Christmas looks a little different in Singapore’s first rainforest resort. At Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, the year-end season arrives not with snowfall or glitzy displays, but with the soft hum of cicadas, the scent of fresh herbs, and the quiet of trees stretching towards the sky. The resort’s inaugural “A Wild Christmas” celebration transforms familiar holiday rituals into something gentler, more organic, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. Families, couples, and friends are invited to celebrate in an environment where nature sets the tone and the forest becomes part of the festivities.

Dining at Planter’s Shed during the holidays feels like settling in for a generous communal meal after a long forest walk. The festive four-course set lunch begins with the brightness of winter kale tossed with butternut squash, pomegranate, and feta, followed by a comforting roasted tomato and fennel soup finished with crème fraîche. Mains offer a choice between slow-cooked beef cheek in port wine jus or pistachio-crusted Norwegian salmon with a champagne-citrus sauce. Dessert keeps things playful with a Christmas citrus pudding draped in vanilla dark rum.

As evening falls, the energy shifts into a lively buffet spread that mirrors the abundance of the rainforest. Boston lobster, snow crab legs, scallops, carved turkey with chestnuts, honey-glazed ham, and Creole-spiced Angus OP ribs anchor the experience. Live stations—including a fragrant lobster laksa—add a local pulse, while panna cotta, chocolate fondue, pecan pie, and classic Christmas pudding sweeten the finish. Carolers and Santa’s festive visits bring a familiar warmth to the celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Away from the bustle of the buffet, Forage offers a more introspective, eight-course tasting menu shaped by the resort’s edible garden and sustainable ethos. The dishes read like a conversation between chef and landscape. A reimagined borscht uses garden-grown mushrooms and a touch of gochujang; yellowtail with orange and tarragon is brightened with ginger flower harvested on-site. Red grouper from Malaysian waters is paired with a broth inspired by Vietnamese phở, while spiny lobster is served with a vermouth sauce accented by fresh dill.

Classic holiday flavours make a subtle appearance in the roasted yellow chicken with thyme, rosemary, braised red cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. Tajima Wagyu beef follows, enriched with truffle and Madeira and topped with mushrooms cultivated within the resort grounds. A palate cleanser of Amalfi lemon, cucumber, mint, calamansi, and lemongrass prepares the way for a final composition of spiced Conference pear, blackberry sorbet, glazed chestnuts, and yoghurt meringue. Mignardises crafted by Chef Marcus end the meal on a thoughtful, delicate note.

For those marking the holiday at home, the resort offers a curated lineup of festive takeaways. The Banyan Noël Luxe Collection Pack—a complete feast for six to eight—includes a classical roasted turkey, pineapple-orange glazed boneless ham, a woody dark chocolate yule log, traditional marzipan stollen, and an assortment of sides and sauces. Individual centrepieces such as Creole-spiced Angus ribeye, roasted duck with clementine and herbs, and whole roasted turkey are available as well. Dessert lovers can choose from dark chocolate, durian-coconut, and other yule logs, alongside traditional mixed fruit cake, panettone, and stollen.

New Year’s Eve at the resort begins with a buffet dinner at Planter’s Shed before celebrations shift to the Meranti Ballroom. Here, guests toast the final hours of the year with free-flow Champagne, Prosecco, wines, draft beer, and selected cocktails. A live band, a DJ, and a lucky draw—offering stays across regional Banyan Tree properties—carry the evening into the countdown. The rainforest remains ever-present just beyond the ballroom, lending a softness to the final celebration of the year.

Beyond the feasts and festivities, Banyan Tree Spa introduces a quieter rhythm to the holiday calendar. Its Tailored to Your Senses packages offer shared experiences for two to four guests, with 90- and 120-minute treatments designed to restore calm. Afternoon tea or a two-course lunch at Forage accompanies the longer sessions, allowing guests to drift from repose to nourishment with ease. It is a gentle way to close the year—an invitation to start the next one grounded and renewed.

Mandai Rainforest Resort’s first festive season embraces the holidays not as a spectacle but as sanctuary. By weaving together generous dining, sustainable culinary philosophy, thoughtful takeaways, and restorative wellness, the resort offers a celebration that feels both festive and deeply connected to its natural setting. It is Christmas reimagined—softer, greener, and full of quiet magic shaped by the rainforest itself.

For more information, visit Banyan Tree Spa at Mandai Rainforest Resort .

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Festive offerings will be available as add-ons on the booking engine.