Christmas is here and it’s time to take your family out for a brunch or dinner at least that should be the excuse to just get out of the house and let someone else worry about the menu, cooking, and cleaning. Beijing’s standalone and hotel-based restaurants aren’t holding back when it comes to the holiday menus, they are taking it seriously. Here is a list of Christmas eve, which happens to be today,  and Christmas Day dining options:

CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas Eve and Day Menu at Agua
Agua’s chef Jordi has created a festive menu that comes in a variety of packages. Start off with our pica pica menu  that includes a variety of tapas for the table to share including a glass of cava. Continue on Agua’s full festive menu that includes starters, two of their most popular mains – crispy suckling pig and juicy lobster rice – and dessert. RMB 128 (welcome pica pica menu), RMB 460 (festive menu), RMB 588 (both menus). 6pm. Agua

Classic Festivities at Aria
Christmas is the season for sharing and family gatherings. This year, ARIA restaurant will transform into a Christmas Nutcracker house to set the mood for a mouth-watering Christmas Warmers set menu. RMB 988. 5.30pm. Aria

Christmas Set Dinner at Barolo
Let Barolo’s chef Ivan take you back to a traditional Italian Christmas with a signature six course dinner. RMB 1,288. 6pm. Barolo

Christmas Eve Charity Dinner for Little Flowers Project
Tis the season everybody, and what better way to celebrate than by filling the hearts and the bellies at the same time. Funds from both the charity dinner, a silent art auction, and a 10 percent cut from the bar tab will be donated to help orphans in need of surgical care and attention. RMB 200. 7pm. The Big Smoke Bistro

Christmas Eve at the Great Wall
Escape out of town for Christmas Eve and wake up on Christmas morning with a view of the Great Wall.Their specially priced package includes transfers from Beijing, a Great Wall view room, Christmas Eve dinner and breakfast in the lodge. RMB 2,588. The Brickyard

Christmas Eve Dinner at Capital M
A festive welcome drink greets your entry into the decadent five-course menu with star food hits like chestnut soup, charcuterie, a special Christmas platter main, and their world-class pavlova headlining the indulgent dessert platter. RMB 588. 6pm. Capital M

Christmas Eve Dinner at Chapter
Enjoy a huge selection of roast meats including traditional favorites like perfectly roasted Turkey with all the trimmings or new favorites such as venison and slow roasted goose. Guests who dine at Chapter will gain free access to the Christmas Eve party at Vivid. RMB 1,288, includes free flow beer, wine and champagne. 6pm. Chapter

Around the World in Three Hours on Christmas Eve
Let Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace take you on a voyage around the world with a buffet filled with everything from roast turkey to French foie gras to Brazilian barbecue. All set against a backing track of broadway classics. RMB 888. 6pm. Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace

Eudora’s Family Christmas
With live music by in-house band Overdrive and not one, but three, delectable set menus to choose from you and your family can send good tidings to all in a fun-filled environment. RMB 228 and up. 6pm. Eudora Station Bar and Restaurant

Colorful Christmas at Heritage
Sample a sumptuous seven course menu at Heritage, starting with a glass of champagne and including slow cooked Wagyu beef and a dessert of chestnut Mont Blanc. RMB 2,888 per couple. 6pm. Heritage

Christmas Eve Feast All the Way at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing’s fifth-floor restaurants come together for a grand dinner party, encompassing everything from Beijing hutong flavors,to traditional Christmas favorites, to Spanish tapas. RMB 555. 6pm. Hilton Beijing Wangfujing 

Christmas Eve Dinner at Mercante
A cosy Christmas Eve dinner at Mercante, following the Italian tradition of serving di magro dishes that contain no meat. RMB 350. 5.30pm. Mercante

Christmosto Eve
Enjoy a candlelit evening of warmth, wine and wonderful, with a unique four course festive menu prepared by Chef Daniel Urdaneta. RMB 398. 6pm. Mosto

Christmas Eve at Opera Bombana
An eight course extravaganza that draws on Italian traditions using the best of ingredients from around the world. Dine on savory dishes like New Zealand scampi carpaccio and finish with Italian panettone. RMB 1,088, plus RMB 500 for wine pairing. 6pm. Opera Bombana

12 Days, 12 Christmas Dishes
Starting Dec 14 and continuing every day until Christmas Day, a nod to the exegesis of the classic ’12 Days of Christmas’ gift indulging will be re-interpreted as food delights in a four-course degustation. RMB 458. 11.30am. Temple Restaurant Beijing

CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas Lunch at Aroma
Raise a glass with family and friends at Aroma’s Christmas lunch. Enjoy all your festive favorites prepared in Aroma’s many open kitchens. RMB 638. 11.30am. Aroma

Christmas Day Brunch at Brasserie 1893
Make Christmas Day extra day extra luxurious with an extravagant feast at Brasserie 1893. Pile your plate with everything from top quality caviar to Christmas meat pie and wash it all down with free flow Louis Roederer. RMB 1,288. 11.30am. Brasserie 1893

A Very Merry Christmas Brunch
Celebrate a delicious Christmas at Factory with a menu of innovative festive fare. Add free-flow Champagne for just RMB 150, RMB 250 (two courses), RMB 280 (three courses). 11.30am. Factory (by Salt)

Christmas Dinner at Great Leap Brewing #12 Brewpub
Kin Hong’s mustard herb crusted lamb leg is the crème de la crème star feature on the set menu course. Be quick as reservations only allow for 50 persons max. RMB 100. 5pm. Great Leap Brewing

Christmas Day Lunch and Dinner at Mercante
A five course set lunch and dinner menu inspired by classics from Nonna’s kitchen. Lunch is available between 12-4pm (last orders at 2pm) while dinner commences between 6pm-midnight (last orders at 10pm). RMB 350. Mercante

Christmas Menu at Migas
Add a spanish twist to your regular traditions with Migas serving up a special four-course meal featuring blini with smoked salmon, scampi casserole, and a special omelette surprise for dessert. RMB 380. 11am. Migas Restaurant and Lounge

Hawaiian Bubbalicious Brunch
The Westin Chaoyang’s award-winning brunch gets a Hawaiian upgrade for Christmas, which should make up for those who can’t make it to a tropical island in person. RMB 588. 11.30am. Seasonal Tastes

Christmas Feast at Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng
Enjoy a lavish buffet at Feast with traditional Christmas food and goodies. An ideal place to sample delectable festive dishes like roast turkey, sturgeon caviar with blini, lobster thermidor, Christmas pudding and log cake, and more. Free flow of local beers, soft drinks and gluehwein to make your celebration complete. RMB 588. 5.30pm. Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng

Christmas Day Brunch at VIC Restaurant
Add a touch of French chic to your Christmas day brunch celebrations at VIC. Go all out with free-flow champagne package. RMB 620. 12pm. VIC

Scrumptious Christmas Set Menu
A cheeky hot ‘Santa’s Helper’ cocktail is one option to choose from as you sit yourself down to a stunning four-course meal comprised of special treats like zesty butternut squash soup, jalapeno and bacon beer cheese dip, and slow-roasted porcini butter turkey. RMB 258. 5pm. Windy City Ballroom

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on December 24, 2014 and has been slightly modified.

Photo: protohiro, Hotel Arthur Helsinki