Top Picks for Christmas Meals: The Georg, The Local, and More

We've put together a pretty comprehensive list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, but how do you actually choose which one to go to? To help you out, I've chosen a few of my favorite restaurants, which are sure to offer a festive (and delicious) experience. Happy holidays!

The Georg
The Georg, possibly the most exciting fine dining opening of the past few years, would be a fantastic spot for a special Christmas dinner. I finally made it by for dinner the other night (a dish from that menu is pictured above) and the Nordic-inspired cuisine is a delight. The special Christmas menu includes dishes such as "Jerusalem artichoke, apple, baby shirmp" and "duck, red cabbage, browned potatoes" – trust me when I say the descriptions do not do them justice. The menu is RMB 788 per person, plus the same for wine. The cozy bar/lobby is a fantastic space for a pre- or post-dinner drink, with its double-height loft-style ceiling, leather sofas, and modern fire places.

The Local
The Local have really stepped up their game when it comes to food over the past year, to the point where it's a pretty legitimate spot for dinner, not just drinks (TBJ even had our Christmas dinner there). They have two options for Christmas dinner, either a per person set menu (RMB 328) or a family-style feast for six to eight people (RMB 1,800, RMB 800 deposit required by the end of today, Dec 22). Both menus feature roast turkey and all the trimmings, including sage stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, brown butter mashed potatoes, harvest gnocchi (made with sweet potato, highly recommended), and vanilla-bourbon carrots.

Mosto
Mosto's three-course Christmas brunch (RMB 168) looks to me like the perfect cure for a Christmas Eve hangover. The menu is also more brunchy than Christmas (i.e. no turkey) so it's good for all you scrooges out there. Get the eggs benedict, pumpkin ravioli, and warm apple pie. In the grand tradition of boozy Beijing Christmas brunches, you can add two hours of free-flow sparkling, white, and red wine, bellinis, and mimosas for RMB 158.

The Brickyard
It doesn't look like Beijing will be getting a white Christmas this year, but getting out into the mountains is probably your best chance for both snow AND clear air, so head up to The Brickyard at Mutianyu where they will be putting on live jazz music in the lodge along with a buffet of festive favorites such as cassoulet, roast beef, and Christmas cake. Many of their ingredients are grown or sourced locally, so this is a good option for conscious dinners. Since you've made the journey up I'd suggest staying the night – read more about my recent staycation here. 

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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