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The moment you walk into the lobby, you see a giant white castle decorated with small Christmas trees and golden reindeer.
It makes you feel like you’re in a winter fairy tale, even though you’re in hot, sunny Malaysia.
At DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, the holidays aren’t just celebrated; they’re staged, savoured, and Instagram-documented with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you believe in magic again, or at least in really good buffets.
From December through 1 January, 2026, the hotel is rolling out “The Season to Savour,” a month-long celebration that transforms its restaurants—Makan Kitchen, Tosca, Axis Lounge, and The Koffee—into festive wonderlands where the turkey is stuffed with chestnuts and croissants, the prawns come fresh from a crustacean bar, and Santa himself makes appearances between courses.
This isn’t your grandmother’s holiday dinner, unless your grandmother happened to serve slipper lobster thermidor alongside made-to-order crêpe suzette while a live band played in the background.
Though, to be fair, if she did, you probably wouldn’t have left home.
Makan Kitchen: Where The Buffet Becomes Theatre
If the lobby sets the stage, Makan Kitchen is where the main act unfolds.
There’s the Australian Steamship Round Beef Leg, slow-roasted until it practically falls apart at the sight of a carving knife.
There’s the Chestnut & Croissant-Stuffed Turkey, a bird so ambitious it makes you wonder if the chef was trying to prove a point about what poultry can achieve when it sets its mind to it.
And then there’s the Crustacean Bar—a gleaming spread of prawns, mud crabs, and oysters that looks like it was airlifted directly from the ocean to your plate.
“We wanted to create something that felt abundant but also thoughtful,” explains the executive chef during a media preview, gesturing toward a station where sushi and sashimi are being assembled with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker.
It’s not just about quantity. It’s about variety, quality, and giving people options they wouldn’t normally have at home.
Those options include an outdoor BBQ station where ribs glisten under heat lamps, a T’LUR Caviar Station for those feeling particularly fancy, and a dessert spread featuring Bûche de Noël and Cherry Ginger Valrhona Lava that could make a grown adult weep with joy.
New Year’s Eve: When Lobster Meets Crêpes
If Christmas is about tradition, New Year’s Eve is about indulgence—and Makan Kitchen leans into that distinction with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
The New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet (RM198 nett per adult) replaces turkey with Prime Rib Roast and introduces Slipper Lobster Thermidor, a dish so decadent it feels like it should come with a warning label.
There’s also Whole Baked Salmon, Chef’s Table Shepherd’s Pie (because even on New Year’s Eve, comfort food has its place), and a made-to-order Crêpe Suzette station where chefs flambé desserts with the kind of theatrical flair that makes you want to applaud.
It’s about closing the year with something memorable, says the chef.
Something that makes you feel like you’re celebrating, not just eating.
The Art Of Making Memories
What strikes you, beyond the food and the decorations and the sheer logistical feat of pulling off a month-long celebration, is the intentionality of it all.
DoubleTree isn’t just feeding people: they’re creating moments—the kind you’ll remember when you’re scrolling through photos next year, trying to figure out where the time went.
Hilton Honors members receive up to 25 per cent off, while in-house guests and groups of 10 or more get 15 per cent off.
Selected bank cardholders enjoy up to 20 per cent off.
There are blackout dates, of course, because nothing this good comes without fine print.
The point, in other words, is savouring it—all of it—while you can.
Set Menus, Afternoon Tea & New Year’s Countdown
But not everyone wants a buffet.
Some people prefer their holidays served in courses, with wine pairings and the kind of quiet elegance that allows for actual conversation.
For them, there’s Tosca, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, offering a six-course festive set menu (RM178 nett per person, RM218 nett with wine pairing) featuring Salmon Ceviche, Truffle Mushroom Cappuccino, Turkey Roulade with Foie Gras or Lamb Rump on Christmas, and seafood-focused dishes like Hokkaido Scallop, Lobster Bisque, and Wagyu Picanha on New Year’s Eve—the kind of meal that makes you sit up straighter and use your napkin properly.
For those who find lunch too early and dinner too late, there’s Axis Lounge serving Festive Afternoon Tea throughout December (RM158 nett per set for two) with miniature delights like Turkey & Chestnut Mélange and Nordic Salmon Rillettes,
On New Year’s Eve, it transforms into a countdown venue (RM48 nett per person) complete with a Tiramisu Bar, Chef Alex’s Char Kway Teow, Teh Tarik, live band, and party packs for midnight celebrations.
DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City’s “The Season to Savour” runs until 1 January, 2026. For reservations, call +603 5650 0200, WhatsApp +60 12 223 8453, email, or visit hilton.com.
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Turkey, Lobster, And A Lobby Castle: DoubleTree Shah Alam Does The Holidays Right
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