PUBLISHED November 25th, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED January 19th, 2016 07:01 pm
Ah, Christmas – the time of cheer, presents and family gatherings. We’ll leave out the whole ‘White Christmas’ part as this doesn’t really apply to Singapore unless there’s some freak weather in the next few weeks.
If the thought of cooking your own Christmas dinner is a terrifying prospect, you might consider one of ten restaurants below which we have singled out as having superb Christmas dining offerings this year.
Merry Christmas, people!
Indulgent Buffets
mezza9
One of our favourite buffet restaurants is bringing in loads of fresh, seasonal ingredients that’ll be showcased through the many dishes awaiting you. For instance, the Chestnut Salad with lamb’s lettuce, frizzy, apple, radish, and field mushrooms, and Mason Egg, a slow-cooked egg served with winter truffle flan, potato, and walnut crostini, get our thumbs up. Those looking forward to the sweet treats – it is Christmas after all – the folks at mezza9 will definitely sort you out with the Fennel and Pollen Ice-Cream with Honeyed Couscous and the Flourless Chocolate Yule Log with Brandied Cherry Ice-Cream.
Price: $128++ per adult inclusive of free flow soft drinks and selected juices (top up $50++ for all you can drink champagne and wines), $98++ per child.
mezza9 is located at Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211. Call 6732 1234 for reservations, or book your spot online here.
AquaMarine
Marina Mandarin’s signature restaurant beckons with a hearty and wholesome menu on Christmas Eve. On top of their international seafood island that has been an all-time fan favourite, guests can expect specials like Seafood Bouillabaisse, Country Style Braised Beef encased with puff pastry, and Pan Seared Diver Scallops. The merriment continues with exciting line up of performances by magicians, Christmas carollers, and entertainers to liven the festive celebrations – we hear that Santa will be popping by too!
Price: $118++ per adult, $59++ per child
Aquamarine is located at Level 4, Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594. Call 6845 1111 or book online here.
Seasonal Tastes
Located at The Westin Singapore, the newest restaurant on our list has been receiving positive feedback for its spacious setting and spectacular views of our fair city. Their wide range of decadent offerings for the Christmas Eve buffet includes Pan-fried Goose Liver, Lobster Au Gratin, and 90-day Angus Grain-Fed Prime Rib. Seafood lovers can also look forward to fresh oysters, live prawns, deep-sea scallops and crabs! Welcome Christmas on a sweet note with mouth-watering desserts like log cakes, cupcakes, and a DIY gingerbread station (surely a hit with the little ones).
Price: $148++ per adult (top up $30++ for free-flow champagne, beer, wines, and soft drinks), $74++ per child
Seasonal Tastes is located at Level 32, The Westin Singapore, Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961. Call 6922 6968 or email restaurant.reservation@westin.com for reservations.
Element
Expect a smorgasbord of fragrant roasts (turkey included), your favourite crustaceans on ice, and other homemade festive goodies at Element’s Christmas Eve buffet. One of the more affordable options of our list, they’re also helping you last through your free-flow tipples by handing out limited edition bottles of Evian still water.
Price: $88++ per person, top up $35++, $40++, and $55++ for free-flowing beer, wine, and champagne respectively.
Element is located at Amara Singapore, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539. Call 6879 2607 for reservations.
Gorgeous Set Dinners
The White Rabbit
If you haven’t been to The White Rabbit, what better time than Christmas is there to visit this beautifully restored old chapel? Enjoy a romantic night out with your significant other or a quiet dinner with old pals in the quaint setting. The highlights of Head Chef Benjamin Tan’s specially crafted four-course European set dinner includes Roasted Guinea Fowl on a bed of crispy kale with buttermilk cannellini and Rich Chocolate & Chestnut Fondant with honey ice cream for dessert. Wine pairing, curated by Lo & Behold’s group sommelier Kelvin Tay, will also be available. And if you’ve already made plans for Christmas Eve, they have a decadent Christmas Day buffet brunch too.
Price: starting at $118++ per person, additional $88++ for wine pairing
The White Rabbit is located at 39C Harding Rd, Singapore 249541. Call or text 9721 0536 for reservations.
Oxwell & Co
With four options of starters like Blue Swimmer Crab with Fromage Fraise Watercress and Kaipara Bay Oysters, and four choices of mains (think Red Snapper and Beef Rossini) for their three-course dinner menu, this is probably one of the set meals on the list with enough variety to cater to everyone. For desserts, you get a choice between Blackforest Parfait or Christmas Pudding, both served with ice cream. Have a group of 4-10 people? Their ‘feast’ menus might be what you’re looking for, with mains like Stuffed Turkey, Saddle of Lamb, or Chateaubriand (beef tenderloin) that are made for communal dining.
Price: $80++ per person (top up $10++ for Beef Rossini), from $320 for the ‘feast’ menu
Oxwell & Co is located at 5 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069688. Call 6438 3984 or email info@oxwellandco.com for reservations.
Mikuni
Christmas might be a Western tradition, but if you prefer to celebrate it ‘differently’ this year, check out Mikuni’s 7-course Kaiseki Christmas Eve dinner. Pamper yourself with the finest flavours of Japan with a menu that kicks off with a palate tickling Sake-Steamed Kumamoto Oyster with Edamame Foam. Fans of foie gras, their Kyoto Round Turnip and Foie Gras Egg Custard would be something you’d definitely be interested in trying. But the star of the night is definitely the 72-Hr Miso Braised Kagoshima Wagyu Beef with Sliced Leek and Green Beans prepared in various ways.
Price: $255++ per person, $375++ with 5 varieties of Daiginjo Sake pairings
Mikuni is located at Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560. Call 6431 6156 or email dining.singapore@fairmont.com for reservations.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Founded in New Orleans in 1965, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is one of the world’s premier steakhouses with over 140 international locations. So if you just want a great, dependable steak this Christmas Eve, you know where to go. Start with delectable appetizers like Seared Foie Gras and Lobster Bisque, but the star of their 4-course holiday menu is their specialty: custom-aged USDA steak. Your choice of US Prime Ribeye, New York Strip, or Petite Filet, broiled at 982.2°C and served on a hot (280°C) ceramic plate, is accompanied by a side (mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, or creamed spinach).
Price: from $115++ per person
Ruth’s Chris Steak House is located at Level 4, Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594. Call 6336 9093 for reservations or book online here.
Sky Dining onboard Singapore Cable Car
Try another type of dining with a view this Christmas Eve with Singapore Cable Car’s Festive Sky Dining. A four-course menu will be served during your cable car flight between Mount Faber and Sentosa – 3 round trips in total – while you enjoy the twinkling lights of the Keppel Bay area. Expect dishes such as Slow Roast Australian Lamb Loin and Spiced Valrhona Chocolate Ganache with Gingerbread. And if you’re looking for a ‘mountain-top’ escape (and something for stationary), Faber Peak Singapore’s Spuds & Aprons and Faber Bistro are also doing something special for the occasion.
Price: $320++ per couple, 15% off Festive Sky Dining on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from now till 5 Dec 2014.
Faber Peak Singapore is located at 109 Mount Faber Road, Singapore 099203. Book your cable car cabin online here.
Coastes
If lounging in your comfiest of beachwear by the sea sounds like the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve, Coastes at Siloso Beach is just the place for you with their 3-course Christmas Platter for two. Whet your appetite with a plate of smoked meats, calamari, and marinated seafood accompanied by their special chili crab dip and salad, followed by an array of finger lickin’ good juicy pork ribs, roast chicken, assorted sausages, and freshly grilled prawns. Do save space for dessert and tipples – the folks at Coastes have Christmas cocktail and bubbly promos at nett prices! If you’re feeling spoilt for choice, Coastes’ Christmas Platter is available 1-25 December 2014.
Price: $90 nett per couple, Cherry Christmas cocktail $12 nett, a bottle of Moet and Chandon NV at $100 nett.
Coastes is located at 50 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 099000. Call 6631 8938 for reservations or book online here.
Top Image: White Rabbit