I was lucky enough to attend the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, along with a preview of the buffet, and it was wonderfully festive.
The lobby is already in full holiday spirit with towering nutcrackers standing guard, lush Christmas trees and vibrant poinsettias in rich reds.
The lighting ceremony itself was heartwarming. Whilst the choir sang carols, little ballerinas in white tutus danced, and snowflakes started to fall. The General Manager took the stage with the hotel’s charity partners and when the switch was flipped, and the magnificent “40 Years Of Cares” tree burst into light, the children from the hotel’s charity as well as the rest of us, let out a collective ”ooooh….”.
The tree is, as every year, the true showstopper: a ten-tier rotating steel structure completely covered in hand-sculpted sugar-paste ornaments. Pastry chef Wayne Siow and his team created six intricate designs, each one individually painted.
As it slowly turns, it gives you a perfect 360-degree view of every detail.
Since 1985, Shangri-La’s “Embrace the Gift of Life” project has raised over RM6 million for children needing critical heart surgeries. Anyone can sponsor one of the 40 ornaments for a minimum of RM1,100 donation – every ringgit will go straight to the children, and your name or logo will be displayed beside your chosen ornament.
Lemon Garden Shangri-La KL: let the feasting begin
After the ceremony, I stepped into Lemon Garden for the buffet. Bright and airy, with green plants everywhere, touches of lime yellow and big windows overlooking the tropical gardens, it felt warm and welcoming.
The seafood station always stands out and this one was no exception – generous displays of chilled prawns, snow crab, mussels, and scallops, all perfectly presented on ice. The Chinese section offered refined festive classics: crisp-skinned Peking duck, steamed garoupa, and honey-glazed char siu. Over at the Malaysian counter, the satay and roasted meats were executed with the same care and served fresh from the grill.
As expected, the festive buffet at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur truly lived up to its name. The star of the carving station was the halal-certified whole roasted turkey – locally sourced, slow-roasted with a truffle and foie gras stuffing, served beautifully moist alongside charred Brussels sprouts and a flavourful giblet gravy.
Equally impressive was the Surf & Turf Wellington: succulent Australian beef tenderloin layered with lobster and of herbs mousse, wrapped in golden puff pastry and finished with a silky Sangiovese reduction. For something lighter yet just as refined, the grilled sustainable seabass stood out – flaky, perfectly seasoned, and offered with a choice of lemon-butter sauce or a spicy tomato salsa.
The desserts were irresistible. The Chocolate Yule Log, with candied chestnuts, was decadent, and the Burnt Eggnog Cheesecake – creamy, spiced with a crackly caramelised top – was worth all the calories. The traditional stollen and mini gingerbread houses added to the festive charm.
The tree is up from 20 November. If you’re in KL this December, drop by the lobby to see it, consider sponsoring an ornament for a very good cause, and definitely book Lemon Garden while the festive spread is on. This is Christmas done right, the real spirit of the season in every bite and twinkling light.
The Jolly Festive Feast at Lemom Garden is available from 20 November to 30 December 2025.
For lunch, it is priced at RM198 nett (Mondays to Thursdays) and RM218 nett (Fridays to Sundays and public holidays). For dinner it is priced at RM218 nett (Mondays to Thursdays) and RM278 nett (Fridays to Sundays).
On 24 December 2025, the buffet is priced at RM298 nett for lunch and RM318 nett for dinner, whilst on 25 December 2025, the buffet is priced at RM318 nett for both lunch and dinner.
On 26 December 2025, it is priced at RM238 nett for lunch and RM278 nett for dinner.
We were invited by Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
