Festive feasts, spa rituals and tranquil surroundings: Your serene year-end escape is closer than you think

AS THE YEAR WINDS DOWN, the festive season offers a chance to slow down, reconnect and enjoy the holidays at a gentler pace.

You don’t need to venture overseas or brave the crowds at busy malls or rooftop bars to unwind. Instead, there’s a retreat tucked among the trees, where the glow of warm lights mingles with the low murmur of conversations.

Set within the 128 ha wildlife reserve, the Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree is a five-star destination that offers a calm year-end escape. Why battle the throngs in the city when you can usher in Christmas and the New Year surrounded by the rainforest?

Here, couples, families and friends can wine, dine, relax and reconnect in a sanctuary. Festive meals, intimate dinners, New Year celebrations and quiet spa rituals will seem to unfold naturally, giving everyone in your inner circle a chance to enjoy the season just the way they like it.

Gather and feast at Planter’s Shed

With its high timber roof and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Upper Seletar Reservoir, Planter’s Shed feels open and inviting – a place to gather, share a meal and enjoy the season at a leisurely pace.

Think buffet spreads (from $68++) that pair classic holiday favourites with a slight twist: Boston lobster and snow crab legs served alongside roasted turkey, glazed boneless ham and Creole-spiced Angus ribs. Live stations serve up other delights such as braised beef in mulled wine jus, lobster laksa, and Mediterranean seafood salad, while the dessert spread is decadent with strawberry log cake, panna cotta and chocolate pralines.

For celebrations that continue at home, Planter’s Shed offers a takeaway festive set ($288++), featuring a collection of festive favourites – from classic whole roasted turkey and pineapple and orange glazed boneless ham to sides and desserts like butter brussels sprouts with bacon bits and marzipan stollen. Perfect for sharing with family and friends without the fuss of cooking.

Retreat to Forage for intimate dining

If Planter’s Shed is for lively gatherings, then Forage is the polar opposite – elegant, calm and composed, and therefore ideal for intimate dinners.

It overlooks the serene waterways of the reservoir, an aspect played up by the use of textured metal on the ceiling. The texture evokes the rippling surface of the water, immersing guests in their surroundings.

Forage’s eight-course Harvest to Table menu ($238++ per person) is inspired by the rich produce of the rainforest and the vibrant flavours of the region, each course a thoughtfully composed symphony of textures, aromas and visual delights. From a reimagined Borscht with wild mushroom, beetroot and gochujang salad to wagyu strip loin with foie gras and Madeira, each dish is a refined celebration of the season.

For romantic duos who crave something soulful yet unforgettable, Forage offers dinners where time seems to stretch luxuriously around you, and the festive experience lingers long after the last bite.

Ring in the New Year at Meranti Ballroom

After supping at Forage or feasting at Planter’s Shed, the festivities move on to the Meranti Ballroom, where live music, dancing and holiday cheer fill the space. This 300-seater ballroom is iconic for its dramatic interlaced ceiling design, which is inspired by the Bridal Viel Stinkhorn Mushroom.

On New Year’s Eve, the revelry kicks into high gear at the countdown party ($128++ per person), with free-flow Mumm Champagne, Mionetto Prosecco, wines, draft beers and cocktails, while a live band and DJ provide a soundtrack that transitions effortlessly from festive joy to dance-floor abandon.

The little ones aren’t left out, either: There are confetti cannons, balloon art, clowns and magicians, and popcorn and cotton candy stations so that the entire family feels part of the celebration.

For the ultimate indulgence ($250++ per adult, $125++ per child) combo package covers dinner at Planter’s Shed and the countdown party – a perfect way to toast new beginnings while surrounded by the calm of the rainforest.

Reset your body and mind at Banyan Tree Spa

As the confetti settles on the New Year revelry, a recovery session is in order. Naturally, you don’t have to wait until Jan 1 to indulge in self-care; Banyan Tree Spa offers restorative experiences designed to soothe the mind, body and soul all year round.

If you’re spending the holidays at Mandai Rainforest Resort, it’s practically de rigueur to include a session at the award-winning spa. Couples and friends alike can choose a 90-minute Tailored to Your Senses treatment and enjoy a complimentary afternoon tea at Forage, or extend their journey with a 120-minute session paired with afternoon tea or a two-course lunch.

With a soundtrack composed of the subtle sounds of nature, and skilled hands attending to your well-being, your treatment becomes more than a spa session – it becomes a year-end ritual, a way to reward yourself and those you love, and a subtle nudge that the holidays are not just about celebration, but also about renewal.

Plan your festive get-togethers at Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree.