Hotpots, turkey and coffee: the Melbourne restaurants dishing up Christmas

Thai seafood hotpot may not be a traditional Christmas meal but 2020 isn't a traditional year, so why not branch out and dig in? That's the view of Jiyu Thai Hotpot director Christy Chen, who already has plenty of bookings for her Little Bourke Street restaurant on Christmas Day.

"Christmas is a time to celebrate for everyone," says Chen. "And hotpot is a great way to get people around a table to enjoy one another's company. The experience goes for two to four hours so they can really relax."

There's also an element of home-cooked satisfaction without any of the hassle, as people dunk raw ingredients in hot tom yum broth and retrieve them when they're ready.

"People are cooking but it's a stress-free experience because they don't have to prepare anything and they don't have to clean up," says Chen. The Phuket-style hotpot is also one way that shore-bound Australians can "travel" to Thailand at the moment.

For Chen, staying open over Christmas is being part of Melbourne's recovery. "It's incredible to see so many Melburnians come back and enjoy our city," she says. "There's a real energy around and we're all keen for it to continue into the new year."

Further up Little Bourke Street, Punch Lane will open for Christmas for the first time in its quarter-century history. "We had so many plans for our 25th anniversary this year and we had to cancel all of them so we decided why not open on the 25th instead?" says manager Jane Tschappeller.

The menu is deluxe and classical, including roast duck and a Christmas cake trifle with drunken cherries. Bookings are lunch-only so staff can scarper by 5pm to have dinner with their families. Finding willing workers was easy. "They haven't worked for eight months and they'll be getting public holiday rates – they are raring to go," says Tschappeller. "It's so great to be open and bustling again."

Pho Hung Vuong Saigon

Christmas Day is always busy in Springvale. This classic Vietnamese joint serves nourishing, comforting noodle soup and broken rice dishes. On December 25, they're open until they sell out, probably mid-afternoon.

Shop 2,15 Balmoral Ave, Springvale, 03 9558 5147

Gold Leaf

Presents are great but food is better. Gold Leaf is also taking advantage of trade upheaval with China to offer well-priced lobster specials. Merry Christmas!

491 Ballarat Road, Sunshine, 03 9311 1863

Mr Brownie

From 2pm to late, walk into this Indian-accented hotel for a barbecue featuring lamb kebabs, grilled paneer and tandoori cauliflower and mushrooms. There will be DJs too and great city views from the rooftop.

343 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, 03 9696 3401

Cliffy's Emporium

The Daylesford food emporium and cafe is open for takeaway coffee and food from 8am to noon with all takings donated to the local CFA brigades.

30 Raglan Street, Daylesford, 03 5348 3279

Botanical Hotel

With a menu that includes beef Wellington with foie gras and a classic pavlova with summer fruits, it's a stroke of genius that the Bot gives you a Christmas pudding to take home.

169 Domain Road, South Yarra, 03 9820 7888

Grosvenor Hotel

Classic dishes star on this sprawling pub's festive menu. There's a prawn cocktail among the entrees and glazed ham with seeded mustard hollandaise for mains.

10 Brighton Road, St Kilda East, 03 9531 1542

Arbory Afloat

The party pontoon on the Yarra is offering three-hour sittings for four-course feasts for lunch and dinner. As well as table seating, daybeds and cabanas are an option.

Flinders Walk, Melbourne, arboryafloat.com.au

Cosi

The classy Italian is doing a set three-course Christmas lunch, with some tables in the sheltered courtyard.

68 Toorak Road, South Yarra, 03 9867 3999

Boosa

This Israeli cafe has Chanukah and Christmas covered. It's open on the 25th for coffee, rosé and takeaway grazing boxes.

716 Centre Road, Bentleigh East, 03 9563 7885

Copper & Spoon

It doesn't matter what day it is, coffee still comes first! This family-run home-style cafe will sort Essendonians out on Christmas morning.

55 Fletcher Street, Essendon, 03 9973 2231

Brighton Savoy

See if there are seats in the seaview room for roast turkey breast and smoked ham followed by plum pudding with hot brandy custard.

150 Esplanade, Brighton, 03 9592 8233

Taxi Kitchen

With its views of Federation Square and the Yarra, this is a very Melbourne place to celebrate. Traditional dishes get an Asian spin: think masterstock turkey with shiitake mushrooms.

Federation Square, Melbourne, 03 9654 8808