Festive Feasts Your Ultimate Dining Guide for

The Festive Season

Not all tinsel and turkey…

Why not treat yourself to some of Cardiff’s most luxurious dining experiences this festive season in the city centre? Featuring The Parkgate Hotel, The Ivy, and Asador 44, we’ll explore their menus and seasonal offerings to make your Christmas extra special. Whichever spot you choose, you’re sure to enjoy an experience that’s both grand and relaxing.

The Parkgate Hotel

Westgate Street, Cardiff

Elevate your festive dining experience in the heart of Cardiff with this 2 AA Rosetteawarded restaurant, also proudly listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Indulge in exceptional cuisine which captures the spirit of the season, and surround yourself with exquisite decor. With lavish leather sofas and glamorous chandeliers, originally a Victorian Post Office, The Sorting Room at The Parkgate Hotel is perfectly designed to deliver a unique and luxurious experience for the festive season. Here’s what this sophisticated dining venue has in store for you.

Alongside traditional turkey and trimmings with an intricate twist, this restaurant offers a myriad of dining experiences to suit every taste, ensuring no one misses out on the festive joy!

Festive Lunch

Available from November 25 – December 24

Prices: 2 Courses £32 per person | 3 Courses £38 per person

This festive menu is designed to delight your taste buds. Explore a tempting selection of nibbles, starters, mains, and desserts, and indulge in the delectable flavours of the season. For example, for mains, choose from Baked Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast with sage and onion pork sausage, apricot pork stuffing, vegetables, herb roasted potato and jus, or even Moroccan Roasted Salmon Fillet with coriander beurre blanc, baby spinach, harissa spiced couscous, spiced lentils and green beans.

Festive Afternoon Tea

Available from November 23 – December 31

Prices: Ranges from £40-£44 per person

Perhaps the most unique and elegant experience of all is the Festive Afternoon Tea – a merry offering, unlike anything you’ve experienced before. This enchanting menu flaunts a savoury selection; finger sandwiches; delicious hand-made pastries; freshly baked scones; a speciality tea selection; and festive cocktails! Additionally, a full plant-based menu is available for those who prefer it. These festive desserts are truly unforgettable, with examples of a White Chocolate and Orange Snowball Tart, filled with toasted coconut ganache, topped with a coconut mousse snowball, or choose the Santa Macaron, with chocolate ganache and salted caramel inside a red macaron.

The Parkgate Hotel also offers Christmas Day Lunch; Seasonal Sunday Lunch; and Boxing Day Lunch.

Find out more: https://www.theparkgatehotel.wales/ home/christmas/festive-dining/

The Ivy Cardiff

69/70 St David’s, St David’s Centre, Cardiff

This stunningly elegant, all-day dining spot offers a magnificent escape from the bustling energy of the city centre. In addition to the main dining area, featuring elegant Art-Deco touches and bold burnt orange banquettes, there’s a spectacular bar on the first floor set beneath a breathtaking blossom tree. This festive season, The Ivy Cardiff is pulling out all the stops, transforming the charming restaurant with festive blooms, alpine scenes, and a touch of magic. Enjoy live music, joyful feasting, and lively celebrations – perhaps even a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself, so have those Christmas wish lists ready!

The Ivy Cardiff ensures that it stands out, offering expansive menus filled with a wide variety of options that will effortlessly satisfy any guest. They feature a Festive Menu, a Festive Breakfast Special, an All-Day Menu, and a Boxing Day Brunch Menu.

Festive Set Menu

Available from November 13 – January 2

Prices: 2 Courses £50 | 3 Courses £55

The Ivy’s Festive Menu, available as a two or three-course option complete with cheerful Christmas crackers, offers an abundant selection of starters, mains, sides, and desserts to make your meal a truly special experience this season. This menu offers every dish you could wish for this time of year, with highlights like the Turkey Ballotine among the mains, including apricot, apple and cranberry stuffing, sausage wrapped in bacon, Brussels sprouts and parsley mash, red onion and cranberry chutney and a creamy truffled sauce. If you would prefer an earlier start, why not try their Festive Breakfast Special at £17.95 per person?

You could even extend the celebrations with the all-day Boxing Day Brunch Menu at £34.95 each, whether you’re enjoying the festive sales or recovering from the big day, treat yourself to a moreish brunch, paired with superb Bloody Marys.

The Ivy Cardiff also offers an expansive Festive All-Day Menu, Private Dining & Events, and much more!

Find out more: https://ivycollection.com/christmas2/

Asador 44 Cardiff

14-15 Quay Street, Cardiff

Nestled in a charming, historic red-brick building with warm wooden decor and intimate lighting, this deluxe Spanish restaurant provides a distinct alternative to the season’s usual celebrations. With a focus on cooking over a fire, an extensive wine list, and an impressive display of meats hanging in cooling fridges along the back wall, this rustically chic MICHELIN Guide restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience for everyone. Settle into cosy, studded leather chairs and admire the mosaic-patterned light fixtures for an even deeper sensory experience.

If you’re desiring a break from traditional treats, look no further than Asador 44’s Christmas Party Menu, along with a delicious Vegetarian Christmas Menu, ensuring everyone can join in the fun.

Christmas Party Menu

Prices: £58 per person

With a rich array of options for each course, revel in the irresistible Spanish spin that Asador 44 brings to this joyous time of year. Instead of traditional turkey, Asador 44’s mains include an Ex-dairy Sirloin from Spanish cattle, beef and rioja sauce, with a side of seasonal vegetables and Jamon fat roast potatoes.

Vegetarian Christmas Menu

Prices: £41.50 per person

No matter your preferences, this spot ensures everyone feels welcomed with its Vegetarian Christmas Menu. This menu is as indulgent as the rest, offering luxurious options for example, onion croqueta with piquillo ketchup and charcoal roast celeriac, walnut, greens and gravy.

Find out more: https://grupo44.co.uk/asador44/ menus

So go on, celebrate this season with a taste of Cardiff!