Christmas lunch is one of the best meals of the year, but the prep, cooking and mountain of dishes afterwards? Not so much. This year, leave the hard work to South Bank’s restaurants, where festive feasts, riverside views and a glass of something celebratory are all on the menu. Whether you’re after an Italian Christmas spread or a seafood-filled long lunch, there are tables worth booking. These spots tend to fill up quickly, so get in early to secure your Christmas Day plans.

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Naga Thai
Swap the traditional Christmas roast for a Thai-inspired festive feast at Naga Thai. The Christmas Day menu features a spread of dishes, including baked ho mok scallops, duck laab rice balls, smashed green papaya salad with fresh Mooloolaba tiger prawns, crispy roasted Borrowdale free-range pork belly and oven-roast Choo Chee barramundi.

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There’s also 150-day grain-fed Black Angus sirloin, aromatic turmeric coconut rice and pumpkin-spiced sticky toffee pudding to finish.

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The Christmas Day feast kicks off from 1pm, priced at $220 per person. Book here.

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Popolo
If your idea of Christmas involves a generous Italian feast and a table full of your favourite people, Popolo is calling. Settle in by the river for a festive lunch that brings a little Italian flair to the big day, without any of the kitchen chaos at home.

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Head Chef Francesco Vitagliano has put together a menu packed with the good stuff, from mortadella with burratina and pistachio pesto, Tuscan ricotta gnudi and Mooloolaba prawns to stracciatella ravioli and grilled lamb cutlets with all the trimmings. And because no Italian feast is complete without something sweet, dessert comes in the form of a celebratory platter of bignè, cannoli and sfogliatelle.

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The Christmas Day experience kicks off at 11.30am on Friday 25 December, with the feast and a three-hour drinks package priced at $285 per person. Book here.

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River Quay Fish
Christmas by the water has a pretty good ring to it, and River Quay Fish is making a strong case for swapping the dining room at home for a table overlooking the Brisbane River. Bring the family, gather your favourite people and settle in for a festive lunch where the cooking is taken care of.

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The four-course menu puts premium Australian produce, fresh seafood and seasonal Christmas favourites front and centre. There’s also sparkling wine and a festive cocktail on arrival, setting the tone for a long lunch that’s all about good food, good company and taking your time.

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Choose from 11am or 2pm sittings, with lunch priced at $199 per adult and $129 per child under 12. Book here.

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