Thanksgiving 2022 falls on Thursday 24 November. While it's an American holiday, there are plenty of opportunities for American expats, former USA residents and foodies in general to celebrate Thanksgiving here in London.
Thanksgiving meals and special menus across town
All available on 24 November only, unless otherwise stated. Most require advance booking — check with individual venues for details.
Galvin Bar & Grill, Russell Square
Galvin Bar & Grill, housed in the glamorous dining room of Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel, showcases British ingredients with an American twist with its Thanksgiving menu — think Dorset crab and sweet pumpkin cake, followed by wild foraged mushrooms, green beans, soft quail eggs and fresh truffle. The all-important turkey is cooked with apricot and served with popovers – similar to Yorkshire pudding — as well as all the trimmings. The feast is rounded off with a slice of pecan pie. A sommelier will pair wines with your meal, if you're feeling extra swish.
Galvin Bar & Grill, £68 per person.
The Milestone Hotel, Kensington
The 5* Milestone Hotel and Residences in Kensington opens its Cheneston's Restaurant to those in search of American goodness. Just reading the menu choices for the Thanksgiving feast is enough to make you feel stuffed; sweetcorn chowder, slow braised beef short rib, smoked bacon ravioli, roasted pumpkin gnocchi, turkey with all the trimmings, salmon fillet... then spiced pumpkin cheesecake or caramelised apple tart to finish off.
The Milestone Hotel, £85-£115 per person.
Plaquemine Lock, Islington
Cajun and Creole-inspired pub, Plaquemine Lock combines American food with New Orleans-style live jazz music. Tuck into dishes such as blackened turkey with sausage, red beans and rice; gumbo with shrimp and okra, or roast turkey po'boy. Special cocktails include the Boulevardier (bourbon, Campari and vermouth), and the live music runs 7.30pm-10pm. One of the more relaxed and informal options on this list.
Plaquemine Lock, Thanksgiving dishes start at £9 each.
The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
Swish hotel The Berkeley serves a special four-course, candlelit Thanksgiving meal in its private dining area, the Collins Room. It's a traditional, yet swanky, affair, beginning with poached lobster before segueing into butternut squash soup, roast turkey with all the trimmings (or sea bass, if turkey's not your thing), finishing with pumpkin or pecan pie, and an optional wine pairing.
The Berkeley, £95 per person.
Riding House Cafe, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Victoria
All three Riding House venues (Riding House Fitzrovia, Rail House Victoria and Riding House Bloomsbury) celebrate Thanksgiving with a family-style feasting menu. Tuck into slow roasted turkey cooked in herb butter, accompanied by dishes of cornbread and sausage stuffing, maple-buttered sweet potatoes, truffled mac & cheese, glazed sprouts. and plenty more, served with a calvados gravy and a tangy cranberry and confit orange relish. No need to choose between pumpkin brûlée pie or pecan pie, as you'll get both.
Riding House Cafes, £55 per person. Available 24 November at all three venues, and additionally 25 November at Riding House Fitzrovia.
Hard Rock Cafe, Mayfair
All-American grill Hard Rock Cafe celebrates Thanksgiving at its original London location with a two-course Thanksgiving menu served all weekend. It's the traditional turkey feast with trimmings, followed by pumpkin pie with caramel sauce and whipped cream. A good option if you want to celebrate as a family — or want somewhere a little more relaxed — as a smaller version of the Thanksgiving menu is available for kids.
Hard Rock Cafe, available 24-27 October. From £27.70 adult/£9.95 child.
Duck & Waffle, Liverpool Street
Pair your all-American feast with views of the London skyline at Duck & Waffle. They keep things traditional with a whole roasted bronze turkey, served with classic Thanksgiving dishes including sweet potatoes with marshmallows and candied peanuts, green bean casserole with crispy shallots and mushroom gravy, truffle mac & cheese, and crispy brussels sprouts. If you've still got room, finish it up with a Bourbon pecan pie with whipped cream as you ogle the view.
Duck & Waffle, from £75 per person.
One Aldwych, Aldwych
Hotel One Aldwych kicks off its festive season with Thanksgiving celebrations in its Indigo restaurant, overlooking the lobby bar. Begin with canapes and a glass of champagne before enjoying a three-course meal of pumpkin soup, maple-glazed turkey breast, and key lime pie, finished up with coffee and petits fours. The whole menu is dairy- and gluten-free, and vegetarian or vegan options are available on request.
One Aldwych, £95 per person.
Sette by Scarpetta, Knightsbridge
Italian restaurant Sette by Scarpetta has American roots — it's a spin-off of New York City's Scarpetta restaurant family. It's natural, then, that it's offering an Italian twist on Thanksgiving in the form of a four-course meal — starting with chestnut and porcini soup, served as an amuse-bouche with a glass of champagne. Other menu items include pumpkin ravioli with parmesan butter sage and roasted almonds; roasted bronze turkey with all the trimmings; or a vegetarian beetroot risotto with goat cheese and golden beets. Dessert is classic American pecan pie served with rum raisin gelato or vanilla cheesecake with apple, almond crumble and blackberry sorbet. Oh, and it's all accompanied by live music. Bellissima!
Sette by Scarpetta, £80 per person.
Christopher's, Covent Garden
American restaurant Christopher's has been around for over 30 years, so it's got this Thanksgiving thing down pat by now. Tuck into a three-course menu, with a few curveballs (hello, smoked duck tacos) as well as plenty to keep traditionalists happy; organic turkey served with cornbread, creamed potatoes and other trimmings, and pumpkin pie as one of the dessert options (though the lemon meringue cheesecake sounds pretty tempting...)
Christopher's, £70 per person.
The Cinnamon Club Thanksgiving dinner at home
Can't be bothered with getting dressed up and going out? Indian fine dining restaurant The Cinnamon Club has created its own take on an American Thanksgiving feast, to be delivered as a meal kit for you to prepare at home. Whip up a Bengali spiced vegetable cutlet with beetroot, raisin and kasundi ketchup. The mains take the form of a chingri Malai curry and turkey breast mappas, both served with sides of cholar daal, cumin pilau rice, saffron sheermal and hot sweet pumpkin chutney. Finish off with carrot halwa samosas.
The Cinnamon Club, £140 for up to four people to share. Order by 18 November for delivery on 23 November.
Thanksgiving events in London
Not looking for a waistband-stretching meal, but still want to mark Thanksgiving? Try one of these events.
Thanksgiving charity comedy night
Comedy troupe the Earl's Courtiers (see what they did there?) hosts a wine and dine comedy night on 23 November at homelessness drop-in centre Refettorio Felix, raising money for the charity's ongoing work with the homeless and vulnerable. Your ticket gets you a three-course Thanksgiving meal with wine to enjoy alongside the show.
Thanksgiving at Benjamin Franklin House, Charing Cross
For Thanksgiving celebrations in London, you'd struggle to find a more apt venue than the former home of a Founding Father of the United States. Benjamin Franklin House hosts a day of family celebrations (13 November) where you can learn about the history of Thanksgiving and why it's celebrated, and make your own Thanksgiving decorations.
On Thanksgiving itself (24 November), the museum stays open late for After Dark tours of the house, as well as a chance to make a contribution to the 'Wall of Gratitude', and tuck into American dishes such as pumpkin pie in The Parlour.
