There are so many exciting things happening in Victoria with new restaurants in the Nova building, new shops and an exciting program of events. Christmas is the perfect time to explore the area and here are just a few ideas for things to do and places to eat.
1. Timmy Green
Timmy Green is my favourite restaurant in the Nova Building, with a deceptively simple appearance but utterly delicious food. You can just tell how much time and effort goes into creating really tasty food using fresh ingredients with inspiration from the Australian coffee culture. I would highly recommend the Christmas feasting menu which includes insanely good Halloumi fries, a fantastic salad of crispy chickpeas & black rice, avocado, pomegranate, peanuts, sweet & spicy tamarind and celeriac and apple soup to start. Main courses range from rib of beef to chicken schnitzel to sea bass. There’s also a full separate menu for vegans as well as a list of light bites and sharing boards. 
The festive bottomless brunch features Timmy Green classics (my favourite menu items are the granola, the banana bread, the shakshouka and the salmon royale) plus free flowing prosecco, mimosas or Bloody Marys. The Pear mimosa is not to be missed and I loved the apple and rhubarb one too – they both actually taste like Christmas.
2. Vagabond Wines
Vagabond Wines is our favourite wine bar in Victoria and it’s seriously the perfect place for after work drinks – we love the wine machines which allow you to sample the wines before buying a full glass or bottle.
You can order a selection of canapés from their special Christmas menu or simply indulge in huge platters of ham and cheese. 
3. Westminster Carols
The 14th of December sees the annual Christmas carol concert at the breath-taking Westminster Cathedral. This year the plans are bigger and better than ever and The Westminster Cathedral Choir will be accompanied by the Victoria Children’s Choir and there will be celebrity festive readings.
Photo credit: Richard Bolls.
A festive market in Cardinal Place enchances the festivities and there will be a reception on the roof garden with pop-up stall from local restaurants including Notes, Ole & Steen and Wagamama.
4. Hai Cenato
If you fancy an alternative to the traditional Christmas dinner, look no further than Jason Atherton’s New York-Italian restaurant, Hai Cenato. The arancini balls, sea bass crudo and the octopus make the perfect starters and the pizza is not to be missed as a main course. 
New to the menu is the herb gnocchi, wild mushroom fricasse, parmesan veloute which is utterly delectable and would make the perfect alternative festive main course.
5. The Other Palace
The Other Palace showcases some of the best in musical theatre in a handy location right around the corner from Buckingham Palace. Visitors can enjoy seasonal food for dinner at The Other Naughty Piglet before enjoyed a Christmas Cabaret with The Barricade Boys, one of theatreland’s most exciting male vocal group.
6. Ole and Steen
A recent addition to Victoria’s Nova building, Ole and Steen is a bakery that celebrates the best of Denmark. If you don’t fancy preparing dessert yourself on Christmas day, the cakes and bakes would make the perfect takeaway, or a great treat to surprise colleagues. 
7. M Wine Bar
A destination restaurant, bar, members club and wine store is M Restaurant has really put Victoria street on the map and Mr S and I were delighted about the opening of M Victoria. The latest addition to the multi-functional space is a wine bar at street level with 112 wines by the glass. 40 of the wines are available in sample sizes from electronic wines machines and there are complimentary tasters on Fridays.
8. The Cardinal Place Christmas Market
On the 14th of December the weekly Cardinal place market goes festive which stalls from Hush Chef, Wholegrain Bakery, L’Amuse Bouche, La Ferme, Nut Blend, Finest Fayre, Zest & Zing and Sicilian Bros and sweet treats from Bad Brownie, Kanmi Chocolates, The Great British Cheesecake Company. There’s also gifts at Freddie’s Flowers, Green Jade Ceramics, Atlas, House of Eunice, Bee Happier and Jack Jewels.
9. Aster
Step inside Aster Victoria’s prettiest restaurant and enjoy a festive set menu with a Nordic flavour! Alternatively the incredible value bottomless brunch is running right up until the 31st of December. It’s £21 or 3 courses for £26 and bottomless bubbles for an extra £17, you can’t really say no!
10 Sticks ‘n Sushi
Highly anticipated (by Mr S and I) Victoria is finally getting it’s own branch of Sticks ‘n Sushi! With other branches of the Copenhagen-based restaurant already offering a Sticks ‘n Santa menu I’m looking forward to trying some of their new specials such as Japanese eggnog, soy cured salmon and marinated pork with cabbage. It opens 8th of December.
I attended a press night with Create Victoria with tastings from Vagabond Wines, Timmy Green, Hai Cenato and Ole and Steen. But regular readers will know all about my great love for my local area and this post reflects my own views.
