There’s no better reason than Christmas to throw on your loosest outfits and make plans to catch up with all your loved ones over festive feasts. Whether or not you celebrate the holiday, the twinkling trees, merry melodies and Yuletide treats at restaurants across the island are all about bringing Christmas cheer, with afternoon tea specials, dinner degustations, boozy brunches, and epic buffets.
So read on below for recommendations on where to get your fill of stuffed turkey, Christmas ham, gingerbread men, log cakes, and free flow glasses of bubbly this Christmas.
Atlas
Get into the holiday mood with a spot of Christmas afternoon tea at this grand space, with treats such as duck and turkey pie, croque monsieur, crab croquette, salmon terrine, eggnog mousse, gingerbread men, and salted caramel bonbons. Pick your brews from a selection that includes oolong, genmaicha, pu erh, jasmine and green teas.
Until Dec 30. Parkview Square. $52-$56.
Audace Bar & Restaurant
Celebrate a French Christmas with this seven-course degustation dinner menu featuring Gillardeau oysters, foie gras, and turkey, as well as a “white pudding” – essentially a blend of chicken, milk, eggs, and onions.
Dec 23-24; 7pm-10pm. 2 Dickson Rd. Adults $168, children $36.
Axis Bar & Lounge
Sip on fruity and floral TWG teas as you nibble on small bites of Christmas ham, turkey foie gras rolls, honey-glazed lobsters, cherry scones, chocolate yule logs, and Christmas fruit cakes like the tai tai you wish you could be all year round.
Until Jan 1, 2018; daily 3pm-5pm, additional weekend seating 12:30-2:30pm. Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. $42; $52 on Dec 25 and Jan 1.
Capella Singapore
The Sentosa hotel’s fairytale brunch themed ‘Once Upon a Christmas’ whips up Yuletide treats, with highlights like a turkey carving station, free flow champagne, and kid-friendly activities.
Dec 25; 12:30pm-3pm. Grand Ballroom Foyer, Capella Singapore. Adults $198-$228, children $78-$118.
Carousel
Stuff yourself silly with an array of festive foods, including stollen, fruit cakes, log cakes, and a Japanese-inspired turkey stuffed with garlic fried rice, minced chicken, shredded seafood, curry veggies, and teriyaki sauce.
Dec 24-25; noon-2pm, 3:30pm-5:30pm, 6:30pm-9:30pm. Royal Plaza on Scotts. Adults $48-$90, children $32-$52.
Firebake
Throughout December, the wood-fired ovens at this haven of baked goods will serve up three festive dishes, including a slow-cooked chicken ($50) with trumpet mushrooms and root vegetables, Greek honey and walnut cookies called melomakarona ($10/six), and the classic Germanic dessert of Christmas kugelhopf ($25) made with sourdough, rum-soaked raisins, orange blossom syrup, and sliced almonds.
Until Dec 31; Sat-Sun 8:30am-11:30am, Tues-Sun 11:30am-5:30pm, 6pm-10pm. L1, 237 East Coast Rd.
Folklore
For Christmas with an Eurasian twist, try the eight-dish menu at heritage food specialist Folklore. Standout plates include Eurasian Christmas Pie ($30), a buttery puff pastry chock full of chicken, meat balls, pork sausages, potatoes, and carrots; Oxtail Semur ($26), a spice-laden stew that’s been simmered for over five hours; and Sambal Kapitan ($26), a chicken dish infused with lemongrass, garlic, and rempah.
For dessert, there’s Sugee Cake ($10) made with almond meal, and Putugal ($8), stacked with layers of hand-grated tapioca and ripened Raja bananas.
Until Dec 31; Mon-Sun noon-2:30pm, 6pm-9:30pm. L2, Destination Singapore Beach Rd.
Kuvo
The Asian-influenced festive buffet spread consists of turkey wonton noodle soup at the live station and prawn paste stuffed turkey roulade at the carving station, as well as plates of champagne pork ribs, wok-fried beef, and snapper loin in cranberry pineapple sauce.
Dec 22-24 & 29-31; 6pm-10pm. #02-01 Orchard Shopping Centre. Adults $68, children $35.
Lime
For the entire month, the chefs at Lime will whip up plates of roasted turkey, duck leg confit, and barbeque beef short rib, as well as desserts like durian gula melaka log cake.
But if you decide to celebrate Christmas Eve or Christmas Day here, be prepared to shell out more for similar dishes, alongside a spread of lobster laksa, abalone chawanmushi, poached prawns, and seared foie gras.
Until Jan 1. Parkroyal on Pickering. Festive buffet: noon-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm; adults $60-$80, children $40-$50. Dec 24-25: adults $108-$168, children $64-$74.
Monti
Treat yourself to brunch with a backdrop of jazz melodies for Christmas, and let your diet worries fall away as you munch on charcuterie and cheese platters, pastas, eggs, meats, mince pies, and sticky date yule log cakes.
When night falls, a special six-course dinner menu of burrata, cod fish mousse, pan seared barramundi, and panettoni is available for those who want to celebrate in style.
Dec 24-25; noon-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm. 1-Pavilion, The Fullerton Pavilion. Christmas brunch: adults $110-$160, children $55. Christmas dinner: $180.
Nesuto Patisserie
Take a break from overindulging and chill out with a friend or two over tea with sweet and savory bites of raspberry opera cakes, pulled pork sliders, cranberry scones, cookies, truffle mushroom tarts, salmon tacos, and yuzu meringue tarts.
Until Dec 31; daily noon-2pm, 1pm-3pm, 2pm-4pm, 3pm-5pm. 53 Tras St. First person $45.90, second person $24.90. Reservations required.
Nosh
If you haven’t heard, Nosh is closing its doors for good at the end of 2017. So bid farewell to the romantic Rochester Park restaurant at its Christmas Eve feast with a menu of lamb pie, charcoal grilled Angus prime rib, roast chicken, rosemary potatoes, bread and butter pudding, and chocolate trifle. (And fret not if you miss this; the last event at Nosh will take place on New Year’s Eve.)
Dec 24; 6pm-10:30pm. 9 Rochester Park. $65/person.
OverEasy
Gorge yourself, American-style, with plates of oven-roasted beer can chicken and Texas BBQ baby back ribs, as well as sides like roasted potatoes, sage cornbread stuffing, and apple crumble.
Until Dec 31. Available at both OverEasy Fullerton and Orchard. $98-$128.
Oxwell & Co
Ring in the festivities with a three-course menu at the British gastropub, and choose from dishes such as honey baked ham, beet cured salmon, rolled organic turkey, roast pork belly, and orange chocolate mousse. If you’re nowhere near full after all that, throw in an extra $10 for Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, and more.
There’s also a vegetarian menu with plates of charred asparagus, chestnut wellington, and roasted cabbage hearts for the non-meat eaters.
Until Feb. 5 Ann Siang Rd. Christmas menu $78, vegetarian menu $48.
Racines
For those hosting Christmas soirees at home, let the pros at Racines do the turkey work for you with the $138 slow-roasted bird that comes with liver pâté, trumpet mushrooms, and Lyonnaise potatoes. Otherwise, the hotel restaurant is serving up a Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch with all the trimmings – think turkey, lobster, eggnog, and mulled wine.
If you pop by on weekdays, try the three-course lunch or four-course dinner sets, which include dishes like gnocchi with watercress emulsion, braised pan-seared duck breast, and caramelized apple tart.
Until Dec 29. Sofitel Singapore City Centre. Christmas Eve and Day $158, three-course set lunch $38, four-course set dinner $78.
SPRMRKT Kitchen & Bar
Christmas lunch or dinner gatherings at this breezy Robertson Quay space feature a five-course festive menu with plates of seafood fettucine, twice-cooked turkey roulade stuffed with braised chestnuts, mushrooms, and satay peanut butter sauce, and fruit cake with rum ice cream.
Until Dec 30. 41 Robertson Quay. $86/person.
Tanjong Beach Club
Kick start the merrymaking early on Christmas Day, with a spread of fresh seafood, including the likes of Maine lobster and Oleron Fine de Claire oysters, as well as meats like braised beef cheek and roasted free-range chicken.
Once your stomach’s nicely padded, toss in an additional $25 for bottomless tipples.
Dec 25; 11:30am-2:30pm. 120 Tanjong Beach Walk. Adults $128, children $58.
The Black Swan
As you eagerly anticipate the arrival of Christmas, feast on festive lunches at the sleek CBD space, with dishes like foie gras parfait and herb-crusted Wakanui spring lamb.
For those who prefer to splurge, go for the carnivorous dinner feast for two, which includes Stockyard angus porterhouse, Wakanui spring lamb rack, and pork cumberland sausage.
Until Dec 30. 19 Cecil St. Lunch set $56-$62, until Dec 29; dinner feast $188/two, until Dec 30.
The Halia
Gather your family members for a stroll among the lush greenery of nature on Christmas Day before you indulge in an 11-course menu at The Halia, with dishes such as roast wagyu striploin, spare ribs, Atlantic smoked salmon, poached tiger prawns and, of course, a whole range of sweet treats.
Dec 25; 10am-5pm. Singapore Botanic Gardens. $380/four people.
The Ottomani
The Middle Eastern joint, which just opened in September, celebrates its first Christmas in Singapore with a warm, welcoming ambience made cosy with oil lanterns and festive décor.
Start off with Middle Eastern-inspired G&Ts or mojitos from the drinks trolley before you dig into charcoal grilled meats such as sticky pork with Turkish coffee and lamb shoulder with spiced molasses, before moving on to a dessert of fig crumble served with spiced almond milk. To avoid disappointment, take note that the restaurant will be closed on the eves and actual days of Christmas and New Year.
Until Dec 30; Mon-Sat 6:30pm-late. 48 Peck Seah St.
The Summerhouse
The elegant Seletar Aerospace Park restaurant is hosting a countryside brunch and dinner over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with live station meats such as stuffed turkey, roasted leg of lamb, and slow roasted smoked striploin, alongside sweets like rum-soaked gingerbread fruitcake and Christmas pudding ice cream.
Dec 24-25; noon-3pm, 6pm-10pm. 3 Park Ln. Brunch $78, dinner $98.
The White Rabbit
Festive get-togethers at the restored 1930s chapel make for a pretty picture, with lunch highlights such as coq au vin and roasted turkey breast with caramelized apple and cranberry jus.
Also expect a mouthwatering selection at brunch on Christmas Day itself, with a spread of comfort food classics and entertainment for little ones in the form of a bouncy castle at The Rabbit Hole.
Until Dec 29. 39C Harding Rd. Lunch menu Tues-Fri, $42-$48. Christmas Eve dinner $108-$128, Christmas Day brunch $98-$118.
Zafferano
Festive dinners at the sky-high restaurant consist of three or four courses, including pan-seared foie gras, fresh burratina with heirloom tomatoes, potato gnocchi, roasted prime beef short ribs, and a glorious array of Italian desserts and pastries such as tiramisu and panna cotta.
As for the brunch on Christmas Day, you’ll be feasting on freshly shucked oysters, burrata, seafood tapas, veal ravioli, turkey with chestnut and red apple berry sauce, and beef wellington. All of that will be washed down with sips of champagne, of course.
Dec 24-25; 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-late. Ocean Financial Centre. Christmas Table d’Hote menu $88-$98; Christmas champagne brunch $138, includes free flow champagne, beer, house wines, and more.
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