Some restaurants are just perfect for winter months, and The Ivy Northcote Road Brasserie is one of them. The new site only opened in late September, yet it’s already functioning like a neighbourhood institution – permanently busy, reliably indulgent, and wrapped in just enough festive glamour to make a dark winter evening feel celebratory.

Walking in, you’re greeted by a floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree – a full theatrical production of lights, baubles and gold – before being ushered into a dining room that looks almost purpose-built for the season. Velvet cushions, botanical wallpaper, candlelit tables, and the signature Ivy glow: it’s maximalist, but comforting. And crucially, the food lives up to the setting.

The new festive menu: What to expect

Aside from their usual à la carte menu (and a few other special ones), The Ivy now offers its exclusive Christmas set menu, available from the 12th of November until the 31st of December. This festive menu is generous, filling, and full of heart- and belly-warming winter dishes. You can choose between 2 courses for £55, or 3 courses for £60. Mains include a side dish, and drinks are charged separately.

Below is everything we tried:

The starters

There’s no gentle introduction to the French onion soup we started with – this arrives absolutely scorching, but in the best possible way. It’s the perfect soup for cold weather: deep, savoury broth; properly softened onions; and a lid of melted cheese thick enough that you actually have to break into it. It comes in a traditional handled bowl, and it might just be one of the cheesiest, most comforting versions we have tried.

We also tried the tamarind beetroot and endive salad, which is a completely different mood. This is bright, fresh and surprisingly layered, with generous slices of beetroot and red chicory resting on a velvety pool of plant-based cream. It’s lighter, sharper, and beautifully balanced. If you’re vegan, this is your starter; if not, the French soup is definitely the star.

The mains

We then moved to the lentil and aubergine bake, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Instead of the classic lentil loaf with purée on the side, the entire dish comes as a compact, deeply flavoured stack sitting in a rich spiced tomato sauce, with pumpkin purée baked on top. The texture is soft but not mushy, the seasoning is generous, and the portion is genuinely filling. It feels warming and somehow quite luxurious, even without the usual Christmas trimmings.

The sides weren’t particularly inventive (and could use more seasoning) but our highlight was the Brussels sprouts: glossy, creamy, and covered in a generous spoonful of dried cranberries. They taste like Christmas in a bowl.

The desserts

There are a LOT of options for pudding. We opted for the Christmas Crème Brûlée, which was silky as satin, properly done. The caramel top has a satisfyingly firm crack, the custard underneath is smooth and not too sweet, and the winter berry compote on the side lifts it beautifully. The “buttery shortbread” is actually more like a crisp sugar cookie – not traditional, but still enjoyable

We also tried the Classic Christmas Pudding: very traditional, very dense, very generous – exactly what a Christmas pudding should be. You’ll be treated to a live show when the server heats up the brandy in a small metal pot tableside with a brûlée torch, before pouring it over the pudding. The redcurrants add a sharp, fresh contrast, and while we’d have happily taken even more vanilla custard, that’s more about personal ratios than any fault of the dish.

The drinks and cocktails

We stayed with red wine on this visit, but the festive cocktails deserve a mention. Among many others is the Snowman Colada – rum, coconut, pineapple, mango chai and chantilly – basically a tropical Christmas in cocktail form, ideal if you’re mentally packing for a January holiday in Mexico. There’s also Santa Baby, made with Ketel One, spiced berry sparkling wine, cotton candy, and a tiny upside-down Santa figurine buried in the cotton candy snow. Alcohol-free options are available too.

A classic Ivy atmosphere and design

The Ivy knows exactly how to build a mood, and this new location leans fully into it. The room is drenched in warm lighting, framed by towering palms and that opulent gold ceiling, with huge illustrated panels lining the walls. It’s busy and it can get loud, but the energy suits the occasion.

We visited mid-week expecting a quieter service and still had a short wait for our table, which says everything about demand. Service is warm, but the restaurant is clearly still in its classic teething phase, adjusting to the volume. Still, once you’re seated, the atmosphere feels immersive and indulgent enough that you aren’t too bothered about the wait.

If you’re after a Christmas dinner with friends, a family catch-up, or a festive date night that feels celebratory, this is an excellent choice.

Key details

• Location: The Ivy Northcote Road Brasserie, 31-37 Northcote Rd, London SW11 1NJ
• Christmas Set Menu: £55 for 2 courses / £60 for 3
• Dates: 12 November – 31 December
• Booking: Available here
• Good to know: Louder atmosphere; large, generous portions; great for group celebrations

See also:

Review – The Broadcaster: The ultimate cozy night out with live music

DIY-not? The best food and drink to build your own Christmas hamper

A new stage for Amazing Grace: the live music bar is opening soon in Canary Wharf