Food & Dining

It feels as though 2022 just breezed through and soon we will be signing off our emails and dating our documents with 2023. But before you go and usher in the new year with a list of new (or old) resolutions, let’s not forget that the Christmas holidays are upon us too.

Now most of us would like to have a nice home cooked dinner surrounded by family and friends like a scene out of Love Actually or Bad Moms (no there’s no memorable dinner scene from Die Hard) but let’s face it, not all of us are a Domestic Goddess or Masterchef.

Here are five venues where you can celebrate Christmas in the Klang Valley like there is no tomorrow.

1. Christmas with a bit of Gordon Ramsey

Multi-award winning chef Gordon Ramsay was in town recently to inaugurate his first restaurant in Malaysia. This is the first Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill outside of the UK. What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the King of Hell’s Kitchen.

Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill guests will be feted to an scrumptious 5-course dinner starting with canapés of Uni on Crab Toast, Niçoise Salad on Tomato and Citrus Salmon. Then for starters, there are the Artichoke Salad, Beetroot-cured Salmon and Chicken Liver Parfait. Diners can then choose between either the Butter-poached Murray River Cod, a tender Angus Rib-eye with Butter, Poached Lobster or the Classic Beef Wellington, served with Butternut Squash, Pomme Purée and Brussels Sprouts on the side, and finally for dessert, a Traditional Christmas Pudding.

Prices for the dinner start at RM688 on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day while on Christmas Day the dinner starts at the auspicious price of RM888.

You will forget you are in Malaysia the moment you step into the lobby of the newly renovated Sunway Resort Hotel. You won’t miss the Christmas decorations in gold and green, it’s akin to walking into a magical winter wonderland complete with a Christmas Tree and choir from the Sunway Conservatoire of Music.

At the Resort Café the buffet menu that strikes our fancy the most is the Christmas Stollen, Roasted Prime Rib and Coulibiac. Christmas Eve dinner buffet starts at RM288 and you will be entertained by Christmas carollers on this holy night. On Christmas Day, the Brunch and Dinner Buffet also starts at RM288 and includes cookie decorating and gingerbread decorating at brunch, and live music during dinner. If you missed out on the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets you can always come back on Boxing Day for the similarly priced buffet with the same festive cheer including a visit from Santa.

For reservations and more information click here.

2. Christmas in the Sky

Originally one of KL’s first 5-star hotels, EQ was rebuilt from the ground up and while still maintaining a lot of the old charm with mainstays such as Etoile Bisto, Kampachi and Nipah Coffee House, it is nothing like the hotel of yore. The EQ of today is a modern representation of luxury and sophistication that’s normally reserved for foreign hotel chains. Enough about the hotel and let’s find out what we can enjoy here during the festive period, because you could spend your entire Christmas here.

Let’s start off at the icon of the old hotel, Nipah Coffee House, where a Yuletide Christmas eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch and dinner welcomes patrons. Nipah serves signature dishes such as Slow Cooked Tender Australian Beef with raisin gravy, Halibut Fish Piccata, Roasted Duck with mayoran apple stuffing, Fresh Seafood and much more. Expect to be surprised with its wide variety and freshest ingredients. Prices start from RM208++.

Over at the European side-walk café Etoile Bistro you can enjoy a sumptuous festive platter between the 24^th till 26^th of December from brunch till dinner. Options on your Grilled Platter are a half chicken, rack of lamb, beef tenderloin, beef bacon, chicken sausage, eggs and vegetables. This platter also comes with a selection of sides and sauces of your choice. The platter is priced at RM288. If the options are not enough for you, you can add-on Boston Lobster, Rack of Lamb, Angus Tenderloin, Wagyu Rib-Eye or even a Wagyu Tomahawk, all at an extra charge of course.

Probably the restaurant with the best view in downtown KL, Sabayon is offering special 5-course dinners with prices ranging from RM688 on Christmas Day to RM788 and RM888 on Christmas Eve.

To pay homage to possibly the best Swiss Restaurant KL ever had, there will be a Chalet Festive lunch on Christmas Day and that goes for RM208++.

To find out more about EQ’s Christmas offerings, check out their website here.

3. A Classic Christmas

Being flanked by the best shopping in Kuala Lumpur, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur has always been the go-to for elegant and classy dining options. While centrally located this hotel is rarely crowded, which is great news for its exclusive clientele.

Always wanted to stick to the tried and tested traditional Christmas dish of Roast Turkey but could not be bothered to slave in the kitchen during this festive period, then head on to the Cobalt Room to enjoy a ‘Ritzy’ Turkey Roast on a trolley. Prices start at RM 210++.

Or if you are craving for something more extravagant, The Library provides a great fine dining option. Chef Wai’s delectable 4-course dinner menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day might just be the meal you want to celebrate the season. Prices start at RM 450++ and if you fancy a little Royale Salute pairing its just another RM200++.

To find out more about this, WhatsApp +60 18 929 2174 (The Library) and +60 11 176 46056 (The Cobalt Room)

4. The Season of Giving

St Regis KL is making it easier for you to surprise your loved ones (or business contacts) with a festive gift. Their Limited-Edition Gifting Trunks come in 4 iterations: Classic, Premium, Luxury and Legacy. The Gifting Trunks start at RM880; each option provides a different set of gifts inside ranging from fine food items to bottles of champagne.

The ever popular Drawing Room serves a special afternoon tea; the Festive Afternoon Set starts at RM168 per person and runs everyday till New Years Day. You will need to book in advance as this place is always packed even on weekdays.

Now for the heartier stuff, St. Regis’s main eatery, the Brasserie, will be hosting buffet dinner on Christmas Eve and brunches on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The buffet is priced from RM488 per person and expect nothing less than a carving station with Turkey, Beef and Seabass Wellington plus a host of other great yuletide menus.

For more information or to make reservations WhatsApp +6012 280 1303.

5. An Asian Christmas

If your palates fancy something different, the Sheraton in PJ offers an Oriental Christmas at Yue; Cantonese Cuisine with two 5-course lunch or dinner sets. The Oriental Christmas set starts at RM228 and is available on the 24^th and 25^th of December but a minimum order of two sets is required.

I am sure you have heard of the Japanese tradition of eating at the famous Colonel’s Chicken restaurant every Christmas, well what about taking that tradition and turning it on its head by trying out Miyabi’s 6-course Festive Omakase that runs from Christmas Eve until New Years Eve for lunch and dinner and is priced at RM1,200 for two people.

Sheraton PJ also offers a traditional Christmas dinner. Over at Feast, the all-day dining restaurant, be greeted by an extensive buffet that can satisfy you till the New Year with sweet delights such as Gingerbread Ice Cream (you read it right) and Fish Pie in Dill Cream sauce. The Cabin Christmas at Feast starts from RM138 nett and goes on everyday till Christmas Day.

And if just want something light and easy while enjoying your loved one’s company you can also explore the Festive Degustation Afternoon Tea that is available everyday till New Years Eve.

To know more about these delicious offerings, check out the website here.