Brilliant festive menus to tuck into this winter

THE lights are officially on, markets are open, Winter Wonderland is already buzzing, and Cardiff has stepped straight into Christmas.

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Restaurants all over the city are also rolling out Yuletide menus filled with winter flavours and seasonal favourites perfect for a Christmas get-together.

Expect the finest tender turkey ballotines, smoked salmon, and baked Camembert paired with bright cranberries.

If you’re plotting your next outing, here's a shortlist of spots worth booking when you want a glass of fizz and food which fits the holiday mood.

The city's swankiest hangout, The Ivy Cardiff, has already launched its 2025 Christmas Showcase menu featuring Yuletide classics and wintry cocktails.

The festive set menu keeps things streamlined with warming French onion soup, duck liver parfait with cranberry chutney, or a tamarind beetroot and endive salad to start.

Mains range from turkey ballotine with apricot and cranberry, to pan-fried sea bass in wild mushroom sauce, plus a lentil and aubergine bake for a plant-based option. Desserts stay classic with flambéed Christmas pudding, the playful Ivy Santa parfait, and the signature chocolate bombe, which is popular with diners.

Across the menus, the kitchen focuses on ingredients which define the season with cranberries, chestnuts, truffles, caviar and champagne accents used with restraint.

The festive à la carte menu offers plenty of choice. Highlights include a lobster and cheese souffle baked until light and rich, and a chicken bourguignon layered with smoked pancetta, chestnut mushrooms, and a deep red wine sauce.

Kick-start your day with a festive breakfast featuring scrambled eggs, pigs in blankets, rosti, and cranberry ketchup paired with seasonal pastries.

A vegetarian version keeps the spirit intact and drinks like a pomegranate-and-spiced-pear Bellini are a strong start to your morning.

Drinks-wise, Nyetimber leads the sparkling options with a refined English fizz. Wild Idol offers a nonalcoholic alternative in white or rose available by the glass, bottle, or magnum.