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Chez Max
The Chez Max terrace lit up for Christmas at the Castle, festoon lights and garlands over the tables

Christmas at Chez Max

Celebrate the festive season one step from Dublin Castle: French set menus, candlelit bistro room, warm terrace and heated patio. From 14 November to 31 December, every group booking is made here.

The festive season

What changes at Christmas

  • Group bookings

    From 14 November to 31 December, all group tables are booked on this page. Different times, menus and rules apply, so our usual group booking form is closed for those dates.

  • Party size

    Lunch groups start at 10 guests, dinner groups at 7 guests. Smaller tables are booked as a regular reservation.

  • Lunch closes at 3:00 pm

    From 14 November, the latest lunch reservation is always 3:00 pm. Christmas Eve is the one exception, at 4:00 pm.

  • No Early Bird menu

    Early Bird menu unavailable from 15 November to 9 January. Our à la carte, set dinner and festive group menus are served as usual.

Festive menus

Our Christmas menus

The dishes below are last year’s festive menus, shared by the kitchen to give you an idea of what to expect. This year’s menus are still being finalised — the prices and course structure shown are confirmed for 2026, the dishes may change.

Seasonal Christmas Dinner Group Menu

Dinner · groups of 7 or more

  • 3 courses €45.90

Starters

Soupe à l'Oignon

French Onion Soup, Emmental Cheese and Croûtons on the Side.

Poulpe à la Persillade

Sautéed baby Octopus, Garlic, Lemon & Parsley, Rocket & Balsamic, Croutons.

Ballotine de Foie gras de Canard (Supplement €7)

Homemade Foie Gras Ballotine, poached Apple, Ruby Port Gel, Toasted Brioche.

Tartelette Provençale

Provençale vegetable Tartelette, maple & Thyme-glazed Fig, roast Tomato sauce & Basil Oil, Olive Tapenade.

Main Courses

Bœuf Bourguignon

Slow-cooked Beef stew in Burgundy red Wine sauce, served with baby Potatoes, baby Onions, Mushrooms, Carrots, Parsley & Bacon.

Entrecôte & Frites “maison” (Supplement €9)

Ribeye, French fries, Watercress Aioli, green Peppercorn or Garlic & Parsley Butter sauce.

Suprême de Poulet & Légumes Provençaux

Slow-roasted Chicken Supreme, Provençale vegetable tian, sarladaise Potato, Olives & Basil dressing.

Céleri rôti & sa purée de Patate douce

Roast Celeriac, confit red Onion, sweet Potato purée, Lentils, house Dukkah & Salsa verde.

Truite à l'Oseille

Pan-Fried Sea Trout, Glazed Potato, Carrots, Asparagus, Buttered Spinach & Sorrel Sauce.

Dessert

Crème Brûlée

Classic Crème Brûlée.

Mini Cheese Plate

Selection of two cheeses with French Baguette.

Chez Max Paris-Brest

Paris-Brest Choux, Crème Diplomate, salted Caramel Ice Cream, candied Hazelnuts & Orange.

Last year’s printed card, shared by the kitchen as a sample. Tap it to enlarge.

Seasonal Christmas Lunch Group Menu

Lunch · groups of 10 or more

  • 2 courses €35.90
  • 3 courses €40.90

Starters

Soupe à l'Oignon

French Onion Soup, Emmental Cheese and Croûtons on the Side.

Moules à la Crème

Steamed Mussels with Shallots, white Wine sauce and Cream, Garlic, Parsley.

Ballotine de Foie gras de Canard (Supplement €7)

Homemade Foie Gras Ballotine, poached Apple, Ruby Port Gel, Toasted Brioche.

Salade de Pois Chiche & Pommes

Spiced Chickpeas, Baby Kale, Beetroot & Apple Salad with Apple Cider Dressing.

Main Courses

Bœuf Bourguignon

Slow-cooked Beef stew in Burgundy red Wine sauce, served with baby Potatoes, baby Onions, Mushrooms, Carrots, Parsley & Bacon.

Entrecôte & Frites “maison” (Supplement €9)

Ribeye, French fries, Watercress Aioli, green Peppercorn sauce.

Suprême de Poulet & Légumes Provençaux

Slow-roasted Chicken Supreme, Provençale vegetable tian, sarladaise Potato, Olives & Basil dressing.

Céleri rôti & sa purée de Patate douce

Roast Celeriac, confit red Onion, sweet Potato purée, Lentils, house Dukkah & Salsa verde.

Truite à l'Oseille

Pan-Fried Sea Trout, Glazed Potato, Carrots, Asparagus, Buttered Spinach & Sorrel Sauce.

Dessert

Crème Brûlée

Classic Crème Brûlée.

Mini Cheese Plate

Selection of two cheeses with French Baguette.

Mousse au Chocolat

Milk Chocolate Mousse, Crème Fraîche, Blackberries & Dark Chocolate Wafer.

Last year’s printed card, shared by the kitchen as a sample. Tap it to enlarge.

Christmas Eve Menu

24 December · lunch service only

  • 2 courses €43
  • 3 courses €48

Starters

Soupe à l'Oignon

French Onion Soup, Emmental Cheese and Croûtons on the Side.

Rillettes de Saumon fumé

House-smoked Salmon Rillette, Crème fraîche, pickled Cucumbers, Chilli and red Onions, Avocado purée, and Bread crisp.

Ballotine de Foie gras de Canard (Supplement €7)

Homemade Foie Gras Ballotine, poached Apple, Ruby Port Gel, Toasted Brioche.

Salade de Céleri-rave rôti, Betterave

Baked Celeriac Salad, Beetroots, Kale, Plum and Apple, roast Pecans, French dressing and Garlic Aioli.

Main Courses

Bœuf Bourguignon

Slow-cooked Beef stew in Burgundy red Wine sauce, served with baby Potatoes, baby Onions, Mushrooms, Carrots, Parsley & Bacon.

Entrecôte & Frites “maison” (Supplement €9)

Ribeye, French fries, Watercress Aioli, green Peppercorn or Garlic & Parsley Butter sauce.

Chou-Fleur Rôti, Pommes de terre et Champignons

Roast Cauliflower with sautéed wild Mushrooms, parmentier Potatoes, Mushroom purée, crispy black Kale, Hazelnut dressing.

Suprême de Poulet & Cassoulet de Haricots Blancs

Slow-roasted Chicken Supreme, white Bean Stew, Spinach, Pork Belly, Merguez Sausage, and Tomato sauce.

Truite et sa brandade d’Haddock fumé

Pan-fried Sea Trout, smoked Haddock Brandade, sautéed black Kale, roast Cherry Tomatoes, Tarragon Beurre blanc.

Dessert

Crème Brûlée

Classic Crème Brûlée.

Mini Cheese Plate

Selection of two cheeses with French Baguette.

Ganache au Chocolat noir et Sorbet Mangue

Dark Chocolate Ganache, Mango Sorbet and Gel, and Lime Biscuit crumble.

Tarte à la Frangipane & Poire Pochée

Warm Almond Tart, poached Pear, Blackberry gel and Vanilla Ice-Cream.

Last year’s printed card, shared by the kitchen as a sample. Tap it to enlarge.

The final dish lists will be published here as soon as the kitchen confirms them, together with their allergen information. In the meantime, please tell us about any allergy or dietary requirement when you book and our team will guide you. Our year-round menus list every dish with its allergen numbers.

Timeframe information

Festive booking times

Your available times depend on the size of your party. The form below only offers the times you can actually book, so pick your date, service and guest count first.

Dinner · every day

Up to 19 guests
6:00 pm · 7:00 pm · 8:15 pm · 9:15 pm
20 guests or more
8:15 pm or 9:15 pm only

Lunch · every day, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Up to 9 guests
Regular reservation, not a group booking
10 to 14 guests
Any available lunch time
15 guests or more
2:15 pm · 2:30 pm · 3:00 pm only
Two dates apart

Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve

Christmas Eve · 24 December

  • Lunch service only, with a menu closer to a dinner menu: 2 courses €43 · 3 courses €48.
  • The last booking is at 4:00 pm, rather than the usual 3:00 pm.
  • Tables of up to 4 guests can be booked online as a regular reservation.
  • In order to book a group booking for 24 December, please contact us by email at chezmaxpalace@gmail.com.

New Year’s Eve · 31 December

  • Lunch service only: the last booking is at 4:00 pm.
  • Our regular lunch menu is served on the day.
  • Group bookings for 31 December can be requested with the form below.
Christmas booking

Request a festive table

Three quick steps: your reservation, your details, then guarantee & confirmation. Please read the group rules first: they apply to every festive booking, and a card guarantee is confirmed at the final step.

Group rules: please read before you start

  • Festive group bookings run from 14 November to 31 December, for lunch parties of 10 or more and dinner parties of 7 or more.
  • Card guarantee: your booking is secured by a card guarantee. €20 per person is charged only in case of cancellation within 48 hours or no-show. Bookings are only secured once confirmed by email.
  • Final guest numbers must be confirmed 48 hours before your booking. Reductions can be made with 48 hours’ notice, but increases cannot be guaranteed.
  • A 12.5% service charge applies to group tables.
  • Maximum 2 payments per reservation, as we’re unable to split bills further.
  • The seating time is based on the booking time, not the time of arrival.
  • The cloakroom is unattended; the staircase is used at guests’ own risk.
  • Important notice: all requested details must be provided in advance; otherwise, your booking may not be confirmed.
  1. 1. Your reservation
  2. 2. About you
  3. 3. Guarantee & confirmation
Step 1 of 3: Your reservation

Available times depend on your date, service and party size.

Minimum 10 at lunch, 7 at dinner.

1 Palace Street, Dublin 2, beside Dublin CastleOpen today01 633 7215