7 restaurants for a dream Christmas

Christmas is all about the magic of lights, the warmth of reunions and, of course, the wonder of taste buds. This year, why not swap the stove for an exceptional table and celebrate Christmas Eve in an enchanting setting? Whether you're dreaming of a gourmet dinner in a top-of-the-range restaurant or a hearty feast in a fairytale setting, these seven addresses promise to make your Christmas extra special. Treat yourself to a timeless moment, where every detail - from the refined dishes to the sparkling decorations - contributes to an unforgettable experience.

Rosmadec Le Moulin, Pont-Aven

Rosmadec Le Moulin (3 toques) is a historic restaurant in Brittany. Located in the small commune of Pont-Aven, the establishment offers an enchanting setting in this magnificent 15th-century mill, between the old stonework, the luminous veranda and the pretty terrace on the banks of the Aven. In the kitchen, Sébastien Martinez composes with local flavors, always adding plenty of color to the plate, a nod to this city of painters, notably Paul Gauguin. For Christmas, the chef has created a menu available on the evening of December 24, and for lunch on December 25: Mises en bouche de fêtes ; Saint-Jacques de Brest et caviar ; Champignons du Finistère et foie gras ; Bar de ligne de Concarneau et topinambour ; Blue lobster from our coasts and ribot milk; Truffled poultry from Moëlan-sur-Mer; Truffled Brillat-Savarin; Revisited Yule logs and mignardises.

• Where to find us Rosmadec le Moulin, Venelle de Rosmadec, 29930 Pont-Aven
• Christmas menu at 160 euros per person excluding drinks; wine and food pairing at 110 euros

L'Epicure, Paris

Arnaud Faye is about to celebrate his first Christmas at Le Bristol, Paris. At the L'Epicure restaurant (4 toques), the chef will be offering an exceptional menu on the evening of the 24th, of which the following is a sample: Langoustine tartare, imperial caviar and yuzu cream; Monarch celeriac risotto, rice infusion with black truffle and lovage; Roasted scallops from the Baie de Seine, sand carrots with sea urchin and yellow wine; Sole, shellfish, cression and combava emulsionné au combava; Bresse poultry two-cooked, braised vegetables with black truffle and Albufera sauce; Camembert aérien and Calvados apple; Snowflake meringue, citrus granita; Christmas bauble, chocolate emulsion and black truffle ice cream.

• Where to eat Epicure, Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
• Christmas menu at 980 euros per person

Le Cèdre de Moncaud, Sabran

Matthieu Hervé, chef at Le Cèdre de Moncaud (2 toques) in Sabran, seems determined to give you a dream Christmas with a more than tempting menu. The restaurant, located within the Château de Moncaud, about 45 minutes from Avignon, is concocting a festive menu, from amuse-bouches to dessert, offered exclusively for lunch and dinner on December 25. On the menu: Amuse-bouche; Terrine of foie gras marbled with mulled wine, spiced conig chutney; Pithiviers of scallops with truffles, Jerusalem artichokes and hazelnuts; Supreme of capon, Kabocha squash, braised leg and Cévennes sweet onions; Mandarin, maple and walnut; Mignardises.

• Where to find us Le Cèdre de Moncaud, Château de Moncaud, 30200 Sabran
• Christmas menu, available on the 25th for lunch and dinner, 88 euros per person, excluding drinks

Auberge du Pont, Pont-du-Château

Christelle and Rodolphe Regnauld, who run the Auberge du Pont (3 toques) in Pont-du-Château, Puy-de-Dôme, have created a magical menu for Christmas. For this gourmet moment, to be shared with your loved ones, the chef proposes a menu featuring his finest products to ensure you spend an unforgettable moment. On the menu: Mises en bouche ; Saint-Jacques de côtes bretonnes, topinambours, citrus and kalamansi sabayon ; Lieu jaune ikéjimé des côtes bretonnes roasted in butter, leeks, buckwheat, Sturia caviar cream ; Duo of filet mignon and sweetbreads, vegetables and black truffle jus; truffled Comtesse de Vichy; Clementine freshness; Balance between Valrhona Jivara milky chocolate and passion fruit.

• Where to find us Auberge du Pont, 70 avenue du Dr Besserve, 63430 Pont-du-Château
• Christmas menu at 130 euros excluding drinks / 190 euros with wine selection

Château de Courcelles, Reims

For Christmas Eve on December 24, and lunch on December 25, Massimiliano Sena has pulled out all the stops. The chef at Château de Courcelles has created a festive menu. To celebrate the end of the year in style, he will be offering : Gillardeau n°3 oyster, mojito gel and passion fruit; Duck foie gras, truffle brioche bread, raspberries, salty finger; Normandy scallops, Jerusalem artichoke and pomegranate; Turbot with champagne sauce; Capon flambé, rosemary, chestnuts and château honey; Brillat-Savarin with truffle and Piedmont hazelnuts; Panettone by chef Sena; Chariot of Yule logs.

• Where to find us Château de Courcelles, 8 rue du Château, 02220 Courcelles-sur-Vesle
• Christmas menu, available December 24 for dinner and December 25 for lunch, 150 euros per person, excluding drinks.

Lucas Carton, Paris

Hugo Bourny, chef at Lucas Carton (3 toques) in Paris, is pulling out all the stops for the festive season. For dinner on December 24, the chef has devised an 8-course menu, featuring squash and bottarga, Brittany crab and caviar, scallops with mushrooms and truffle, venison Pithiviers with smoked pepper, and a chestnut and sudachi dessert. For lunch on the 25th, the menu is reduced to 6 courses, featuring the same recipes as the day before. There's something for everyone!

• Where to eat? Lucas Carton, 9 place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris
• December 24 menu at 350 euros per person / 550 euros with wine pairing
• December 25 menu at 250 euros per person / 400 euros with food and wine pairing

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Domaine Le Mezo, Ploeren

The Domaine Le Mezo in Ploeren is a magnificent place, which notably hosted the Gault&Millau Tour de Bretagne in 2024. The establishment, which offers a number of rooms and several catering options, is getting into the festive spirit and has come up with two original events to celebrate Christmas. The first is a musical dinner, to be held on December 24, with the group Acoustic Session (jazz pop) and a 4-course menu: Pan-fried foie gras, mushroom consommé, honey-lemon roasted turnip; Soft-steamed lean, Berligou emulsion; Venison and black truffle Pithiviers, pumpkin, celery and red wine sauce; Mezo Mont-Blanc log.

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On the 25th, a grand Christmas brunch with smoked trout bagel; Pâté en croûte de gibier; Plateau d'huîtres et langoustines; Pokebowl au homard; Quenelle de brochet à la truffe noire; as well as hot and cold drinks (with or without alcohol) and live music.

• Where to find us Domaine Le Mezo, 127 Le Mezo D, 56880 Ploeren
• December 24 menu at 210 euros per person (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included, plus hot drinks and champagne)
• Christmas brunch at 150 euros per person