To be completely honest, despite visiting South Korea 11 years ago, I had never actually stepped foot in Busan until this trip. Coming here for the first time, my takeaway might surprise you: to me, it felt like just another city in Korea with a change to seaside backdrop. Perhaps it was the specific pacing and activities of our tour itinerary, but it didn't completely reinvent the wheel for me. That said, Busan still offered some incredibly unique sights and massive modern infrastructure right against the ocean. From riding the iconic Haeundae Blueline Park beach train to sipping coffee 100th floor in the sky. If you're curious about what a first-timer's structured Busan tour looks like, here is an honest breakdown of how we spent our day checking out the ultimate views of Busan in two days. Check out our YouTube Premiere today 18 May 2026 at 4pm of Songdo Cloud Trail Riding the Rails: Haeundae Beach Train to Cheongsapo One of the highlights of the structured tour was expe...
A Festive Feast at Kee's: Celebrating Christmas with My Besties in Singapore
There’s no better way to kick off the holiday season than with good friends, great food, and a few heartfelt gifts. This year, my besties and I decided to get a head start on our Christmas celebrations with an early dinner at Kee's: Bar and Bistro in Singapore, within the former notable remittance house Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, now an exquisite boutique hotel, 21 Carpenter.
Kee's Bar and Bistro Singapore @ 21 Carpenter Street
Between sharing light conversations and laughs over cocktails, swapping thoughtful gifts along with the Small Gifts trend, and indulging in Kee’s 4-courses Yuletide Dinner Special, we had a night full of warmth, joy, and memories. But what really made this evening unforgettable wasn’t just the company but the food and the cozy lively vibes of Kee's. In this post, I’ll take you through both the dishes we devoured and the overall experience of celebrating Christmas in style with my closest friends at this fantastic spot.
Our Labubus dressing up for the theme. Clothes Sponsor: Anna
Starter: FOIE GRAS PARFAIT TARTLETTE
After placing our dinner orders, we kicked off our Small Gifts exchange. The table we were given was spacious enough to make the activity easy and fun. Partway through the exchange, a set of adorable tartlets was served. I love figs, so the moment I saw them I could hardly wait to dig in but I had to hold back until we wrapped up our table activity. The tartlets were filled with cranberry jam and topped with candied cashew bits, a delightful one-bite starter with just the right balance of sweet and savory.
Starry Night Mocktail
All of us opted for mocktails that night. They were served in two parts—a small glass of grapefruit soda and another glass holding cherry-cranberry ice stars. I loved that we got to assemble our own drinks, even if it was just a matter of pouring in the soda to melt the ice. I happily convinced myself I was getting a boost of antioxidants from it. The result was a refreshing, fizzy drink with a bright, bubbly taste!
Cheers to Christmas & a Happy 2026!
Appetizer: CHESTNUT & MUSHROOM VELOUTÉ
I don’t have much to say about the mushroom soup. It tasted pretty ordinary to me, accompanied by a breadstick topped with shredded cheese.
Appetizer: HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD
Main: SEARED TURKEY ROULADE
Are we having fine dining or what? The plating looked so ATAS, with turkey set atop parmesan mashed potatoes, finished with a sprinkle of fresh green sprouts. It was my first time having turkey this tender, and it wasn’t dry at all. The seasoning was just right, enhancing the natural flavor of the meat without overpowering it.
Main: TRUFFLE SPINACH RIGATONI
Honestly, that was the biggest tube-shaped pasta I’ve ever seen—I felt like it could equal a whole plate of spaghetti on its own. And that hefty chunk of parmesan on top! Overall, the dish was a bit bland and didn’t have much truffle flavor, but at least I got my serving of spinach for the day. Good job, me!
Dessert: CHRISTMAS PUDDING
How can you end dinner without dessert especially a Christmas pudding during the festive season? This traditional Western holiday treat is known for being sweet, and it truly lived up to that reputation. It felt more like a slice of cake to me, and even the cinnamon ice cream couldn’t cut through the sweetness. Maybe I’m getting too old for desserts this sugary? The brandy custard sauce didn’t help either. What an intensely sweet Christmas!
Dessert: SEA SALT CARAMEL CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
This dessert stood out with its unique topping of spiced popcorn. The chocolate ice cream had a slight bitterness, probably around 70% cocoa and it sat on a coffee liqueur sponge base. I have to admit, it was definitely better than the Christmas pudding, at least in the sense that it didn’t feel like it would send me into a sugar coma.
The entire meal cost SGD 85++ per person, and I’d say it was a bit of a hit-or-miss experience as it really depends on the choices you make for each course. As for me, I simply went for the options that didn’t come with additional charges. A little cheap thrill, but it made enjoying my Christmas dinner in such a sophisticated setting even more satisfying. Oh and the restaurant is connected to the boutique hotel’s reception area, which features a high ceiling where you can even see a side glimpse of the garden terrace.
Our table facing the outside, good for people watching
Dimmed light setting makes it cozy and intimate
Stay tuned for my YouTube Shorts covering this experience, along with the Small Gifts trend we tried at the restaurant. I think it’s something you should definitely try this Christmas.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All expenses were personally covered by the writer. The opinions expressed are entirely her own, based on personal experience and preferences, and do not represent the views of any other individual or organization.
