Some things are better in a crowd and Christmas is one of them.
Tuck into our list of ten restaurants in Edinburgh and Glasgow which can happily accommodate large numbers of revellers.
Ghillie Dhu
Located on Rutland Place in Edinburgh’s West End, the Grade-A listed Ghillie Dhu is handy for the Christmas markets on Princes Street and the Christmas shows at both the Lyceum and, a little further away, the King’s Theatre.
Set over three floors, it has plenty of space for groups whether you choose to take a snug in the cosy ground floor pub or consider hiring the spectacular auditorium with its chandeliers and organ pipe display.
Hearty Scottish dishes made with locally sourced ingredients are at the heart of the kitchen’s offer.
If you really want to go wild, ask about their ceilidh nights. A couple of stiff drinks and a Dashing White Sergeant always help keep the cold at bay.
Get a flavour of what Ghillie Dhu is all about by booking in for lunch via 5pm and enjoying a 20% discount on the a la carte menu.
The Anchor Line
Housed in the beautifully restored booking offices of the shipping company from which it takes its name, The Anchor Line is a stunning restaurant and bar on St Vincent Place.
Featuring an elegant Art Deco interior and fascinating Anchor Line memorabilia, the restaurant is designed to evoke the glamour of the Glasgow to New York ocean voyages of the 1920s and 30s.
With private dining rooms suitable for groups of up to 40 people, the restaurant is a sumptuous venue for celebrating with friends, family or colleagues.
The American influence on The Anchor Line kitchens comes through in dishes like the smoked St Louis ribs, the burgers, the buttermilk mash and the grilled corn purée served with the seared scallops starter. At the same time, the local provenance of ingredients like the Shetland salmon and Scotch lamb is loud and clear.
Book in through 5pm Dining for offers such as £15.95 for two courses from the set menu.
Ad Lib
Once upon a time, many years ago, the building which now houses Ad Lib Merchant City was a fire station.
These days, it is a stylish American diner set on Ingram Street in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City.
Recently refurbished, the restaurant has established a reputation for serving delicious gourmet burgers along with a variety of other dishes such as steaks, salads, deli sandwiches and pasta options.
With a comfortable, open setting, Ad Lib Merchant City provides a warm and relaxed atmosphere for its usually hip and happening customers.
When booking through 5pm Dining, typical Ad Lib offers include a burger and a beer for £10.
Arisaig
Named after a beautiful village on Scotland’s West Coast, Arisaig is a smart Scottish bar and restaurant in Glasgow’s Merchant Square.
As well as a balcony – ideal for private groups – and cosy dining room, Arisaig has a cobbled terrace on the covered courtyard of the square. It is a great way for Arisaig’s guests to enjoy the finest Scottish food in an al fresco setting without having to worry about winter weather.
Refined versions of traditional Scottish recipes, often with a European tweak, help drive the popularity of Arisaig in Glasgow. The kitchen uses locally sourced, seasonal Scottish ingredients as far as is possible.
Foraged ingredients pop up all the time in their dishes and the kitchen brigade takes pride in preparing as much as they can from scratch.
Conveniently, they have a fantastic selection of Scottish gin and whisky. Perfect for a Christmas celebration.
From Big Deals on Chateaubriand steaks to late night suppers at £15 for two courses, there are lots of good reasons to book into Arisaig via 5pm Dining.
Hutchesons
Set in the heart of Glasgow’s bustling Merchant City, Hutchesons Bar & Brasserie on Ingram Street is a sumptuous reincarnation of one of Scotland’s most iconic Grade-A listed buildings, Hutchesons Hall.
From the seductive lure of The 158 Café Bar to the decadent grandeur of the Grand Brasserie, Hutchesons is a restaurant and bar like no other.
Served in the vibrant brasserie, the a la carte menu features the best of locally-sourced Scotch steaks and seafood. Signature dishes include the whole roasted monkfish tail; the half kilo T-bone; the 35-day, dry aged cote de boeuf and the Chateaubriand for two.
The Glenfarclas private dining and meeting room seats up to eighteen. It is a warm and intimate space with luscious dark panelled walls and provides the perfect backdrop to a family celebration or a dinner with colleagues.
You can book into Hutchesons via 5pm Dining.
WEST at Glasgow Green
WEST is a welcoming German beerhall and brewery in the Old Winding House, part of the Templeton Building, on Glasgow Green.
The only UK brewery to produce all of its brews in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law of 1516, WEST can be summed up by their motto ‘Glaswegian Heart. German Head’.
Decked out in wood panelling, the beerhall has a warm rustic feel. Alternatively, you could enquire about their Christmas nights in the Hop Room and the Courtyard.
The WEST menu showcases fresh, natural Scottish ingredients and traditional German cuisine, all prepared by the kitchen’s award-winning chefs.
You can book into WEST on the Green via 5pm Dining.
We also like the look of this Big Deal on a guided brewery tour with tasting, 2 courses (starter & main or main & dessert) from the market menu + WEST branded pint glass to take away. The offer is valid from early January to the beginning of March.
The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen
Set in a row of townhouses with an illustrious literary heritage, The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen is part of The Principal Edinburgh Hotel on opulent George Street.
Serving the best of the Scottish larder, it is a cosmopolitan city centre brasserie with intricate cornicing, glittering chandeliers and a chic sense of style. Thoughtfully sourced and seasonal Scottish produce drives the menu at The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen. A typical example is the partridge breast from the Borders which is served as part of the Christmas menu.
The adjacent Editor’s cocktail bar has its own bar menu and serves snacks until the early hours. It can also be hired for private parties.
Table at The Printing Press Bar and Kitchen can be booked via 5pm Dining.
Tron Bar + Kitchen
On the Trongate in the Merchant City, Tron Bar + Kitchen is linked to the Tron Theatre, one of Scotland’s leading producing and presenting theatres. An informal spot, it offers casual dining in a laidback setting.
Reclaimed timber tables and vintage lights furnish the three separate dining areas in the bar and kitchen. If you have a larger group, the Vic Bar can seat more than sixty.
Contemporary Scottish with a modern European twist is the name of the game. Scottish ingredients are especially prominent in an evening menu which includes starters such as Cullen skink and Macsween haggis bon bons.
Among the tempting main courses are dishes like the Scrabster king prawns in a Thai curry and the Chicken Ulysses – Ayrshire chicken with haggis, a lemon and thyme stuffing, green beans, creamed chive potatoes, anCnoc and smoked garlic cream.
Of course, there is also a Christmas menu.
Tron Bar + Kitchen runs regular offers when booking through 5pm Dining. A typical offer would be two courses from the pre-theatre menu for £14.95.
Chez Mal at Malmaison Leith
Housed in the eye-catching Malmaison hotel on Tower Place, the Chez Mal restaurant enjoys spectacular views over the Port of Leith.
Given a smart refurbishment in 2016, the dining room has a sleek, contemporary look and light, spacious feel. The new look bar is a hip hangout with craft beers and innovative cocktails while the waterfront terrace is always popular when the sun makes an appearance.
The menus at Chez Mal restaurant change with the seasons and are neatly balanced between classic brasserie dishes and contemporary international choices. Main courses might be a rack of herb-crusted West Country lamb or pasta with grilled tiger prawns, cherry tomatoes, chilli and crab bisque.
A grill section offers lobster, Black angus steaks and the mighty Mal burger. Seafood fans will find much to enjoy. There is always a set menu and the set price Sunday brunch feast is an epic affair.
If you want to go private, there is the Wine Tasting Room while the super slinky Mal 4 is a restaurant space with room for up to 60 guests.
Malmaison Brasserie can be booked via 5pm Dining. The offers change regularly but a typical offer might be two courses and a glass of house wine from the set menu at £14.95.
Khublai Khan’s Mongolian BBQ
Perfect for parties, Khublai Khan’s Mongolian BBQ is a lively restaurant on Glasgow’s Candleriggs.
Legend has it that the thirteenth century Mongolian warriors would cook food on their upturned shields over a camp fire.
This Merchant City restaurant offers a 21st century equivalent with guests selecting ingredients which are then cooked in front of them on a hotplate.
Exotic meats and seafood such as zebra, springbok, llama and octopus often feature as well as the more traditional chicken, pork, and beef. Kangaroo haggis and crocodile croquettes are both on the Christmas menu should you wish to get freaky with the festive eats.
There is also the option to take the Bushtucker challenge. Handy if you want to get one over your sworn enemies in accounts/marketing/sales – delete as applicable.
Book in through 5pm Dining and £22.95 will buy you the unlimited feast option plus a glass of wine or bottle of beer.