Have a scroll at our top festive picks featuring top hotels and homegrown independent restaurants in Saigon.
Tis the season to be jolly and after all your Christmas shopping, a festive feast or Christmas brunch is definitely well-deserved. We’re talking roast turkey with all the trimmings, rib eye steak as well as yule log cakes and mulled wine. From indulgent Christmas brunches to set menu dinners, this is the ultimate 2023 festive food guide to usher in the festivities in Saigon.
To help guide you to the Christmas brunch and festive menu based on your budget is our pricing legend:
- Less than vnd 500k for food only
- Between vnd 500k and vnd 1,000,000++ for food only
- Between 1 mil and 2 mil vnd ++ for food only and offers less than 2.5 mil vnd including alcohol
- Above 2 mil vnd for food only
Christmas Brunch
Hotel Des’Art M Gallery: An ‘Epic festive brunch’ with a carol performance, live DJ and a special appearance from Santa
Taking place at the Social Club Restaurant on the 23rd floor offering unrivaled views of the city, M Gallery’s festive ‘Epic Brunch’ takes it to the next level with an Oyster Bar, carving station, decadent seafood spread featuring Caviar, Rock Lobster and buttery seared Hokkaido Scallops alongside nostalgic festive favorites. Coupled with a live DJ, a carol performance, and a Santa Claus appearance with gifts for kids to keep them merry and entertained (parents, this one is for you). Let’s just say, they don’t call it the ‘Epic Brunch’ for no reason. (VND 4,000,000++ including free-flow champagne, wine, selected spirits and cocktails, beers, and soft drinks. 24th and 25th December, 12 pm - 3pm; Check out M Gallery’s festive brochure for more info)
- Autograph Saigon: A classic Christmas buffet featuring honey-glazed ham, roast turkey, truffle feast, and live music, all set against the backdrop of the Oriental Pearl's breathtaking views. (VND 2,888,000++ per person sans alcohol, available 24th and 25th Dec, 12 pm to 3 pm)
- Intercontinental Saigon: Market 39, the hotel’s all-day dining will be hosting a festive-themed buffet with seafood and Christmas specials during the day. In the evening, head to Basilico, the hotel’s well-loved Italian restaurant, for its ‘Night Brunch’. All guests dining with the Intercontinental during the festive season will also receive a complimentary gift! (VND 1,800,000++ for Market 39 (food only) and VND 995,000++ for Basilico (food only); Children from 5 to 12 eat for half-price and kids under 5 eat for free).
The Reverie: A first-of-its-kind ‘Petit Brunch’ that ticks all the boxes without breaking the bank (and your waistline)
Those seeking quality over quantity can opt for Reverie’s ‘Petit Brunch’. A first-of-its-kind and quite perhaps the festive buffet offering the best value in the city, here you still get your cheese and cold cuts, a variety of dips and terrines as well as Christmas classics like roast honey ham as well, and a generous selection of festive sweets. And that’s not all. After you’re done exploring Reverie’s not-so-petit buffet spread, you’re invited to tuck into a made-to-order 3-course menu. Best part? The value. For both the buffet experience and set menu, it’s only VND 788,000++ per person. Yes, you got that right. (VND 788,000++ per person sans alcohol, available 24th and 25th December. Check out Reverie’s festive offers for more info)
- P’ti Saigon: For many, P’ti Saigon is the weekend brunch institution in the city. With a closet full of costumes and party accessories as well as toe-tapping live music, it is always a good time at P’ti Saigon. For the festive season, P’ti is offering a Christmas Eve dinner buffet and Christmas Day Brunch featuring classic French dishes, fresh seafood spread as well as a series of festive desserts. (For more information, check out P’ti Saigon’s Facebook page)
- Park Hyatt Saigon: Relish in the festivities as you embark on an Italian gastronomic journey with Chef Rodolfo’s curated buffet highlighting Canadian lobsters, French oysters, and a hearty selection of pasta and sweet desserts. (Prices start from VND 1,980,000++ per person without alcohol on the 24th Dec and VND 3,120,000++ per person without alcohol on the 25th. Available on both 24th and 25th Dec, 12 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm)
- Renaissance Riverside Saigon: A decadent seafood brunch featuring lobster, salmon, and oyster, as well as festive favorites like red wine braised lamb shank and beef goulash stroganoff. With a live band performance playing all the greatest Christmas hits - this is for the merry eaters (and drinkers) seeking Christmas cheer. (VND 1,680,000++ per person without alcohol. Children between 6-11 enjoy at half price. Available on 24th December, 12 pm - 230pm).
- Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers: A festive buffet featuring a mishmash of Western and Vietnamese dishes including live carving stations with hearty roasts, seafood stations, and Christmas desserts like panettone, yule logs, and freshly baked cookies. There’s also entertainment for the kids! (Starting from VND 1,988,000++ per person including free-flow sparkling wine, red/white wine, festive cocktail, draft beer, and soft drinks. Children between 6-11 enjoy at half price. Available on 24th and 25th December, 12 pm to 3 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm).
Festive menus
Eddie’s New York Deli & Diner - An all-American Christmas meal for those looking to get their festive fix
Featuring appetizers and sides with a choice of main for just VND 499,000++ per person - Eddie’s is perfect for those looking to not break the bank this Christmas. A household name and go-to for Saigon residents looking to get their festive fix, Eddie’s has been serving up US roast turkey, beef wellington and beef tenderloin, freshly-baked dinner rolls and sides like roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, Mac and cheese as well as sage and chestnut stuffing, for the past five years. So let’s just say they know what they’re doing.
Make sure to save space for dessert because trust us, you don’t want to miss out on Eddie’s signature Pecan and Pumpkin pie (+99k). For more festive cheer, opt for an Eggnog Boozeshake (179k) or Pumpkin Pie Latte (79k). (VND 499,000++ per person, available from 18th to 25th December in all three locations - D1, D2 and D7, visit Eddie’s festive offers for more info).
- Bambino: For twelve nights, every diner will receive a gift from brands like LUSH Vietnam, Daphale, and Aeie Studios while they feast on chef specials like roast duck by Chef Joshua Fry. (A la carte prices; Available 12th to 24th December 2023 from 6 pm onwards)
- Caravelle Saigon: A delightful 6-course candlelight festive French dinner (think foie gras, escargot for Amuse-Bouche, Wagyu Beef MB5 tenderloin, Yule log cake, and the like) complemented with fine wines at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. (VND 2,890,000++ per person for a 6-course menu (food only), VND 1,690,000++ for wine pairing. Only available on Sunday, 24th December from 530pm to 10 pm).
- Chanh Bistro Rooftop Saigon: Look out to the glittery views of District 1 as you tuck into a festive feast of roast turkey, pan-fried foie gras, and pumpkin pie at this popular casual yet cozy rooftop hangout. And, if you’re not a fan of a Western Christmas meal, Chanh Bistro’s also has a set menu serving up non-festive treats like homemade pesto pasta. Designed for big groups with different appetites and preferences, whole turkeys and hams as well as free-flow alcohol packages are also available. In a nutshell, Chanh Bistro’s your fuss-free one-stop shop for mum, dad, and the gang this Christmas. (From VND 499,000++ per person sans alcohol, available 24th and 25th December)
- Maison Des Rêves: Newly-opened Maison Des Reves helmed by Chef Thao Na is launching with a contemporary French Christmas-themed seven-course menu featuring dishes like ‘Cold’ Foie Gras with Porto Cherry Jelly and homemade salted butter brioche, Wagyu Wellington with truffle jus and Cognac cream as well as homemade Yule Log cake and a platter of sweets. This newcomer’s furtive location down an alley in District 3 inside a villa decorated with Christmas ornaments and the like, adds an extra layer of festive charm to the occasion. (VND 2,150,000++ per person sans alcohol, available 24th and 25th December from 11 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm)
Elgin - A casual and cosy Christmas celebration with Saigon’s favourite neighbourhood restaurant
Not keen on a typical Western Christmas feast and looking for something different? Elgin - everyone’s favourite neighbourhood restaurant - has got you covered with its seven-course contemporary Asian menu featuring dishes like Blue Fin Tuna Chutoro with maple yuzu ponzu, Lobster Agnoletti with lobster cream plus XO as well as Pickled Pork Jowl Sando with black winter truffle and truffle honey.
For Christmas, this young, fun and cosy little friend-cum-family-run restaurant is also adding to the festive spirit with a playlist of your favourite Christmas songs and a festive-filled space with fairy lights, trees and Christmas ornaments. (VND 1,790,000++ per person sans alcohol, available until the 31st of December. Check out Elgin’s Christmas menu)
Christmas Cocktail Cinema - A Christmas movie screening paired with themed cocktails and food
From the good guys behind the popular dining experience, #SaigonSupperClub, comes ‘Christmas Cocktail Cinema’ - a Christmas cinema experience paired with themed cocktails and food. For the movie, guests are invited to enjoy the screening of the well-loved Christmas movie ‘Love Actually’ (with Vietnamese subtitles) and for food, think festive food boxes (like a bento) but filled with turkey roulade, crispy Brussels sprouts, roasted veggies, whipped potato, sourdough stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
To wash it all down, themed cocktails like Cranberry Christmas White Sangria and Chocolate Coffee Negroni will be served by the good guys behind newly-opened Mami Cocktails (cocktails range from 150 to 180k). (Tickets start from VND 350k per person. Available on 23rd and 24th Dec. For more info and tickets: click here for 23rd and here for 24th)
Lüne Restaurant & Bar: Chef Adrien Guenzi’s debut festive menu features a selection of French classics with a twist
Gift yourself a treat at this new kid on the block this Christmas. Catch Chef Adrien Guezi (Ex-Head Chef at Square One, Park Hyatt Saigon) at the helm of his restaurant in the heart of District 1. For his debut Christmas menu, guests are treated to Oysters with shallot vinegar and lemon baked with chorizo and cheese as well as Duck Wellington with white truffle mash, French foie gras with golden berry jam, and of course, blueberry and chocolate Yule log cake. Lune’s five-course Christmas set menu keeps it simple and classy this season, allowing the quality of its ingredients and culinary technique to do the talking. So, for all the purists out there, this is my gift for you. (VND 2,500,000++ per person sans alcohol, 24th dinner from 6 pm and 25th December from 12 pm. Check out Lune’s festive menu)
- La Fontaine: This newly-opened French bistro by the same good guys behind La Villa French restaurant is debuting with a traditional French festive menu featuring classics like Beef Tenderloin Rossini, Brie Cheese and Black Truffle and Chocolate Profiteroles for dessert. (VND 1,290,000+ per person sans alcohol, VND 990,000 for children’s menu, available 24th and 25th December. Reservations are recommended)
- La Villa French Restaurant: This year marks the 12th anniversary of La Villa's opening, and naturally, an exquisite Christmas menu crafted by Chef Thierry. This year’s menu features seafood delicacies like "Blue Lobster" imported from Europe, fresh Japanese scallops from Hokkaido, and winter black truffle alongside must-have festive French classics like the"Pithivier" dish - a delicate puff pastry crust enveloping succulent French Duck breast, baked apples, duck liver, and a medley of French spices. (VND 4,290,000++ sans alcohol; Available 24th and 25th December for both lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended)
- The Reverie: If you’re looking to indulge this Christmas, Reverie’s all-day dining ‘Cafe Cardinal’ has got you covered with a seven-course festive menu featuring Poached and Pan-seared foie gras with Wagyu Consommé, Roasted turbot with Caviar and of course more Wagyu but this time served with truffle and potatoes. And that’s not all. There’s even a cheese selection and dessert buffet to end your meal. Like Santa, the Cafe Cardinal’s festive dinner menu is the gift that keeps giving this Christmas. (VND 2,988,000++ per person sans alcohol, available on 24th and 25th December, 6 pm to 10 pm. Reverie’s festive brochure for more info)
- Olivia Dining: Celebrate the holidays with Olivia Dining's exclusive Christmas menu, crafted by Chef David Green. Enjoy a five-course festive feast, featuring traditional roast turkey. (VND 2,190,000++ per person sans alcohol, available on 23rd and 24th December)