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With Christmas just round the corner, dining out is an option that is way more convenient yet no less fancy or extravagant, especially at the restaurants on this list we’ve put together. Here are our eight picks, specially for the festive season.

 

1. The English House By Marco Pierre White

A true wintery Christmas in tropical Singapore is a pipe dream but The English House offers something temptingly close. Have world renowned chef Marco Pierre White transport you to a classically British Christmas dinner table with not one but two festive menus: Pre-Christmas ($55 for two courses; $65 for three courses) and on Christmas Day ($4/child; $99/adult for four courses). The piece de resistance is the organic turkey, exclusively shipped in from the royalty-approved Rhug Estate in Corwen, with all the fixings, but those with a sweet tooth can look forward to the moreish Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce.

Pre-Christmas Festive Dining menu is available from Dec 1 to 24, 2019, during lunch and dinner service.
Christmas Day menu is available on Dec 25, 2019, at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm.

28 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238972. Tel: +65 6545-4055

 

2. Akira Back, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach

Here is a reason why Akira Back’s yuletide offerings make a shoo-in for our list. The restaurant’s signature blend of Japanese and Korean flavours make for an interesting detour from the usual European-style menus. What’s available is a picture-perfect seven-course set menu ($128/person), with a highlight being the tenderloin, a sumptuous steak that’s paired with chargrilled spring onions and a spicy bulgogi sauce.

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Available on Dec 24, 25 and 31, 2019.
30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763. Tel: +65 6818-1888

 

3. UNA, The Alkaff Mansion

Skip the red-eye flight and head over to UNA at The Alkaff Mansion for a sumptuous Basque Country-style Christmas repast. Communal dining is the name of the game, and comes in two menus: Christmas Communal Brunch ($68; min. 2 persons) and Christmas Communal Dinner Menu ($88; min. 2 persons). Expect elevated takes on hearty Spanish favourites, from a Papada de Cerdo Iberico of chargrilled Iberico pork jowl topped with roasted cauliflower and a smokey Idiazabal, to umami-laden Paella de Marisco that’s brimming with seafood. Tip: Those coming in big groups can pre-order their Whole Roasted Turkey ($288) or a full leg of Roasted Gammon Ham ($388).

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Christmas Communal Brunch menu is available on Dec 25, 2019, from 10am to 2pm.
Christmas Communal Dinner menu is available between Dec 20 and 25, 2019 (except Dec 23), from 6pm to 10.30pm.
10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178. Tel: +65 8126-8844

 

4. The Villa at Singapore Botanic Gardens

A sister restaurant of The Halia, The Villa offers a Christmas Day Brunch ($98/adult; $48/child aged between 6 and 12 years old) that promises decadent eats interspersed with doses of fun. Besides the option for free-flow booze ($30/person, including sparkling, wines and beer) for adults, there is a bustling Kids Activity Corner for little ones to unleash their inner Picassos. Food-wise, it is a smorgasbord of continental favourites. Expect everything from the quintessential carved turkey and pumpkin soup to a colourful array of fresh seafood.

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Available on Dec 25, 2019 at 11am and 2.30pm.
1 Cluny Road, Ginger Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569. Tel: +65 9653-7775

 

5. Odette

The true romance in chef-owner Julien Royer’s eight-course festive menu ($488/person on Christmas Eve; $588 on New Year’s Eve) lies in his expert showing of artisanal, seasonal produce. Vibrant ingredients, such as scallops, guinea fowl, uni and strawberries are magicked into delicate, swoon-worthy plates. Fans of the three-Michelin-star restaurant can also be rest assured when it comes to the wine selection; head sommelier Vincent Tan will, as usual, curate an intriguing (and equally impressive) selection. A six-course Festive Lunch ($228/person) is also available.

Eight-course festive menu is available on Dec 24 and 31, 2019.
Six-course festive lunch menu is available from Dec 17-30, 2019.
#01-04, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957. Tel: +65 6385-0498

 

6. Cassia, Capella Singapore

Standing out from the seemingly endless options for a Christmas day meal can be a tricky task, but executive chef Liu Ching Hai has got a winning formula with his slew of haute-Cantonese plates. Offering a respite from Western-style meals, Cassia pleases palates with a nourishing Double-Boiled Thick Chicken Broth with Fish Maw, Duo of Scallops and Flower Mushroom and, for those looking to impress the in-laws, lobster baked in flavoursome black garlic and topped with pan-fried foie gras and black caviar. Menus differ for five-course lunch ($98 with Festive Mocktail) and six-course dinner ($158; additional $99 for wine pairing).

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Christmas Eve and Day Lunch is available on Dec 24, 2019, from 12pm to 2pm.
Christmas Eve and Day Dinner is available on Dec 25, 2019, from 6.30pm to 10pm.
1, The Knolls, Singapore 098287. Tel: +65 6591-5045

 

7. Oxwell & Co.

You can’t go wrong with a meal at Oxwell & Co this festive season. Its menu (available all-day) boasts British classics, with the mains coming in exceedingly generous portions. Diners will make easy work of the ever-popular Roasted Spring Chicken ($28), whetting appetites with the aromatic combination of thyme and garlic, and the Chestnut Mushroom Wellington ($26), but we suggest saving space for the sides and desserts. Favourites from years before are making a return for good reason. There is Brussel Sprouts ($14) caramelised with maple and a rare Roasted Parsnip ($9) to dress up the dinner table, alongside luscious vanilla bean ice cream slowly melting atop a Sticky Toffee Pudding ($14). But what’s a celebration without a couple of cocktails? Oxwell & Co shares the sentiment and will be offering good old Eggnog as well as a punchy Yuletide Reviver.

Available till Jan 2020, from 12pm-12am.
5 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069688. Tel: +65 6438-7036

 

8. The Guild

Our list would not be complete without head chef Alton Huang’s Christmas Fest Food Menu ($290, feeds between six and eight). The family-style feast, packed with festive favourites, is presented anew with Huang’s delicious disregard for cholesterol levels. Make a booking two days in advance to enjoy dishes such as its Butter Roasted Chicken topped with an aromatic scallion and ginger citronette, Smoked Pork Ribs and Pork Knuckle Ham alongside the ever-popular Mac N’ Cheese that’s made exceptionally creamy (and addictive) with the addition of a gooey egg yolk, tossed tableside. You’ll be sent into a jolly food coma but you can’t say no to dessert – a Chocolate Cookie stuffed with peanut butter frosting at the end. Bonus: You’ll also get to indulge in an extensive menu of craft beers and cocktails on tap.

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The Guild

Available from Dec 1 – 31, 2019.
#01-01, 55 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089158. Tel: +65 9042-3900

 

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X’mas Wonderlust

9. 2am:dessertbar

From pastry maven Janice Wong comes a collection of festive desserts perfect for the sweet-toothed without much patience for turkey or ham. Two distinctly different plated desserts have been created for the occasion. There’s the Christmas Paradox, a monochromatic-ish plate full of dark, wintry flavours like a warm hazelnut-whisky chocolate cake accompanied by various gels, custards, meringues, and other accoutrements with flavours like piney juniper, mulled wine, and pistachio.

Christmas Paradox

On the other end of the spectrum is the refreshing X’mas Wonderlust, a technicolour combination of maple-vanilla cream, citrus meringue, and a snickerdoodle-centred edible ornament, all balanced by bittersweet smoked chocolate. There’s also a list of yuletide-themed cocktails – try the Rum Float, a sort of adult-themed rootbeer float where the ice cream, ironically, comes neatly layered at the bottom of your glass.

2am:dessertbar’s festive menu available until the end of December.

21A Lor Liput, Holland Village. Tel: 6291-9727