The excitement of Christmas is upon us and as London prepares for another year of jubilance and thrills, Chinatown London welcomes visitors to discover the variety of restaurants, bars, karaoke hang outs and hidden gems. The very definition of a good time.

Located in the heart of the West End, Chinatown London is a stone’s throw away from the dazzling lights of Covent Garden, Soho and Carnaby Street – making the perfect place to recharge and warm up with tantalising dishes, cocktails and cosy corners.

Embrace the season in Chinatown London with vibrant feasts and joyful experiences across the destination. Be captivated by exciting flavours and immerse yourself in ESEA culture for a celebration with a difference. We’ve rounded up the best spots to dine, enjoy and shop this Christmas time.

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An ESEA feast with all the trimmings
For an alternative Christmas meal, head to Chinatown London for an abundance of global cuisines. Explore East and Southeast Asian flavour fusions and discover unique delicacies from traditional recipes to modern innovations. Swap roast potatoes for crispy wontons, gravy for moreish laksa and ditch the cranberry sauce for lashings of spicy sambal.
Savour a Malaysian spread of heat and unexpected flavour at Rasa Sayang (Macclesfield St, W1D 6AY) and opt for Nasi Lemak (Malaysia’s national dish) – a hearty serving of coconut rice, chicken curry, crispy anchovies and peanuts.
For something lighter, enjoy fragrant and vibrant Vietnamese dishes at Viet Food (Wardour St, W1D 6QT). Delve into a steamy bowl of Pho, crunch into fresh prawn Summer rolls and tuck into crispy coconut calamari.
For a dim sum feast, award winning restaurant Tao Tao Ju (Lisle St, WC2H 7BE), serves delicious Cantonese and Sichuan delights presented with polish and finesse. Order a selection of juicy dumplings, cheung fun and finish with sweet egg yolk custard tarts.
Not a fan of turkey? The Eight (Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6LZ) serves up succulent Cantonese roast meats including Char Sui pork and crispy pork belly. Deliciously complimented with the signature Volcano Eggs and the BBQ rice.
Feel merry and bright with craft cocktails
Step into one of Chinatown’s secret bars and sip on an array of expertly crafted cocktails and mocktails, sure to get you in the festive spirit. Whether your drink of choice is a classic negroni, bubbles or perhaps something a little more show-stopping complete with dry ice.
Experimental Cocktail Club (Gerrard St, W1D 5PS) is nestled above the glowing lanterns of Chinatown. The bar has recently relaunched with a full reimagining of its interiors, since first opening 15 years ago. Walk through an unassuming door and head upstairs to explore the alchemic menu, and if you’re looking for live music, enjoy their new music programme for those with eclectic taste. From mid-week acoustics to smooth grooves. Electro house to rock ‘n’ roll.
Inspired by 1920’s Shanghai, Opium (Gerrard St, W1D 6JE) is divided across two floors with three different bars each with secret rooms and discrete nooks. Best for theatrical serves and lux speakeasy vibes.
Head down to the basement at Noodle & Beer (Wardour St, W1D 6PR), and you’ll find yourself in the chicest underground bar in the West End. With all-red interiors, from velvet chairs to the vibrant back-lit cocktail bar. Open until 4am on Wednesday to Saturday.
W London (Wardour St, W1D 6QF) welcomes non-guests to The Perception bar. Inspired by the personality, passion and playfulness of London – this bar is the life of the party. With regular live DJ sets and colourful cocktails to enjoy all night long.
Tis the season to be jolly, together!
Grab your mates for an evening of fun and entertainment. Don’t just fill your belly, sing your heart out or get together for some friendly competition.
A late-night destination, Speedboat Bar (Rupert St, W1D 6DL) is open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, featuring a central bar, pool table and eclectic Thai pop and rock beats. Grab the cues, pot a few and slurp down a Singha beer tower.
Swap carols and crackers for K-Pop and tongs, and head to Pochawa Grill (Wardour St, W1D 6PS) for traditional Korean BBQ. Tuck into platters of succulent, marinated meats and for afters head down to the karaoke room and sing your heart out and cheers with a Soju – or two.
Looking for Afternoon Tea with a difference? Golden Phoenix (Gerrard St, W1D 5QB) has introduced a luxury dim sum afternoon tea, available for one and for two people. Complete with gold leaf caviar, steamed crab roe prawn dumplings and decorative swan-shaped pastries. Add on bubbles for that extra special touch.
For something a little more playful, Razor (Charing Cross Rd (WC2H 7PZ), is a gaming hub that promises a truly immersive gaming and shopping experience. Experiment in the playtest area, where you can try the latest products in-game with multiplayer player console stations and a LAN area with ten battle stations.
For gifts that keep on giving
If you want to avoid busy shopping malls and high streets, there are a number of retail stores across the destination where you’re sure to find the perfect gift – even for the most difficult recipient. For the foodie, the self-care guru or the trend seeker, there’s something for everyone.
Wander the aisles of the area’s specialist supermarkets and pick-up tasty stocking fillers such as chilli oil, curry paste and sweet treats. Stop by Oseyo (Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0NE) and grab a selection of Tik Tok favourite, Buldak ramyun noodles.
For kids (big and small) Pop Mart (Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6NF) and Miniso (Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6NE) are both treasure troves for plush toys, accessories and figurines of popular characters such as Hello Kitty and the ever-popular Labubu dolls.
If they like to get crafty or they’ve always got their nose inside a book, Guanghwa Bookshop is a literary haven for beautiful coffee-table worthy art books and Chinese language learning aids.
For pamper presents, independent cosmetic and beauty store P2Bus imports a selection of over 300 quality Asian skincare, make-up, hair and oral care brands – as well as quirky health snacks.

Explore Chinatown London this Christmas and stay tuned to Chinatown London’s (TikTok, Instagram and Facebook) social media platforms.