The lowdown: This Japanese-style cafe and tea specialist brands itself as a platform for “the modern-day Picasso and Hemingway to gather”. The space is designed to facilitate free-flowing conversations, with low chairs and tables that create a cosy, Zen-esque atmosphere. Art works ranging from calligraphy to paintings and pottery adorn the walls and shelves as well.

What’s special for the holidays: A brand new Okinawan-inspired sweet potato tart ($9.90, pictured) made of vegan sweet potato cream on top of a crispy tart base. Mildly sweet, it pairs perfectly with Hvala’s signature black tea.

The lowdown: Launched by the same folks behind Greyhound Cafe Singapore and Black Society, this space is hard to miss with its lavender, violet and lilac flowers, pastel pink hues and a cornucopia of hanging plants. The menu offers a varied and eye-catching selection too, including Asian-Western fusion far, Korean kroffles (a.k.a. croissant-waffles), Dutch pancakes and an assortment of pastries.

What’s special for the holidays: Dig into the Christmas set ($58.80), which gives you the option of crispy pork roulade (pictured) with sage stuffing or a whole grilled roast chicken. The set also comes with a cream of pumpkin chestnut soup, chocolate lava cake and vanilla ice cream and a festive virgin mulled sangria.

The lowdown: This French cafe has humble roots, beginning as a bakery in Northern France in 1889. Today, it’s a franchise in 47 countries, with a flagship cafe-slash-restaurant in  Takashimaya S.C., designed like a quintessential French tea room. On the menu are an array of handmade bread, pastries, cakes, croissants, desserts, sandwiches and other all-day breakfast items.

What’s special for the holidays: If you’re looking to entertain at home, order the new Asian-inspired eight-spice roast turkey ($159 for about 3.5-4.5kg). As its names suggest, the meat combines eight spices including ginger, star anise, cumin, chilli, cinnamon, galangal, turmeric and saffron – served with sides like Thai rice crackers, braised eggs and deep-fried chicken rice balls. For desserts, the new Snowy Christmas forest log cake (from $39) is bound to satisfy, with layers of pecans and vanilla, as well as milk and dark French chocolate on top.

The lowdown: Decked in monochromatic tones of black and white, this laid-back started by the homegrown namesake shoe brand, is the perfect go-to for social gatherings and lazy lunches. It also features a thoughtfully-designed retail section, as well as dishes with healthy ingredients like cage-free organic eggs.

What’s special for the holidays: The Festive Soiree Platter ($29, pictured), a cheese platter inspired by the season’s harvest. It includes camembert, paired with individual condiments and is best served with Pazzion’s house wines. Matcha lovers will also dig the Merry Matcha Christmas ($9), a milk and matcha beverage concoction with a hint of strawberry puree.

The lowdown: A haven for chocolate lovers, this dessert shop specialises in dark chocolate offerings like Madagascar dark chocolate premium ice cream, dark chocolate brownies and ice cream cookies. The finest grade single-origin chocolate is sourced from Bali, Tanzania, Dominican Republic and Venezuela, from premium brands like Valrhona and Cacao Barry.

What’s special for the holidays: Indulge in the adorable Rudolph ice cream cake (from $63.13, pictured in middle), filled with the new chocolate cookies and dough ice cream flavour. The ice cream log cake (from $63.13, pictured in top and bottom) is worth the calories too, containing festive dark chocolate mint cookies ice cream, chocolate sponge cake, cookie crumble and chocolate mousse.

The lowdown: If a healthy, guilt-free option is what you’re after, check out hip yoghurt brand Beyond Fruit at its brand new outlet. All eye-catching yoghurt desserts are fruit-based and include yoghurt bowls, smoothies, fresh fruit juices and acai bowls. One highlight is the new Vitamin Plus, which features red apple and orange with bites of dark choco chips.

What’s special for the holidays: The very tempting Cheese Pandan Yoghurt Bowl (pictured), a limited-edition flavour filled with berries, red apples and mini candy canes. You can customise each bowl with your own choice of fruit toppings too.

The lowdown: Since opening its first Singapore outpost at Takashimaya S.C. in Oct 2020, the well-loved Japanese cafe has become a go-to brunch or dessert spot for those craving its light and fluffy souffle pancakes – so impossibly light and fluffy that the folks here dub them kiseki pancakes, Japanese for miracle.

What’s special for the holidays: Dig into a decadent serving of its signature souffle pancake ($24.80, pictured) that is sandwiched with bitter-sweet chocolate sauce and tangy blueberry compote. Topping things off is a refreshing scoop of mint cream, mint ice cream and a rich 66 per cent chocolate bar.