch from 12:30 to 15:00 | R1450 pp Christmas eve dinner from 18:30 to 22:00
Foxcroft, Constantia
Foxcroft, established Spanish tapas restaurant serving light and lively dishes and sibling to La Colombe needs little introduction. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they’re offering a 6-course set menu with one catch – the menu will be revealed on the respective days and we’re sure it will wow all in its company!
Price: R1200 pp lunch | R1200 dinner
La Colombe, Constantia
We’re delighted that La Colombe, one of SA’s most iconic fine dining establishments, is planning something special for Christmas. An eight-course menu is on offer for both Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day Lunch.
Price: R2000 pp lunch | R2000 pp dinner
La Mouette, Sea Point
With over 17 years of experience under their belt, Sea Point’s darling, La Mouette has a spectacular Christmas offering that runs over three days – dinner on Christmas Eve, lunch on the day and dinner on Boxing Day as well. You can look forward to seared tuna with black garlic mayonnaise, roasted pineapple and miso dressing, herb gnocchi, A Cape Malay style dessert and Christmas petit fours.
Price: all events are R850 pp each and R1450 with wine
(Image: La Mouette website)
Seelan Restaurant and Bar, V&A Waterfront
At Seelan’s, the V&A’s Mediterranean-style, harbour-facing eatery, a homemade Christmas punch on arrival kicks off their Christmas lunch buffet. Expect prawn cocktails and beetroot feta salad (among others) for starters. For mains, you can choose 3 of the options – roast lamb, turkey, spinach, Ricotta and wild mushroom Cannelloni and baked salmon all served with roast vegetables. For dessert, there’s fruit mince pies, trifle and much more.
Price: R500 pp
Time: seating starts at 11:30
Durban
The Grill Room, The Oyster Box Hotel
If you’re looking to splurge and go all out without any of the hassles of cooking, The Oyster Box has pulled out all the stops with each of their 3 dining venues having planned something festive, respectively. The festivities kick off on Christmas Eve with a dinner in The Grill Room. Sparkling wine and macaroons, served in the Palm Court, set the tone for the rest of the evening where guests will luxuriate in a 6-course meal.
On Christmas day The Grill Room offers an impressive 8-course festive meal. This will feature an array of succulent roasts and seafood with the freshest seasonal accompaniments. Guests will then enjoy a French Yule log followed by a cheese platter and then, finally, home-baked pies with hazelnut coffee.
To see the full menus go here
Price: R2200 per person Grill Room Christmas Eve Dinner | R2200 pp Ocean Terrace Christmas lunch buffet | R 2200 pp Pearl Room Christmas lunch buffet | R2500 Grill Room Christmas lunch
Time: Christmas Eve dinner 19:00 | All lunches 12:00 for 12:30
(Image: The Oyster Box Hotel website)
Moyo, uShaka
Moyo prides itself on embodying Africa’s finest urban cuisines, giving visitors a taste of the continent and also appealing to the locals by offering classic South African favourites with a twist. Christmas this year at Moyos will be no different and will be celebrated in true African style. They’re offering a lunch buffet feast where guests will share starters at their table and then move on to indulging in the rest of the buffet – smoked paprika carvery, pesto rubbed brisket, roasted turkey, gammon and mixed berry trifle and malva pudding with créme Anglaise and mini fruitcakes on the dessert side. Welcome drinks are included and guests will be entertained by live music throughout.
Price: R365 pp adults | R185 kids (between the ages of 4 and 6, those 3 and under eat free!)
Time: 12:00 – 16:00
Vascos, Hilton Hotel
Vascos, at the prestigious Hilton hotel, is also one of the restaurants offering both a Christmas Eve buffet and a Christmas lunch buffet on the day. At the Christmas Eve buffet, nine stations will be set for you to choose from and eat to your heart’s content. You can look forward to hot and cold starters, oven-roasted beef prime rib, tandoori turkey breast, a selection of freshly baked bread, lamb Khadai, a pasta station and desserts like mango brûlées, a duo of chocolate mousse and so much more.
At the Christmas day lunch buffet, you can expect a buffet set up with a build-your-own salad bar, calamari ceviche, traditional Christmas desserts and more.
Price: R365 pp Christmas Eve buffet | R650 pp Christmas lunch buffet
Butcher Boys, Umhlanga
Butcher Boy’s neutrally-coloured, beige and brown interior will be jazzed up with red and green Christmas hats and crackers to set the tone for the festive feast that awaits. A three-course lunch menu on Christmas day with options to delight young and old is on offer. For starters, you have a choice between Roquefort salad, Greek salad, chorizo chicken livers, chilli de Carne or calamari. Moving on to mains – roast sirloin and traditional gammon served with herb roasted potatoes, butternut, minted peas, pilaf rice and a rich brown gravy. Finally, you can end off your meal with a rich, chocolate lava pudding and ice cream sugar cones.
Price: R420 pp while children under 12 will only have to pay R120
Johannesburg
Flames, Westcliff
This spot’s expansive hillside terrace overlooks the city’s lush treetops, making it the ultimate place to go and unwind on Christmas day. Embracing their surroundings, this restaurant features an urban-casual menu prepared in their outdoor braai kitchen. For Christmas this year they have a brunch plus a family-style dinner buffet special.
Price: R1200 pp dinner | R1450 pp brunch
Amuse-Bouche, Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
Situated just outside Sandton, surrounded by lush acres of trees and gardens – the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel’s award-winning Amuse-Bouche restaurant is a fine choice for your Christmas dinner. A full buffet is on offer with starters like oysters, herb roast lamb rack, turkey and gammon for mains. The chef’s Christmas Trifle is one of the dessert options. Their Christmas lunch buffet is already fully booked so to ensure that you get a seat at the dinner buffet, make your booking!
Price R700 pp
(Image: The Fairlawns Boutique Hotel website)
Piccolo Mondo, Sandown
This year the Piccolo Mondo is pulling out all the stops on Christmas day with both a three-course set menu and a buffet option. The set menu will include gammon, braised shoulder, Christmas pudding, hazelnut ice cream and Frangelico-whipped butter, amongst others. At the buffet section, you can expect Dullstroom smoked salmon trout with caviar, rosemary and thyme roasted leg of lamb, and desserts like sherry trifle, Christmas pudding and pecan nut pie.
Price: R615 pp set menu | R645 pp buffet
Time: 12:30 – 15:00 set menu | 12:00 – 15:00 buffet
Pretoria
Chapters Restaurant, Centurion
Chapters can be found tucked away in the lush indigenous garden of The Leriba Bush Lodge. So whether you decide to sit indoors or outside on the sunny terrace, you’ll be surrounded by undisturbed lush views. They have a three-course Christmas Day lunch menu offer with starters like a mussels and calamari cold platter, butternut and feta ravioli among the mains and traditional apple pie as one of the desserts.
Price: R395 pp
Zagora Grill Room Restaurant, Centurion
Housed in The Royal Elephant Hotel in Centurion, Zagora Restaurant and Grill room serves a fusion of North-African and international cuisine. For Christmas Day, they’re offering a lunch buffet with party favours included.
Price: R495 pp | Kids aged 6-11 pay R245
Ga Rouge Restaurant, Centurion
Set in an old farmhouse that was built in the 1800s and remains mainly unchanged today, Ga Rouge is pretty much a heritage site.Even though they’re closed on Christmas day, you can still go and take advantage of their Christmas Eve lunch buffet – a three-course meal with a range of starters, meats, veggies and over 10 different kinds of dessert.
Price: R265 pp | Kids 5-11 R85 | Kids under 5 eat for free
LeSi SignatureRestaurant, Menlyn
The Tuscan-themed setting at Lesi Restaurant makes it ideal for couples wanting to celebrate Christmas together. Their three-course menu features an array of starters (a selection of cold meats and salads) the main course (leg of lamb, gammon, honey-glazed carrot and more) and dessert (Cape brandy pudding, fruit pavlova, peppermint crisp tart and more). This offer includes a welcome drink.
Price: R395 pp | Kids aged 4-5 R197.50
Time: 12:00 – 15:00
(Image: LeSi website)
ALSO READ: The ultimate visitor’s guide to Cape Town dining for Summer 2017