City of Dreams Manila is akin these days to a golden yuletide wonderland, thanks to its predominantly Filipino festive décor and alluring holiday offerings.
Setting the mood for joyful gatherings, the resort’s holiday installations pay homage to the Filipino Christmas tradition of displaying parol (lantern). Purposefully crafted from locally sourced materials including anahaw, malunggay and paco, the golden, handmade parols that light up The Shops at the Boulevard infuse sustainability and celebrate a festive Filipino Christmas. Elsewhere at the lobbies of Nüwa Manila, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt Regency Manila, dazzling Christmas trees provide Instagram-worthy settings to capture the holiday cheer.
Crystal Dragon’s festive season menu
City of Dreams Manila’s signature restaurant for Cantonese cuisine and regional Chinese specialties highlights a five-course set menu available for lunch and dinner from December 16, 2024 to January 1, 2025. Perfect for holiday indulgence, Crystal Dragon’s set menu consists of: Deep-fried Fluffy Abalone with marinated seaweed and micro herbs; Rich Lobster Bisque with poached Hokkaido scallop and crab meat; Wok-fried Wagyu Beef with Chinese yam in black bean sauce, crispy dough stick and king mushroom; Creamy Braised Green Lobster with shimeji mushroom, and crispy dragon beard vermicelli; and Baked Alaska Flambé. The menu is offered for P6,000++ per person for a minimum order for two persons.
Nobu Manila’s Christmas omakase and holiday Sunday brunch
Elaborate Christmas dinners reflecting Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s new-style Japanese cuisine beckon at Nobu Manila, with a five-course dinner tasting menu on December 24 and 25. At P6,653.57 net per person, the menu commences with a complimentary chef’s choice of appetizer followed by a sampler of Nobu Sashimi (tuna with liver aioli and caviar, shrimp and surf clam salad with yogurt wasabi dressing, and salmon with amazu jelly). A seasonal selection of assorted sushi and Chawanmushi with rock shrimp and truffle come after. The Lobster with Truffle Yuzu dressing, mixed mushrooms and crispy garlic chips; and Braised Wagyu Short Ribs with wasabi mashed potato, cranberry sake-mirin reduction, are the tasting menu’s pièce de resistance preceding the delightful Chestnut Brûlée with chocolate sorbet and tonka bean foam.
Nobu Manila also fêtes guests with an early Christmas “Nobu Experience” at its Holiday Sunday Brunch on December 22 for P4,388 net per person. Unlimited helpings of popular Nobu-style dishes laid out on the buffet combined with an a la carte menu include the Nobu Signature Sashimi Trio of Tuna Matsuhisa, Yellowtail Jalapeño and Salmon Karashi Su Miso; Black Cod Butter Lettuce, Uni Palabok; and an array of premium chef’s selection of sushi cups, nigiri and maki rolls unique to Nobu, to name a few. The featured Carving of the Day – the Roasted Whole US Prime Ribeye and Crispy Pata (pork leg) — complemented by a whole tuna sashimi and selection of seafood, including oysters, blue crabs, shrimp, and green mussels; different choices of kushiyaki (skewers) prepared a la minute; and a dessert station that includes a chocolate fountain, take diners to a one-of-a-kind celebratory dining experience.
Haliya’s Paskong Pinoy salu-salo
Haliya invites diners for a Filipino noche buena that evokes the flavors of the season on December 24 for dinner and on December 25 also for lunch. The signature modern Filipino restaurant of City of Dreams Manila offers customized Filipino Christmas menu with a la carte choices comprised of: Yuletide Ensalada, a medley of fried herb goat cheese, caramelized figs, mesclun greens, radicchio, prosciutto, cranberry dressing, Biscocho and cherry tomatoes; Suam na Lamang Dagat, a rich and comforting concoction of prawns, clams, mussel, lapu-lapu, kasubha, corn, capsicum and microgreens; Pork Chop with baby carrots, brussels sprouts, crispy bacon, broccolini, celeriac crème, jamonado pork jus, pineapple and pickled green apple; and Kastanyas Broas comprised of chestnut cheesecake, broas (ladyfingers), caramelized saba banana, apricot gel, vanilla mousse Chantilly and mixed berries.
The Café’s festive menu
Hyatt Regency Manila’s interactive show-kitchen restaurant brings the season’s flavors through a curated Christmas buffet spread of local and international cuisine available for lunch and dinner on December 24 and 25. Lunch service highlights include Slow-Roasted Wagyu Whole Beef Leg that comes with a choice of sauces: red wine, peppercorn or mushroom on the carving station; Masala-rubbed Roasted Trevally, which comes with condiment choices including garlic sauce, spicy yogurt and mint sauce at the Indian corner; Thai-style Whole Fried Chicken and Crispy Pata at the fry counter; and assorted skewers of meat and vegetables from the grill section. Not to be missed for the dinner spread are the Roasted Peking Duck and Tuna and Salmon Sashimi. Completing the lunch and dinner spread are a hefty selection of Italian, Japanese and Korean favorites, dim sum, roasting and noodle choices at the Asian section; seafood options; various cold cuts, cheeses and salads at the cold section; and assorted pastries and desserts.
The lunch and dinner buffet are priced at P3,799 net and inclusive of free-flowing juices, coffee, tea, local draft beer, red and white house wines. Children ages six to 12 are entitled to a 50 percent discount.
Café Society’s yuletide confections
Christmas wafts in the air at Café Society, with various holiday-themed confections transforming the cafe into a whimsical Christmas wonderland. Playful chocolate sculptures, gingerbread houses alongside a spread of confections and pastries are offered until the end of December.
Colorful Gingerbread Houses (starts at P1,500 net each), Christmas Chocolate House (P2,500 net), Santa Bear in milk and white chocolate in varying sizes (starts at P500 net) and other Christmas staples like Panettone (Italian Christmas bread); Stollen (cake-like bread with its origin in Germany), fruit mince pies, and yule log cakes complete Café Society’s fancy holiday spread. Not to be missed are the holiday cakes priced at P2,000 net such as Christmas Tree Cake, (moist chocolate sponge cake with chocolate mint mousse, and buttercream); Snowman Cake (vanilla chiffon sponge with white chocolate mousse and raspberry compote filling); and Reindeer Cake (moist chocolate sponge with dark chocolate ganache and chocolate buttercream).
Christmas carols
The spirit of the season fills the air as various choirs serenade guests every weekend from 3 pm to 3:45 pm with timeless carols. Lux Christi Vocal Ensemble performs on December 21, and 24 at Nüwa Manila lobby, and Hyatt Regency Manila lobby, respectively. Not to be missed are performances of Hail Mary Queen Children’s Choir on December 14 at Hyatt Regency Manila lobby; Mandaluyong Children’s Choir on December 15 at The Shops at the Boulevard; and Kammerchor Manila on December 22 at the Hyatt Regency lobby and 25 at Nüwa Manila lobby.
DreamPlay’s holiday parade and the shops at the boulevard’s Christmas bazaar
Adding fun and excitement for families, DreamPlay holds an all-star holiday parade of well-loved characters from DreamWorks Animations at 5 pm every Saturday and Sunday of December, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day at The Shops at the Boulevard. Characters from the films Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Puss in Boots, Madagascar and Trolls will be on parade to delight the kids and kids at heart.
A Christmas bazaar at The Shops at the Boulevard comprised of well-curated kiosks amps up the holiday shopping until January 2, 2025. Participating brands are Lacoste, Kultura, Boss, Bally, Furla, Coach, Beyond the Box, Lukfook Jewellery, Pandora, Alfredulla, @Tokyo, Ray-Ban, Eye Society, Samsung, Bose, Manila Diamond Studio, Dyson, Delsey, World Traveller, Lojel, Hedgren, Herschel, Travelon, Hydroflask, SMEG, Pacsports, Estee Lauder, Jo Malone, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Mac, Origins, Nike, Adidas, Mikasa, Spalding, Skechers, Wilson, Yonex, Panasonic, Carrier, Make Room and Pottery Barn.
For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com. Explore more of City of Dreams Manila’s promotional offers, rewards, or instantly check Melco Club points with the new Melco Club App, available for free download on iOS and Android.
