The holiday season is calling, and whether you’re craving a city staycation or plotting your escape to sunnier shores, there’s no shortage of ways to ring in Christmas and New Year in style. From rooftop countdowns to barefoot island celebrations, here’s where to eat, drink and be merry this festive season.
Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree
Singapore’s first rainforest resort is hosting A Wild Christmas, a nature-immersed escape where festive celebration comes with a side of tranquility.
At Planter’s Shed, the Festive Dinner Buffet (from SGD68++ on weekdays) stars a Premium Chilled Seafood Station with Boston lobster and snow crab, plus live carving of roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham and Creole-spiced Angus OP ribs. Don’t miss their Signature Lobster Laksa for a local twist. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets (SGD158++ per adult) come complete with carollers and a visit from Santa.
For something more intimate, Forage presents an eight-course tasting menu (SGD238++) rooted in the resort’s “Harvest to Table” philosophy, featuring garden-grown herbs, MSC-certified seafood and dishes like Wagyu Beef Striploin with truffle and Madeira sauce.
The New Year’s Eve Countdown Combo (SGD250++ per adult) includes a dinner buffet followed by free-flow Mumm Champagne, live band performances and a lucky draw with stays at Banyan Tree properties up for grabs. Cap off the year—or start a new one—with a couples’ spa session at Banyan Tree Spa, complete with afternoon tea at Forage.
Pullman Singapore Hill Street
Smack in the heart of the city, Pullman Singapore Hill Street has transformed into a festive haven with enough eating and drinking options to keep you occupied all season long. Their Festive Gastronomy Escape package (from SGD328 per night) includes breakfast and a 2-course Festive Set Menu for two at Madison’s, plus liquor packages and bottled cocktails to elevate your in-room celebrations.
The hotel’s trio of dining venues each brings something different to the table. Madison’s partners with Kiehl’s for The Glow Before Christmas Afternoon Tea (SGD88 for two), featuring lavender and turmeric-infused treats and a skincare set worth SGD95 for the first 300 bookings. Christmas Eve calls for the indulgent Four-Course Dinner (SGD88), while the signature Christmas Mega Brunch on 25 December returns with Boston lobster, Japanese oysters and live carving stations (SGD128++).
Over at MOGĀ, the Kiyoko’s Xmas Treats free-flow izakaya spread (SGD38) serves up salmon and tuna sashimi alongside Japanese bites, with highballs at just SGD10. Meanwhile, rooftop bar El Chido offers a Christmas Sharing Set (SGD48 for two) and festive cocktails under the stars. Come New Year’s Eve, El Chido hosts an epic countdown party in collaboration with Ciel Social.
Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore
If nostalgia-laced celebrations are more your vibe, Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore is serving up A Classical Christmas with heritage buffets and festive countdowns. Princess Terrace brings the best of Penang to the table with seafood on ice, live stations and signature dishes across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (from SGD92++ for lunch, SGD108++ for dinner).
Night owls can join the Christmas Eve Countdown Party at Connections Lounge (SGD38++ with one house pour) or go all out on New Year’s Eve (SGD68++ with three house pours).
Don’t leave without picking up their handcrafted log cakes and roasts from the Festive Goodies Takeaway—early birds enjoy 20% off until 14 December.
Dusit Thani Bangkok
Just a short flight from Singapore, Dusit Thani Bangkok offers a season of refined Thai hospitality with a festive programme that’s nothing short of spectacular. Grand Buffet Dinners on the Lumpini Lawn set the scene, overlooking the park and glittering city skyline.
Christmas Eve brings exquisite seafood, caviar and carols under the stars (from THB 4,200++), while Christmas Day shifts to a lavish brunch at Pavilion featuring Beef Wellington and classic roast turkey. Fine dining devotees should book Cannubi by Umberto Bombana for an elegant Italian Christmas Eve (THB 8,500++ for six courses).
New Year’s Eve promises even more grandeur. Watch fireworks light up Bangkok from the lawn, or head to Spire Rooftop Bar for DJs, live performances and champagne-fuelled celebrations until the early hours (THB 17,500++ including a bottle of Champagne for two). Throughout December, the Festive Afternoon Tea at Grand Lobby Bar offers handcrafted pastries and mulled wine for a gentler way to savour the season.
Cempedak Island, Indonesia
Sometimes the best way to celebrate is to disappear entirely—and you don’t have to go far to do it. Just a 90-minute ferry ride from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Cempedak Island offers a barefoot luxury Christmas where the jungle meets the sea and celebrations unfold beneath bamboo canopies. It’s the ideal escape for those craving a quick festive getaway without the hassle of a long-haul flight.
Christmas Eve festivities kick off at the Dodo Bar with canapés and free-flow drinks, followed by dinner that blends traditional Christmas fare with island flair and live festive music. Wake up on Christmas morning in complete tranquility—no malls, no crowds, just the sound of waves lapping the shore and the rustle of palm fronds overhead. With just 20 villas on the island, it’s an intimate, off-grid retreat that feels worlds away from the city, yet close enough for a long weekend escape. End each evening with a starlit nightcap at Dodo Bar before drifting off to the gentle hum of the rainforest.
