How Restaurants Are Bringing the Spirit of Christmas to Mumbai’s Tables

In Mumbai, Christmas is no longer confined to homes, neighbourhood bakeries or midnight mass. Over the years, Christmas menus have become an integral part of the city’s year-end dining calendar, with restaurants across formats using the season to create warmth, indulgence and a sense of togetherness. What began as a cultural nod has evolved into a citywide dining moment, where festive menus are as much about experience as they are about food.For restaurateurs and chefs, Christmas menus have come to symbolise pause, generosity and shared celebration. Chef Jyeshth Gupta of Onrique notes that Mumbai’s connection to Christmas stems from its colonial history and strong Christian communities, but today it has become “a citywide celebration of togetherness and indulgence.”Jayesh Chheda of Luuma House adds that festive menus allow restaurants to momentarily step away from everyday dining and offer guests something emotionally resonant. “In a city that thrives on cultural fusion, a Christmas menu brings warmth, nostalgia and indulgence together,” he says.Chef Amol Arora of DEA echoes this sentiment, describing Christmas as a season rooted in gathering and shared tables. “A Christmas menu allows us to honour that spirit while expressing it through our own lens,” he says.That communal feeling is also felt at legacy establishments. Faryal Singh of Eddies Cafe points out that Mumbai celebrates every festival with completeness and finesse. "Christmas brings festivity, celebration, colour, beauty & charm to the city of Mumbai & enriches its unique culture of hospitality & secularism, even further. That’s why a Christmas menu, is so very special, because it brings along a variety of recipes, that are not only delicious, timeless, unique, compliment your taste buds, but, most importantly, ring in the New Year festivities, just round the corner, with warmth, gusto & elation," says Faryal. Ayush Arora of Fountain Sizzlers notes, “Christmas is one of the most homely and warm festivals in Mumbai, as the city steps out to experience it together rather than staying indoors.”This season, chefs are moving away from predictable roasts and heavy desserts, choosing to express Christmas through flavour and technique. At Onrique, chef Jyeshth Gupta says, “We approached the menu through flavours and techniques that evoke warmth,” using ingredients like butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, mulled grapes and smoked chilli to keep things festive yet contemporary. At Luuma House, Jayesh Chheda notes that Christmas is about balance. “Festive nostalgia sits alongside modern comfort,” he says, allowing familiar flavours to be presented in a more contemporary way. At JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, the focus is on experience. “Every detail is designed to create warmth, joy and togetherness,” says Sachin Mylavarapu, highlighting how festive menus today are about atmosphere as much as food.Seasonal Comfort with European SoulAt Ode, Christmas is understated and soulful. Rooted in seasonal produce and European technique, the menu features comforting dishes like French onion soup, grilled mushroom ciabatta, herb-baked fish and a refined turkey roulade, ending with familiar festive desserts.Where: Ode, Mumbai A High-Energy Christmas CelebrationCarnival celebrates Christmas with an eight-course tasting menu on December 24 and 25, paired with live performances, festive theatrics and optional wine or cocktail pairings for an immersive evening out.Where: Carnival by Trèsind, MumbaiFestive Comfort with a Contemporary TouchMercii rolls out its limited-edition Merry at Mercii menu from December 20 to 30, featuring festive salads, sushi, comfort-forward mains, indulgent desserts and Christmas cakes ideal for gifting.Where: Mercii, MumbaiA First Christmas, Done with EleganceMarking its first festive season in the city, Fairmont Mumbai introduces The Holiday House, inspired by 1920s Art Deco glamour. Expect lavish festive feasts, signature cocktails, high tea experiences and artisanal desserts designed to celebrate Christmas with refined warmth.Where: Fairmont MumbaiFestive Flavours Through a Pasta LensAt Pomodoro, a limited-edition Holiday Menu brings festive flavours into artisanal pasta and small plates, complemented by seasonal beverages and cosy Christmas décor that transforms the Bandra space into a neighbourhood festive retreat.Where: Pomodoro, Bandra