‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry. For those who celebrate, there’s nothing better than donning your festive best and gathering around a dinner table to enjoy a Christmas meal with your loved ones. From roast turkey and glazed ham to beef tenderloin and mince pies, food is arguably one of the best parts of the holidays—and restaurants in Singapore have gone all out with their Christmas offerings this year.
If you’re seeking a traditional festive feast, JW Marriott Singapore‘s Beach Road Kitchen serves up a wonderful spread, but for those looking to try something innovative, this year’s festive lineup offers plenty to explore. Savour a contemporary Christmas dinner with premium cuts of steak at one Michelin-starred steakhouse Cut by Wolfgang Puck, or look to TWG Tea for a more intimate meal accompanied by a delightful Christmas blend. An Italian feast is set to be a popular choice for the season, with Osteria Mozza, Fiamma and Basilico each offering their own distinct take on a sumptuous Italian holiday dinner. Meanwhile, Madame Fan seamlessly weaves modern Chinese cuisine with beloved festive flavours.
Here, we round up Vogue‘s shortlist of restaurants in Singapore fit for festive merrymaking and an opulent Christmas feast.
1 / 6
Basilico
At Regent Singapore’s Basilico, the spirit of Christmas gets the Italian overhaul—catered to lavishly feed you and loved ones through a smorgasbord of seasonal delicacies. Before you graze on the selection of artisanal cheeses in Basilico’s famed cheese room, we urge you to save some room for moreish delights on the festive menu—especially an umami Acquerello risotto cooked with calamari ragout and squid ink. A year-long aged risotto rice that delivers a firm bite with every grain is swathed in a briny mix of seafood stock as well as a melange of sharp cheeses.
Another speciality to no surprise is the Whole Roasted Turkey, marinated in Campari and Amalfi lemon, and stuffed with a myriad of aromatic ingredients like blood orange, fresh basil and Pecorino Romano. What really solidified this dish (even for the turkey anti) was the soft tender meat of the bird, alongside its spot-on marinade. Those partial to sweets can choose between selects like a decadent Pandoro and Hazelnut Tiramisu and a Red Wine Pear Jelly, for something a little lighter on the palate. Of course, while you’re still within the halls of Regent Singapore, resume the evening at Manhattan, with its slew of Christmas-inspired cocktails and spritzers. It’s also where you can conclude the night on a high, with a hot cup of mulled wine, no less.
Basilico, 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715
2 / 6
Cut by Wolfgang Puck
At the height of indulgence is a Christmas meal at the one Michelin-starred Cut by Wolfgang Puck. The Wagyu Tasting from America, Australia and Japan experience brings together three prized cuts from the various regions, grilled over apple wood to medium-rare perfection. The American Wagyu from Snake River Farms stands out for its rich flavour and incredible marbling, while the Stone Axe Full Blood Australian Wagyu offers a slightly leaner bite. Rounding out the platter is the Hokkaido Snow from Tomakomai in Japan, an exceptionally rare cut that boasts a decadent buttery texture.
Enjoy the steaks on their own, or pair them with the trio of sauces served on the side for some delightfully surprising flavour combinations. Either way, this will prove one of the finest holiday meals you’ll have. Accompany the steaks with the restaurant’s selection of addictive Christmas sides, from Fried Pee Wee Potatoes covered in crisp shallots and garlic aiolito to Roasted Brussels Sprouts with smoked bacon and cipollini onions, and you’ll have yourself a winning festive feast.
Cut by Wolfgang Puck, 2 Bayfront Ave, B1 – 71, Singapore 018972
3 / 6
Fiamma
To experience a truly luxurious Christmas dinner, escape to Fiamma. Seated within the verdant expanse of Capella Singapore, the restaurant’s stylish interiors and warm service form the perfect backdrop to a celebratory meal. With special festive menus curated by Chef Mauro Colagreco, look forward to a wholesome feast inspired by comforting Italian classics.
Start with the Arancini Cacio E Pepe, crisp on the outside and indulgently molten on the inside. Then come a duo of memorable seafood dishes: the Crudo Di Capesante, a beautifully-plated Hokkaido scallop carpaccio with pine nuts, cherry tomatoes and a ginger honey dressing; as well as the Polpo Alla Luciana—delicately braised octopus served with charred sourdough bread and drizzled with parsley oil.
The main courses arrive in the form of expertly-prepared pasta dishes, like an aromatic black truffle tortellini on Christmas day, or the Risotto Ai Gamberi Rossi Di Mazara the night before. The latter is a Sicilian red prawn risotto with sea algae and citrus—so complex and deliciously creamy that you won’t be able to stop yourself from diving in for more. If Christmas brunch is more your style, you’re in for a treat. For the month of December, Fiamma is offering festive brunch on Sundays. Expect a lavish spread of fine food and free-flow champagne—it’s time to make merry.
Fiamma, 1 The Knolls, 098297
4 / 6
TWG Tea Salon
TWG Tea’s iteration of Christmas is warm, decadent and punchy where it needs to be. To whet your appetite, start with the Christmas Lights Tea—a bright, sweet-sour mocktail concocted out of pineapple juice and peach purée. An indulgent feast awaits you afterwards, in the form of the Angus Filet Mignon Rossini, plated with a buttery serving of seared foie gras, with tea-infused truffle sauce ladled over. More reminiscent of festive dishes are the sides served together with the main dish: a sautéed winter vegetable ragout and the hearty portion of Mont d’Or, a delicious potato cake that instantly melts in your mouth.
The well-paced meal makes its exit with a standout ode to summer that promises to cut through the richness of it all—as dessert comes via a smooth vanilla parfait centred amidst an invigorating array of freshly cut citrus fruit and Forever Noel Tea-infused tuille. The latter is a wonderful incorporation of their festive blend that you can also enjoy a warm cup of during the evening: where hibiscus, cinnamon and orange create a lilting harmony with a green tea base.
TWG Tea’s Festive Set Menu is available at all TWG Tea Salons from 28 November to 30 December 2022.
5 / 6
Osteria Mozza
If there’s one thing that makes an Italian dinner perfect for a festive feast, it’s the comforting sense of homeliness and warmth they both share. At Osteria Mozza, you’ll find generous sharing plates that get everyone into the holiday spirit. Start with the Affettati Misti, a platter of cold-cuts, before moving on to the Corzetti Alla Norma, a fragrant pasta dish tossed with tomato and eggplant and topped with house-made ricotta. What makes this unassuming dish a standout is the generous handful of olives that introduces a layer of depth to the plate.
Putting a unique spin on the traditional Christmas ham, the restaurant’s Iberico Ham comes drizzled with a brown sugar and manuka honey glaze, alongside a Chicken Porchetta served with gravy and crispy chicken skin. A variety of sides accompany the mains, amongst which Japanese Sweet Potatoes topped with scallion crème fraiche and crispy prosciutto are especially exceptional.
Osteria Mozza, 333 Orchard Rd, Level 5, Singapore 238867
6 / 6
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
For a traditional Christmas feast, look to JW Marriott Singapore’s Beach Road Kitchen. The hotel’s buffet restaurant is serving up an indulgent array of festive dishes for the holiday season—from a juicy Traditional Whole Roasted Turkey to a magnificently tender Slow Roasted Beef Striploin. To balance out the heavier plates on the table, a Norwegian Salmon Wellington is available in place of the typical Beef Wellington, with a buttery puff pastry crust that melts in your mouth. Have it side-by-side with the bountiful array of seafood offered as part of the restaurant’s festive buffets, including both grilled shellfish and a superb spread of fresh seafood on ice. Alternatively, place a takeaway order for the hotel’s festive dishes and they’re sure to impress the guests at your own Christmas party at home.
If it’s imaginative fusion fare you’re seeking, the hotel’s contemporary Cantonese restaurant Madame Fan also joins in on the holiday festivities with a selection of dishes that give modern Chinese flavours a Christmas twist. Our pick is the aromatic Roasted Suckling Pig with Wok-fried Turkey Ham and Black Truffle Glutinous Rice, served in a pumpkin cup for an added festive touch. Pair it with a Joyeux Noel Cocktail, a whisky-based drink with passionfruit puree and salted coconut syrup crafted specially for the holiday season, and you’re all set for a festive meal like no other.
Beach Road Kitchen, 30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763
Madame Fan, The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764
