LDNGuide
The Best Christmas Sandwiches In London
photo credit: Secret Sandwich Shop
Do we know it’s Christmas time at all? Yes, yes we do. Because sprout-stuffed and cranberry-smeared sandwiches are starting to pop up in cafes and restaurants across London. Of course, none of them will top the greedy beauty of your own late-night Boxing Day creation. That said, these speciality Christmas sandwiches have got some things you’d probably never have at home, plus there’s no cleaning up required.
Check out our guide to The Best Sandwiches In London too.
THE SANDWICHES
photo credit: The George
Enjoyers of cranberry sauce, the King’s speech, and Guinness-fuelled Christmas mornings will be drawn to The George. The Fitzrovia pub speaks to traditionalists with its 2023 festive toastie, which leans on familiar fillings. Moist turkey, crumbly stuffing, and a layer of melted cheese to keep things together are put between two crispy triangles of bread. There’s a pot of cranberry sauce on the side for good measure.
photo credit: Dom's Subs
Dom’s Subs' festive menu reads like a leftovers enthusiast who's been under the tutelage of Heston Blumenthal and Dr. Emmett Brown. The City and Hackney sandwich shop’s menu jumps from Santa’s Little Smoker (ft. smoked turkey, pork stuffing, chicken mayo, smoked cheese, and cranberry hot honey) to Jeru The Damaga (with roasted jerusalem artichokes, crispy chilli kale, and arbol salsa). And finally, The Yule Hog, an achiote-braised pork belly beast, complete with cumin and raisin mole, and pickled slaw.
The Highbury and Stoke Newington favourite knows what it’s doing with The Dusty Knuckle’s peerless potato sourdough and springy focaccia. Namely, creating all manner of delicious midnight-fridge-rummage sandwiches. Turkey and trimmings are ticked off the menu, as is a honey-glazed ham, parsnip crisp, and piccalilli creation. The Cheese Board, with cheddar and plum chutney, speaks to a relatable lack of self control and, for something a little different, there’s a miso sesame aubergine number with tahini and pomegranate.
photo credit: Secret Sandwich Shop
Every year we make it our mission to eat any and all Christmas sandwiches we happen upon. So it brings us great happiness that our favourite lunch spot in Notting Hill, Secret Sandwich Shop, has a Christmas special filled with generous layers of pork, sage and onion stuffing, and crunchy bacon crumb, plus turkey, red cabbage, cranberry sauce, crispy shallots, and kewpie mayo.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh is good and all, but a porchetta sandwich is even better. The Dusty Knuckle, the much-loved Dalston and Harringay bakery, is as ever coming in hot with its Christmas sandwich offering. Their famous bubbly focaccia is the vehicle of choice and, between it, you’ll find fennel and garlic-stuffed porchetta, pork crackling, quince aioli, and watercress.
photo credit: The Black Pig
The Borough Market stall has gone down the gargantuan nap-inducing route with its Christmas #1-sounding creation, The Sleigher. It’s packing slow-roast pork, smoked turkey, braised red cabbage, cranberry sauce, a smear of confit leek mayo, and a handful of pecan, sage, and onion crumble—all between two slices of focaccia. Totally optional, but also not, is a pot chicken gravy for dipping.
photo credit: Miznon
Never ones to go down the much-trodden path, Miznon has ignored the dry advances of turkey in favour of something altogether more canapé-inspired, especially as it comes with a glass of Möet. The festive dish from the Israeli pita specialist is like a big, pocked-shaped blini. It’s stuffed with sour cream, fried potatoes, spring onion, and a dollop of salmon roe on top.
Available from their Newington Green, Shoreditch, and Islington bakeries, Jolene’s sandwich is a classic combination on sourdough: smoked chicken, onion and sage mayo, pickled red cabbage, and cranberry sauce. You can’t go wrong, really.
If palm-sized buns are your preferred sandwich vehicle then head over to Coal Drops Yard for lunch. Sons + Daughter’s perfectly sized handfuls are filled with slices of roasted turkey, pickled red cabbage, watercress, a bacon and cranberry XO sauce and, wait for it … bread sauce mayo.
