During the festive season, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) becomes a storybook wonderland. Nutcracker Butlers flank the hotel and mall, while the nightly five-minute Nutcracker Butler’s Concerto light-and-music show at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm (through 29 December 2025) enchants visitors. Aerial Christmas trees and whimsical displays bring a fairytale-like nostalgia to every corner of The Shoppes. Feasting is equally indulgent, with restaurants across the property rolling out celebratory menus—from Italian coastal flavours and French classics to Japanese kaiseki-style dishes and flame-kissed steaks.
The last time I checked into MBS, I was on the cusp of adulthood, celebrating my 21st birthday. This time, it was for a quiet little holiday reset in my thirties. Some things haven’t changed, like the breathtaking views from the room and the top-notch service.
Fresh from a multi-year, US$1.75 billion reinvestment program that began in 2022, the landmark hotel has undergone a transformation that will eventually result in around 1,850 rooms, including 775 suites, more than four times the original 180. I spent two nights in the newly refurbished Sands Bay Suite, a sprawling 80 sqm space that offers unobstructed views of Gardens by the Bay. From the balcony, guests can enjoy Garden Rhapsody, a nightly light and sound show at the Supertree Grove, though I didn’t catch it this time, there being plenty else on my agenda.
Such as taking in the city skyline from 57 levels above at the Infinity Pool, perfect for photos that make you feel like you’re floating above Singapore, or a post-meal stroll at the SkyPark Observation Deck, where the ongoing showcase, Skyline Singapore: Stories from Above, traces Marina Bay’s transformation from its 2010 opening into a financial hub and civic district. From here, the bird’s-eye views of the neighbouring Supertree Grove and the durian-shaped Esplanade domes are even more spectacular than from the suite itself.
If the heat calls for a cool down, there’s a leisurely sampan ride through the Canal at The Shoppes, inspired by the small wooden skiffs that once plied the Singapore River. The ride circles the Rain Oculus, a 22m-wide eco-friendly acrylic bowl that collects rainwater for the Canal.
When not exploring, I spent time catching up on work and luxuriating in the Suite, which feels like home thanks to thoughtful amenities like the Jo Loves by Jo Malone bath products, a cocktail cart, as well as a coffee and tea bar. In addition, the separate living room comes with a 75” Samsung TV and Yamaha soundbar great for late-night Netflix binges, a walk-in wardrobe with a dedicated vanity for getting ready in style, and a marble bathtub for winding down.
Suite guests enjoy perks such as one-way arrival limousine transfers, daily breakfast at The Club, Rise Restaurant, or Spago, afternoon tea at Rise, and exclusive access to Skyline Jazz Sessions at the Residence Bar on Level 55, ideal for a nightcap amid the city lights.
And then there’s the dining, elevated for the season. Lavo Coastal Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, reopened in September, captures the sun-drenched spirit of the Italian Riviera, with sundowners and a late-night menu featuring pizzas, antipasti, and desserts. The Black Truffle Pizza, earthy with wild mushroom, Sicilian oregano, and black truffle pecorino, earned my full raves. Seasonal highlights include Lasagna, Lobster Surf & Turf, and a raspberry-pistachio log cake.
For French classics, Maison Boulud offers a Christmas Eve menu beginning with Gougère, a delicate truffle-infused choux pastry, followed by Saint-Jacques—marinated Hokkaido scallop and caviar with dill-gin emulsion. The showstopper, Soupe VGE “Élysée 1975”, features tender chicken, root vegetables, foie gras, and a golden pastry crust, finishing with luxurious black truffle. Rock Lobster Thermidor and Wagyu Beef Striploin follow, ending with White Wine Poached Pear.
Wakuda showcases a 10-course festive Japanese menu (December 24, 25, 31, and January 1), featuring signature Flan crowned with Dashi Ao Nori seaweed and salmon roe, Yuba with creamy Hokkaido uni and mountain caviar, seasonal sashimi and sushi, Snow Crab Tempura, Patagonian Toothfish with truffle and yuzu soy, and mains of Charcoal-grilled A5 Wagyu or Hokkaido Scallop Risotto in uni sauce.
Steak lovers can gravitate to Cut by Wolfgang Puck, with Christmas lunch featuring starters like Prime Sirloin “Steak Tartare” with herb aioli, mains of rare steak cuts including Japanese Wagyu grilled over Binchotan charcoal, and desserts such as Basque-style cheesecake with raspberry coulis or Peanut Caramel Bar with Bailey’s and honeycomb ice cream.
Evenings are capped with Spago by Wolfgang Puck’s festive cocktails (December 1–26), including the creamy Nog-Tini and the story-inspired Ghost of Holiday Past, making every night feel celebratory.
Over the years, Marina Bay Sands has retained its timeless allure with sweeping views, impeccable service, and now, a festive magic that’s truly joyful to see.
