A company Christmas dinner is more than just a shared meal – it’s the crowning finale of the year and a chance to show your team appreciation. Whether you have no concrete plan yet or already have a rough idea in mind, it’s worth getting creative. From festive and elegant to casual and convivial, there are countless ways to organize a memorable Christmas party. The key is finding the right mix of a suitable venue, a cohesive concept, and an engaging program. As an experienced event provider with locations in Zürich, Basel, Geneva, and Zug, Westhive knows what really matters: a festive ambiance and a culinary offering as diverse as your team’s wishes. Below, we present a collection of ideas – from culinary concepts to program highlights – that will ensure your Christmas event is a guaranteed success.
Culinary Concepts for the Christmas Dinner
A great Christmas celebration begins with the food. Depending on your company’s spirit and your team’s preferences, different dinner formats can set the tone. Here are some ideas for the Christmas dinner itself:
1. Elegant Aperitif Reception
Start the evening with a stylish aperitif. A champagne reception with well-paired canapés and wintery drinks instantly creates a festive mood. Welcoming guests with a mulled wine stand at the entrance is almost a must – the aroma of hot spiced wine is always a hit at any company Christmas event. This warm welcome provides the perfect setting for the first conversations and team toasts.
2. Flying Dinner
If you’d like a more informal vibe, a flying dinner is ideal. Throughout the evening, small, artfully prepared delicacies are served while guests stand or move freely around the room. This relaxed buffet in tapas style encourages mingling, since no one is tied to a fixed seat – perfect for chatting with as many colleagues as possible and fostering a laid-back atmosphere.
3. Festive Seated Dinner
For a classically elegant Christmas dinner, a seated multi-course meal is the way to go. At beautifully set tables, the team enjoys a carefully composed menu of top-quality ingredients – accompanied by attentive service. Such a gala-style dinner with a 3- to 5-course menu in a tastefully decorated venue brings an exclusive flair and is sure to be remembered. Tip: Tailor the menu to various needs (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) so that everyone is fully catered to.
4. Sharing Dinner (Tavolata)
A particularly convivial option is a sharing dinner in Tavolata style. Large platters with an array of dishes are placed in the middle of each table for everyone to help themselves. This concept is very popular because it creates a warm atmosphere focused on both enjoyment and togetherness. The act of sharing the dishes – for example a mix of traditional holiday favorites and international specialties – boosts team spirit and invites conversation about all the different delicacies.
5. Food Market with Christmas-Market Flair
If you prefer something lively and international, go for a food market concept. Similar to a street food Christmas market, this format combines the charm of a traditional holiday market with modern cuisine. At various stations, you can offer specialties from around the world – freshly prepared, fragrant, and colorful. Guests stroll from stand to stand, sampling Asian fare, Mediterranean bites or Swiss classics, and feel like they’re at a mini festival. This setup is highly recommended for any company holiday party because it creates a casual, festival-like atmosphere. To enhance the Christmas market feeling, you could include a raclette station, a crêpe cart or a hot roasted chestnuts corner, bringing an authentic seasonal vibe to life.
No matter which culinary concept you choose – the important thing is that it suits your company and meets your team’s expectations. The Westhive team will gladly help you select a menu according to your vision. From traditional festive dishes to creative fusion creations, anything is possible, since our kitchen flexibly accommodates guests’ needs (e.g. vegetarian or gluten-free options). In the atmospheric Westhive venues, you can expect not only excellent food but also a fitting overall setting that we tailor exactly to your wishes.
Program and Creative Event Ideas
To make the company Christmas celebration truly unforgettable, it’s worth planning some entertaining activities. Besides the dinner itself, creative program points, music and special touches will ensure your employees are talking about the event for a long time. Here are several Christmas party ideas to spark your inspiration:
6. Theme Party and Themed Decoration
Give your celebration a special theme! A theme party immediately provides conversation starters and lightens the mood. Whether it’s an Ugly Christmas Sweater night, a Winter Wonderland, a James Bond–style casino evening or a trip to the Roaring Twenties – a unique theme makes the Christmas party stand out. The key is cohesive decoration: snow machines, string lights, evergreen garlands and festive table settings can conjure winter magic even in modern spaces. Encourage the team to dress according to the motto, which leads to fun and lots of laughs (imagine the colleagues in an ugly sweater contest!). A fresh twist on the classic theme party is a top idea for a holiday event, and experience shows it’s always very well received by teams.
7. Music, Dance and Entertainment
Nothing lifts the mood as much as good music. Consider hiring a DJ or even a live band so that after dinner everyone can hit the dance floor. Many Westhive event locations offer ample space and come equipped with professional sound systems – ideal if speeches are planned or later when hooking up karaoke microphones. Speaking of karaoke: a group Christmas karaoke session can reveal unexpected talents and creates a carefree atmosphere. For a nostalgic touch, play classic Christmas tunes in the background or organize a performance by employees who have rehearsed a few songs. You could even run a holiday quiz or bingo with questions about the company and the festive season to keep people entertained between courses.
8. Games, Awards and Suprises
A bit of fun and games makes the evening more engaging. For example, you could host a small awards ceremony – sincere awards for special achievements during the year or silly categories (like “Most Punctual Christmas Elf” for the most reliably on-time colleague) provide recognition and laughter at once. Game corners at the party are also popular: perhaps a photo booth with dress-up props for hilarious team pictures, a foosball table or a pool table to spark some friendly competition. If you really want to activate the team, consider a murder mystery dinner – an exciting crime story is woven into the dinner, and colleagues must work together to solve the clues. Such an interactive murder mystery builds suspense and teamwork, and it’s guaranteed to get people talking. Even a small Christmas contest – for instance, which team can build the best gingerbread house – can generate a lot of fun. These kinds of experiences beyond just eating and drinking turn the night into something truly special.
9. Culinary Workshops & Tastings
Mix the enjoyable with the educational by including a mini-workshop before or during the party. Cocktail workshops are very popular, where participants learn to mix festive drinks themselves – for example a Christmas punch or creative signature cocktails with cinnamon and gingerbread aromas. Standing together at the bar and shaking cocktails is a fantastic ice-breaker and provides a treat at the same time. Alternatively, you could arrange a wine or spirits tasting – a professional schnapps tasting will definitely warm everyone up in the winter weather and rounds out the flavor experience. For the sweet-toothed, a baking session is a great idea: how about a cookie baking class or decorating gingerbread together? Such baking workshops awaken childhood memories and are a hit even with adults. The creations made together – be it the mixed cocktail or the decorated cookies – can be proudly enjoyed afterwards or taken home as souvenirs.
10. Secret Santa and Gift Exchange
Gift swapping is a classic that should not be missing. The team gives each other small, humorous presents – the exchange always brings excitement and plenty of laughs. Whether it’s the traditional Secret Santa or the goofy “white elephant” version (where intentionally useless or funny gifts are passed around): there’s nothing more delightful than unwrapping surprises together with your colleagues. Tip: Set a price limit and perhaps a theme for the gifts so that everyone is on the same page. You could also have an employee or even the boss step in as Santa Claus and hand out the gifts with a wink – a gag that will be remembered (complete with photos of the boss in costume!).
11. Social Engagement (Charity Christmas)
The Christmas season is also a time for reflection and gratitude. Many companies use their party to do some good as a group. Consider integrating a charitable action: for example, you might have all guests bring a donation gift for a local charity (a toy drive, a clothing collection) or make a company donation in your employees’ name to a community organization. You could even organize a small charity team activity before dinner – say, everyone together selling hot punch at a Christmas market for a good cause. Such a gesture strengthens team spirit and supports important causes. Your employees not only celebrate, but also give back together, which gives the event a deeper meaning and shows your company’s compassionate side.
As you see, numerous event ideas for Christmas can be combined. The important thing is to have a good flow to the evening: maybe your party starts with an Apéro and mulled wine stand (to set the atmosphere), then moves into a shared dinner (culinary enjoyment), and ends with music and dancing or a fun game (an entertaining close to the night). Adapt the program to the size and preferences of your team – for small teams, an intimate dinner with a gift exchange works well, while larger companies can certainly go bigger, for example with multiple stations and show elements.
Finding the Right Location
Aside from the ideas themselves, the choice of location is decisive. An inspiring venue creates the framework in which your ideas can truly shine. Ensure there’s enough space for dining and activities: ideally, for example, a room that allows for cozy table groups but also has space for standing tables or a dance floor. A convenient location is another factor – your staff will appreciate if they can reach the event venue easily by public transport (especially important after a merrymaking night). Also make sure the necessary technical equipment is available (microphones, speakers, projector), so that speeches, music and presentations run smoothly.
Westhive offers optimal possibilities here: our event locations in Zürich Hardturm, Zürich Stettbach, Geneva Pont-Rouge and Basel Rosental are generous in size and flexibly configurable – depending on the setup, suitable for up to 200 people. These venues have each been honored multiple times with the Swiss Location Award and rank among the best-rated event locations in Switzerland. They combine modern infrastructure with atmospheric design and top-notch gastronomy. At Westhive, you’ll find stylish spaces, the latest event technology and an experienced event team to support your Christmas party professionally. The large event halls are perfect for spectacular holiday celebrations – and of course, we also have smaller, cozy rooms that work well for exclusive dinners in a small circle or team aperitifs. Together, we’ll find the right setting for every budget and company size.
Conclusion: Time to Plan Your Christmas Party
Organizing a company Christmas party does require some lead time, but with the right ideas it becomes the highlight of the year. Whether a cozy fondue night, international street food stands in your own Christmas market, or an elegant gala dinner with an after-party – it’s all allowed, as long as it suits your team. The important thing is to plan early (popular dates and locations fill up fast!) and to involve the team so that anticipation builds. Use the above inspirations to develop a concept that unites fun, creativity and community.
If you could use some support, Westhive is happy to help. Our event professionals know the hottest Christmas trends and can assist with concept, catering and logistics – so your holiday event is organized without stress and turns out to be a complete success. In that spirit: get inspired and turn your Christmas dinner into an unforgettable experience. Westhive wishes you lots of fun planning – and an early happy holidays!