Ah, Christmas! A time, if ever there was one, to treat yourself – especially when it comes to Christmas dinner. Of course, you may be happy with a plate of Roast Turkey, but if you feel the urge for something a little different, the question arises – what? And where?

Well, London’s restaurant scene offers plenty of opportunity to depart from the straight and narrow, foodwise, and we thought we’d mention a few of the particularly special places here. They’re not for everyone, it’s true – in fact, to be blunt about it, their prices may leave some with their jaw on the floor. But hey! Christmas comes but once a year – so why not indulge yourself! Here’s five ideas you might want to try.

Try some Peking Duck

That’s the signature dish here at the Michelin-starred Imperial Treasure, Waterloo (SW1Y 4BE). It costs a hefty £100, but you do get some bang for your duck though, as it’s presented in two courses – firstly with pancakes and plum sauce, and then with a choice of ginger and spring onion, black bean sauce or salt and pepper.

Fancy some sea snail soup?

OK, so it’s better-known as abalone soup. And it’s a specialty here at the Kai, Mayfair (W1K 2QU). At £68 a serving, it’s not the cheapest course you’ll ever buy, but it’s truly delicious (we know: we’ve tried it) and it also features hokkaido dried scallops, corn-fed chicken stock and beansprouts.  

Have some fun for five at Sushisamba

At £1000, Sushisamba’s (EC2N 4AY) £1,000 Kobe beef may sound like you’re buying a herd of cows, but its price is a tad more reasonable when you learn that it’s served to a table of five. Plus, it’s meat from the exclusive Japanese cow, and is served ishiyaki style, with thin slices of meat cooked on a hot stone, along with dipping sauces and pickled plums.  

You can’t beat Beluga caviar

You get more than luxury food at Sexy Fish (W1J 6BR) – it’s also usually crammed with celebs. The menu is full of top-notch ingredients, with lots of truffle, lobster and Wagyu beef on show, and one of the most popular dishes is the caviar, served with steamed buns and smoked tofu. If you really want to treat yourself, go for the Beluga variety, which costs £210 per (30g) portion.

Relax, US-style

Once voted the World’s Best Bar, the 125 year-old American Bar at The Savoy (WC2R 0ET) has been home to some of the world’s most famous booze-hounds, including  Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill. If you fancy joining their illustrious ranks, you could pull up a stool and order a Negroni made with vintage gin for £120. Or, if you’re really in the mood for a blow-out, you could go for the bar’s £5,000 Sazerac, made with 1858 Sazerac de Forge Cognac, 1950s Pernod Absinthe and vintage Peychaud’s Bitters.