Christmas Day in Perth 2025: Why families choose to eat out and where is open for festive feasts

For some people, Christmas Day is about sitting around a table with family and friends and enjoying a home-cooked festive feast. But others prefer to spend quality time with loved ones without slaving over the stove or barbecue on sweltering hot summer days.

To this end, a number of pubs and restaurants opened across Perth on 25 December; Here, talented chefs prepare to serve delicious meals and buffets featuring all the Christmas classics, from prawn cocktails and honey-glazed ham to roast turkey, pork belly, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings.

Most lunches (reservations required) include a two- or three-hour drinks package, including wines, beers, bubbles and soft drinks, while non-drinkers can enjoy festive cocktails.

One of the pubs to go to for lunch on Christmas Day – almost three weeks later and the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting temperatures will be 25 degrees – is The Bassendean Hotel.

With sessions taking place at 12pm and 4pm, the venue hopes to make the special occasion hassle-free by offering a three-course lunch costing $175 per adult, $65 per person 17 and under, and kids under four eat free.

Hotel manager Bonifaciio Napolitano expects about 400 people to attend and says the chefs are focusing on the classics.

Guests can enjoy shared appetizer plates with shrimp, bread and sauces as entrees. For the main course, they can have honey-glazed ham and roast turkey with all the trimmings, and traditional favorites like pavlova and Christmas pudding to finish.

A two-hour beverage package with bubbles, wines and select draft beers is also available. Non-drinkers are also well taken care of with festive cocktails, non-alcoholic wines and beers, soft drinks and juices.

Mr. Napolitano said some people choose to eat out at Christmas rather than at home, so they can spend quality time with family or friends without cooking or cleaning.

“This is becoming much more common as other accommodation venues open their doors, giving customers the option to adapt to their lifestyle and the chance to enjoy a stress-free holiday and break,” he said.

Mr Napolitano said food was a big part of Australian culture and included spending quality time with family over dinner.

“To be a part of a special day and family celebration for the hospitality industry is incredibly special,” he said.

“Festive food is designed to be enjoyed while bringing people together to celebrate the holiday.

“It’s comforting and traditional to bring nostalgia and delicious snacks to bring the Christmas spirit into the home, even when dining out.”

Other venues opening on December 25, some of which don’t necessarily offer a New Year’s Eve feast, include premium fare at the State Houses and budget-friendly and kid-friendly options at the Peach Pitt and Woodbridge Hotel.

From panoramic city views and Wildflower’s atmosphere of pure elegance and pleasure to a bold and vibrant Thai feast at Long Chim, State Houses has something for everyone.

If you’re looking for a more private dining space, try an intimate lunch for 20 at the State Cellars Wine Room, which has a 900-bottle reserve cellar and is surrounded by artwork, or the Wine Merchant, which seats up to 35 people.

Post and Petition offers not only lunch, but also dinner from 17.30 for those who want to enjoy the warm summer evening and soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the heart of the city.

Songbird Bar at The Ritz-Carlton serves a welcome cocktail along with luxurious seafood platters including octopus, scallops and oysters.

La Lune is cooking up a French-inspired, sharing-oriented festival, while Duke Bar and Bistro has a bottomless steakhouse with all the trimmings.

If buffets are your thing, book into The Peninsula, Victoria Park Hotel or The Bentley Hotel in Mandurah; Here, each venue offers a generous assortment of all your favorite flavors.

Paddington is preparing to host its first festive luncheon; a three-course shared feast featuring fresh seafood to start, traditional roast turkey or ham with all the classic trimmings, and something sweet to finish – all paired with a two-hour bottomless beverage package.

Festive fun awaits for the whole family, including a visit from Santa Claus and prizes for the best dressed.

The Lodge on Rottnest Island has also recently opened, offering its first Christmas Day lunch. So if you’re lucky enough to spend the day on the island paradise, be sure to work up an appetite for a sharing menu of WA seafood, slow-roasted lamb and delicious desserts.

If you’re after a more casual, budget-friendly experience, head to The Woody for a three-course lunch (kids meals are also available) for $99 per person.

Swap snowflakes for sea breezes, sunshine and a Guinness (or two) at the Galway Hooker, overlooking the coast. Otherwise, after a morning dip at Scarborough Beach, pass by the Peach Pit for a casual lunch, an ice-cold drink and plenty of laid-back, festive beachside vibes.

PUBS AND RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR LUNCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY:

CBD and Crown Perth

• Wildflower, Government Buildings
• Post Office, Government Buildings
• State Cellars Wine Room, State Buildings
• Wine Merchant, Government Buildings
• Petition, Government Buildings
• Long Chim, Government Buildings
• Songbird Bar, The Ritz-Carlton
• at Samuels Mill
• Restaurant C
• Santini
• Lil’s Loft and Bar
• Sphere
• Market Areas
• Modo Mio, Crown
• Silk, Crown
• Bistro Guillaume, Taç

northern suburbs

• Fraser’s
• Claremont Hotel
• Scarborough Beach Bar
• Galway Whore
• Peach Pit
• Appointment Scarborough
• Duke Bar and Bistro
• Paddington

northeastern suburbs

• Guildford Hotel
• Bassendean Hotel
• Hotel

East Perth

• Royal on the Beach

southern suburbs

• Bentley Hotel
• Quarter Acre Hotel
• Victoria Park Hotel
• Tucci
• Raffles
• Peninsula

Fremantle

• La Lune
• Old Courthouse
• National Hotel
• Freshwater Fremantle
• The Wray Hotel

mandurah

Rottnest Island